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Thanks to Venmo, We Now All Know How Cheap Our Friends Are

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Re: Thanks to Venmo, We Now All Know How Cheap Our Friends Are

#241

Post by abritinthebay »

ashark wrote: post #198
dgacmu wrote: post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Distinctly non-millennial, creaky, grumpy middle aged fart here: venmo (and Google wallet) are great. Paying the babysitter? 10 seconds to find out their venmo username. Check that the picture looks right, send. Much easier than the alternative US bank-based solutions such as popmoney. Much less hassle than keeping cash around.

Maybe it's a regional thing? Almost no-one here uses Venmo. I mentioned it around my friends the other day and they'd never even heard of it. 2-3 people at my office use it semi-regularly but that's how they are--trying out almost any new app for anything. For all I know they've dropped it and are on to something else now. If I tried to pay anyone with it I can guarantee they'd say (a more polite version of) "WTF is…

Where are you?

Re: Thanks to Venmo, We Now All Know How Cheap Our Friends Are

#242

Post by sethrin »

FireBeyond wrote: post #109
cbhl wrote: post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For our generation, this pettiness goes the other way, too. I will literally try to buy lunch/coffee/dinner for someone, and after I've gone home, they've sent an unsolicited 'repayment' to me by Venmo. And on the other hand, it's difficult to "split your case of beer" with someone -- people are afraid to partake because they're worried you'll bill them afterwards, and they can't afford the $3 in this month's budget.

Wow, this sounds horrible. The day my friends think I'll bill them for splitting a case of beer is the day I've failed as a friend.

Sigh. This reminds me of an ex-roommate.

So I worked at a factory and he was a notary or some such function connected with real estate, working from home. One day I was running late for work, which was maybe fifteen minutes away by bicycle, and asked if he didn't mind giving me a lift. About halfway there he mentioned casually, "Oh, just so you know, I'll be billing you at my normal rate ($60/hr) for this ride." Thanks for the trouble, just pull over and I'll walk, buddy.

People may or may not have sane ideas about friendship and money.

Re: Thanks to Venmo, We Now All Know How Cheap Our Friends Are

#243

Post by Merad »

intopieces wrote: post #222
int_19h wrote: post #217

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why not just say "separate bills" at the beginning, so that you get them itemized individually?

I do not ask for this unless the server offers it. It takes longer to get the bill and pay for it, then if the server is busy / inattentive they just dump the cards on the table and let the group of 12 adults squint at Chase cards.

I can't remember the last time I visited a restaurant where the server didn't ask how the check(s) should be handled.

Re: Thanks to Venmo, We Now All Know How Cheap Our Friends Are

#244

Post by eropple »

prodtorok wrote: post #211
eropple wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not in my neck of the woods. If you sent a Venmo request amongst us you would be invariably called an asshole (and it wouldn't be a kind way of saying it, that sort of thing is real shitty). We use Venmo to push money around (Square Cash is nicer, but that ship has sailed), but it's more like "ehh, $25 is about right and I'll get it next time so the rounding will work in my favor". We are not doing down-to-the-penny…

I live in a transplant city dominated by young professionals. Multiple roommates (paying for utilities, grocery shopping together, house-shopping), many nights out a week with friends, etc. all yield to a multitude of spotting cash/credit for everyone. The only assholes are the ones who freeload often. venmo keeps everyone in check. What is your neck of the woods, partner?

I live in Boston, which is about as young-and-transplanty as it gets.

I don't know, maybe I just hang out with folks who take friendship with a degree of seriousness, but nobody I know would need to dun somebody in either our group or our extended group to pay their share. You grab the bill, you eyeball it for your stuff, you add twenty percent for tip, you're done.

If you try to freeload, you just wouldn't be invited again. Because friends don't do that, just as they don't send each other invoices.

Re: Thanks to Venmo, We Now All Know How Cheap Our Friends Are

#245

Post by erdojo »

treehau5 wrote: post #102
dsjoerg wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You haven't had many friendships with diverse income levels.

