Martin wrote:
> On Wed, 7 Nov 2007 00:18:18 +0000, d4g4h4@yahoo.co.uk (David Horne, _the_
> chancellor (*)) wrote:
[]
> >That's a distinction without a difference. It's the most convenient way
> >of paying for the customer because it's the fastest- even faster than
> >cash. The impact this can have on small outlets in London during busy
> >times (and that's most of the time during the day) is phenomenal.
> >
> >Look at the way the Oyster card has revolutionised the way people pay
> >for transport in London. I live 200 miles away from the city, yet when I
> >visit, I simply don't contemplate buying tickets etc. I place my wallet
> >on the oyster reader (I don't even bother taking the card out- you don't
> >need to) and the transaction is instant. I used it several times today
> >getting on buses. The time savings compared to buying tickets manually
> >is quite significant, even for someone like myself who only visits
> >London around 30 days a year. Extend that convenience to paying for a
> >coffee, lunch, newspaper, whatever, and you see it's extremely
> >beneficial for the customer.
>
> You would need considerably more credit on the card than when you just use it
> for transport.
> The Dutch debit cards have had a capability to store credit on a card for some
> time. If you lose the card you have lost your credit too. I stopped using it
> after my credit was wiped mysteriously. I couldn;t see any advantage in having
> credit stored on the card.
I think that the kind of usage this is aimed at, it would be fine. My
oyster card automatically tops up to keep a credit balance of around
£20. That would be fine for most people's use for this kind of thing-
coffees, sandwiches, newspapers and so on. Bigger purchases would tend
to be in situations where a regular card would be fine.
--
(*) ... of the royal duchy of city south and deansgate
http://www.davidhorne.net - real address on website
"He can't be as stupid as he looks, but nevertheless he probably
is quite a stupid man." Richard Dawkins on Pres. Bush" |
