General Info

[Sperto]

If you stay for a longer time in Rio de Janeiro you'll propably make lots of purchases in supermarkets. In Copacabana it's a good idea to register as a client at supermarkets like Zona Sul, Pão de Açúcar and Princesa Supermercados. If you have a CPF you can register very quickly. You'll get plenty of discounts, e. G a 20% discount on a bottle of wine. Just tell the cashier that you are "cadastrado" and digit your CPF.

Pharmacies and lots of stores gives discount to members. Usually you'll get the discount by just giving your CPF, and tell them you'll register another day.

Another way of getting discounts are by paying with cash. Tell the cashier you'll pay with cash instead of card or PIX. You'll propably get a 10% discount. This works most easily with smaller shops and not the big ones like Lojas Americanas etc. I always get discounts at hotels when paying with cash. Even some puteiros have discounts when paying with cash.

[Nounce]

... Thanks, if I didn't thank you before.

So, the question to both of you: when you see there is a discount at a store or restaurant, this is when you mention you have a CPF?

You are too polite. I smiled. Thanks.

I think the clerk will ask you for CPF. If you know there is a discount and wasn't asked, you can tell them when they show you the price they are going to charge.

I went back to that same restaurant and now the girl knows me. She charged me correctly and proudly told me to check my phone. haha. She now knows my Portuguese is better than her English so she is not trying to speak English to me. I think I can understand Portuguese better when I am not with Brazilian.

[Xpartan]

I wrote an instruction on how to get CPF here. I skipped that detail to keep it short. In this case it's the promotional discount that you see in the store. The displayed discount is only given when you provide a CPF. They even told me it did not have to be my CPF.

Oh yeah, I remember now. Your instruction was top notch and I got it easily. Thanks, if I didn't thank you before.

The cashier types it in.

So, the question to both of you: when you see there is a discount at a store or restaurant, this is when you mention you have a CPF?

[XXL]

I wrote an instruction on how to get CPF here. I skipped that detail to keep it short. In this case it's the promotional discount that you see in the store. The displayed discount is only given when you provide a CPF. They even told me it did not have to be my CPF.

Yeah. While in SP I used the CPF of a Brazilian acquaintance to get the discount price in pharmacies. The assumption was, I guess, that I was buying meds for her. Shopping for someone else is normal. I wanted to use her CPF as well to get a Claro SIM. This time it didn't work. Claro told me she had to show up in person.

[Mr Enternational]

Getting CPF is easy (I have one). But how would you enter the CPF into the bill,

The cashier types it in.

[Nounce]

I saw a third kind of terminal after lunch. It works more like ATM that you must decline.

The basic rule is don't select default (1, green or accept), decline (2, red, decline) if you are not sure.

[Nounce]

Getting CPF is easy (I have one). But how would you enter the CPF into the bill, and what kind of discount is it? Any details?...

I wrote an instruction on how to get CPF here. I skipped that detail to keep it short. In this case it's the promotional discount that you see in the store. The displayed discount is only given when you provide a CPF. They even told me it did not have to be my CPF.

[Nounce]

... In a way it seems like customer profiling to me. ..

It's like the ATM that you see a conversion menu when it detects it's a US card. It's pervasive in Sao Paulo that I run into it at least once a day. The drug store will probably have it. They get a percentage kickback. I use credit card. Once you leave Sao Paulo, it becomes less frequent. I only encountered it at one establishment for the past month or so.

I don't think the terminal would make a difference because it's the same menu and you still need to select the currency.

ATMs in this city don't accept my card, not even Bradesco ATM. I never saw the USD menu came up there because practically there was no foreigner.

[Xpartan]

The casher made the selection before I got to it today. I was charged for 120 for something the costs 100. It was like just downstairs so I went back during lunch. They refunded the money and said I would get 20% discount if I have CPF. I ended up paying 80. So there you go, CPF can give you discount. I rounded the number up and down and just trying to get the point across without writing more detail.

