How far is Switzerland when it comes to paying by smartphone only
Not long ago, leaving the house every day with just a mobile phone and being able to solve everything with just one device sounded somewhat utopian. But to be able to do this one day, I personally find very liberating. To do without cards, cash and co. completely means for me that I have to think less and the danger of losing or misplacing something decreases. For me, this is convenient and user-friendly. Many others do it differently for good reasons.
In May I have now started a self-experiment and have completely given up my wallet. I only left the house with my smartphone and the apartment key. I wanted to test whether I could really do without my bank cards, cash and whatever else was in my wallet completely. I hardly used the wallet any more anyway.
At the beginning of May I was quite optimistic with the setup that I would be able to go the whole month without a wallet. Especially since I have had very good experiences with convenience and reliability since I started using Samsung Pay, and thanks to Sonect, I could fall back on cash if necessary.
The following table gives an overview of the use of the smartphone last May. Those who find this too detailed can jump directly to the next chapter. There I draw the conclusion. If nothing else is noted, I paid with Samsung Pay.
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Date, use and comment
1.5. working day
2.5. working day
At noon I went jogging with a colleague and paid for both in the take away, as we both only had the mobile phone with us. I received the amount from the colleague by TWINT.
3.5. working day
4.5. weekend
5.5. weekend
6.5. working day
Over the Internet I sold my old Wii U with a variety of accessories for 320 CHF. The buyer paid cash. This lay around for a month.
7.5. working day
8.5. working day
9.5. working day
10.5. Day off
At Obi I learned that parking is only possible with coins. If I had come by car, I would have had a problem.
11.5. weekend
12.5. weekend
At our local park it had a small kiosk. Here I would have liked to have an ice cream. But you could only pay cash.
13.5. working day
14.5. working day
15.5. working day
16.5. working day
Home Office Day
17.5. Day off
18.5. weekend
19.5. weekend
20.5. working day
21.5. working day
22.5. working day
Payment was made with Google Pay to test the new service.
23.5. sick
24.5. day off
Payment was made with Google Pay, as Samsung Pay did not work for unknown reasons. Withdrawal with Sonect was a test attempt. My wife kindly took the cash directly from me. The saleswoman did not know the solution and was initially surprised by my inquiry.
25.5. weekend
During a walk we passed a stand where cake was sold. Unfortunately they could only pay cash, so I had to do without.
26.5. weekend
At the kiosk, which I had visited for the first time on 12.5., I could pay this time with TWINT. Either this was newly introduced or I missed it last time.
27.5. working day
28.5. working day
Samsung Pay again did not work in a store. I guess it has to do with the fact that I wanted to pay first with the AmEx card and then with VISA, because AmEx was not accepted. At the Sonect withdrawal the seller was surprised again and did not know the solution. But it worked perfectly.
29.5. working day
30.5. public holiday
31.5. working day
I was more nervous at first when I left the house. The wallet provides security. I have a safety net in case the mobile doesn't work or the battery runs out. Towards the end of the month the feeling was mostly gone. But if I go shopping or eat out at a new place, I try to find out if I can pay without cash. I still don't have the same security as with a wallet after 31 days.
At the beginning I was optimistic that I would survive the month without a wallet more or less unscathed. In the end I was surprised how few problems there were. In almost every situation there was a suitable solution on the mobile. Although this may mean that you have to do without something from time to time when cash is the only option and you want to buy something spontaneously, it also has its good sides. Also, I would most likely have had these problems with my wallet, as cash is almost never found in it.
Also in the future I will do without my purse (for the most part) after this month. At least in Switzerland. TWINT and Sonect do not (yet) work abroad. These solutions cover important use cases which the big players in Switzerland cannot afford at the moment and will probably not offer in the future. It will also have to be shown how well Samsung or Google Pay works outside Switzerland.
And I appreciate that my colleagues and friends will continue to carry cash with them. A little bit more security I have through this honestly but. The smartphone does not yet cover 100% of all use cases.
If you have made other experiences or know solutions that support a life without a wallet better, I would be very happy about input.