It is just better in my experience.
You just scan a QR code and pay.
Not much point of using a credit card unless you want to spend money that you don’t have. Or to think you are making “points” by spending more money
You just scan a QR code and pay.
Not much point of using a credit card unless you want to spend money that you don’t have. Or to think you are making “points” by spending more money
If you have some money you can easily get a card with high cashback, as well, in the 1%+ territory depending on if you want big banks or not, and pay no fees.
But yeah I get the point. It was similar in Turkey, but still wasn’t that valuable to save 1% unless you are really trying to squeeze hard
But then they offered me the laptop with enough discount that was a no brainer. I obviously calculated the difference between 1x, 12x with the hidden interest - cashback and Pix.
So 3 days lost trying to buy the thing, then instant approval and next day delivery when I paid with Pix.
When I bought the NSW2 on pre sale, it was better to use installments, get some cashback, etc.
It's more worth to buy things with Pix, and use things like Inter/Meliuz to use 10%~ cashback on stores...
(of course, if you don't want to use insurance or installments).
Btw, my father produce furniture and industrial products, and we always make the price clear to the customer, including what the price would be depending on the payment method. It might not be ideal, but… we prefer to give the transparency to the clients. Because of this, I do say 90% of the clients these days pay only with Pix. A few years ago it was all CC or debit cards.
>You just scan a QR code and pay.
Tap to pay (ie. NFC) with credit cards is as convenient and arguably more convenient than a QR code solution. At the very least you don't have to worry about aiming at the QR code and waiting for it to scan/focus, which is especially important if you're using it on transit systems.
What means that if you have a very normal behavior, yes, it's more convenient. If you deviate from the norm in any way, it's an unreliable piece of shit that will leave you hanging without money the moment you need it most.
And as deviant people drop out of that system, the bar for deviance gets lower and lower.
1. "Tap to pay" refers to a technology, specifically NFC communications. Anyone can use it, not just "credit card processors". For instance, many transit agencies also use NFC for their passes/tickets, and those obviously aren't being intermediated by "credit card processors".
2. Any sort of centralized system will be susceptible to "all the usual bullshit credit card processors impose". At least with credit card companies there's theoretically a degree of independence from the government. A government run payments system, staffed by government appointed cronies would be even more susceptible to government pressure to block certain groups.
Once this is widespread, then the only reasons to use credit will be cashback/points or paying in credit.
[1] https://www.gov.br/secom/pt-br/assuntos/noticias/2025/02/pix...
This is absolutely not why millions of people use credit cards. To repeat: Immediately handing cash to a merchant carries risk for the purchaser. What if the product is defective, or the order never filled, etc?
The risk is buying from shady merchants and platforms that don't care about the legal system, or can delay the resolution of the dispute.
For instance buying from China on AliExpress, I will obviously not use Pix (through AliPay), but my credit card.
If it's in-person you bought something, technically you can only return up to 30 days for non durable goods, and 90 days for durable goods, if there's some problems with the product, or a reason etc.
And in person, if someone manages to copy it and fraud me, I can also get it resolved and have the credit card company pay me back.
Do these instant payment system offer similar protections?
Also some banks are offering insurance on trial basis already.
But yeah, I prefer CC on international platforms, or if the cashback is higher than the discount they offer via Pix (5% to 20%).
Lenovo offered me 20% on a Laptop recently through Pix.
With the discount I paid a bit more on broader support, keep your disks, liquid damage protection.