Why wouldn't Watto accept Republic credits?

And your excuse for Qui Gon not exchanging it himself is?

He didn't know he'd need to at first.

After that--plot hole, or Qui-Gon didn't know where to go exchange it--Watto wasn't exactly offering help.

I love Star Wars, all the films, but all of them have plot holes.

 

There are several reasonable explanations that the critics seem to ignore.

The first is, obviously, Republic credits are worthless outside of the Republic. This is such an obvious explanation that it hardly bears mentioning.

Secondly, as someone else mentioned, it's plausible there was some sort of "currency exchange tax" charged to any exchanges of Republic credits and Watto, being a small time dealer, may have not wanted to lose any money at all.

Third, it's possible that Republic credits could be exchanged for goods on a limited basis on Tatooine but Watto simply didn't want the limitation.

O.K., so why wouldn't Qui-Gon exchange the money himself? Remember, they're trying to keep a low profile. Unloading a bunch of Republic credits on a small time junk dealer is far less conspicuous then walking into the local bank (most likely run by the Hutts) and announcing your desire to exchange a large sum of Republic credits for local currency.

And last but most certainly not least, Scott3eyez makes an excellent case for the Republic credits being, as their name implies, a form of credit that a cash-and-carry dealer like Watto would find unsuitable.

Seriously, it's not that difficult of a thing to reconcile.

 

I wonder how much money Qui-Gon was carrying? Even if Watto had accepted Republic credits, you'd think Qui-Gon wouldn't have gone on a potentially dangerous diplomatic mission with enough money on his person to effect major repairs and purchase replacement parts for a star cruiser.

 

That was money he earned from gambling and using his Mind trick to swindle people.

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QUI-GON: Let's see here, I'm almost ready to depart on my mission to meet with the Trade Federation viceroy on his starship. Do I everything I need? Lightsaber...midi-chlorian blood analyzer...underwater breather device...five hundred thousand Republic daktaris...

 

I wonder how much money Qui-Gon was carrying? Even if Watto had accepted Republic credits, you'd think Qui-Gon wouldn't have gone on a potentially dangerous diplomatic mission with enough money on his person to effect major repairs and purchase replacement parts for a star cruiser.

That's why Scott3eyez' post makes perfect sense. Read it.

 

O.K., so why wouldn't Qui-Gon exchange the money himself? Remember, they're trying to keep a low profile. Unloading a bunch of Republic credits on a small time junk dealer is far less conspicuous then walking into the local bank (most likely run by the Hutts) and announcing your desire to exchange a large sum of Republic credits for local currency.

Interesting point, but Tatooine was considered a safety point for them, since they were under the impression that no one on Tatooine was looking for them. They pretty much could walk into any bank and request a large currency exchange; I doubt anyone on Tatooine could care less what it was for, they all have their own problems to worry about.

 

"The answer is simple, bad story telling on the Old Man's part. He ignores the most basic concept of commerce in order to force the podrace on us. Tatooine is on the outskirts of the largest economic market and the Republic probably has the strongest currency in the galaxy. Republic law doesn't exist out there but the idea that their currency can't be exchanged or has no value is ludicrous. Tatooine is a haven for smugglers and traders, people are always coming and going. And Georgie Boy expects us to believe that they haven't set up some form of currency exchange. Not to mention that place is controlled by a criminal syndicate which no doubt has some dealings or operations going on in Republic space."

That is a very good post. Why didn't I think about that?

 

Remember, they're trying to keep a low profile. Unloading a bunch of Republic credits on a small time junk dealer is far less conspicuous then walking into the local bank (most likely run by the Hutts) and announcing your desire to exchange a large sum of Republic credits for local currency.

That is the most important piece of this entire discussion.

 

Watto wanted Peggats. Gold Peggats.

 

Tatooine was considered a safety point for them, since they were under the impression that no one on Tatooine was looking for them.

And nobody was looking for them because nobody knew they were there, and it was in their best interest to keep it that way. Exchanging a significant amount of Republic Credits for local currency would not have been conducive to maintaining their subterfuge.

 

my guess is that credits were not of much use where watto lived, and he probably seeked a more real form of payment.

 

Interesting point.

I can't even offer an explanation, other than this: if there was a currency exchange kiosk, then Qui-Gon would've bought the repair parts, been on and off Tatooine in a flash, he would have never found the Chosen One, Anakin would never have become Vader, and therefor no one would ultimately bring balance to the Force! And to think, Star Wars as we know it couldn't exist if there had been a currency exchange on Tatooine.

It's a good point, but I guess it just worked out better for the narrative this way, and I'm willing to overlook that. This is a fantasy movie, and I think the SW universe has given us a lot more substantial food for thought.

 

>>>>while Qui Gon's Credits are probably very useful within the Republic (given the Jedi's status, I would imagine that their "Republic Credit Card" would be a more or less limitless source of funds within the Republic), it's value is obviously very different outside the Republic when dealing with someone like Watto.

I wonder what the limit on a Jedi's credit card would be.

