I never had a problem using cash to pay for things, including taxis. The biggest problem with taxis is that most drivers don't carry much change, so I always make sure i have a hundred RMB in small bills on me, just in case my phone is dead.
A foreigner's guide to WeChat payments in China
61–70 of 115 posts
Re: A foreigner's guide to WeChat payments in China
#62Earlier quoted context omitted.
Well, first, it'd probably be a phone-primary payment world, not a phone-only payment world. The traditional bank infrastructure would probably still exist. But even if not, and it was truly a phone-only payment world, I can't believe that they wouldn't have some kind of backup process available. And even if no backup process were available, the first friend I could bump into or email could help me buy a cheap phone,…
Well, first, it'd probably be a phone-primary payment world, not a phone-only payment world That's just moving the goalposts. The whole point of the original post was that moving to a phone-only payment world is a bad thing, and that's what is happening in some places (China is only one). I see no scenarios where my risk exposure is significant in a phone loss or breakage scenario. Then I submit that you lack imagina…
Well at that point I'm guessing you buy a few $25 backup phones that you leave turned off in your bag. Also in that cash free society, which will probably not have phone numbers anymore, adding a few more phones that you never use will probably be free or $1/month.
Or maybe cell phone networks will turn into something equivalent to wifi, that you could pick and choose from a software menu.
Re: A foreigner's guide to WeChat payments in China
#63Yes, you can have other people send you money in this way, but it is actually pretty easy to get a Chinese bank account, even as a tourist. It will take you 20 minutes. Punch it into WeChat, taking into account how your name was entered on the bank system, and you're good to go.
Re: A foreigner's guide to WeChat payments in China
#64Re: A foreigner's guide to WeChat payments in China
#65Makes you wonder how the payment system in WeChat remains profitable if it's 100% free... do businesses have to pay a fee to withdraw?
Yes. You pay money to withdraw from your WeChat wallet into your (Chinese) bank account. I've never had to do this, because I'm a foreigner, and thus cannot remove money from there. Besides, WeChat is sitting on a pile of cash, thanks to this payment system: Everyone who transfers money into their WeChat wallet is basically giving TenCent (the WeChat company) money they can use to invest, or whatever they want. I've…
That sounds vulnerable; if Tencent is truly doing whatever they want, then a run on WeChat could be the mother of all bank runs.
Re: A foreigner's guide to WeChat payments in China
#66Given that the Chinese government actively promotes tourism, the number of hoops a foreigner has to jump through to pay for things where cash isn't accepted is quite ridiculous.
> Given that the Chinese government actively promotes tourism, the number of hoops a foreigner has to jump through to pay for things where cash isn't accepted is quite ridiculous. Setting up WeChat pay is a pretty minor problem as far as tourism is concerned. Aside from the fact that almost everyone does take cash (at least 3 months ago in Shanghai), it's only difficult if you don't know someone with RMB willing to d…
Many countries (Uk anyway) can get 6 days transit without a visa if you head to a 3rd country. I flew to Beijing on short notice a couple of months ago, got a flight Glasgow-London-Beijing (5 days) - seoul - London
There are limitations (no leaving city of arrival), but it’s a useful last minute thing. You could do a tourist visit to Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and back home without a visa.
For VPN, speedify worked well.
I did pay cash in one place (near the diplomatic sector of Beijing), but got such a funny look I didn’t try again. Hotel took Amex.
Re: A foreigner's guide to WeChat payments in China
#67Earlier quoted context omitted.
You're using a pejorative term rather wildly...you can also "launder" USD cash into RMB cash at the airport with high fees.
It's clearly going against the intent of the company, and possibly the Communist party, I don't think I'm completely out of line using the term.
You are saying this is fraud?
Re: A foreigner's guide to WeChat payments in China
#68Earlier quoted context omitted.
Well, first, it'd probably be a phone-primary payment world, not a phone-only payment world That's just moving the goalposts. The whole point of the original post was that moving to a phone-only payment world is a bad thing, and that's what is happening in some places (China is only one). I see no scenarios where my risk exposure is significant in a phone loss or breakage scenario. Then I submit that you lack imagina…
Well at that point I'm guessing you buy a few $25 backup phones that you leave turned off in your bag. Also in that cash free society, which will probably not have phone numbers anymore, adding a few more phones that you never use will probably be free or $1/month. Or maybe cell phone networks will turn into something equivalent to wifi, that you could pick and choose from a software menu.
Or, in the OPs scenario, you could just carry $50 in your wallet?
Re: A foreigner's guide to WeChat payments in China
#69Earlier quoted context omitted.
Well, first, it'd probably be a phone-primary payment world, not a phone-only payment world That's just moving the goalposts. The whole point of the original post was that moving to a phone-only payment world is a bad thing, and that's what is happening in some places (China is only one). I see no scenarios where my risk exposure is significant in a phone loss or breakage scenario. Then I submit that you lack imagina…
You hail the cab and ask them to take you to a phone store, then keep the meter running until you get a new phone. If you're that totally helpless in a foreign country without your phone, you probably should go with a friend or local.
How do you pay for a new phone?
Re: A foreigner's guide to WeChat payments in China
#70Why would you ever need to use a VPN while in china accessing their owned services? That's great for china from an infosec perspective though.
Now they know your VPN exit IPs, and if you re-use the pattern/pin of the phone to lock the wallet, they will know that too.