This is another version. Press Red twice.

Getting CPF is easy (I have one). But how would you enter the CPF into the bill, and what kind of discount is it? Any details?

It may be helpful for you to list the establishments that do this OR better yet have you had a discussion with the establishments and ask them why they do this? Is it some policy or just a little greed (just to get the few extra dollars).

LOL, of course it's greed. I would say in my experience 20-30% of all establishments try this, and that's the ones I've caught (in honesty, I don't always remember to check for DCC). This is a legalized scam that should be outlawed everywhere, and I honestly don't understand why regulators all over the world allow this BS. I guess separating a tourist from (more of) his money is too alluring for them, LOL.

[The Critic]

This morning I saw the USD menu came up on the credit card terminal while paying for breakfast, I immediately put up my hands and say don't move so the waitress did not touch the machine. LOL. I laughed because I over reacted. Haha.

Tonight I tried to pretend I am calm when I saw the USD menu again when paying for dinner. The waitress hand was so fast that she just hit Accept before I realized what was going on. Then I saw the USD 35 notification on my phone. I googled the conversion and showed the waitress the BRL amount and the amount on the bill. She understood and called the accountant or manager for a refund, and selected 2 to charge in BRL this time. It came thru as 30 USD.

It may be helpful for you to list the establishments that do this OR better yet have you had a discussion with the establishments and ask them why they do this? Is it some policy or just a little greed (just to get the few extra dollars).

In a way it seems like customer profiling to me. I am sure the CARD when entered informs them as to which currency (country) the card was issued in. If they are doing prior to CARD entry, then only by speaking or asking for an English menu would they have a slight clue as to your origins.

1. I am sure there are US Born Brazilians (with US passports) with US Based credit cards, who speak perfect Portuguese, would the waiter/establishment change the credit card terminal (like your experiencing) as well??

2. Are they doing this to Canadians, Europeans, Asians, and etc. who have their respective country Credit/Debit Cards.

3. Are you using a Debit Card or Credit Card for these transactions/purchases?

4. Have you discussed this with your Debit Card or Credit Card issuer to get their input on this practice?

[Nounce]

This morning I saw the USD menu came up on the credit card terminal while paying for breakfast, I immediately put up my hands and say don't move so the waitress did not touch the machine. LOL. I laughed because I over reacted. Haha.

Tonight I tried to pretend I am calm when I saw the USD menu again when paying for dinner. The waitress hand was so fast that she just hit Accept before I realized what was going on. Then I saw the USD 35 notification on my phone. I googled the conversion and showed the waitress the BRL amount and the amount on the bill. She understood and called the accountant or manager for a refund, and selected 2 to charge in BRL this time. It came thru as 30 USD.

[Nounce]

In English too. I would ask the cashier how the machine knows USD is my currency. I guess the banks and credit card machine people figure that if people don't mind giving away money to the airport money exchange places, then why not hold their hands out too.

The casher made the selection before I got to it today. I was charged for 120 for something the costs 100. It was like just downstairs so I went back during lunch. They refunded the money and said I would get 20% discount if I have CPF. I ended up paying 80. So there you go, CPF can give you discount. I rounded the number up and down and just trying to get the point across without writing more detail.

This is another version. Press Red twice.

[The Critic]

In English too. I would ask the cashier how the machine knows USD is my currency. I guess the banks and credit card machine people figure that if people don't mind giving away money to the airport money exchange places, then why not hold their hands out too.

The cards are coded from where the cards are issued. In addition, the payment system recognizes the from where (country) the card was issued.

[The Cane]

Bankrupt but still flying: https://www.reuters.com/business/aer...an-2024-02-28/

[Mr Enternational]

Almost forgot to snap this picture.

In English too. I would ask the cashier how the machine knows USD is my currency. I guess the banks and credit card machine people figure that if people don't mind giving away money to the airport money exchange places, then why not hold their hands out too.