Using Disco in Australia

[Konrad2012]

Headed to the Melbourne area for a week, and figured I would subject myself to some humiliation for the sake of mankind, or at least CB kind.

 

Have a non-chipped Disco with me. I'll try some smaller restaurants, the Melbourne zoo and whatever else I come across.

 

I am hoping to use Disco to pay for Kangaroo, Wallaby and Crocodile. I have heard they are all delicious.

[nolanryan]

I went back in May. Had a blast. Congrats.

[Konrad2012]

I went back in May. Had a blast. Congrats.

 

Did you try and use your Disco?

 

Unfortunately, with the company I will be keeping, I do not anticipate this trip to be anything spectacular. I mean, to start with, I have to fly ghetto on China Southern both directions. The ticket was purchased for me, so it didn't seem right to ask them to cancel it and make my own routing.

[nolanryan]

 

I went back in May. Had a blast. Congrats.

 

Did you try and use your Disco?

 

Unfortunately, with the company I will be keeping, I do not anticipate this trip to be anything spectacular. I mean, to start with, I have to fly ghetto on China Southern both directions. The ticket was purchased for me, so it didn't seem right to ask them to cancel it and make my own routing.

No I didn't want any headaches so I used my platinum Amex and my CSP. I didn't have one transaction declined.

 

Australia has some different card technology that the US. Like being able to pull money from an ATM without having your card on you. And they look baffled when they are prompted to get you to sign the receipt. I guess their cards don't require signatures. I believe you are more traveled than me so those may be things not unique to just Australia.

[cv91915]

[mendelssohn]

We'll see if this map for Discovery continues to be accurate.

 

[Konrad2012]

Well, enroute to AUS:

 

Zhanjiang Airport mart - declined for 10CNY for a Tsingtao

 

Guangzhou Airport mart - approved for 25CNY. Girl didn't want to run the card, I just kept saying UnionPay, swipe, UnionPay, swipe. After the receipt spit out she was shocked and I literally had to take my card from her.

 

Guangzhou Airport Starbucks - declined for 55CNY. I'm 0-3 at Starbucks in the Guangdong Province. And yes I'm sure they are using the UnionPay terminal.

 

Melbourne and Adelaide here I come.

[IndyPoolPlayer]

Someone say Disco?

 

[Konrad2012]

Went to Woolworths - largest supermarket chain in Australia with ~1000 locations and 33 billion USD in sales annually.

 

Card reader didn't recognize Disco as a credit card...asked if I wanted to use debit from chequing or savings.

 

Used AMEX instead.

 

Disco 0-1

Edited November 2, 2016 by Konrad2012

[FoxSamual]

We'll see if this map for Discovery continues to be accurate.

 

It doesn't work in Alaska?

[hegemony]

the subject line to this thread looks like "using a Dildo"

 

remember you need to insert the card upside down when you're in the southern hemisphere.

[Konrad2012]

Liquor store for a bottle of Penfolds CabSav. Did the debit thing again.

 

Starbucks. Card not recognized.

 

Some cafe in Melbourne CBD. Card not recognized. Waitress asked me, "What is discovery? Never heard of it."

 

Melbourne zoo. Said they took UnionPay, JCB and Diners. Success. Receipt shows as Diners.

 

Disco 1 - AMEX 4

 

Also, AMEX chip transactions here are just as fast as a swipe in the USA.

[cv91915]

Liquor store for a bottle of Penfolds CabSav. Did the debit thing again.

 

Starbucks. Card not recognized.

 

Some cafe in Melbourne CBD. Card not recognized. Waitress asked me, "What is discovery? Never heard of it."

 

Melbourne zoo. Said they took UnionPay, JCB and Diners. Success. Receipt shows as Diners.

 

Disco 1 - AMEX 4

 

Also, AMEX chip transactions here are just as fast as a swipe in the USA.

 

Discovery shines again.

[mendelssohn]

That's very strange with the debit thing.

[CTSoxFan]

Just proves the point that diversification and having backups is critical.

[Konrad2012]

Liquor store for a bottle of Penfolds CabSav. Did the debit thing again.

Starbucks. Card not recognized.

Some cafe in Melbourne CBD. Card not recognized. Waitress asked me, "What is discovery? Never heard of it."

Melbourne zoo. Said they took UnionPay, JCB and Diners. Success. Receipt shows as Diners.

Disco 1 - AMEX 4

Also, AMEX chip transactions here are just as fast as a swipe in the USA.

Actually, my bad on this post.

 

The cafe in Melbourne CBD besdes not recognizing "Discovery" did NOT take AMEX.

[Konrad2012]

Also, while I'm seeing Visa and AMEX logos on the payment terminals, in not seeing Mastercard.