Hello everyone,
I’m living in Germany and looking for a good PayPal alternative. I mainly need it for:
- Sending money to friends
- Paying online, especially to small vendors
- Ordering food and everyday purchases
I’ve heard about Bunq, Klarna, Revolut, and N26, but I’m not sure which one would be best for my needs. Has anyone had experience with these services in Germany? Which would you recommend and why?
Thanks in advance!
What I have recently been fond of is paying by invoice. I will pay only once I open the package and find the invoice inside via bank transfer. Zero American companies (Paypal, Visa, Mastercard…) are involved this way.
The only drawback is that you have to remember paying and that some online stores - though usually the larger one’s - don’t support it.
Invoice is great, but here (Germany) it’s rarely an option in b2c. Some shops do if you spend A LOT or very frequent. if at all, for first-time customers.
What is this “paying by invoice” you are talking about? (for those not living in that country)
You buy something and the shop just sends you an invoice with your order that says “please pay X within Y days. Here are the possible ways…” And then you do. Usually via wire-transfer.
Is that something that people use in daily life for consumables? the only thing similar I can imagine that we have around is utilities bills that come in the mail to pay water and those things and you have a bunch of days to pay on the ATM if not using direct debit from the bank account.
It was a more common thing but too many people abused it so less and less offer it. Happened to me too. Lost many bucks.
But yes, seems like your utility-bills. Pay however in due time, but pay.
B2B it’s still very common though. Just B2C died a bit.
Eh, try smaller shops.
For example, all local book shops around my area with an online presence - except for thalia but they’re not locally owned - support paying through invoice.
I haven’t had any negative experience yet, although admittedly, my sample size is limited to three since I only started doing it recently. That might be because my orders were relatively small in price though.
Haven’t seen invoice as an Option in smaller shops either.