Ripped Off By Store

[TelephoneAngel]

Maybe there should be a section for sucky store employees?

This is a story from about twenty years ago when I took my mother on holiday abroad, important background to the story, Brits have a reputataion for not being able to speak other languagues, also the currency was different.

We went into a touristy shop to buy some souvenirs, the assistant apparently did not speak any English, and just added up the amounts in her

My mother paid then came outside and said to me (I had not been watching her paying) that seemed very expensive for just three cups and a teatowel.

I checked and she had been overcharged by about twenty pounds (twenty-five dollars).

As I spoke the language I went in and queried this, the assistant looked very sheepish and refunded the money.She obviously did not expect me to be speaking to her fluently in her own language.

I wondered if this was a big scam that supplemented her wages with unsuspecting tourists who would not find out, or if they did, be unable to complain?

[Rapscallion]

Maybe there should be a section for sucky store employees?

There is - it's Sightings. Moving it now.

Rapscallion

[TelephoneAngel]

AHA! (I'm Alan Partridge!)

I thought sightings was just for sightings of customers, not store employees s well.

Sorry!!!

[draggar]

I'm sure this is not uncommon - on one of our cruise's port of call so many vendors were selling packs of the local money (usually in a zip-loc like bag) for $1-$5. When you consider the exchange rates you usually got less than a nickel's worth of money.

Once I was in Canada staying at a nice hotel and in their own gift shop. I had some items that came to about $15 (CAN) yet they charged me $25 (CAN) claiming it was the tax. I highly doubt Canada has a 66.67% tax rate on trickets at a gift shop but they refused to budge and since I already paid they refused to give me my money back (I then asked to return the items I bought).

I'm sure in many plcaes (yes, even here in the USA) foreign tourists are considered an easy target to rip off.

[Rapscallion]

I thought sightings was just for sightings of customers, not store employees s well.

Sort of a catch-all. When I conceived the idea of this section, I didn't realise just how popular it would be. There were many tales of 'suck seen elsewhere', along with 'someone else's manager' etc. Same goes for the roadkill section - far more popular than I ever expected.

Rapscallion

[gremcint]

Once I was in Canada staying at a nice hotel and in their own gift shop. I had some items that came to about $15 (CAN) yet they charged me $25 (CAN) claiming it was the tax. I highly doubt Canada has a 66.67% tax rate on trickets at a gift shop but they refused to budge and since I already paid they refused to give me my money back (I then asked to return the items I bought).

13% in ontario though electronics now have additional fees.

[PepperElf]

twenty pounds

more like almost 30 pounds at the moment (29.805)

bleh.

[panda]

Scamming tourists is big business... and easy, I've got to admit.

Common cab driver trick:

At the end of the journey, say the fare is £19. The tourist, who probably isn't very familiar with the money, will hand you a 20, because they're not entirely stupid. Cab driver takes it over their shoulder, takes it out of the tourist's sight and switches it with a 10. Cab driver claims that tourist only gave them a 10.
Three outcomes:
1) Tourist apologises, hands over an extra 10, cab driver claims he has no change, tourist accepts leaving £1 tip. Cab driver makes an extra £11.
2) Tourist insists he gave a 20, cab driver folds, but insists he has no change, tourist has to accept this. Cab driver makes an extra £1.
3) Tourist insists he gave a 20, cab driver folds, but insists he has no change, tourist throws a hissy fit over it. Cab driver just 'happens' to find an extra coin in his pocket. Cab driver makes no extra.

My friend who was a cabbie told me of this trick, he claims he's never done it, and I believe him- he can't lie to save his life.

The way to avoid all this: always pay with exact change.

[Mr Hero]

I suppose that's one way to lose a quick 20 pounds.

[Evil Queen]

Doh. -_-'

Mr Hero, that was terrible. Your name isn't really Alaric, is it?

[the lawsmeister]

Scamming tourists is big business... and easy, I've got to admit.

Common cab driver trick:

At the end of the journey, say the fare is £19. The tourist, who probably isn't very familiar with the money, will hand you a 20, because they're not entirely stupid. Cab driver takes it over their shoulder, takes it out of the tourist's sight and switches it with a 10. Cab driver claims that tourist only gave them a 10.
.

This is similar to what happened to me in France.
Cab far was 12Euro,
I gave cabbie 10 euro note and went fishing for change in my pocket. Realised I didn't have any change left so I grabbed a 20 out of my wallet.
Cabbie went to take 20 but wouldnt give my original 10 back.
I had this dread that if I gave him the 20 I'd only get 8 back and lose the first 10 altogether.
took a lot of pointing and saying of "dix" (ten in french ) to get my first note back so i could give him the 20.

[AccountingDrone]

I have a habit of watching the little screen and shuffling through my money to keep as close to exact change plus a tip as possible so I don't have to waste time when I get to my destination =) My dad used to play it as a counting game with me when I was preschool and learning my numbers =)