Qatar retail outlets face shortage of dirham coins
Some customers in Qatar are not amused when shopkeepers offer them poor quality toffees and chocolates instead of coins, but retailers say they have been hit by a shortage of coins.
They say that banks are not providing them with sufficient quantity of coins. Traders face hefty fines if an unhappy customer lodges a complaint with the Consumer Protection Department.
"The fines go up to QR5,000 if it is found that the customer was asked to accept the goodies, instead of money against his will. We are helpless since there are not enough coins in circulation in the market," said a retailer running a supermarket in Doha.
"It seems there is a real problem and banks are not able to meet our requests," he added.
He said recently his firm received a warning from the Ministry of Economy and Commerce following a complaint from a customer in this regard.
"We were told that a fine of QR5,000 will be imposed if we repeat the violation," said the retailer. [Read more on The Peninsula]
I usually get that bogus BATOOK chewing gum instead of coins.....:(
The funny thing is when the cashier just closes the till and pretends that the transaction is finished and you should just move on..
Acchabaccha- May be you are a regular there as u mentioned (Saudi Hypermarket on Shahrah Umm AlDhoom in Muaither) so they collect just QR 11 from you... but try going to the other well known super markets elsewhere, you DO NOT see this scenario , I Am sorry to say, I do feel cheated!
Yep. Carrefour is probably the worst
The supermarket that short changes could be Carfore.
I never use coins any way.
There is this Saudi Hypermarket on Shahrah Umm AlDhoom in Muaither. They have this system. I have been their customer ever since they opened just about three years back. They have a branch at Sharah e Shafi in Rayyan and another one on Sharah Tejari in Muaither. It works both ways. If your bill is QR. 12.87, they will charge you QR 13 as there is no way to return the balance while on the other hand if your bill totals QR 17.20 they do not charge you 20 Dirhams but take on QR 17.
Which supermarket is this.. I have never experience this
Surabhi Uzgare: You have just highlighted only one side of the story -- your side. When a person buys an item costing say QR 11.20, the supermarket does not charge the 20 Dirhams and collects just QR 11. Do you feel cheated then? Be fair, please.
its okay, as long as we have Batook...
Exactly lately I have noticed that all big supermarkets expect us to pay 1 riyal even if the bill amount shows egQR 20.50 or 20.30, 20.25,
THEY NEVER PAY THE REMAINING AMOUNT TO YOU EVER! they think its a 'given' that we pay the bill amount and also a little extra 'just like that'! I think by now I must have must have paid those supermarkets close to 10 riyals extra. and now this trend seems to be catching on in all the other hotels and shops! Feel so cheated!
how are we to get the coins when no supermarket/Hotel, Shop, even wishes to pay you back the remaining amount ??
When one by one the coins at my home add up to 40 or 50 Riyals, I take them to the supermarket near my residence and exchange them for the currency notes. I enjoy seeing the happy faces of the cashiers. From time to time they keep checking with me if I have coins available.
What about big supermarkets who expect the FULL amount from you, but will not give change in return.
It is not the fault by the traders, but by the costumers itself as nobody(I guess) is not after on bringing a coin to pay if their bills is not exact on 1-riyal denomination. Coins were just kept on car's coin slot and for some, in an empty jar in a living room. :)