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'''Tuzex''' was a series of state-run shops in [[Czechoslovakia]] from 1957 to 1992 which did not accept normal Czechoslovak currency but only vouchers which could be purchased from banks with foreign currency. They supplied luxury items: local goods in short supply and in particular foreign goods. The Tuzex vouchers were effectively an unofficial parallel currency.<ref name=JPRS>{{cite magazine |last=Alan |first=Josef |date=27 November 1989 |title=Social Impact on Tuzex Vouchers Analyzed (translation of article in Slovak) |url= |magazine=JPRS Report JPRS-EER-89-130 |location=p40–43 |publisher=US Dept of Commerce NTIS |access-date= }}</ref><ref name= Šustek>{{cite book |last1=Šustek |first1=Zbyšek |last2=Karasiewicz |first2=Vít |last3=Klim |first3=Martin |date=2005 |title=Odběrní poukazy Tuzexu |url= |location= |publisher=Merkur Revue |page= |isbn=8090366201 |author-link= }}</ref> |
'''Tuzex''' was a series of state-run shops in [[Czechoslovakia]] from 1957 to 1992 which did not accept normal Czechoslovak currency but only vouchers which could be purchased from banks with foreign currency. They supplied luxury items: local goods in short supply and in particular foreign goods. The Tuzex vouchers were effectively an unofficial parallel currency.<ref name=JPRS>{{cite magazine |last=Alan |first=Josef |date=27 November 1989 |title=Social Impact on Tuzex Vouchers Analyzed (translation of article in Slovak) |url= |magazine=JPRS Report JPRS-EER-89-130 |location=p40–43 |publisher=US Dept of Commerce NTIS |access-date= }}</ref><ref name= Šustek>{{cite book |last1=Šustek |first1=Zbyšek |last2=Karasiewicz |first2=Vít |last3=Klim |first3=Martin |date=2005 |title=Odběrní poukazy Tuzexu |url= |location= |publisher=Merkur Revue |page= |isbn=8090366201 |author-link= }}</ref> |
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==History== |
==History== |
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The [[Czechoslovak koruna]] (crown) was a [[soft currency]], that is, not exchangeable for other currencies outside the country. In 1948 shops were established under the name Darex to sell goods to foreigners for foreign (hard) currency only. Later, these became open to ordinary citizens, but not for crowns. In 1950 to speed up transactions and limit fraud, foreign currency was first converted into Darex vouchers in values of crowns.<ref name= Šustek/> |
The [[Czechoslovak koruna]] (crown) was a [[soft currency]], that is, not exchangeable for other currencies outside the country. In 1948 shops were established under the name Darex to sell goods to foreigners for foreign (hard) currency only (based on the earlier [[Torgsin]] shops in the [[USSR]]).<ref name=Tuzexo>{{cite web |url=http://www.tuzexovepoukazky.7x.cz/emise-poukazu/tuzex-a-jeho-historie |title=Tuzex a jeho historie |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= |website=www.tuzexovepoukazky.7x.cz |publisher= |access-date=23 May 2018 |quote=}}</ref> Later, these became open to ordinary citizens, but not for crowns. In 1950 to speed up transactions and limit fraud, foreign currency was first converted into Darex vouchers in values of crowns.<ref name= Šustek/> |
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In 1957 the PZO (Foreign Trade Enterprise) Tuzex (a contraction of '''''tuz'''emský '''ex'''port'' (domestic export)) was founded in order to get convertible foreign currency into the country. This came directly from foreigners visiting the country, but also from relatives or citizens working abroad, who could send currency to friends and family to buy items in Tuzex, with Tuzex vouchers instead of Darex ones. These could not be re-exchanged for foreign currency and were valid for a limited time. (The state would convert unused ones back to normal currency at a rate of 2 crowns per Tuzex crown, a fraction of their effective purchasing power.)<ref name= Šustek/> |
In 1957 the PZO (Foreign Trade Enterprise) Tuzex (a contraction of '''''tuz'''emský '''ex'''port'' (domestic export)) was founded in order to get convertible foreign currency into the country. This came directly from foreigners visiting the country, but also from relatives or citizens working abroad, who could send currency to friends and family to buy items in Tuzex, with Tuzex vouchers instead of Darex ones. These could not be re-exchanged for foreign currency and were valid for a limited time. (The state would convert unused ones back to normal currency at a rate of 2 crowns per Tuzex crown, a fraction of their effective purchasing power.)<ref name= Šustek/> |
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The first shop was in [[Prague]] on Rytířské ulici, and the next in [[Bratislava]].<ref name=Tuzexo/> In 1961 there were 14 shops,<ref name=Tuzexo/> rising to 170 in 1988.<ref name=Gallo/> |
