Paying with dollars in China
 

We are leaving for China in October. It was suggested to us that we bring American dollar bills with us to pay for things in the markets, on the streets, etc. Am wondering if this is a good plan and if dollar bills are as well accepted as local currency.

As usual, you guys are the best! We always get great help on this site.

No, get local currency. Paying in dollars will get you no advantage, and you will get change back in RMB anyway. Learn to do the conversion in your head when bargaining, rather than asking for the price in US dollars.

the dollars would be just about as welcome as the chinese currency would be at your supermarket....

While the USD has a slightly higher rate of acceptance in China versus the RMB at your local grocery store ;), I would also advise paying for all of your purchases in RMB. I just don't see any reason to use USD.

Arielle--if you decide to take American dollars make sure that the dollars are in excellent condition. Besides crisp new(er) bills are not as bulky. The Chinese will not take bills that they think are defaced in any way so that means no writing or rips on the currency.

You will find vendors at tourist place will quote prices in dollar(s) for smaller items such as postcards, hats, etc.

Sometimes the prices were so ridiculously cheap I didn't even bargain. Such as the vendor that wanted one American dollar for 8 hats. I just gave him the dollar.

We do take American money and used some of it, but most of the time we used RMB. We though the prices were lower if we used RMB.

Please do not plan to use US dollars in China.

It is always best to use local currency and to pay for things based on local customs - so if you're in a country where bargaining is the norm, please bargain.

I realize that when things seem pretty cheap compared to home the temptation not to bother to bargain is great, however paying too much for goods and services by not bargaining where appropriate creates problems in the long run.

Paying in local currency and following the local norms (e.g. bargaining where appropriate, NOT tiping where tipping is not customary, etc.) are important! Let's not ruin China any faster than we have to. Thanks!

Arielle, if you're seeing a price quoted in US$, or for that matter even buying from someone who'd know a US$ if they saw one, you're probably in the wrong place and you can expect to be quoted a more extortionate asking price than in locales where there are few non-Chinese faces to be seen.

Who gave you that advice anyway? Of course dollar bills aren't as well accepted as local currency. Why would they be?