Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2008/09/22
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]It's got nothing to do with trust, Frank. Smaller businesses have to pay up to 4 percent of the billed sum as charges for credit card sales. On cash cards (Maestro/direct debit) they only pay 0.3 percent. I think if I was looking at a difference between 4 Euros and 30 cents per 100 Euros of my takings, I would be reluctant to take the credit card too. Cheers Douglas Frank Dernie wrote: > I work for a client in Cologne. I visit there frequently. Pretty well > everything is cash only, my client says Germans don't trust credit and > almost never borrow. Even my UK Eurocard cash card will not work there > since they won't take anything without a CE mark. > I have to get cash out of the cash machine. That is one reason why I > have never managed to buy a Leica in Germany, never enough cash on me. > Frank > > > On 22 Sep, 2008, at 10:41, grduprey@mchsi.com wrote: > >> Douglas, >> >> Yes, that was our experience with TUI Fly, they ignored my Camera >> Bag, but the rest went as check in. If they had weighed my camera >> bag, it would also have had to go check in, as the computer and a >> bunch of other stuff was in it. ;-) >> >> As for the card situation, the farther East in Germany (Berlin) it is >> better, but in the Thuringen area, they flatly said No Credit Cards >> of any kind. Even Cash Cards, which is what we have been using. >> Here in Oberbergesihes land (Gummersbach) and Rhineland (Koln) they >> are very adamant about not taking anything except the Eurocard. Last >> week I went to buy a light jacket in a major department store in >> Koln, and had to use cash, as they do not except cards. Luckily I >> had enough with me, but I do not normally carry cash, as I use my >> cash card instead. Even the Leica Store at the factory does not >> except credit cards. We have had no such problems in Italy, even in >> small villages, and in Poland this trip. >> >> By the way, I think we will be in your part of the country the first >> week of October. Maybe we can meet up? >> >> Cheers, >> Gene >> >> -------------- Original message ---------------------- >> From: Douglas Sharp <douglas.sharp@gmx.de> >>> >>> One of our local low-cost carriers in Germany (TUIFly) allows 5 kilos >>> (about 10 lbs) of cabin baggage + 1 laptop. They however never seem to >>> check the weight of the hand baggage (a smallish camera back pack), but >>> they do check the size in a sort of frame in front of the check-in >>> counter. >>> >>> They probably think that nobody is daft enough to carry quite a bit >>> more >>> more than 5 kilos in a small backpack :-) >>> >>> I have found that most German stores DO accept Visa or Mastercard, but >>> very, very reluctantly - most of them prefer to use direct-debit >>> (Maestro) with or without PIN input, or straight cash. >>> >>> Cheers >>> Douglas >>> >>> Clive Moss wrote: >>>> Have you had any problems with carry-on weight on local airlines? Many >>>> airlines weight limit of 15lbs or so is loosely enforced, but a >>>> killer if >>>> one has a laptop and camera gear. I had to check a carry-on on my >>>> last trip >>>> back from Australia, but they fortunately did not weigh my camera >>>> bag, which >>>> was smaller, but probably weighed more! >>>> -- >>>> Clive >>>> http://clive.moss.net/blog >>>> >>>> >>>> On Sat, Sep 20, 2008 at 2:44 PM, <grduprey@mchsi.com> wrote: >>>> >>>> >>>>> Steve, >>>>> >>>>> Well the same security checks that are seen at US airports are in >>>>> effect >>>>> here, and in my experience not a big deal. The lines seem shorter >>>>> here >>>>> though. Train security is pretty much non-existant, and this is >>>>> the area >>>>> where you need to watch your bags for theft. So far we have been >>>>> lucky, but >>>>> I do keep an eye out for curious characters. So far we have used >>>>> local >>>>> airlines twice, TUI Fly and German Wings, and the train 3 times >>>>> with good >>>>> results. For the train we decided to go with the EuroPass which >>>>> seems to be >>>>> pretty painless, although it is expensive to purchase, but over >>>>> all it runs >>>>> a bit less for overall cost, and you ride first class, so you get >>>>> seats with >>>>> more comfort and also have power outlets for your computer and other >>>>> electrical toys. One problem with the EuroPass is it may not be >>>>> valid in >>>>> the ex-Soviet block countries... Ours was not valid in Poland, so >>>>> we had to >>>>> pay for the train to Berlin, although not very expensive at all. >>>>> >>>>> Concerning electrical devices, most if not all current devices >>>>> work on all >>>>> power sources, so you need only a plug adapter, not the old >>>>> converters. I >>>>> have sleep apnea, so I use a CPAP machine, I had no adapter plug, >>>>> so I used >>>>> a power adapter from our trip 4 years ago, it did not have enough >>>>> juice to >>>>> run it. A quick trip to the Saturn store and they had a chord >>>>> that fit and >>>>> now I have a proper power connector with cable. The M8 charger >>>>> comes with >>>>> the plug needed, and I got a plug kit from my Apple dealer in the >>>>> US prior >>>>> to leaving to use with the MackBook power cube and cable. So make >>>>> sure you >>>>> have the proper plug. >>>>> >>>>> For the most part the trip has been relatively trouble free. Even >>>>> the >>>>> Taxis in Poland are reliable and cheap. I will say that between >>>>> our trip in >>>>> '04 and this one, things in Poland have greatly improved, we have >>>>> had no >>>>> problems