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Q: Do you prefer using an ATM over a teller?
depends on what my transaction is and if I feel like dealing with the snark.
I spent a day trying to get a larger amount of money out of bank, went to bank after bank, teller after teller. Tellers said not possible, use ATM. The first time I asked in dollars and the clerk , who does have a calculator and the present exchange rate, wanted me to tell her in RMB. I have no patience for laziness, even less for stupidity. My girl friend wouldn't listen to me that the tellers were just being lazy and wrong. the next day i went by myself and just TOLD then this is what I want done. They sent a fax, done.
The ATM is faster, smarter and less lazy.
Maybe is me, but since I am never in a hurry in China, I rather use tellers. When I first arrived two years ago, I received a total of 8 fake 100 yuan bills from an ATM machine at ICBC, and that taught me to use tellers. I very seldom use ATM's now days.
Besides, when drawing money from overseas using credit cards, tellers charge you a fee around 1 % of transaction, ATM's fee is 3 %.
And for Pogger : ATM's here in China have been programmed to "sallow" the plastic card and / or the money back inside the machine if not removed within a number of seconds, assuming that maybe you left the machine unattended. So, it is not a good idea to seek for a cigarette or look at a passerby while at an ATM.
ATM's for RMB withdrawals....tellers for USD withdrawals. Prefer the ATM, especially if I can use one without someone looking intently over my shoulder....
