All the way from Lima, Nick and I had been going by the guide book’s advice that the Banco de Credito gave the best exchange rate, and gone to them at each town. As we were going to be in Cuzco for a longer stretch of time, we thought we should be more streetwise and shop around to see if we could find one that bettered the Banco de Credito’s. We could also explore the town while tracking down all the money-changing places.
We started at the Banco de Credito to get their rate, then traipsed around town to get a comparison. After half a dozen places, we found that Banco de Credito still offered the best rate, so we made our way back to it.
Outside the bank, hovering on the pavement was a young man with an A4-size portfolio case under his arm and a little calculator in one hand — the standard get-up for a floating money-changer at the time. As soon as he saw us, he approached with a rate tapped out on the calculator, which he showed us. Behind him, on the other side of the street, was a massive sign that covered practically the whole shop window, with a rate that was higher than what he was offering, clearly visible from our side of the street. We thought he was somewhat lacking in business sense, plying for trade within such close, and visible, proximity to a stronger rival like this shop.
We pointed at the shop window, he took a look, then tapped out another rate: a better one than the shop across the street, which we thought was his next best offer. No, he then pointed at the Banco de Credito, outside which we were standing. He was telling us who gave an even better rate than the shop across the street! No business sense, maybe, but so sweet of him to let us know an even better rate! All three of us had a hearty laugh over this, shook hands and went our separate ways.
Outside the bank, hovering on the pavement was a young man with an A4-size portfolio case under his arm and a little calculator in one hand — the standard get-up for a floating money-changer at the time. As soon as he saw us, he approached with a rate tapped out on the calculator, which he showed us. Behind him, on the other side of the street, was a massive sign that covered practically the whole shop window, with a rate that was higher than what he was offering, clearly visible from our side of the street. We thought he was somewhat lacking in business sense, plying for trade within such close, and visible, proximity to a stronger rival like this shop.
We pointed at the shop window, he took a look, then tapped out another rate: a better one than the shop across the street, which we thought was his next best offer. No, he then pointed at the Banco de Credito, outside which we were standing. He was telling us who gave an even better rate than the shop across the street! No business sense, maybe, but so sweet of him to let us know an even better rate! All three of us had a hearty laugh over this, shook hands and went our separate ways.
We later thought we should’ve rewarded him for his honesty by changing some money with him, but we never saw him again.
(Cuzco/Cusco, Peru, 1986)
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