finding people who speak English (Which is good as my >>>>> attempts at >>>>> learning Polish are poor at best, a very complicated language for >>>>> me) and >>>>> credit/cash cards are accepted just about everywhere, which is >>>>> more than I >>>>> can say about Germany credit card wise. Outside of the >>>>> Credit/Cash card >>>>> problem, Germany is great also. >>>>> >>>>> Gene >>>>> >>>>> -------------- Original message ---------------------- >>>>> From: Steve Barbour <kididdoc@cox.net> >>>>> >>>>>> On Sep 20, 2008, at 2:39 AM, grduprey@mchsi.com wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>>> Steve, >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Well I'm not sure I qualify as a big time traveler, but this >>>>>>> trip is >>>>>>> surely the biggest we have ever attempted. ;-) The Macbook has >>>>>>> been a real joy to work with and fits into my camera bag very >>>>>>> nicely, but adds weight... No surprise! As for e-mail access, it >>>>>>> has not been bad, only a few spots so far with no access, mostly in >>>>>>> the ex-GDR hotels this past week. OUtside of hotels, you should >>>>>>> expect to pay for access, as not all have free internet services. >>>>>>> In Poland the hotel had free internet WiFi in Warsaw's Old Town. >>>>>>> Italy was also not a problem, but the hotel in Milan had a high fee >>>>>>> for its use, where in Venice it was free. Germany on the whole is >>>>>>> also not a problem except for this past week in the fore mentioned >>>>>>> Ex GDR area in the Thuringen area. Photo opertunities are great as >>>>>>> expected. And I am looking forward to Photokina next Friday and >>>>>>> Saturday (26th & 27th). >>>>>>> >>>>>>> The only down side has been my wife catching a bug this past week >>>>>>> and has not been able to get out of the house since, but she is >>>>>>> finally getting better. She needs to get better soon as the two >>>>>>> things she has really wanted to do are coming up soon... This >>>>>>> week a >>>>>>> trip down the Rhine, and in the first part of October the trip to >>>>>>> Paris. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> The weather is starting to cool down, so we may just have to take a >>>>>>> trip to Spain and visit Luis and Nathan in the second half of >>>>>>> October to get warmed up again. ;-) >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Not sure if that answers your questions, but so far no real >>>>>>> problems. >>>>>>> >>>>>> great to hear, how about passing travel security and concern re >>>>>> theft? >>>>>> >>>>>> Steve >>>>>> >>>>>>> Gene >>>>>>> >>>>>>> -------------- Original message ---------------------- >>>>>>> From: Steve Barbour <kididdoc@cox.net> >>>>>>> >>>>>>>> On Sep 19, 2008, at 1:03 AM, grduprey@mchsi.com wrote: >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Steve, >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> That seems to be the opinion on the LUF also, however, I have >>>>>>>>> yet to >>>>>>>>> try it. The turn on and format functions are greatly improved >>>>>>>>> though, I need to get me a couple of 4G SDHC cards to try out >>>>>>>>> that >>>>>>>>> part, but not sure where to go here in Germany, I'm in >>>>>>>>> Eckenhagen, >>>>>>>>> about 60 -80 Km East of Koln, (I'm not in Iowa anymore, >>>>>>>>> Toto...). I >>>>>>>>> guess I can get some at Photokina next week, and try it out. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> with all of your travels Gene, how are you managing with the >>>>>>>> computer / >>>>>>>> e-mail access...give us a few tips... >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Steve >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Gene >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> -------------- Original message ---------------------- >>>>>>>>> From: Steve Unsworth <lug@steveunsworth.co.uk> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> It could be my imagination, but noise seems better controlled at >>>>>>>>>> high ISOs >>>>>>>>>> too. I need to run some better tests, at the moment I'm using a >>>>>>>>>> MacBook. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> Steve >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> On 18/9/08 22:19, "Sonny Carter" <sonc.hegr@gmail.com> wrote: >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> Just downloaded it and tried out the auto ISO, and it works >>>>>>>>>>> smoothly and >>>>>>>>>>> quickly. >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>>>>>> Leica Users Group. >>>>>>>>>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more >>>>>>>>>> information >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>>>>> Leica Users Group. >>>>>>>>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more >>>>>>>>> information >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>>>> Leica Users Group. >>>>>>>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more >>>>>>>> information >>>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>>> Leica Users Group. >>>>>>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more >>>>>>> information >>>>>>> >>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>> Leica Users Group. >>>>>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> Leica Users Group. >>>>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Leica Users Group. >>>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >>>> >>>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Leica Users Group. >>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Leica Users Group. >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information