4 ms·
That's really intriguing. The fees you're describing are the same in Australia (2.9% on AmEx) and don't seem particularly evil at all. A few stores do charge
by SyneRyder 10y ago
That's really intriguing. The fees you're describing are the same in Australia (2.9% on AmEx) and don't seem particularly evil at all. A few stores do charge a credit card surcharge here, but the majority of retailers don't anymore.
As a near-annual visitor to Germany, it drives me nuts that I can't use my Australian credit card everywhere (especially at Saturn). I would LOVE to have an EC card, but it seems there's no way easy way for a visitor to Germany to get one. Seems you need a bank account, and there doesn't seem to be a way to get one without a residency permit. It's not like Australia where a visitor can at least buy a pre-paid reloadable Visa Debit card in any post office.
[If I'm wrong about the EC Cards and bank accounts, please let me know, I'd love to use an EC Card like a proper German whenever I visit.]
- filmor 10y agoSince last year Saturn and MediaMarkt (basically the same company) apparently allow payments via Visa or MasterCard ;)
- SyneRyder 10y agoOh awesome! I didn't get to visit Germany this year so I missed that news... this will make stocking up on my Rammstein / Oomph / Unheilig CDs so much easier next time :D
- monksy 10y agoOh wow that's a huge deal. I remember seeing posts on ToyTown about people buying washers/driers with cash because CC wasn't accepted.
- Scarblac 10y agoIn the Netherlands it's something like 2.8% for credit cards and a ~0.05 euro flat fee per transaction for EC cards. Huge difference.
- thesimon 10y agoFor the average German retailer it's around: 0.23% EC 0.5% Maestro/VPay/MasterCard Debit/Visa Debit 0.8% MasterCard Credit/Visa Credit 2.5% Amex But of course that depends on the size and the negotiation skills of the retailer. I'm always envy when visiting the Netherlands, "PINNEN ja graag" signs everywhere :)
- ar0 10y agoDKB Bank (dkb.de) offers German bank accounts for people living outside of Germany (and they're even free). You'll get a Visa card and an EC card with it. However, I am not sure if this also applies to Australia or only to other European countries. But if you're really interested it might be worth checking it out. (Also, I think their website is only available in German, so you would need to understand / find someone who understands some German to sign up.)
- SyneRyder 10y agoWow, thanks for this! That looks really helpful, and they do list Australia in the signup process, so that's a good sign. That's the best lead I've had yet about banking!
- deleted 10y ago[deleted]