Not the person you're replying to, but I never have. Chase has been very friendly to me and even gave me a credit extension when I needed a new computer. Their customer support has always been helpful, and I have the security of chargebacks should someone scam me.

Then again, the person you're replying to was probably talking about debit cards, which don't come with the same securities as credit cards but are just as easy to use and don't charge interest. So really, one must wonder why you weren't using a debit card if bitcoins would offer you an easier experience than cash?

I was referring to both, I don't see much difference in the end user experience.

I am curious though, what is availability to you guys in the states? Does every store accept eftpos(debit)/credit? Here in NZ you cannot get away with not accepting eftpos (nobody carries cash really.) While in Australia I know you'll be hard pressed even finding a store that accepts it. Wondering if maybe the frustration displayed above was directed at the implementation/adoption you guys have.

Availability is almost ubiquitous. There are some places—"trendy" stores in urban areas, ma-and-pa stores in rural—that don't accept credit/debit cards for various reasons. The further away from a city you go, the more likely you are to be stuck in a place that's cash-only, but there's almost always a store that accepts it somewhere around you.

The frustration was probably due to implementation. Every store, even stores in the same franchise, handle cards differently. Some don't make you sign under a certain dollar amount (an amount that's different in each store), some let you swipe before the person is done ringing you up, some have annoying menus you have to trawl through (supermarkets are known for this... "Would you like to donate $1 to the X charity for sick X's? [YES] [NO, I AM HEARTLESS]"), some require you to tell the cashier if you want credit or debit, some make you show them your card (GameStop). There are even some that need to bust out one of these: http://i.imgur.com/EDlLYt9.jpg

For me, at least, it's still easier than dealing with cash.

Actually no, the only contact I've ever had with Visa was when I got mugged, and when they denied a 50c itunes purchase I made in my sleep [read some chech IP address and under a generic name], both times they were very helpful, cancelled my card and sent me a new one right away free of charge.

Regarding the apparent way I was acting I have no fucking clue what you're talking about. The bank sent it in the mail, how else would they get it to me. How is this complex or tedious, if I wanted it faster I could have gone down there and picked it up myself.