Candy for change

Candy for change

It seems now on the island of gods that candy is money. This
is the case when it comes to uang kembali or change. Many stores
such as Bintang Supermarket, Circle K and Matahari department
store in Kuta give their customers candy in lieu of a Rp 100
coin.

It's not the fact that Rp 100 is a large sum of money but they
often try to give candy as change for Rp 300 or sometimes even Rp
500 citing "sorry no change".

This is unacceptable. Not only is it against the law not to
give a customer change but bad business practice. I wonder just
how much "extra revenue" these stores generate. It must be a lot.

Matahari in Kuta actually flaunts the fact that small change
will be returned in candy. I recently attempted to give change
using candy, it was only Rp 200 at the same store that had given
me candy for change two days before. Of course they laughed and
refused to accept it.

So my query is this, shouldn't this candy-as-change scam work
both ways? Those of you coming to Bali for a holiday, ... bring a
lot of coins to ensure you don't get shortchanged.

JAY GRAHAM

Bali