.po-buyback-calculator-container {
max-width: 600px;
margin: 0 auto;
padding: 20px;
background-color: #f9f9f9;
border: 1px solid #ddd;
border-radius: 8px;
font-family: Arial, sans-serif;
box-shadow: 0 4px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.1);
}
.po-buyback-header {
text-align: center;
margin-bottom: 25px;
color: #cc0000; /* Post Office Red hue */
}
.po-input-group {
margin-bottom: 15px;
}
.po-input-group label {
display: block;
margin-bottom: 5px;
font-weight: bold;
color: #333;
}
.po-input-group input {
width: 100%;
padding: 10px;
border: 1px solid #ccc;
border-radius: 4px;
font-size: 16px;
box-sizing: border-box;
}
.po-input-note {
font-size: 12px;
color: #666;
margin-top: 4px;
}
.po-calc-btn {
width: 100%;
padding: 12px;
background-color: #cc0000;
color: white;
border: none;
border-radius: 4px;
font-size: 18px;
cursor: pointer;
transition: background-color 0.3s;
}
.po-calc-btn:hover {
background-color: #a30000;
}
.po-result-container {
margin-top: 25px;
padding: 20px;
background-color: #fff;
border: 1px solid #eee;
border-radius: 4px;
display: none;
}
.po-result-row {
display: flex;
justify-content: space-between;
margin-bottom: 10px;
padding-bottom: 10px;
border-bottom: 1px solid #f0f0f0;
}
.po-result-row:last-child {
border-bottom: none;
margin-bottom: 0;
padding-bottom: 0;
}
.po-result-label {
font-weight: bold;
color: #555;
}
.po-result-value {
font-weight: bold;
color: #cc0000;
}
.po-error {
color: red;
font-size: 14px;
margin-top: 10px;
display: none;
text-align: center;
}
.po-article-content {
max-width: 800px;
margin: 40px auto;
line-height: 1.6;
font-family: Arial, sans-serif;
color: #333;
}
.po-article-content h2 {
color: #cc0000;
margin-top: 30px;
}
.po-article-content h3 {
color: #444;
}
.po-article-content p {
margin-bottom: 15px;
}
.po-article-content ul {
margin-bottom: 15px;
}
function calculateBuyBack() {
// Get Input Values
var foreignAmount = parseFloat(document.getElementById('foreignAmount').value);
var buyBackRate = parseFloat(document.getElementById('buyBackRate').value);
var originalRate = parseFloat(document.getElementById('originalRate').value);
// Get Elements for Display
var resultContainer = document.getElementById('resultContainer');
var errorMsg = document.getElementById('errorMsg');
var cashReturnedEl = document.getElementById('cashReturned');
var exchangeLossEl = document.getElementById('exchangeLoss');
var lossRow = document.getElementById('lossRow');
var percentRow = document.getElementById('percentRow');
var valueRetainedEl = document.getElementById('valueRetained');
// Validation
if (isNaN(foreignAmount) || isNaN(buyBackRate) || foreignAmount <= 0 || buyBackRate 0) {
// Original Cost = Foreign Amount / Original Rate
var originalCost = foreignAmount / originalRate;
// Loss = Original Cost – Cash Returned
var loss = originalCost – cashReturned;
// Percentage Retained
var percentRetained = (cashReturned / originalCost) * 100;
exchangeLossEl.innerHTML = loss.toFixed(2) + " (Home Currency)";
valueRetainedEl.innerHTML = percentRetained.toFixed(2) + "%";
lossRow.style.display = 'flex';
percentRow.style.display = 'flex';
} else {
lossRow.style.display = 'none';
percentRow.style.display = 'none';
}
resultContainer.style.display = 'block';
}
Understanding the Post Office Buy Back Rate Calculator
When you return from a trip abroad, you often find yourself with leftover foreign currency. While the memories of your travels remain, the physical notes in your wallet need to be converted back into your home currency. This is where the Post Office Buy Back Rate Calculator becomes an essential tool for travelers.
What is a Buy Back Rate?
The "Buy Back Rate" is the exchange rate at which a currency provider, such as the Post Office, agrees to purchase foreign currency back from you. It is crucial to understand that this rate is almost always different from the "Sell Rate" (the rate at which you originally bought the currency).
Currency providers make a profit on the "spread"—the difference between the price they sell currency to you and the price they buy it back. Usually, the Buy Back rate requires you to hand over more foreign units to get back one unit of your home currency compared to when you bought it.
How the Calculation Works
Most currency exchange providers, including the Post Office, quote rates in the format of "Foreign Units per 1 Home Unit" (e.g., 1 GBP = 1.15 EUR). To calculate how much money you will get back, the formula is:
Cash Returned = Leftover Foreign Amount ÷ Buy Back Rate
For example, if you have 200 Euros and the Post Office Buy Back rate is 1.25:
- 200 ÷ 1.25 = 160 (Home Currency)
Why is the Buy Back Rate Different from the Purchase Rate?
If you bought Euros at a rate of 1.15, you might be surprised to see a Buy Back rate of 1.25 or 1.30. This difference represents the cost of the service. Currency fluctuates constantly in the global market, and providers also factor in overhead costs for holding physical cash at branches. Using the "Original Purchase Rate" field in our calculator helps you visualize exactly how much value was lost in the conversion process back and forth.
Important Tips for Selling Back Currency
- Notes vs. Coins: Most providers, including the Post Office, will only buy back foreign notes. They typically do not accept foreign coins because the shipping and processing costs exceed the value of the metal.
- Buyback Guarantees: Some providers offer a "Buyback Guarantee" for an upfront fee when you first purchase the money. If you purchased this, you might be eligible for a better rate (often the original rate you bought at) up to a certain limit.
- Check Daily Rates: Exchange rates change daily. If you have a significant amount of leftover cash, it may be worth monitoring the rates for a few days before visiting the branch.
Using the Calculator
To use the tool above, simply enter the total amount of foreign notes you have remaining in the first field. Then, check the current Post Office exchange board or website for their "We Buy" rate and enter it into the second field. If you remember the rate you originally bought the money at, enter it in the optional third field to see the "spread" cost.