This problem is even worse when it's not even necessarily income levels that is the problem, but just different values around money & spending. If you have the same income level, but find it outrageous to spend x on y, you just get viewed as a "cheap ass" It's not my fault I don't want to pay 13 dollars+tip for a cocktail when I can make 20 of them at home for the same price.

It is your fault if you go out to bars that serve $13 drinks instead of staying home and making 20 of them.

We all have choices.

Re: Thanks to Venmo, We Now All Know How Cheap Our Friends Are

#246

Post by TulliusCicero »

rjbwork wrote: post #144
rc_kas wrote: post #117

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"every single person I know uses Venmo" How does that happen. I don't know a single person who uses Venmo. Not one. I know a lot of people and I work in Tech.

I only know 1, I also work in tech. I, have found developers and other tech workers to be, somewhat ironically, more "Ludditic" than the general population.

Depends on the app. Venmo depends on being social and going out a lot with friends, a lot of nerds are introverted.

Re: Thanks to Venmo, We Now All Know How Cheap Our Friends Are

#247

Post by Swizec »

bogomipz wrote: post #232
Swizec wrote: post #170

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A lot of restaurants are won't split bills too many ways because it takes time and impacts table turnover. When you have a line out the door, turnover matters. Back in Slovenia bill splitting doesn't exist. To me it's a completely American thing. The best they can do in Slovenia is charge everyone individually for their items, but that's not really bill splitting.

>"A lot of restaurants are won't split bills too many ways because it takes time and impacts table turnover." How much time time does it really take? Let's compare it to a single check with with cash as the form of payment. Some diner at the table needs to go through the bill and and collect the money or else the bill gets passed around and then everyone antes up their portion, there always come confusion about what…

Yeah people don't do that. The way splitting works in the US is that you split evenly.

So 1 person pays then says "Everyone venmo me $X" and the party leaves.

Re: Thanks to Venmo, We Now All Know How Cheap Our Friends Are

#248

Post by Tade0 »

Terr_ wrote: post #176
rjbwork wrote: post #144

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I only know 1, I also work in tech. I, have found developers and other tech workers to be, somewhat ironically, more "Ludditic" than the general population.

I think it's because we've seen behind the curtain. Product X isn't as magical, and we've seen how it can go horribly wrong. I wonder if mechanical engineers tend to be safer drivers...

I have one data point in the form of my father, who is a mechanical engineer. He always knew what you absolutely shouldn't do with your car, like give it gas on turns(wears cv joints in fwd vehicles) or keep the clutch depressed when you're standing still(wears some bearings I don't remember the name of).

He has had the same car for the past 25 years now.

Re: Thanks to Venmo, We Now All Know How Cheap Our Friends Are

#249

Post by burger_moon »

Tade0 wrote: post #248
Terr_ wrote: post #176

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think it's because we've seen behind the curtain. Product X isn't as magical, and we've seen how it can go horribly wrong. I wonder if mechanical engineers tend to be safer drivers...

I have one data point in the form of my father, who is a mechanical engineer. He always knew what you absolutely shouldn't do with your car, like give it gas on turns(wears cv joints in fwd vehicles) or keep the clutch depressed when you're standing still(wears some bearings I don't remember the name of). He has had the same car for the past 25 years now.

" keep the clutch depressed when you're standing still(wears some bearings I don't remember the name of)."

throwout bearing

Re: Thanks to Venmo, We Now All Know How Cheap Our Friends Are

#250

Post by rhapsodic »

Tade0 wrote: post #248
Terr_ wrote: post #176

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think it's because we've seen behind the curtain. Product X isn't as magical, and we've seen how it can go horribly wrong. I wonder if mechanical engineers tend to be safer drivers...

I have one data point in the form of my father, who is a mechanical engineer. He always knew what you absolutely shouldn't do with your car, like give it gas on turns(wears cv joints in fwd vehicles) or keep the clutch depressed when you're standing still(wears some bearings I don't remember the name of). He has had the same car for the past 25 years now.

>keep the clutch depressed when you're standing still(wears some bearings I don't remember the name of).

It's the throwout bearing. Your father has a point, but I would rather keep the clutch in. Too much thinking involved putting it in neutral every time you stop.

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