I'm really glad that option is there. I had an emergency involving a seizing dog and a round trip to the vets office. The driver was incredible and would have gotten a whole $9 if I couldn't tip.
In general you are getting a ride from someone. Other than the fact that with legacy taxis you tip, (just like at a restaurant) where it doesn't really relate to quality of service, I don't see how much extra someone can do that would make a ride tipworthy.
Perhaps this is just a difference depending on where you are in the world, but I'm not used to people in first world countries carrying cash.
Interesting that Germany is different.
It might be me but I perceived the culture in smaller town Scotland to be more cash oriented than I am used to in the USA.
I personally saw more people pay with cash than I am used to.
I still love your country and will go back at any time.
Probably because you didn't have chip and pin.
If an establishment takes a card without chip and pin in the UK/Europe, the fraud rules are very different.
I do have chip and pin and I wouldn't have left without a chip and pin card (I have more than one out of my 8 credit cards, not counting debit cards...which I have several as well...). There was absolutely zero reason to believe a perceived lack of chip and pin was an issue from what I wrote.
Also the fraud rule are/will be different in the US as well.
I went to a deli they told me that I have to ahev £10 minimum to use a card. I went to a restaurant and they had a £1.50 surcharge for card as well and encouraged me to pay in cash.
The first time I used card while I was there was at Wetherspoons... lol...
I also base my feelings on my personal observations of watching other people pay for things as well. Of course my "feeling" could be off base as well. People are known for getting a wrong impression sometimes.
That being said - I still love Scotland and will visit again in a heartbeat. In fact I hope to visit again in the near future!
I've also been all across small town USA :)
I really hope I don't offend. I don't mean to.
The reason I went to the place I went was because the primary purpose of my trip was to visit someone.
Also if its a crowded pub waiting while you dig you card out and slowly use the one machine your holding every one up.
No? Why would it get eaten by a machine?
Been there, done that. Only once, but yeah, it happens.
Works at cash only places - this probably varies around the world. In Australia, most places will accept card - the exception being Asian places, cause we're cheap =).
Small merchants are happy to receive it - I suspect this is changing, the fees are next to nothing these days, and by not handling cash, they avoid issues like employee theft, and also people are encouraged to spend more.
You get a discount when buying gas - we don't have this here (Australia)
The aforementioned tipping - likewise, we don't have this here. In general, I prefer to know how much I am spending beforehand, and I dislike the concept of tipping, or people needing to beg for tips.
It works when the power out - err, I suspect if the power is out in say a supermarket or a restaurant, they would have more issues than just the credit card machine not working.
I'm not saying never carry cash - but I like the convenience of card. And let's be honest most people aren't keeping their money stuffed inside their mattress.
Their money is in a bank account - and not in physical notes either, it's a set of electronic digits. So the whole, going to a bank, converting it to cash, giving it to somebody, so that they can then convert it back into electronic digits - seems incredibly archaic and outmoded.
Additionaly, nothing is to prevent a driver from keeping a small amount of cash on their person and then stashing the rest periodically in a hidden safe. So yes they might lose $50 or $100 vs. not getting tips. Even if they don't get tips a person could assume they had some cash on them.
The point of the small amount of cash is twofold. One it's a small amount so if you lose it not that big of a deal. But it's also enough that if you got robbed you could give something to the robber. So they don't harm you or beat you thinking there is more somewhere. [1] This is similar to the old rule of leaving a small amount of cash in your cash register at a store and leaving the register open. That way someone comes in, takes the cash, and in theory has less of a reason to trash your store.
[1] Of course you could store more of the money where you can find it to satisfy them if the $100 wasn't enough and if you felt your life depended on it. Kind of a honey pot in a way.
Some what now?
Why would you want the hassle? Or risk it being lost/stolen?
If I'm in town and not attending a fair, I don't have cash on me. Period.
You want to buy a bottle of coke from a vending machine? Most of them don't have card readers.
You want to tip the valet/bellman/maid? Most of them don't have card readers; even if they do, it's still inconvenient to make them dig it out.
Feeling compassionate toward the beggar on the corner? Think he's got a card reader?
Want to pay the babysitter? Does she carry a card reader?
Then there's the other side of risk. Ever had your identity stolen? (I have, though not from a dodgy card reader.) And if you think chip and pin is going to make that impossible, I expect that the crooks will find a way.
I don't panhandle, but I am homeless. In fact, I have a PayPal account. IIRC, I could get a card reader from them if I wanted it (though, in practice, I might need a better phone than I currently have to make that work).
Although I am posting this merely because it strikes me as humorous, it isn't crazy to think beggars may soon have card readers, at least some of them.
I carry small amounts of cash (in part to print e-gift cards at the library) and do as much as possible via debit card/paypal/online payments/etc.
I never have that urge tbh.
> You want to tip the valet/bellman/maid? Most of them don't have card readers; even if they do, it's still inconvenient to make them dig it out.
Yeah, when I'm on vacation I'll run to the bank and get some $5 bills for that sort of thing. Hence "regularly" was the word I used. I'm not on that sort of vacation 51 out of 52 weeks a year.
> Feeling compassionate toward the beggar on the corner? Think he's got a card reader?
I donate directly to large charities that I know provide food, etc. to people. I honestly don't see beggars on street corners [largely because the local police are assholes].
> Want to pay the babysitter? Does she carry a card reader?
Actually yeah. She does.
> Then there's the other side of risk. Ever had your identity stolen? (I have, though not from a dodgy card reader.) And if you think chip and pin is going to make that impossible, I expect that the crooks will find a way.
Yes. If you meant actually identity theft [e.g. social, driver license] so they can masquerade as you...a lack of credit card provides no protection. The insurance companies you use, your employer, your bank, and dozens [if not hundreds] of "big data" companies have this info as well.
If you somehow believe a lack of a credit card will magically secure you against this risk, you are very much mistaken.
Stolen credit cards, honestly, are much less of a problem than stolen cash. I can get the money back from a stolen credit card.