New dollars are becoming scarce in exchange offices
Before the summer season, Russians began to complain about the lack of new-style dollars. Some exchange offices really don't have them, and banks charge a commission for picking up bills. At the same time, old banknotes are reluctantly accepted abroad.
Before the summer season, many complaints appeared on social networks that new dollars were becoming increasingly difficult to find. A number of Telegram channels even stated that the updated bills were no longer available. The Business FM radio station decided to check whether this was true, and at the same time find out why there was a shortage of currency.
Complaints about the lack of new-style dollars in exchange offices appear either before the tourist season or after the dollar exchange rate has dropped, when citizens are looking for where to buy currency. Both of these factors have come together now. Despite the panic in social networks, a call to random Moscow exchange offices showed that there are new-style dollars, although not everywhere. They are really snapped up quickly:
- No, not at the moment.
- Not at all?
- Not at all.- So, how long will it take to deliver it?
— They don't bring us any. We sell what we buy. We buy from the client for 80 rubles. We sell for 84 rubles 50 kopecks.— Well, at least there are 1000-1500 dollars of the old model?
- Yes, there is.
———————
— Do you have dollars available?
- Eat.
— Are these new-style dollars?
- New. But they have seals there - blue, only with stamps.- What's the difference?
- Well, there is a seal on the back - either scribbled with a pen, or there is some kind of seal.- Ah, so that's what it is. Where do they come from?
— They gave it to me like that. I only have 400 new dollars on hand. There were some the day before yesterday, and the day before that, and sometimes 10 thousand. But they are taken quickly.
———————
— I want to buy 1000-1500 dollars. — The rate is 83.70. New-style dollar.
— Do you have enough of the new sample?
- Yes, that's enough. Should I put it aside for you?— Until what time can you put aside 1000-1500 for me?
— For the next two hours.— Is there any excitement about the new model?
— Basically, all new ones ask. We sell at 83.70, they take well.
Some bank branches, as they write on social networks, do not sell new dollars at all. And if they do, they introduce fees for selection, the average rate is 200 rubles for every 100 dollars. It also works the other way around - branches can refuse to buy old dollars from customers. And if they do buy, the rate is 10% worse. The new-style dollars were launched into circulation back in 2013. With the new design, the banknotes became darker, a blue 3D ribbon appeared in the middle of the banknote, and on the right - an image of a bell in an inkwell. The blue vertical ribbon is the most noticeable element, and the new banknotes are usually called "blue".
As noted by the Association of Tour Operators of Russia, complaints from Russians about the shortage of the updated American currency began only in 2023. However, you can always exchange currency at the destination airport, says Igor Blinov, Director of Development for the OnlineTur.ru travel platform:
Igor Blinov, Director of Development of the OnlineTur.ru Travel Platform
In recent years, countries popular with Russians for tourism have made increased demands on currency - new dollars are almost universally required in the Maldives, Turkey, Egypt and Thailand. Sometimes problems with old dollars arise in the United Arab Emirates, Armenia and Sri Lanka.
bfm.ru
