Just come back from the Co-op in Wem where in the queue with me were two young non-British Europeans.

Checkout lady: "That's £1.60"
One of them: "Can we pay in Euro?" (in good English)
Checkout lady: "No. That will be One Pound Sixty Pence"

I almost yelled "here here!!" but as I was in work uniform (for the district council) I thought better not. Still, I was very tempted to throw abuse at these Europeans who think they can demand payment in their currency over here.

I mean, when we go to Germany or Italy do we ask "Can we pay in Sterling?" - no, of course not.

Thank those wonderful 5 Tests that we're not in the €uro. Huzzah for the £ound! :D

(Sorry if I have offended any member of the PC Brigade or a pro-Euro person. But it needs to be said - I'm proud to have the pound in my pocket.)

*rant over*

Note that there are places in the UK which accept Euros as payment. And although perhaps not in a Wem supermarket, one could expect it in tourist hotspots, especially around London. ;)

Well that's fair enough. Those places in London though probably accept payment in dollars and yen too.

I just find it arrogant to expect to be able to pay in what is a foreign currency. The Euro, despite being the official currency of 12 EU countries, is not the official currency of Europe like some people would have you believe.

I don't think that asking a question and demanding something are quite the same thing.
whilst abroad I often ask,in English I may add,if I can pay on visa or with travellers cheques etc

I think that someone has had a bad day.

s.g.d.

Nope, I just have a very strong opinion when it comes to the Euro.

so how do you feel about the Americanisation of the English language? ;)

s.g.d.

Oh God, don't get me started on that. THEY CAN'T SPELL!!!!

I so wanted there to be a spelling mistake in your post :D

s.g.d.

Well, fair enough, each to their own. I don't think that's a very good reason to abuse strangers though. By the sounds of it they weren't being "arrogant" at all, merely asking a question. It's not just tourist shops in London that accept the Euro, go to M&S or Virgin in Shrewsbury and I'm fairly sure they accept Euros too.

These visitors were probably just confused because the tills at Wem coop display a euro conversion and this is also printed on the receipt if I remember correctly.

As I said there's no need to even consider abusing people for asking questions (politely, not demanding at all) and making the effort to speak our language over here which is more than most Brits do abroad.