4 ms·

'Problem'? As the GP points out, cash is still very common here. A _large_ supermarket over here (Kaufland) doesn't accept CCs, but does accept direct debit.

'Problem'? As the GP points out, cash is still very common here. A _large_ supermarket over here (Kaufland) doesn't accept CCs, but does accept direct debit. Listing 'accepting CCs' as a bonus for Uber seems.. weird in this environment.

pgeorgi 12y ago
To add: few supermarkets accept credit cards. Neither does the public railway for short distance travel. Or pretty much anybody else. Might be because we were able to keep the middle man (CC companies) out by having the banks cooperate on electronic cash directly - since the 80s. Uber is just another such middle man we have no need for (and at 20% commission, they make CC companies look cheap).
- ptaipale 12y ago
  Just to clarify, I said "credit card" for simplicity but I use my card primarily as a direct-debit card; taxis (and everyone else) accept that here, and have been since 1980's. So the credit card company is not involved.
ptaipale 12y ago
Problem? Well, a minor inconvenience. For me the difference is that I specifically need to reserve cash to pay taxis in Germany, not for any other purpose. Normally, I don't carry cash with me, except for a few coins for a bus ticket or a vending machine or a quick lunch. I don't even carry a wallet; I have a phone case which has pockets for driving license or ID card, and bank/credit card. Above, I said credit card, but I actually use it as a direct debit card. I pay may lunch and groceries with it, and gas and parking, and whatever. If I make a one-day business trip to Stockholm, I don't need to make any special preparations: I can pay everything with the same debit/credit card, and I don't need to change any currency even though Sweden does not use euros. If I make a one-day business trip to Berlin, I do need to prepare with currency to pay the taxi there. If Uber brings pressure for taxis to accept debit/credit cards, that's good.

pgeorgi 12y ago

To add: few supermarkets accept credit cards. Neither does the public railway for short distance travel. Or pretty much anybody else. Might be because we were able to keep the middle man (CC companies) out by having the banks cooperate on electronic cash directly - since the 80s. Uber is just another such middle man we have no need for (and at 20% commission, they make CC companies look cheap).

ptaipale 12y ago
Just to clarify, I said "credit card" for simplicity but I use my card primarily as a direct-debit card; taxis (and everyone else) accept that here, and have been since 1980's. So the credit card company is not involved.

ptaipale 12y ago

Problem? Well, a minor inconvenience. For me the difference is that I specifically need to reserve cash to pay taxis in Germany, not for any other purpose. Normally, I don't carry cash with me, except for a few coins for a bus ticket or a vending machine or a quick lunch. I don't even carry a wallet; I have a phone case which has pockets for driving license or ID card, and bank/credit card. Above, I said credit card, but I actually use it as a direct debit card. I pay may lunch and groceries with it, and gas and parking, and whatever. If I make a one-day business trip to Stockholm, I don't need to make any special preparations: I can pay everything with the same debit/credit card, and I don't need to change any currency even though Sweden does not use euros. If I make a one-day business trip to Berlin, I do need to prepare with currency to pay the taxi there. If Uber brings pressure for taxis to accept debit/credit cards, that's good.