Card use in Germany

Germany is still some way behind UK in plastic acceptance. You can use them in petrol stations, large stores (with some exceptions), major hotels and upmarket restaurants. Not many supermarkets take them, and the only debit card they usually take is their own EC card. You shouldn't have any trouble getting cash with your debit card from ATM (Geldautomat), even in villages. Chip and pin is rare. You should always carry some cash in Germany (still largely a cash-based society).

Alec

Whereas nobody flinches here even when you pay smallish amounts by CC, plastic is by far not as common in Germany. Unless things have changed in the last few years, I wouldn't expect to be able to pay by CC in supermarkets or Boots-like chains.

I am pretty sure that even big chains like DM, Schlecker (they're a bit like Boots minus medicine) don't take CC. A couple of years back I was pretty stuck when a shoe shop didn't accept CC. Every time I go over, I have a wallet full of cash now...

I'd already heard that CCs were not widely accepted, but assumed that they would be in larger stores (never any problem in France or Belgium, for example). I was surprised by my colleague's problems at Conrad (it would be easy to spend thousands of euros there, so they will be losing out!), especially as he had problems even with debit cards. At least I feel better that I should be able to get cash. I've already got a fair amount in cash, but that will soon go with self-catering shopping, plus essentials like PC bits ;-)

Another colleague told me that when he was in Germany (army, a few years ago now) that banks wouldn't even accpet cheques from different branches of the same bank! Don't know if that's improved.

Chris

PC bits on holiday?

Dunno about cheques. Cheques are not commonly used, at least not in my experience. I don't ever remember using a cheque in Germany when I lived there. I think a lot of shops accept EC cards and I think they work a bit like a Switch card. Rather than a CC, you hand over the EC card and your current a/c is debited. Obviously, that's no use to you.

you've obviously not seen the prices in German shops (or perhaps you've not seen the UK prices).

What does that cost in the UK?

tim

....about 7 euro if you buy mail order. I would not want to buy something cheap & heavy like cdr spindle blocks as they have to be carted back in luggage, unless you are taking your own car over.

That's about 9p/disk inc or ex VAT? Did you buy there or order over the net?

I buy a whole lot of stuff over there, in fact I go shopping mental, because a lot of things are cheaper, for instance toiletries. Didn't realize about computer stuff. Even some kitchen equipment. And shipping from Germany is no more expensive than via Parcel Force from England to Scotland.

I think I pay about 10p/disk - unbranded. And about 15p for DVDs

Walked into a shop and picked them up (I was there for something else and just put them in the cart.).

It isn't cheaper than you can get mail order. It is however available to pick up in the shop at that price. I value that at a lot. Mail order is a right PITA.

tim

But cheaper than a flight ;-)

Surely easier to click your mouse a few times than sitting in traffic, finding a parking space, finding what you want is out of stock so you have to choose something else, queueing at a checkout, getting stuck in more traffic on the way home....

That depends where you live, if one lives a long way from major shops then mail order is a godsend.

I don't recall anyone mentioning making a special trip. I am only justifing a "buy whilst your visiting anyway" deal.

tim

Choosing a day for it to be delivered, waiting in all day for it not to come, phoning up to rearrange, waiting in all day for it not to come...

Perhaps I have been unlucky, but all three of my Mail order Computer purchases have been like that. I'm really glad that I can get mail order prices over the counter now.

tim

At 21:24:28 on 13/04/2005, tim (moved to sweden) delighted uk.finance by announcing:

Delivering to work...

Tried that, they still stuffed up. That have to have your home address for a credit card match and guess what, that's where the delivery man took it.

tim

I've never had problems getting German ATMs to accept my cards (Amex, Visa, Switch/Maestro). Nor TBH have I had a problem in France, Belgium Luxembourg, Switzerland or Italy.

And my cards have been accepted in German stores for as long as I can remember.

I tend to vist Wiesbaden, Heidelberg and Freiburg im Breisgau fairly often. Places like Karsch-Haus, Hertie, Tchibo all accept Switch without flinching, as do all the restaurants I use.