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However, the fact that otherwise unavailable luxuries could be purchased led to an unofficial or 'gray' market (technically illegal but tolerated)<ref name=JPRS/> buying Tuzex vouchers with Czechoslovak currency at a high premium, typically 5 to 1.<ref name=JPRS/> The Darex and Tuzex ‘crowns’ were colloquially known as ‘bons’ or bonds (Czech: ''bony''). The hustlers or [[spiv]]s who would offer to buy or sell them on the street would say ''bony a klid'' (vouchers and quiet) in a reference to [[Bonnie and Clyde]],<ref name=JPRS/>. A film was made of this title: [[Bony a klid]]. |
However, the fact that otherwise unavailable luxuries could be purchased led to an unofficial or 'gray' market (technically illegal but tolerated)<ref name=JPRS/> buying Tuzex vouchers with Czechoslovak currency at a high premium, typically 5 to 1.<ref name=JPRS/> The Darex and Tuzex ‘crowns’ were colloquially known as ‘bons’ or bonds (Czech: ''bony''). The hustlers or [[spiv]]s who would offer to buy or sell them on the street would say ''bony a klid'' (vouchers and quiet) in a reference to [[Bonnie and Clyde]],<ref name=JPRS/>. A film was made of this title: [[Bony a klid]]. |
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==Goods== |
==Goods== |
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[[File:Tuzex vouchers and goods.jpg|thumb|right|Display of a Tuzex counter in the [[Museum of Communism, Czech Republic]]]] |
[[File:Tuzex vouchers and goods.jpg|thumb|right|Display of a Tuzex counter in the [[Museum of Communism, Czech Republic]]]] |
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The range of goods stocked expanded. Initially they were export quality Czechoslovak products (e.g. fine chocolate, alcohol) at what would be a good price for foreigners, and Western products such as cigarettes. Better quality/style clothing became important, with Tuzex clothes becoming an indicator of success for some people.<ref name=Gallo/><ref name=Pynsent>{{cite journal |last1=Pynsent |first1=Robert B. |date=1986 |title=Social Criticism in Czech Literature of 1970s and 1980s Czechoslovakia |url=https://www.bohemia-online.de/index.php/bohemia/article/view/682/972 |journal=Bohemia |volume=27 |issue=1 |pages=1–36 |doi= |access-date=23 May 2018 }}</ref> This eventually included jeans as the epitome of western or "Texas" clothing,<ref name=Gallo/>, white goods and even motor cars.<ref name=JPRS/> The advantage in many cases was that such goods were available immediately instead of a long wait of possibly years.<ref name= Šustek/> |
The range of goods stocked expanded. Initially they were export quality Czechoslovak products (e.g. fine chocolate, alcohol) at what would be a good price for foreigners, and Western products such as cigarettes. Better quality/style clothing became important, with Tuzex clothes becoming an indicator of success for some people.<ref name=Gallo/><ref name=Pynsent>{{cite journal |last1=Pynsent |first1=Robert B. |date=1986 |title=Social Criticism in Czech Literature of 1970s and 1980s Czechoslovakia |url=https://www.bohemia-online.de/index.php/bohemia/article/view/682/972 |journal=Bohemia |volume=27 |issue=1 |pages=1–36 |doi= |access-date=23 May 2018 }}</ref> This eventually included jeans (the first being the [[Italian]] brand [[Rifle (fashion)|Rifle]] in 1968)<ref name=Rifle>{{cite web |url=http://rifle-jeans.cz/cz/Historie |title=Historie |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= |website=rifle-jeans.cz |publisher= |access-date=23 May 2018 |quote=}}</ref> as the epitome of western or "Texas" clothing,<ref name=Gallo/>, [[white goods]] and even motor cars.<ref name=JPRS/> The advantage in many cases was that such goods were available immediately instead of a long wait of possibly years.<ref name= Šustek/> |
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In 1988 Tuzex had 170 shops which sold $ 250 million worth of goods, two-thirds western imports, one third export quality items from Czechoslovakia.<ref name=Gallo/> |
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==Similar organizations== |
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Shops of this sort also existed in other [[communist states]], for example [[Pewex]] shops in [[Poland]] and [[Intershop]]s in the [[German Democratic Republic]]. |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
{{reflist}} |
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Revision as of 18:35, 23 May 2018
Tuzex was a series of state-run shops in Czechoslovakia from 1957 to 1992 which did not accept normal Czechoslovak currency but only vouchers which could be purchased from banks with foreign currency. They supplied luxury items: local goods in short supply and in particular foreign goods. The Tuzex vouchers were effectively an unofficial parallel currency.[1][2]
