Re: How do I approach my currency revamp issues?

On Tue, 25 Mar 2008 08:29:48 -0400, "Bruce Remick" <remick@xxxxxxx>
wrote:


"Christian Feldhaus" <me@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1iecxw1.c4zuo09746h8N%me@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Padraic Brown <elemtilas@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

The fact that cards are *accepted* in most places doesn't really mean
much. They're much less convenient to use than money, transactions tend
to
be slower. Ubiquity doesn't make for need to use, in my opinion.

While this may primarily be an internal US discussion, let me just add a
few comments here. Whether cash or plastic is faster depends a lot on
the circumstances. In Germany, for example, most people use EC/Maestro
(bank account based debit cards) for "plastic" payments, and processing
those can sometimes be pretty darn slow. Especially when, instead of
entering a PIN code, you have to wait for the cashier to print out two
copies of the bill, one of which you sign and return etc.

In such cases, cash is almost always faster. In fact, the Aldi stores
used to accept cash only until a few years ago, and the cashiers were,
by and large, extremely fast. They still are ;) except that they now
accept plastic as well.

But if the total is simply displayed, and you enter a code to verify the
payment, that takes less time than cash. (At least that has been my
experience.) May depend on the total amount whether a signature is
required or not ...

Ironic that you see no need for plastic yet always use it at the gas
station.

Ironic, maybe. It's the *one* place where plastic transactions are
actually faster than cash transactions. And that's only because of the
need for so much going in and out of the shop for cash transactions.
If they still had full service stations, I wouldn't use plastic to buy
gas either, unless I had one of those 5% off cards!

Paying right at the pump is convenient indeed. Unfortunately it hardly
ever works for me. ;) Most gas stations in Germany want their customers
to come in (and buy other stuff), so there are only few places where you
pay without going inside. In Belgium and the Netherlands that is a
little easier.

Now when I am in the US, there are many more places where I *could* do
that - except that, to make the credit card payment, you often have to
enter a ZIP code. Those machines cannot recognize my German ZIP code
and/or are unable to process non-US cards. So I would have to go inside,
leave my card there (!), get gas, and then walk back in. Frankly, in
such cases I feel much safer using cash.


Hmmm. I haven't run into any US stations yet that require ZIP codes for
card users. Maybe it's just a regional "marketing survey" thing which I do
encounter with some merchants.

It could be, because it's *extremely* annoying. Shell is one around
here that does that. If you don't enter a US zip code, the machine
stupidly tells you to go inside to see the cashier.

As for time savings, the only delays I usually encounter involve lines at
the checkout counter. Once I get to the register, any time I might save by
using cash is dwarfed by the time already spent waiting in line.

That's cos everyone *else* has slowed the line down by using a credit
card!

It seems
that for every few dawdling card transactions there's a cash transaction
where the clerk has to go to the next register for some 5's or a roll of
dimes. No big issue to me, timewise, but I can see it is an irritation to
some others.

In fairness, they don't often have to go to the next register for
change; but every card transaction is slow.

What does frustrate me is picking up a bottle of aspirin at the drug store
and getting behind a lady with a cart full of non-drug store items-- only
one register open. Every other item in the cart is on sale, according to
the advertisement she shares with the clerk. Some items aren't priced so
the clerk has to call for help. Then there are her coupons, some of which
seem to have expired. A couple are "2 for 1" deals so the lady has to
decide whether to go back for a second one. I've been there several times
and probably have spent over 5 minutes shifting from foot to foot staring at
different areas of the ceiling. I can always absorb that 5 minutes, but the
memory of the experience can last for years.

Poor store management. Cashiers should alert their manager if a
customer is waiting behind such a long order. The manager can open a
till for the few minutes it will take to clear the large order.

Padraic


Bruce





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