Wouldn't using traditional eftpos payment (ie "debit" on the pos device) defeat the issue with visa/mc debit/credit cards?
I realise there's a convenience factor (tap to pay/nfc payment from smart devices) but if a 4.5c extra charge on a coffee is too much, you're probably going to have to deal with a bit less convenience.
To be honest even dealing with cash is going to be the biggest inconvenience. I recently visited my parents in SA after many years away from Australia. We took several hundred dollars in cash for expected small purchases that aren't worth using our foreign visa/Mastercards for. For example the $4.50 coffee.
Practically every place I used cash was able to but not at all expecting to.
One place I just wanted a couple of bottles of water. I don't remember how much it was. The guy seemed almost *insulted* when I handed him coins - he didn't even need to give me fucking change, but apparently putting coins in a till was a task he wasn't prepared for that day.
Another place (another day) I wanted some water, they had to *unlock the till* just to take my cash.
If a vendor is adding 1% to the charge for stuff going to the EMV networks, it's 100% worth it IMO.
If you're spending enough that the 1% becomes a significant amount, either it's:
- a rare purchase, and you could find a less convenient way to pay that one thing (ie eftpos) or you can just accept the cost once;
- it's a common/frequent purchase and you aren't even going to notice the 1%. If you care that much you can still always pay another way.
I realise there's a convenience factor (tap to pay/nfc payment from smart devices) but if a 4.5c extra charge on a coffee is too much, you're probably going to have to deal with a bit less convenience.
To be honest even dealing with cash is going to be the biggest inconvenience. I recently visited my parents in SA after many years away from Australia. We took several hundred dollars in cash for expected small purchases that aren't worth using our foreign visa/Mastercards for. For example the $4.50 coffee.
Practically every place I used cash was able to but not at all expecting to.
One place I just wanted a couple of bottles of water. I don't remember how much it was. The guy seemed almost *insulted* when I handed him coins - he didn't even need to give me fucking change, but apparently putting coins in a till was a task he wasn't prepared for that day.
Another place (another day) I wanted some water, they had to *unlock the till* just to take my cash.
If a vendor is adding 1% to the charge for stuff going to the EMV networks, it's 100% worth it IMO.
If you're spending enough that the 1% becomes a significant amount, either it's:
- a rare purchase, and you could find a less convenient way to pay that one thing (ie eftpos) or you can just accept the cost once;
- it's a common/frequent purchase and you aren't even going to notice the 1%. If you care that much you can still always pay another way.