Re: [Leica] ISO camera shops in Cologne, Germany

[Hans-Peter.Lammerich@t-online.de]

I would say the vast majority of department stores, supermarkets and
camera stores in Germany do not take plastic. The very point is that a
transaction by EC card or Eurocheque costs 25cents, credit card costs a
couple of percent of the purchase value, with Amex and Diners charging
the higher rates, plus waiting a couple of weeks until the money
arrives. Someone has to pay for this, but the basic idea and rules
behind credit cards are that the fees are not related to the actual cost
of the individual transaction and are passed-on! Consequently shops with
a largely domestic customer basis prefer to do without.

Foto Hobby has an extensive mail order and online business. Foto
Lambertin is located near the Cologne Cathedral with lots of tourists
passing by. So their strategy is different, making them to sell more
high value gear at better prices.. 

Hans-Peter