America, Get your $hit Together, AKA How I Didn’t Pull Out My Wallet Once In Europe

I just got back from a business trip to Europe (Zurich, Basel, and London to be exact). While I enjoyed a glass of wine before departure, I decided I’d track my transactions to see how little I needed cash or even my credit card and instead ONLY use Apple Pay. One rule I laid out for myself:

I couldn’t do anything differently than I usually would do so it wouldn’t skew my results.

The TL;DR version — how did it go? I made 16 financial transaction over 2.5 days and 16/16 used Apple Pay. I did not take out my wallet or credit card even once. Could literally have left them at home in the US.

The longer version:

Monday, 11/12, 9:30am — Need to buy a train ticket from the Zurich airport to Basel. All of the automatic machines have an Apple Pay reader. Done.

Monday 11/12, 11:30am — Need coffee after a long red-eye. There’s a Starbucks in Basel. Cool. Apple Pay works great, though I’m pretty pissed spending $6.50 on a latte.

Monday 11/12, 1:00pm — Rushing back from a meeting to the train station, I had to hop in a normal taxi. It was like the year 2008 all over again. Asked him to go quickly. Slightly concerned I’d have to use my credit card or cash, but we got to the station and he pulls out his contactless payment machine.

Monday, 11/12 3:30pm — Finally headed to check into my hotel. I notice there’s a tram that goes directly down the main road and stops out front. Perfect. Does the tram ticket machine take Apple Pay though? Yep.

Monday, 11/12 5:30pm — I took a nice 4 mile run down to central Zurich and around the river. Only took my phone and room key. Afterwards, I sat down at a local café on the river for a water and a beer. Was hoping they took Apple Pay or else may have been awkward. Did they? Of course.

Monday, 11/12 10:00pm — Enjoyed a great Swiss dinner with a partner company. One tap and paid. Off to a bar for a nightcap.

Tuesday, 11/13 6:00am — Uber to airport. No credit card or Apple Pay. Easy.

Tuesday, 11/13 6:30am — Walked through duty free and figured I should bring Swiss chocolate home for my wife. Quickly in and out with Apple Pay.

Tuesday, 11/13 8:25am — Rushing into Central London for a meeting. Get accosted by one of those Heathrow Express ticket people. Rings me up, Apple Pay, and off to the train.

Tuesday, 11/13 8:30am — Need coffee badly. Order a more reasonably priced latte at Café Nero (£2.50) and tap with Apple Pay.

Tuesday, 11/13 2:00pm — Hosted a potential customer for lunch at Dishoom (amazing by the way). Such great quality per dollar (or pound). Tap and go.

Tuesday, 11/13 6:00pm — Needed a drink and a small bite. Popped into the Palomar for awesome Middle Eastern food. Order, eat, drink, Apple Pay. Was in a rush since I was going to see Roger Federer play tennis at the O2 Arena. Psyched!

Tuesday, 11/13 9:00pm — After an easy 1st set win by Roger, I was more relaxed and needed a beer. Went to the bar and (you guessed it), tap and drink.

Tuesday, 11/13 10:30pm — Needed a nightcap so hit up a great cocktail bar in London’s Chinatown. Tap and off to bed.

Wednesday, 11/14 6:00am — Uber to Heathrow.

Wednesday, 11/14 6:30am — Oops, almost forgot a gift for our kids. Saw a toy store. Got 2 books. Apple Pay and away.

The benefits to a system like this seem so clear, so I’m not sure why the US is far behind (I’m sure those more familiar with financial tech know more than me). I assume there was some cost/benefit analysis performed years ago and it was cheaper for businesses or payment processors in the US. But I think ultimately faster payments mean shorter lines, less human effort to process transactions, more efficiency, more happiness.

The future is really amazing. Just wish it would come to the US.