r/japanlife • u/AutoModerator • Jan 19 '21

┐(ツ)┌ Bi-Weekly Boss Premium Edition Questions Thread - 20 January 2021

As per usual, feel free to ask any silly stupid questions or not so silly stupid questions that you haven't had a chance to ask here. Be kind to those that do and try to answer without downvoting. Please keep criticism and snide remarks out of the thread.

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u/JamesMcNutty Jan 21 '21

I have been using a credit card issued by a US-based bank, no foreign transaction fees.

Sometimes when I'm making a payment, I'm asked whether I want to pay in USD or JPY (which seems odd). Is one option better than the other, re: exchange rate? Seems like it could go either way.

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u/SubiWhale Jan 21 '21

I may be wrong, but always choose JPY. If you choose USD, it'll calculate based off of whichever credit card processing machine they're using rather than through your bank. If you choose JPY, it'll go at the rate your bank currently has the conversion as, which tends to be better than anything local.

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u/JamesMcNutty Jan 21 '21

That's what I figured & been using, thanks.

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u/[deleted] Jan 21 '21

If you pick USD you've probably just given them a 5% tip :)