History
The Czechoslovak koruna (crown) was a soft currency, that is, not exchangeable for other currencies outside the country. In 1948 shops were established under the name Darex to sell goods to foreigners for foreign (hard) currency only (based on the earlier Torgsin shops in the USSR).[3] Later, these became open to ordinary citizens, but not for crowns. In 1950 to speed up transactions and limit fraud, foreign currency was first converted into Darex vouchers in values of crowns.[2]
In 1957 the PZO (Foreign Trade Enterprise) Tuzex (a contraction of tuzemský export (domestic export)) was founded in order to get convertible foreign currency into the country. This came directly from foreigners visiting the country, but also from relatives or citizens working abroad, who could send currency to friends and family to buy items in Tuzex, with Tuzex vouchers instead of Darex ones. These could not be re-exchanged for foreign currency and were valid for a limited time. (The state would convert unused ones back to normal currency at a rate of 2 crowns per Tuzex crown, a fraction of their effective purchasing power.)[2]
The first shop was in Prague on Rytířské ulici, and the next in Bratislava.[3] In 1961 there were 14 shops,[3] rising to 170 in 1988.[4]
However, the fact that otherwise unavailable luxuries could be purchased led to an unofficial or 'gray' market (technically illegal but tolerated)[1] buying Tuzex vouchers with Czechoslovak currency at a high premium, typically 5 to 1.[1] The Darex and Tuzex ‘crowns’ were colloquially known as ‘bons’ or bonds (Czech: bony). The hustlers or spivs who would offer to buy or sell them on the street would say bony a klid (vouchers and quiet) in a reference to Bonnie and Clyde,[1]. A film was made of this title: Bony a klid.
Following the Velvet Revolution in 1989 and the reformation of the country, citizens were able to travel abroad more freely, and legally deal with other currencies. In addition, improved domestic economy and more imports meant that Tuzex sales declined, and the sale of Tuzex vouchers ceased on 30 June 1992.[2] As well as running the shops, the Tuzex corporation had activities in various countries in order to trade Czechoslovak goods and obtain supplies for the shops. This continued for a while after the closure of the shops in 1992 to complete contracts and for liquidation of the assets.[2]
Tuzex vouchers
They were originally issued in values of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 crowns, with later 500. However from 1958 there was a voucher of 71.50 crowns, being issued in exchange for $10 US.[2] Tuzex also issued coupons to foreigners to buy motor fuel. In 1988 the first payment card in Czechoslovakia was introduced to allow cashless purchases at Tuzex stores. [4]
Goods
The range of goods stocked expanded. Initially they were export quality Czechoslovak products (e.g. fine chocolate, alcohol) at what would be a good price for foreigners, and Western products such as cigarettes. Better quality/style clothing became important, with Tuzex clothes becoming an indicator of success for some people.[4][5] This eventually included jeans (the first being the Italian brand Rifle in 1968)[6] as the epitome of western or "Texas" clothing,[4], white goods and even motor cars.[1] The advantage in many cases was that such goods were available immediately instead of a long wait of possibly years.[2]
In 1988 Tuzex had 170 shops which sold $ 250 million worth of goods, two-thirds western imports, one third export quality items from Czechoslovakia.[4]
References
- ^ a b c d e Alan, Josef (27 November 1989). "Social Impact on Tuzex Vouchers Analyzed (translation of article in Slovak)". JPRS Report JPRS-EER-89-130. p40–43: US Dept of Commerce NTIS.
{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: location (link) - ^ a b c d e f g Šustek, Zbyšek; Karasiewicz, Vít; Klim, Martin (2005). Odběrní poukazy Tuzexu. Merkur Revue. ISBN 8090366201.
- ^ a b c "Tuzex a jeho historie". www.tuzexovepoukazky.7x.cz. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
- ^ a b c d e Gallo, Roman. "Bony zanikly. Džíny přežily, ale pro Tuzex to byl smrtící úder". archiv.ihned.cz/. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
The bonds disappeared. The jeans survived, but for Tuzex it was a deadly blow
- ^ Pynsent, Robert B. (1986). "Social Criticism in Czech Literature of 1970s and 1980s Czechoslovakia". Bohemia. 27 (1): 1–36. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
- ^ "Historie". rifle-jeans.cz. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
See also
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