The Change Game

December 28th, 2007 Posted in culture, day to day

Written by Jamie

There is a very funny game being played here in Argentina. The players are the consumers and the money takers. It usually starts off simple enough. You bring your goods to the counter and the clerk tells you how much it will be. You go to pay and the clerk say something like, “tendras moneda (do you have coin)”.  If you say no, this is really were the game begins.

Some clerks will frown or pout, make faces, or just try to make you feel guilty. Others will fiddle around looking for change. Craftier clerks will offer a piece of gum or candy, or other inexpensive item in exchange for the change. When we first relocated to Argentina, we fell for the hype. Now, we just shrug our shoulders, and don’t give in, trying to see what tactics they clerk to try.

I think there must be some hidden culture of clerks that get together to trade secrets on how to get exact change from their customers.

  1. 6 Responses to “The Change Game”

  2. By Anon on Dec 29, 2007

    This is done in Chile, too! God forbid trying to pay for something ~$15US with the equivalent of a $20 bill, you will get SHUT DOWN. I get it, they don’t want to have to hand out their change, but it’s just funny. I started figuring out ways to break up my money from the ATM to avoid this, but now I don’t care :)

  3. By louis vuitton bags on sale on Jan 4, 2012

    was astonished at this so thought We would share it with my readers

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