In Reply to: money posted by Emily on Wednesday, 21. April 1999 at 16:45 Bali Time:
MUCH HAS BEEN SAID ABOUT THE DIRRERENCE IN RATES FOR EG. 10/20/50/100 BILLS , CASH VERSUS T/C'S ETC. KUTA GIVES THE BEST RATE GENERALLY BUT, MANY OF THE MONEYCHANGERS HAVE UP TO 5 OFFICES IN A ONE SQUARE KM AREA (OR ONE MAJOR ROAD) THIS OPERATOR WILL /MAY HAVE 3 OR 4 DIFFERENT RATES THAT ARE ALL MARGINALLY THE SAME. FOR THE UNSUSPECTING TOURIST WHO IS ''SHOPPING AROUND'' FOR RATES, IT MAY THEREFORE APPEAR AS IF GOING TO THE BEST RATES DOWN ONE STREET MEANS GETTING A GOOD DEAL. BEHOLD! ON THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWN, THE OTHER OPERATOR COULD BE OFFERING A 4TO 7% BETTER RATE GENERALLY. THIS IS A VERY REAL SITUATION SO ALTHOUGH YOU THEORETICALLY GET BETTER RATES FOR BIGGER DENOMINATIONS YOU COULD STILL DISCOUNT AT A BAD RATE. CURRENTLY IN UBUD FOR EXAMPLE YOU CAN GET A BETTER RATE FOR T/C'S THAN CASH. THERE IS NO LOGIC IN THE RATES ANYWAY BECAUSE THE MONEYCHANGER WILL OFFER THE BEST RATES FOR WHATEVER HIS DISCOUNT REBATE CONNECTION WILL GIVE HIM. OFTEN TRAVELLERS WHO KNOW THAT THEY COULD GET A BETTER DEAL SOMEWHERE ELSE, GO TO THE LOWER ONE PURELY BECAUSE IT IS CLOSER AND HEY! IF YOU ARENT' CHANGING LIKE 500 USD AT A TIME, THE DIFFERENCES IN RATES USUALLY DO NOT ADD UP TO MORE THAN A PLATE OF NOODLES AND A SMALL BEER! (SHIT MAYBE TWO BEERS!)
GOLDEN RULE : WHEN SHOPPING FOR RATES LOOK OVER A LARGE AREA AND NEVER LET THE CHANGER HANDLE THE MONEY IN ANY WAY AFTER YOU HAVE CONFIRMED AND COUNTED. NOT FOR A SPLIT SECOND. GOOD LUCK!