I hate to complain, but.......

[Staxsun]

When attempting to purchase CDs at the fest today, I wasn't allowed to use travelers cheques. I know that the merchandise situation is different this year, so I was trying to be understanding but get an explanation. The clerk thought they would take them. The guy she called over with a radio on said he thought so, but he asked a woman who was in charge. She said, rather indignantly, that they didn't take travelers cheques or personal checks. There is quite a difference between the two, in that travelers cheques are cash instruments. Knowing that stating that all the music vendors from Tower to Virgin to Basin Street to Borders took them would be meaningless due to the new situation, I told her that I have used them for years at the fest to buy t-shirts and other fest merchandise. To this she stated, "they have NEVER taken travelers cheques at the t-shirt booths. Now I admit that I haven't bought one in two or three years and the policy may have changed. However in the fifteen years previous to then I bought a shirt almost every year and used travelers cheques almost exclusively to do so. I'm an understanding guy, and I can live with that policy even if I highly disagree with it, but I don't like being, in effect, told that I'm crazy and a lying idiot. I don't like to carry large amounts of cash to the fest, and with the economy, I also don't want to run up my credit cards. I converted a large amount of cash into what are supposed to be honored like cash. The Fest has unfortunately lost the revenues of my impulse buys. I know that I can purchase most of these CDs at LMF(who gladly take my travelers cheques), but I wanted to send some of my money the way of JF. If Festydave, or anyone else who monitors this board with a position of responsibility, can explain and clarify this policy, I would appreciate it. I know that everyone is busy, so I understand if this doesn't happen right away.

[stlbarb]

When attempting to purchase CDs at the fest today, I wasn't allowed to use travelers cheques. I know that the merchandise situation is different this year, so I was trying to be understanding but get an explanation. The clerk thought they would take them. The guy she called over with a radio on said he thought so, but he asked a woman who was in charge. She said, rather indignantly, that they didn't take travelers cheques or personal checks. There is quite a difference between the two, in that travelers cheques are cash instruments. Knowing that stating that all the music vendors from Tower to Virgin to Basin Street to Borders took them would be meaningless due to the new situation, I told her that I have used them for years at the fest to buy t-shirts and other fest merchandise. To this she stated, "they have NEVER taken travelers cheques at the t-shirt booths. Now I admit that I haven't bought one in two or three years and the policy may have changed. However in the fifteen years previous to then I bought a shirt almost every year and used travelers cheques almost exclusively to do so. I'm an understanding guy, and I can live with that policy even if I highly disagree with it, but I don't like being, in effect, told that I'm crazy and a lying idiot. I don't like to carry large amounts of cash to the fest, and with the economy, I also don't want to run up my credit cards. I converted a large amount of cash into what are supposed to be honored like cash. The Fest has unfortunately lost the revenues of my impulse buys. I know that I can purchase most of these CDs at LMF(who gladly take my travelers cheques), but I wanted to send some of my money the way of JF. If Festydave, or anyone else who monitors this board with a position of responsibility, can explain and clarify this policy, I would appreciate it. I know that everyone is busy, so I understand if this doesn't happen right away.

i'm shocked. i'm on record that travelers checks are extremely easy to use in nola. street vendors have taken them from me. although i confess i havent used them as much in recent years.
at fest i have only cashed them at the beverage tents. no problem, they usually have one person you have to see, and have been asked for id, but it was a quick transaction.

this - they are checks - mentality is what i encounter when trying to use left over travelers checks in st. louis. i gave up and just cashed them at the bank.

[BigDag]

I can sympathize, Stax. I've tried to use travellers checks in both a retailer and a restaurant the last couple of days, only to be told that they would not be accepted. I've never had any problem before. I think some of the people in these establishments just don't know what they are doing.

[bluesmama]

I can sympathize, Stax. I've tried to use travellers checks in both a retailer and a restaurant the last couple of days, only to be told that they would not be accepted. I've never had any problem before. I think some of the people in these establishments just don't know what they are doing.

I think you are correct in saying that these people don't know what they are doing. They are trying to handle these as personal checks. That's why I quit using travelers checks. These people need more training.

[NYMAMA]

Last year the Hotel Lemoyne wouldn't cash them for us! We had to buy a cup of coffe and use them as payment to get them cashed.

[linza22]

I stopped using them years ago....maybe it's a generational thing...they used to be accepted everywhere...now folks don't know what to do with them. it's like they've gone out of style. i used to love them.

[Staxsun]

Last year the Hotel Lemoyne wouldn't cash them for us! We had to buy a cup of coffe and use them as payment to get them cashed.

I'm sure it is difficult for a hotel to have enough cash on hand to cash them, but I just don't get not taking them, especially if you're not giving much if any cash back. At the post office you have to purchase at least 50% of the value to use them, which I think is fair.

[BigDag]

Mena's Palace cashed one for me this morning, bless their hearts.

[Tivia]

Thank you for the info,
I was going to purchase them tommorrow.
Won't do it now.
:(

[Chicago Fest Fan]

Thank you for the info,
I was going to purchase them tommorrow.
Won't do it now.
:(

Congrats on the senior status. Just in time for fest.

[papafrog]

only in neworleans.....and i do love it here....butt...
so many places here only take cash...and they mean cash...
i dont like having to carry around cash either....
i dont know of any other city where so many places only take cash..

good to see you again stax..!!

[papafrog]

and chaning the subject intentionally...
i recentlly heard theres a world/international fest in mephis...
stax can you fill me in a little?
thanks

[tvengineer]

only in neworleans.....and i do love it here....butt...
so many places here only take cash...and they mean cash...
i dont like having to carry around cash either....
i dont know of any other city where so many places only take cash..

good to see you again stax..!!

ONe reason might just be..
After the "thing" many businiesses could not get telephone service for MONTHS after.. they could not take cards.. and found that their business survived and did not have to pay the CC companies the service charges.

Just like a lot of places that were 24 hrs before.. never went back... they found that their customers came in an made their purchases before closing time.. their business could not justify the added expense of employees overnights.

Getting kicked back into the dark ages for a few months changes the way you do business.

that is my theory anyway :p

[Staxsun]

only in neworleans.....and i do love it here....butt...
so many places here only take cash...and they mean cash...
i dont like having to carry around cash either....
i dont know of any other city where so many places only take cash..

good to see you again stax..!!

Good to see you too!!!

I'm not sure which festival you're speaking of. The Memphis in May celebration honors a different country each year. They do have acts from that country, but it isn't totally an international festival. There are a series of events each week, including the Beale Street Music Festival.

[Frosty]

I stopped using them years ago....maybe it's a generational thing...they used to be accepted everywhere...now folks don't know what to do with them. it's like they've gone out of style. i used to love them.

I bought $1,000 in travelers checks for my honeymoon 13 years ago. I came back with $1,000 worth of travelers checks. There are ATM's everywhere and credit cards are the only thing I'll use if accepted. I see no point in travelers checks in this day since they cost more to convert to foreign currency and they charge a fee to purchase them.

[Staxsun]

Incidentally, I did end up buying a ticket at Fest on Thursday, and they took a travellers cheque.