Thomas Cook currency

von

So I popped to TC during my lunch hour to buy some Euros. I Asked the girl on the currency exchange what the rate was to buy euro's and she said 1.20. I asked if that was the best they could do and she asked if I wanted the euros today, when I said yes she said you'll need to e mail the store to request them then come in and pick them up. I queried do you mean e mail this store to request them, she said yes, and come in and pick them up from this desk? I asked, she said yes. From you? I queried, yes, she said. So I can't stand here and ask for them from you now, I said. No she said, you need to e mail the store to ask for them and I will pick up the e mail and be able to exchange the money for you. I haven't got an internet connection on me right at this minute, i said. Have you got a phone she asked, yes, I said but I can't use it to e mail you. Then you'll have to go away and e mail the store to request the euro's then come back in and pick them up, she said.

How ridiculous is that? 😣😣😣

stephb34

Thomas cook have 3 set rates, the walk in off the street rate at about 1.14, their travel customer rate at 1.20 for customers who have booked their holiday with TC and then they have the internet rate approx. 1.225. Also the FE sales person can sell anywhere in between the rates of 1.14 - 1.225. You don't actually email the shop, you go online and order the currency to reserve and collect in the shop of your choice. Yes its stupid that you're stood in the shop and you have to order online to get the best rate but that's TC's rules. Head office do check to see if you are selling the currency at reserve and collect when it hasn't been ordered online, although the consultant can adjust the general rate to sell at the r+c rate, they obviously didn't want to for you or they don't know they can do that. Most stores actually have tablets in them now so you could have ordered off that if they have one.
I'm afraid this all started when customers said I've seen it on the internet at a better rate and walked out of the shop, so TC must have decided that they would compete with the internet and this has worked as generally purchasing on the high street its one of the best rates you can get. These figures are based on yesterdays rates and maybe different today. TC are also doing free insurance on your currency if you purchase £500+

HHarry

And yet I walked into Thomas Cook on Wednesday to get some dollars, was offered 1.622, said that wasn't very good and that the online rate was 1.626, and got offered it.

Turns out I was wrong - 1.622 was that days rate, 1.626 had been yesterdays rate. Still, I'm $4 up!

As so often happens, it depends on who you get and what mood they're in!

Roger1

What absurd nonsense!

Why buy currency at Thomas Cook? Why not use MSE's excellent advice about buying currency?

And if you phone Thomas Cook, my local branch only has ripoff 0844 numbers that would cost me 10p per minute from my landline or 30p per minute from my mobile. :mad: The branch wrongly and probably illegally claims that they are local rate numbers - these haven't existed for many years.

Result: I won't phone. They won't have my business.

von

Roger1 wrote: »

What absurd nonsense!

Why buy currency at Thomas Cook? Why not use MSE's excellent advice about buying currency?

And if you phone Thomas Cook, my local branch only has ripoff 0844 numbers that would cost me 10p per minute from my landline or 30p per minute from my mobile. :mad: The branch wrongly and probably illegally claims that they are local rate numbers - these haven't existed for many years.

Result: I won't phone. They won't have my business.

I went to Thomas Cook because in the past I have walked in and they have matched any price on the high street, usually the best price on the high street is The Money Shop or Cash Converter, but they've obviously decided to stop doing this ad hoc.
Interestingly , this morning I went to Cash Converter to buy my Euros and they said they have had a lot more customers coming in to buy Euros recently but they couldn't understand why. I explained my experience with Thomas Cook and they thought that probably explained it.