Credit Card usability
Submitted: Thursday, Apr 16, 2009 at 10:10
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Chris & Sue (Briz Vegas)
Hi all,
We're about to attack the
Flinders Ranges / Arkaroola /
Innamincka /
Cunnamulla and then back
home via SW Qld. What I'm interested to know is what is the current situation with respect to credit card usage?
While I intend to take enough cash to cover a few days' expenses plus a full tank of fuel, will I generally find most / some / no
places take credit cards when off the bitumen in SA? Obviously fuel is probably the biggest expense. Should I count on having to pay cash most of the time at
places like Wilpena / Arkaroola / Cameron's Corner etc, or has the 21st century managed to find its way in there?
Is there anywhere on the 'net with a list of what
places are still 'cash only'. Google hasn't been my friend to date on this topic.
Thanks,
Chris
Reply By: DIO - Thursday, Apr 16, 2009 at 10:44
Thursday, Apr 16, 2009 at 10:44
Not sure about Cameron's Corner but Wilpena,
Andamooka,
Leigh Creek will have card facilities and have had for many many years. I'd be surprised if Cameron's C. didn't also have such facilities. Really you do need to get out of the city a bit more often. Have a good trip. Probably pays to have a couple of hundred in cash for any small transactions etc.
AnswerID:
359789
Follow Up By: Sir Kev & Darkie - Thursday, Apr 16, 2009 at 13:01
Thursday, Apr 16, 2009 at 13:01
DIO,
FYI there is a Butcher in
Gladstone that only does CASH transactions. So you don't have to get out of the city to have issues with retailers not keeping up with the times.
| Russell Coight:
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Follow Up By: Member - Matt & Caz H (QLD) - Thursday, Apr 16, 2009 at 16:07
Thursday, Apr 16, 2009 at 16:07
We drove thru
Gladstone late last year and were really surprised to see a lot of "Sorry no Eftpos" signs in the main street!!!
Cheers
Caroline
FollowupID:
627791
Follow Up By: DesF - Thursday, Apr 16, 2009 at 16:33
Thursday, Apr 16, 2009 at 16:33
I am pretty sure Camerons Corner is cash , as we were there in 07 and it was then, but may have changed.
Cheers Des.
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Follow Up By: Sir Kev & Darkie - Thursday, Apr 16, 2009 at 16:42
Thursday, Apr 16, 2009 at 16:42
Caroline,
At the rate the larger Industrial employers are laying off staff in the
Gladstone there won't be much cash to spend. Another 120 got laid off yesterday.
There might be some cheap housing comming on the market around here soon :(
Cheers Kev
| Russell Coight:
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Follow Up By: Member - Matt & Caz H (QLD) - Saturday, Apr 18, 2009 at 10:00
Saturday, Apr 18, 2009 at 10:00
Hey Kev,
That is quite sad, there have been a lot of people losing their jobs of late.
Cheers
Matt, Caz & Kids
FollowupID:
627992
Reply By: Willem - Thursday, Apr 16, 2009 at 12:33
Thursday, Apr 16, 2009 at 12:33
Chris
Take your Debit Card with you and pay via EFTPOS just about anywhere in Australia. Even the remotest of communities have EFTPOS albeit sometimes via a Satellite link.
Cheers
AnswerID:
359800
Reply By: Squizzy - Thursday, Apr 16, 2009 at 12:35
Thursday, Apr 16, 2009 at 12:35
Believe it or not, we here in SA actually do have credit card facilities and have been able to use them in the bush for many years!!
You will not have any problems with credit cards in any of the
places you mentioned.
You may have to learn to speak a bit faster though so we can understand you!
Have a good and safe trip into the better part of the nation,
Geoff.
AnswerID:
359801
Follow Up By: Best Off Road - Saturday, Apr 18, 2009 at 10:31
Saturday, Apr 18, 2009 at 10:31
As
well as having to talk faster to be understood you also need to know that in SA they have a 25 letter alphabet. They did away with letter L years ago.
EG
Australia is pronounced Austrawia
Malcolm is pronoounced Mowcum
etc.
FollowupID:
627998
Reply By: Member - Allan B (QLD) - Thursday, Apr 16, 2009 at 16:59
Thursday, Apr 16, 2009 at 16:59
It always pays to have enough cash on you to get you going as sometimes the EFTPOS system can be down and this can also apply in the Big Smoke. Even more likely where communications are remote.
Allan
AnswerID:
359830
Reply By: Chris & Sue (Briz Vegas) - Thursday, Apr 16, 2009 at 17:13
Thursday, Apr 16, 2009 at 17:13
Thanks to all for their responses.
Looks like plastic has made its way into the bush. :-)
We're looking forward to wandering around SA next month.
Cheers,
Chris
AnswerID:
359832
Reply By: Motherhen - Thursday, Apr 16, 2009 at 20:05
Thursday, Apr 16, 2009 at 20:05
We tour on the credit card, but carry enough cash for a tank or two of fuel if in the outback. In NT last year, we only had a couple of Aboriginal communities that were cash only. Never had a problem in SA - pretty good civilised place to visit.
Motherhen
AnswerID:
359863
Reply By: Axel [ the real one ] - Saturday, Apr 18, 2009 at 10:15
Saturday, Apr 18, 2009 at 10:15
Most of the
places you mention take plastic ,the Corner store @
Cameron Corner included ,, be aware however that Diners Card is useless out there and Amex is generaly NOT accepted or attracts a fee of 1 to 5%. A cash reserve is also needed for when the Efpos machine is " down" .
AnswerID:
360112
Reply By: Chris & Sue (Briz Vegas) - Sunday, Apr 19, 2009 at 16:16
Sunday, Apr 19, 2009 at 16:16
Thanks, Ms Hen, Willem & Axel,
Looks like folding stuff for emergencies plus plastic for the day-to-day is the go. We use Visa plus a Mastercard (SWMBO's) as a backup.
Wouldn't have Diners or Amex on my mind in Oz - too many
places either don't like them, charge extra, etc.
Only a week to go! Wheeeeee...
Cheers,
Chris
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360358