atprm
05-08-2008, 10:46 AM
Ok, so I am going through an old photo album of stuff when my parents worked at the US Embassy in Moscow, Russia...
I happen upon 3 of each "flavor" of paper Rouble --10,000; 5,000; 1,000; 500; 200; and 100. Total Roubles: 50,400.
So I check online to see if they are collector items, since their bill date is 1993, and they are the "current" bills (had they been 1992 series or later, they would be collector items because that currency had Lenin all over them).
So then I check local currency exchange rates -- 50,400 roubles = $2,116.80!! I am STUNNED!!! LOL
Ok, so I then google to see where a FBR (Fed Bank Reserve) is located -- there are NONE in Michigan...closest is Chicago.
Next google the airport, and call them for the currency exchange.
Conversation goes like this -- this chick was "made in China" complete with heavy accent.
me: Where do you guys get your current exchange rates from?
her: Wallard Newspaper
me: Wallard Newspaper?? Where is that at? Are they online?
her: No, they are not online. You can't check exchange rates online because every RATE will offer a different RATE. Online, they give you the information in case you are turning in at least 5 MILLION dollars of whatever foreign money.
me: um, yeah, ooooooooook! What is your current rate of exchange for 50,400 Roubles?
her: *heavy sigh*, I guess you wanna me to check?
me: well that is the object of asking isn't it?
her: *heavy sigh* and drops the phone.
(I hear clicking in the background)
her: yes, we can give you $766.08 for your 50,400 Roubles.
me: well that is not what the Federal Reserve says is the going rate!
her: well we don't go by that, we go by Wallard Newspaper.
me: Ok, and where is this newspaper located?
her: Bangkok
I hung up the phone!
That said, the FBR says the current rate is $2116.80, so they are shorting me $1350.72!!!
So next I call a regular local bank.
they charge $3.50 to exchange money and have to have an account (thank you DAD). They also do not use the FBR but their rate is a hell of a lot better!!
50,400 Roubles at their exchange rate = $2,015.24... and that's not taking too much of a loss.
So I suspect that the exchange place at the airport is either skimming off the top or making it up on the fly...either way...fark the airport!
Going to the bank today :)
I happen upon 3 of each "flavor" of paper Rouble --10,000; 5,000; 1,000; 500; 200; and 100. Total Roubles: 50,400.
So I check online to see if they are collector items, since their bill date is 1993, and they are the "current" bills (had they been 1992 series or later, they would be collector items because that currency had Lenin all over them).
So then I check local currency exchange rates -- 50,400 roubles = $2,116.80!! I am STUNNED!!! LOL
Ok, so I then google to see where a FBR (Fed Bank Reserve) is located -- there are NONE in Michigan...closest is Chicago.
Next google the airport, and call them for the currency exchange.
Conversation goes like this -- this chick was "made in China" complete with heavy accent.
me: Where do you guys get your current exchange rates from?
her: Wallard Newspaper
me: Wallard Newspaper?? Where is that at? Are they online?
her: No, they are not online. You can't check exchange rates online because every RATE will offer a different RATE. Online, they give you the information in case you are turning in at least 5 MILLION dollars of whatever foreign money.
me: um, yeah, ooooooooook! What is your current rate of exchange for 50,400 Roubles?
her: *heavy sigh*, I guess you wanna me to check?
me: well that is the object of asking isn't it?
her: *heavy sigh* and drops the phone.
(I hear clicking in the background)
her: yes, we can give you $766.08 for your 50,400 Roubles.
me: well that is not what the Federal Reserve says is the going rate!
her: well we don't go by that, we go by Wallard Newspaper.
me: Ok, and where is this newspaper located?
her: Bangkok
I hung up the phone!
That said, the FBR says the current rate is $2116.80, so they are shorting me $1350.72!!!
So next I call a regular local bank.
they charge $3.50 to exchange money and have to have an account (thank you DAD). They also do not use the FBR but their rate is a hell of a lot better!!
50,400 Roubles at their exchange rate = $2,015.24... and that's not taking too much of a loss.
So I suspect that the exchange place at the airport is either skimming off the top or making it up on the fly...either way...fark the airport!
Going to the bank today :)