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Why Germans pay cash for almost everything

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Re: Why Germans pay cash for almost everything

#461

Post by lobster_johnson »

_Codemonkeyism wrote: post #261
codegeek wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As an american, I find it strange that cash is faster. Most people who pay cash need to wait to get the change back unless they know the total beforehand and happen to have exact change. In the US, credit card machines are very fast even the chip enabled ones. Cash workflow: - Cashier tells you the total amount - You look in your wallet/purse - You spend time counting exact change if you do have it - If not, you take…

Cash workflow: - Cashier tells you the total amount - I get a 10 EUR note from my trouser pocket - Cashier gives back money - I put money in trouser pocket - Done - Home: I put all spare money in a large glass jar Credit card workflow: - Cashier tells you the total amount - You look in your wallet/purse - You swipe card/insert in chip reader - You insert PIN number - You shield your PIN entrie from the people next to…

I was in Germany a few days ago. My credit card workflow:

- Cashier tells me total amount.

- I get my card from my wallet.

- I hold the card near the terminal.

- 2-3 seconds pass, terminal goes "Approved".

- Done.

It's easier than cash. Almost every store I went to had wireless card terminals, even coffee shops and supermarkets.

Re: Why Germans pay cash for almost everything

#462

Post by lobster_johnson »

ApolloFortyNine wrote: post #428
zip1234 wrote: post #152

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In Germany the price advertised is the price paid. Not so in America due to taxes and fees.

Germany has the VAT, they just require that vendors hide it from the consumer.

VAT is part of the itemized receipt. More importantly, as the parent says, advertised prices must include VAT. This is different from the US, where sales tax is added as a last step, and advertised prices are always excluding tax.

Re: Why Germans pay cash for almost everything

#463

Post by xbmcuser »

codegeek wrote: post #94
_Codemonkeyism wrote: post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As a German a.) I mostly pay cash because it's faster b.) some shops that can afford it only have cash payments to save on CC costs Not because of inflation or because something happend 100y ago.

As an american, I find it strange that cash is faster. Most people who pay cash need to wait to get the change back unless they know the total beforehand and happen to have exact change. In the US, credit card machines are very fast even the chip enabled ones. Cash workflow: - Cashier tells you the total amount - You look in your wallet/purse - You spend time counting exact change if you do have it - If not, you take…

Here in Singapore they have started using automated cash machines the teller tells you the amount you feed it into the machine. The machine gives change. I use it for getting rid of all the coins once in a while and I don't have to count the coine just drop all the coins I have. If I drop in to much it I returns notes back if pposible. If the coins at a bank coin depositor they charge $0.01 per coin so if you are depositing at the bank you loose 10-20% for 5-10c coins.

Re: Why Germans pay cash for almost everything

#464

Post by Too »

Pretty weak thesis I would say. Visa debit exists and is equally convenient as credit card without the debt drawback.

You can get one that is indistinguishable from visa cc to the merchant and hence works everywhere normal Visa does (unlike the one branded "visa debit" that existed many years ago).

Re: Why Germans pay cash for almost everything

#465

Post by wmu »

A few years ago I was working on some bank software. We had access to bank's anonymized data, and I was really surprised when figured out what information is stored with card payments. For instance, I learnt that a guy had bought a pack of cigarettes in a small town at 12:31, Monday. Then I realized how much information a bank may posses. And how dangerous it is, because we have no control on how and who process that info.

That day I decided to pay with cash whenever I can, despite inconvenience. I prefer cards or bank transfers when buying expansive stuff, like a car, furniture, a camera, etc.

