4 ms·

> the idea that physical money primarily aids social fraud, money washing and other illegal activities is pretty well established I think that's very hyperboli

> the idea that physical money primarily aids social fraud, money washing and other illegal activities is pretty well established I think that's very hyperbolic. In france most people I know carry cash and use it regularly (not as much as cards), the gen X and older tend to find it strange to pay for small sums (eg bread) with card. Germany is infamously almost cash-only. In many Central Europe countries, shops taking card is not a given (Bulgaria, Hungary).

Tainnor 1y ago
> Germany is infamously almost cash-only. Let's not exaggerate. While I am often enough exasperated at how often certain restaurants or bars will still only accept cash (or sometimes EC card), I'm still able to do about 90% of my transactions by card.
- ChrisMarshallNY 1y ago
  In the US, cash-only businesses usually attract auditors from the IRS (or did, until they gutted the agency).
- williamdclt 1y ago
  Interesting! As a tourist, almost all my transactions had to be cash: but ofc a tourist and a resident don't have the same spending patterns (mostly bars and restaurant for me)
  - Tainnor 1y ago
    Supermarkets and most stores where you'd buy everyday stuff (clothes, electronics, books, ...), especially if they're chains, will take card. It's really mostly independently owned kiosks, bars and restaurants that are holdouts, and even there the card acceptance rate is increasing.
johannes1234321 1y ago
> Germany is infamously almost cash-only. COVID caused a major boost in shops adding card payments. Most shops now accept them even for small payments. There are places which don't take cards, many of them also don't print receipts without asking, which might indicate than an tax audit might give interesting results ... Some shops try to go towards "card only"
stockerta 1y ago
In Hungary by law every seller that has a cash register also has to accept cards. So I guess you were here some years ago.

Tainnor 1y ago

> Germany is infamously almost cash-only. Let's not exaggerate. While I am often enough exasperated at how often certain restaurants or bars will still only accept cash (or sometimes EC card), I'm still able to do about 90% of my transactions by card.

ChrisMarshallNY 1y ago
In the US, cash-only businesses usually attract auditors from the IRS (or did, until they gutted the agency).
williamdclt 1y ago
Interesting! As a tourist, almost all my transactions had to be cash: but ofc a tourist and a resident don't have the same spending patterns (mostly bars and restaurant for me)
- Tainnor 1y ago
  Supermarkets and most stores where you'd buy everyday stuff (clothes, electronics, books, ...), especially if they're chains, will take card. It's really mostly independently owned kiosks, bars and restaurants that are holdouts, and even there the card acceptance rate is increasing.

johannes1234321 1y ago

> Germany is infamously almost cash-only. COVID caused a major boost in shops adding card payments. Most shops now accept them even for small payments. There are places which don't take cards, many of them also don't print receipts without asking, which might indicate than an tax audit might give interesting results ... Some shops try to go towards "card only"

stockerta 1y ago

In Hungary by law every seller that has a cash register also has to accept cards. So I guess you were here some years ago.