Thomas Cook Foreign Exchange WARNING

[Gill H]

It is annoying but sadly they and others have been doing it for years. The other thing they used to do I think, was advertise in the window a rate you could only get if you bought their prepaid card. (It did say so, but in small letters).

We usually order online and pick up a few hours later. We have used John Lewis or Thomas Exchange near where I work.

It is always worth checking the Dibb for the best rate and ordering online first.

[BigSkip]

I've stood outside the shop and ordered from their app, walked straight in and got the online rate.

[lizzie145]

I've ordered mine from sainsburys as that was the best as only need £250

[Quensabob]

We have been advised in store a few times to go onto our phones and you get a better rate order it and they give it you at that rate,crazy!

[Moorlandman]

The dual pricing is not great. Imagine if you went into Sainsbury’s for a loaf and it was 20% more than the same loaf on-line - there would be public uproar😀😀

[sieborg]

I think many of you are missing the point here. You do not have to pre-order to get the best rate, but at the counter if you forget to ask what the rate is they will shaft you with a lower rate that I got. I agree that any company is not a charity, working for nothing, that would be insane.

[THE WIZARD]

Its normal practice & if you read the T&C's you will know that. I think the OP is more angry with themself than TC for not knowing that. I always buy on-line because of the lower in store prices! I check out the prices on the right of this page first then go to the top 3 prices & check them myself. Luckily got 1.30 from John Lewis in April ready for September

[toonarmani]

Originally Posted by Spike1911

I find that Debenhams do the best rates in the high street usually.

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Not for walk-ins though, they also have a different rate instore to online. I always show them the online rate on my phone, or ask for the online rate to get the higher amount.

[Laurabelle84]

Well, I didn't know this was a thing & that they done this, so I for one am thankful for the OP for posting so I don't get stung with this.

Thank you x

[toonarmani]

Originally Posted by blusteryday

"Hello, I'd like to pay for my groceries please"
"Sure, that's £80 please"
"Can I have the online discount as well?"
"Oh yes, thanks for asking. Yes, that's now £72."

... said no-one ever.

It's at the very least underhand for companies only to offer discounts when the customer has to explicitly ask - especially when buying the identical product from the same company online.

But as is always the case: caveat emptor - buyer beware.

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If you check the rates board in-store, it'll show the rate you would get as a walk-in customer, however they can (and do) offer a better rate online. It's not that they're marking it down because you didn't ask for a certain rate.

So it's not a case of them being misleading in-store, as you would be getting the rate that they are advertising, it's just that you can get a better rate by using their online process (they just give you the rate there and then without having to order online and collect at a later date). If they said no, you either have the in-store rate only or have to order online and collect it, people would complain for that as well...

Depending on provider, if you check the T&Cs you'll see things like:
"The rate you get will be the rate at the bureau and not necessarily the rate you see online"
"You can get discounted rates on Euros & US Dollars in branch using the Click & Collect service"

Conversely, in-store don't usually have minimum exchange limits or charge additional fees, but online can be minimum amount and also charge for delivery; but online rate would likely still come out on top with those factored in.

As you say though, buyer beware and a useful reminder for people.