Re: Why Germans pay cash for almost everything

#466

Post by mk89 »

_Codemonkeyism wrote: post #261
codegeek wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As an american, I find it strange that cash is faster. Most people who pay cash need to wait to get the change back unless they know the total beforehand and happen to have exact change. In the US, credit card machines are very fast even the chip enabled ones. Cash workflow: - Cashier tells you the total amount - You look in your wallet/purse - You spend time counting exact change if you do have it - If not, you take…

Cash workflow: - Cashier tells you the total amount - I get a 10 EUR note from my trouser pocket - Cashier gives back money - I put money in trouser pocket - Done - Home: I put all spare money in a large glass jar Credit card workflow: - Cashier tells you the total amount - You look in your wallet/purse - You swipe card/insert in chip reader - You insert PIN number - You shield your PIN entrie from the people next to…

Where the hell do you live that people think you are broke if you pay by card? And even then, who cares. Also, in supermarkets or so, there is a line and most of the time I see people respect privacy... payment by card is certainly faster unless you know in advance the amount and you already have the money ready in your hands...

Re: Why Germans pay cash for almost everything

#467

Post by Symbiote »

mod wrote: post #390
Symbiote wrote: post #320

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In countries where paying by card is common, the waiter will assume this and bring the terminal. You can make it explicit, by having a card visible when you ask for the bill.

Speaking for America, where it's common to pay by card, I have never had a waiter bring a terminal to the table. They take your card away and bring back a card receipt for you to sign & leave a tip on.

In Europe, pretty much every restaurant, and many bars and cafés, have portable card readers. (If they don't, then they don't take payment at the table.)

There is no practical alternative, since the customer needs to input their PIN.

Dishonest waiters used to be considered a common way for card details to be stolen.

Example: https://www.paymentsense.co.uk/card-machines/portable/

Re: Why Germans pay cash for almost everything

#469

Post by mgoetzke »

lobster_johnson wrote: post #461
_Codemonkeyism wrote: post #261

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Cash workflow: - Cashier tells you the total amount - I get a 10 EUR note from my trouser pocket - Cashier gives back money - I put money in trouser pocket - Done - Home: I put all spare money in a large glass jar Credit card workflow: - Cashier tells you the total amount - You look in your wallet/purse - You swipe card/insert in chip reader - You insert PIN number - You shield your PIN entrie from the people next to…

I was in Germany a few days ago. My credit card workflow: - Cashier tells me total amount. - I get my card from my wallet. - I hold the card near the terminal. - 2-3 seconds pass, terminal goes "Approved". - Done. It's easier than cash. Almost every store I went to had wireless card terminals, even coffee shops and supermarkets.

but you have to have a credit card that does that :) I for example don't have one, even though I do have a credit card for travels. Most Germans I know also don't want one because they usually cost extra money. And that is apart from the fact that the entire name 'Kreditkarte' -> credit card, implies one requires credit i.e don't have that money, not an easy sell here. Paying a yearly fee for having to look as if one needs credit :)

also its always a guessing game whether you have to enter a pin or sign. it seems a random distribution. same shop, same amount, sometimes pin sometimes signature.

PS: I am not saying its good or bad, just trying to give people a feel about some of us Germans

Re: Why Germans pay cash for almost everything

#470

Post by mgoetzke »

irrational wrote: post #322
_Codemonkeyism wrote: post #261

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Cash workflow: - Cashier tells you the total amount - I get a 10 EUR note from my trouser pocket - Cashier gives back money - I put money in trouser pocket - Done - Home: I put all spare money in a large glass jar Credit card workflow: - Cashier tells you the total amount - You look in your wallet/purse - You swipe card/insert in chip reader - You insert PIN number - You shield your PIN entrie from the people next to…

But you left out the step of having to get the cash money into your pocket to begin with. I haven't touched cash in many years, but back when I did use cash it was always a pain having to go to the bank, or an ATM, or remembering to ask for money back once debit cards became a thing.

funnily I often get my cash when buying groceries.

I pay with my banks card (not a credit but a debit card) and then ask them for cash on top of the groceries. I am often the only one paying with a card if any kind though.

that way i have cash for all the things were paying with a card is frowned upon in germany:

- eating out - going on a fair - getting ice cream with the kids - going to the public pool with the kids - giving kids their allowance :)

and other things of that nature

PS: Since cash payments make it difficult for marketers to 'understand' their customers there are a number of cashback card systems like 'payback' in germany which try to get people to identify themselves.

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