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Comment by rickmb | Hacker News Reader

Although I agree it's annoying and negative marketing, it's also being completely overblown here. This stuff is just a minor marketing gimmick.

Paying with credit card is in itself rare in most of the world outside the US, where debit cards and cash are way more common. My guess is, 95% of all locals and non-US visitors automatically pay with cash and don't even notice the Visa-only signs.

Not having the local currency on you and waving your credit card in situations where it's considered inconvenient and inappropriate is a very typically American tourist thing to do.

And I really can't think of anything within the Olympic venue that would be considered appropriate to pay for with credit card.

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I don't know about the UK, but certainly here in Sweden I (and most people I know) basically never pay for anything with cash. Hell I basically don't even carry cash any more.

I really can't think of anything within the Olympic venue that would be considered appropriate to pay for with credit card.

What are your criteria for 'appropriate' when it comes to paying with credit card? On my way to work today I dropped by a news agent and bought an apple and something to drink, paid with my credit card, and no one thought that was the slightest bit strange.

> Paying with credit card is in itself rare in most of the world outside the US

I live in the UK: You're incorrect. I would say credit card payments make up the majority of transactions (exceptions: buses, market stalls, and Greggs).

Our Greggs has a card terminal, McDs do too now but most people appear to pay cash.

Greggs only added that recently and I also believe there is a minimum spend (£5?).

Paying with cards (debit or credit) is VERY common in many European countries. Using a non-chip & pin card might be difficult in smaller cities, but I doubt you'll see anyone else claiming that it's inappropriate to use a credit card in an Olympic venue.

> debit cards and cash are way more common

The restriction was on both credit and debit cards (people refer to both as "credit cards" in many European countries).

>95% of all locals and non-US visitors automatically pay with cash

Hardly. Most tollbooth lanes in Europe only take plastic, self-service checkout lanes at supermarkets only take plastic. It is completely normal to pay for anything worth more than a few euros with a card.

Paying by credit card is incredibly common in the UK - very similar usage profile to the US.

> debit cards and cash are way more common

Exactly. And most debit cards are Visa.

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