Using credit cards in Germany

Some of you will have read my post about the fate of my Chinese sat. nav
So today in Trier, I found a large dept. store selling a good selection.
I was keen on a Garmin that fitted the bill & an assistant demonstrated it for me - in English :yesnod:
Took it to the check out only to be told that they did not accept cards even debit cards :omg:
So I told them to stuff it
Losing a £100 sale where's the sense in that
I will Google a return journey route & get a new sat. nav, back home.

Not sure I feel the need to complain about German card practices, but I was in Germany 3 years ago for work From Australia, and couldn't use the Defence credit card ( some brain surgeon in Defence got us Diners Club cards which are less than useless) it did require my traveling 300 kms on the Very fast train (which we have nothing like in Oz) to go to Frankfurt, just to use an ATM!
That, and watching the Isle of Man TT in my hotel room, there's worse ways to go to war!

Ken


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

German retailers are no big fans of credit cards but accept EC/Maestro cards usually (the 'normal' bank cards used at ATMs).
Same fast and secure payment option for them but without the cc fees.

German customers are quite reserved using cc in retail stores as everybody holds a Maestro card - usually no credit limit on them, so no risk to spend more than one can afford...

A large dept store should accept cc nevertheless, at least Visa Mastercard Amex...

That's a bit weird.
I can understand the reluctance to accept credit cards due to fees payable but a debit card is the same as a cheque or even cash.

I have used ccards and dcards across SE Asia without a problem. (Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia) Only the tiniest premises did not accept credit cards.


In terms of satnavs I would recommend a Tomtom. I have a Start 20 which I have found faultless across Britain and Europe. The maps update and you can add your own updates to the map (even adding roads)and if you wish alert Tomtom to new roads etc.so that the info is disseminated to the TT community.

One feature I love is the ability to type in voice alerts for any POI. This means you can have the voice say anything!

e.g. For f***'s sake, another bloody speed camera! Damn it!
A bit childish, but altering the spelling of words can make the voice sound hilarious.