And given the fact that "posessions are forbidden", I wonder if the Jedi Accountants keep a track on everything they get used for and demand receipts etc.

I wonder if a Jedi would have acess to enough money to order a clone army...

 

I thought it was funny that Watto, a junk dealer, wouldn't take Republic credits. Republic credits apparently have no value, but scrap does? If they're worthless, Watto should have pretty much taken them without a second thought since, just like junk, they're things no one on Tatooine really wants but might have a use for someone later on. Suppose an Outlander comes in needing credits and is willing to barter, they may be useless to Watto, but to that Outlander, they could get him out of a really tight bind and would be willing to trade plenty for those credits.

 

"I tried waving my hand in front of the barmans face and telling him that it will do fine, but he just ignored me.."

Was he blue, with little wings?

"The first is, obviously, Republic credits are worthless outside of the Republic. This is such an obvious explanation that it hardly bears mentioning."

Uhm, it was never ignored to begin with, Seems to me a lot of mention has been made about "exchanging". I believe that covers this little scenario.

"Secondly, as someone else mentioned, it's plausible there was some sort of "currency exchange tax" charged to any exchanges of Republic credits and Watto,"

So now there's a tax on exchanging "worthless" credits? Care to explain the logic of that one?

"it's possible that Republic credits could be exchanged for goods on a limited basis on Tatooine but Watto simply didn't want the limitation."

Fine, but Watto isn't the only "businessman" on Tatooine, in case you hadn't noticed. Either Tatooine is a bustling spaceport, or it isn't. If you doubt that, then what was Watto doing with a hyperdrive from such a high-class ship to begin with? ?

"why wouldn't Qui-Gon exchange the money himself? Remember, they're trying to keep a low profile."

By sponsoring a pod-racer? Was he keeping a low profile sitting out in the observation center in the middle of the raceway? Was he keeping a low profile when he threatened to go to the Hutts? The only "low profile" he wanted to keep concerned his identity as a Jedi, which he almost blew when trying to "convince" Watto.

"Unloading a bunch of Republic credits on a small time junk dealer is far less conspicuous then walking into the local bank (most likely run by the Hutts) and announcing your desire to exchange a large sum of Republic credits for local currency."

"That is the most important piece of this entire discussion."

Except that the Hutts are the government, and everyone works under them in one way or another on Tatooine. Gui-gon knew this, and used this knowledge very effectively against Watto.

"Exchanging a significant amount of Republic Credits for local currency would not have been conducive to maintaining their subterfuge."

Nor would winning the pod-race right under Jabba's nose....go figure.

"I wonder if a Jedi would have acess to enough money to order a clone army..."

No, but a Chancellor would...

 

I didn't really think of it when I was watching the film to be honest but the idea that republic credits are no use on the planet is ridiculous. Were people who came to bet on the Podraces supposed to do so with engine parts and bits of scrap?

PtH

 

My vote still goes for Scott3eyez' explanation. Keep on ignoring it, the rest of you ...

 

I'm not ignoring it I just don't believe it to be the case. Why would the Jedi carry around Travellers' Checks instead of real money? In case they were mugged or lost their luggage?

 

I'm not ignoring it I just don't believe it to be the case. Why would the Jedi carry around Travellers' Checks instead of real money? In case they were mugged or lost their luggage?

And I can't believe that the Jedi just go on diplomatic missions with tons of cash, that probably only fits in a suitcase that QG magically hides in his pocket. It would make sense they carry a credit card, which just doesn't get accepted on Tatooine. If you get stranded in a backward place in the Sahara, you're credit card is only worth its value in plastic: zilch.

Like rsterling78 said:

QUI-GON: Let's see here, I'm almost ready to depart on my mission to meet with the Trade Federation viceroy on his starship. Do I everything I need? Lightsaber...midi-chlorian blood analyzer...underwater breather device...five hundred thousand Republic daktaris...

I'm afraid this comes down to believing what you want to believe. I'll go for what I think is logical (because QG doesn't go exchange his money, this must be proof to me he was carrying a useless credit card), you go for the explanation that QG carries all this cash money and doesn't get the idea to exchange it (probably at an abysmal exchange-rate of 2:1, leaving him the value of 10.000 republic credits), which creates a plot hole. Half empty, half full.

 

Well that's a fair point and one which seems plausible as an in-universe explanation. Personally I don't believe that's what Lucas was intending when he used the word credits but I can't prove that.

 

"I tried waving my hand in front of the barmans face and telling him that it will do fine, but he just ignored me.."

Was he blue, with little wings?

I dunno. How many drinks had that barman served up that night?



Rick McCallum loves you!

 

What i dont understand is why the mind trick didnt work on Watto. Its not like he has a incredibly strong mind.

 

The answer is simple:

Watto's shop takes Visa. But it doesn't take Coruscantian Express.

 

What i dont understand is why the mind trick didnt work on Watto. Its not like he has a incredibly strong mind.

His mother in law was an ysalamiri .