Kevin Standlee: Currency Gouger

[kevin_standlee]

While waiting for the AirBART bus, one of the people in line said, jokingly, "Anyone want to buy five Euros?"

I said, "I'll buy them." (I know I can hand them off to someone going that way eventually.)

"Seriously?" she said, and I nodded.

I offered her USD5 for her EUR5. She looked unhappy. "They're worth more than that."

I shrugged. "Yes, but you can spend five dollars here now."

She accepted my offer. Part of me thinks I should have offered her $6, which is what the EUR5 was worth at current rates, but I note that she wouldn't have been able to change the Euro coins at her bank -- they only want notes -- so I try not to feel bad about it. Besides, I have to hold onto the Euros until I can send them back to a place they're spendable when I run across someone going that way.

Comments

[kevin-standlee.livejournal.com]

Oh, no, the casual Euro purchase was from a random stranger at the airport, plus what was left over from the side trip to Paris after Interaction. Currency sold to my mother's jewelry business is at cost. Similarly, in 1993-4, the Hugo nominee pins we purchased did not come with findings (the clasp that holds the pin in place). Mom bought a couple bags of findings from her supplier and sold them to us at her cost. She was happy to be able to help the Hugo Awards, anyway.