I think you are wrong. 12-14% is the (optional) service charge. Used to be 10%. Which restaurants did you like the most? And which city did you like more for tourism?
I think you are correct. I only observed it happening in fancy restaurants, Insalta (Sao Paulo), Barbacoa (Sao Paulo) and Fogo De Chao (Rio). I assumed it was a credit card fee because on the receipt it said "upcharge" and I assumed tipping was not part of the culture of Brazil. But thank you for clarifying. I went to Sao Paulo, Buzios and Rio. I loved Rio the most as it is my girlfriend's home town. I found the people really friendly and loved that ubers are really cheap! I felt safe my whole time and love Brazil now.
Almost everything in Brazil is cheap if you're paid in dollars my dude. And I say that as a Brazilian who works remotely for an American company.
Ubers are actually pretty expensive for the average Brazilian.
You should not choose to pay in USD. If you choose USD, Brazilian banks will use their own exchange rate, which would be worse by 12-15%. Pay your bill only in REAL, and Brazilian banks will have to use the Visa/Mastercard exchange rate, which will be the market rate.
Going against the grain here with a different opinion. If you are using a foreign card you can have these fees. There are two options to pay.
Option one the Brazilian card processor will convert your USD to Reais and in my experience upcharge ~12%.
Option two you will pay in USD and be on the hook for international fees from your bank. My bank doesn't charge fees so it ends up being the best idea.
I have really only seen this happen with more expensive purchases.
When they bring you the card reader it gives you an exchange rate. Pressing green will go with option 1, pressing red will go with option two. Took me a few weeks to notice because I just assumed red would cancel the transaction. This is also why it's suuuuper important to let them know not to press any buttons when you pay. Like you I also enjoy dining out and an extra 15% adds up eventually.
Hi I think this is exactly what happened to me. it seems like both options are going to have a similar upcharge? How do you handle this, do you pay in cash? Also seems like this only happened to me during fine dining. Thank you
It really depends on your bank. One of my banks doesn't do international transaction fees and one does but it's something really small like <1 USD. It's always a better option to press the red button.
Check out this similar thread. ATMs will do the same thing btw. That was a lesson that hurt a loooot more as I pulled out 500USD and payed the conversion upcharge.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Brazil/s/STl4BWtAg3
> 500USD and *paid* the conversion
FTFY.
Although *payed* exists (the reason why autocorrection didn't help you), it is only correct in:
* Nautical context, when it means to paint a surface, or to cover with something like tar or resin in order to make it waterproof or corrosion-resistant. *The deck is yet to be payed.*
* *Payed out* when letting strings, cables or ropes out, by slacking them. *The rope is payed out! You can pull now.*
Unfortunately, I was unable to find nautical or rope-related words in your comment.
*Beep, boop, I'm a bot*
>visited Sao Paulo and Rio De Janeiro. While dining in restaurants when I paid by credit card I was charged a 12-14% upcharge fee because I used a credit card
Did you? I dont think so
There are a few possibilities:
- service charge that is added at restaurants is typically 10%
- choosing to pay in USD when paying with credit card, which is usually at an inflated exchange rate that is more expensive, in the ballpark of 10%
But I can confirm that I have used my credit card (with 0% foreign transaction fees) in a number of cities across Brazil with nothing like you are seeing as long as I am paying in R$ (very rarely am I even presented the option to pay in USD)
Every bar or restaurant will add 10% or more as service charge. It's the only industry that we tip. Not even hotel employees get tip. One time I tried tipping the luggage man and he declined.
I think you are wrong. 12-14% is the (optional) service charge. Used to be 10%. Which restaurants did you like the most? And which city did you like more for tourism?
I think you are correct. I only observed it happening in fancy restaurants, Insalta (Sao Paulo), Barbacoa (Sao Paulo) and Fogo De Chao (Rio). I assumed it was a credit card fee because on the receipt it said "upcharge" and I assumed tipping was not part of the culture of Brazil. But thank you for clarifying. I went to Sao Paulo, Buzios and Rio. I loved Rio the most as it is my girlfriend's home town. I found the people really friendly and loved that ubers are really cheap! I felt safe my whole time and love Brazil now.
Almost everything in Brazil is cheap if you're paid in dollars my dude. And I say that as a Brazilian who works remotely for an American company. Ubers are actually pretty expensive for the average Brazilian.
You should not choose to pay in USD. If you choose USD, Brazilian banks will use their own exchange rate, which would be worse by 12-15%. Pay your bill only in REAL, and Brazilian banks will have to use the Visa/Mastercard exchange rate, which will be the market rate.
Going against the grain here with a different opinion. If you are using a foreign card you can have these fees. There are two options to pay. Option one the Brazilian card processor will convert your USD to Reais and in my experience upcharge ~12%. Option two you will pay in USD and be on the hook for international fees from your bank. My bank doesn't charge fees so it ends up being the best idea. I have really only seen this happen with more expensive purchases. When they bring you the card reader it gives you an exchange rate. Pressing green will go with option 1, pressing red will go with option two. Took me a few weeks to notice because I just assumed red would cancel the transaction. This is also why it's suuuuper important to let them know not to press any buttons when you pay. Like you I also enjoy dining out and an extra 15% adds up eventually.
Hi I think this is exactly what happened to me. it seems like both options are going to have a similar upcharge? How do you handle this, do you pay in cash? Also seems like this only happened to me during fine dining. Thank you
It really depends on your bank. One of my banks doesn't do international transaction fees and one does but it's something really small like <1 USD. It's always a better option to press the red button. Check out this similar thread. ATMs will do the same thing btw. That was a lesson that hurt a loooot more as I pulled out 500USD and payed the conversion upcharge. https://www.reddit.com/r/Brazil/s/STl4BWtAg3
> 500USD and *paid* the conversion FTFY. Although *payed* exists (the reason why autocorrection didn't help you), it is only correct in: * Nautical context, when it means to paint a surface, or to cover with something like tar or resin in order to make it waterproof or corrosion-resistant. *The deck is yet to be payed.* * *Payed out* when letting strings, cables or ropes out, by slacking them. *The rope is payed out! You can pull now.* Unfortunately, I was unable to find nautical or rope-related words in your comment. *Beep, boop, I'm a bot*
Next time you go to a nice restaurant can you ask if its the service fee or credit card transaction fee?
>visited Sao Paulo and Rio De Janeiro. While dining in restaurants when I paid by credit card I was charged a 12-14% upcharge fee because I used a credit card Did you? I dont think so
There are a few possibilities: - service charge that is added at restaurants is typically 10% - choosing to pay in USD when paying with credit card, which is usually at an inflated exchange rate that is more expensive, in the ballpark of 10% But I can confirm that I have used my credit card (with 0% foreign transaction fees) in a number of cities across Brazil with nothing like you are seeing as long as I am paying in R$ (very rarely am I even presented the option to pay in USD)
It must of been the service fee then
Every bar or restaurant will add 10% or more as service charge. It's the only industry that we tip. Not even hotel employees get tip. One time I tried tipping the luggage man and he declined.