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Shopping in a local pharmacy in SKV the other day and when I went to check out I presented two $50.00 US notes. Cashier asked if I had Riel because now that was the only currency accepted. She caused surprise. She then suggested I change my US notes for Riel at there most convenient money exchange. Yes Riel is the currency of the country & no you will not find anyone in USA willing to accept Riel. Anyway I just left $87.00 purchase on there counter & proceeded to another pharmacy where they gladly accepted my $, gave change in US $. Also was $7.00 cheaper. Has this happened to anyone else anywhere in Cambo?

Maybe she did not want to accept your counterfeit notes?;-)

the pharmacy owns the money exchange. it is a scam.

yes, i went to the above mentioned phamarcy to buy a pack of alimony protection kit, she refused to accept USD, there was a prakas from National Bank few back stating that they want all salaries and shops and etc to use only riel, national pride is at stake here. , maybe a facebook posting from Mr HE would kick it back into life again, as with every freaking prakas in this country.

''the pharmacy owns the money exchange. it is a scam.'' That's a first for me.

I doubt I am the only one who walks away. It is prolly the most expensive pharma in SKV.
They lost my bidniz for ever. Nice VN girl on side street at Psar Leu treats me well, smiles nicely & gives me decent discount when I spend.

Wait a minute. Let's review. Pharma would make prolly 25-33% on my purchase. How much they make on currency exchange. When barang customer walks what do they make? $00.00.
As a former business owner I think I will go back. And ask about their logic.

Wait. Sorry. Forgot where I am for a moment.

i remember when they first started doing it,
i wanted to buy some tablets, cost 4000r i gave them a dollar, they asked if i had Riel, i said no, they said one moment went off and got my dollar changed for me, came back with 4000r and gave me my tablets, what scam is that?

i dont see the big deal tbh, i support what theyre doing,
im with ABA bank and when i go to ATM i always take out Khmer Riel,
i always use Riel if i can and ask for Riel as change,
it pleases the locals lol

come to think about it, when i last went to that pharmacy the staff had a picture taken with me as i was wearing one of their "Khmer Currency" tshirts

Fuck the USA!

It's just the biggest note is 20000, that's a fiver, kind of sucks if you are shopping bulk few times a week at a supermarket.
I just hand them a 50 or hundred. And keep the riel for parking fees.

Of course the gf uses riel when doing her shopping at the local market, where dollars are a no no.

franzjaeger wrote:It's just the biggest note is 20000, that's a fiver, kind of sucks if you are shopping bulk few times a week at a supermarket.
I just hand them a 50 or hundred. And keep the riel for parking fees.

Of course the gf uses riel when doing her shopping at the local market, where dollars are a no no.

And 20,000 notes are rare at that.

My last shopping bill at Angkor Market was USD 170.00; that would have been a lot of Riel....

the current exchange rate $1 = 4039 reil