Where to get change

I always face this problem.

ATM machines happily ooze out 500 Rupee notes, bank clerks are at best reluctant to make change. What I would like is 1000 Rupees in 10 Rupee notes. Any ideas!

I usually 'break' 500 rupee notes whenever I can, and never seem to have a change problem.

The best option is to walk into a private bank like HDFC/UTI/ICICI and ask the teller. Or, even better, withdraw from an ATM at a bank branch and then walk in saying you need change. Bank clerks will be more helpful here than in nationalised banks. Maybe you will get change for a lesser amount, though.

Curious why you should want this. Getting change for, say 100 rupee notes is not a problem, usually.

In many places where small change is often required, eg bazaars, wholesale trading areas, factory areas where daily wages are paid in cash, etc., there is a system where a premium is charged for large amounts of change. If you are around one, you could try that.

edit: another thing i do is this. If I want to withdraw say 5000 rupees, I withdraw
1300 three times and then 1100. gives me enough (ten) 100 rupee notes.

10 rupee notes are usually for Rickshaw, taxi, trains ets. Miraculously they never seems to have change. Even Lalu Yadav's rail people do not believe in returning small change.

Last year I did not have much problem in Bombay, but in Himachal no body seemed to have any change, even large shops! I failed to understand that.

One trick is to produce a bigger note after a service has been availed. And then hoard the smaller notes received!

eg, if I eat at a resteraunt for, say 110 rupees, I will produce a 500 rupee note, even if I have sufficient change. And apologetically say,if asked, sorry no change.

Supermarket purchases too.

I've found this to be an issue too, especially in paying taxis as you can never expect to get more than 30-40 rupees back as change. Offering a 100 rupee note in a taxi when the fare is under Rs. 50 often enough means swallowing a loss and so I always try to keep plenty of Rs. 10-20-50 notes handy. One thing that I've had lots of luck with is making change at upmarket hotels. My job (journalism) has me going to lots of press conferences and interviews at big hotels (Taj, Hilton, Intercontinental, etc.) and I usually try to stop by the front desk and make change on my way out. I haven't had trouble yet doing that, although I suspect that they are under no obligation to make change for non-guests. Being a firengi is helpful in this regard, I think people in hospitality tend to presume that white=tourist, or at least they are less likely to challenge you and ask for a room number.

On a semi-related note, I've learned that it's best to not take the taxis from the hotel carport if you are going a short distance (ie back to the office), as those guys have often been waiting hours for a fare, and ideally they want to pick up somebody who is going for a long haul to the airport or somewhere else distant, rather than a 20 rupee ride to Nariman Point from Colaba.

I try to use an ATM at a bank during working hours, and after making my withdrawal I go to the cashier and get a bundle (100 notes) each of 50s, 20s, and 10s. Since I am their "customer" (since I just used their ATM) they are usually happy to oblige.

Then I take 5 or 10 notes of each denomination for my daily spending funds.

Hey don't fall for that old I've got no change trick, Taxi wallahs have ALWAYS got change, they just don't want to part with it, if they see a chance to makes a buck!!
Left hand shirt pocket or right hand trouser pocket.

If they try it on I just offer to keep the 100 rupee note fare and all. It always produces change (or at the very least he'll find some somewhere!!)

That the best kept secret of India, the reason there's no change in circulation is because the taxi/rickshaw wallahs have got it all!

Supermarkets are my best bet. They will always have change.

Even the small shops... some may have the opposite problem! A heap of change they have to bank!

Mrs N has been known to order 3 packets of milk, six eggs and Rs500 in Rs10 notes --- to be delivered to the door, of course . On the other hand, she told me off today for coming out of the bank (the ATM was closed) with only Rs1,000 notes...

CH is right... and if they still claim to have no change, expect them to go to a nearby shop and ask for it!

ah, the great indian change game!!!
here are the rules:

1) everyone in india has change
2) everyone in india pretends not to have change
3) you may only pay with a 100rs note if the item/bill comes to more than 20rs.
4) likewise, you may only pay with a 500rs note if bill is over 100rs
5) the shopkeeper/restaurant owner will only pretend that he has no change if the goods have not yet been consumed...if they have, then change will magically appear
6) there are no rules

Worst thing is that ATMs have now started to spit out 1000 Rupee notes, as if 500s were not bad enough.

They're a nice colour: very smart

I find the paan wallahs always have change.

Mind you, I'm not buying their stuff - but when I, a lady of a certain age, come up to them and ask if they might be able to change a 100 or 500 bill for me, they always kindly oblige.

Also, whenever we buy anything, we pay with the larger bills to get change into smaller ones and then ask for further change [ie 10's] for one bill given to us. It usually works if you smile.

capt mahajan - i do exactly same. always break your money down. but...im no snake. while i do tend to be a small note hoarder, i wont give a chai wallah a 100. on the other hand.... i demand big places break big money down (guesthouse, splash meal..).

having said that, on estill must calculate becasue while evryone is playing this game - there is good likelyhood that the shop owner/restaurant/gh really doesnt have the small money soooooo.... they will have to send the boy out to scout for some and now its become a tedious ordeal that you must wait out becasue if he goes out the door then you proffer small money - youll look like (and are) a big chucklehead.

gauge the situation and make note quickly... if they really dont have it - pay w/ small money after all thats why you have it!

peace -


ps: in thailand 7-11s are the god send. walk in tto the place, buy a pack of gum and flip em a 500. :-)))

This is one of those areas in which people assume that India is somehow difficult or different.

It isn't!

Even in London a very small shop may have difficulty changing a £20 early in the morning --- or refuse to accept £50 due to risk of forgery. The difference is that, in London, you can't expect the cab driver to run around getting the change for you. Here you can!

Otherwise it is no different*. Most shops will have change, and, when they don't the bigger shops or busier restaurants will.

I gave a Rs1000 yesterday for a Rs120 meal. Not a hair was turned.

*at least as far as city life goes. Out in the sticks experience may well be different.

they will try it on though. it's tiresome having to stare down rickshaw wallahs just to get the change and move on to what you want to do.

they know that and make it hard. it becomes a routine, trying to manage change levels by offering higher value notes and acting as though you have nothing smaller.