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Posts by BLS  

Joined: 14 Feb 2008 / Male ♂ 		Last Post: 18 Jun 2014
Threads: Total: 65 / In This Archive: 36
Posts: Total: 188 / In This Archive: 88 		From: Poland, Krakow
Speaks Polish?: Mowię trochę po polsku, but I want to learn more

Displayed posts: 124 / page 3 of 5
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BLS   
17 Dec 2011
Law / Credit card fees vs. Cost of Using Cash in Poland [15]

I could be wrong about the worldwide average - perhaps 3% is on the high side. I found information about Finland's interchange fees - they are below 1% on average. Perhaps this fee is regulated by individual governments - if so, why does Poland allow such high fees?

This thread has been most educational for me - thanks!
BLS   
17 Dec 2011
Law / Credit card fees vs. Cost of Using Cash in Poland [15]

commision charged for card payments in Poland which is supposedly the highest in Europe

Did you happen to hear any numbers? The worldwide average seems to be 2-3%, so I'm curious what this number is in Poland. And where did you hear this? On the radio, TV, internet? If you have a link, please post it - I'd be most grateful!
BLS   
16 Dec 2011
Law / Credit card fees vs. Cost of Using Cash in Poland [15]

If everybody paid cash, the queues would be shorter and thus more people would stop by to get something.

I agree wholeheartedly! On the other hand, my students pointed out the babcias that pay with change from their purses - this can also be a time-consuming endeavor. I wonder what the average time per customer is with credit cards vs. those with cash.

Although not related to the topic at hand, here's an interesting article about the quality of food purchases when using cash vs. credit card:

healthland.time.com/2010/10/21/study-paying-cash-not-credit-leads-to-healthier-food-choices/
BLS   
16 Dec 2011
Law / Credit card fees vs. Cost of Using Cash in Poland [15]

Other than the 2-3% that a credit card company charges a firm, what are some other financial drawbacks of using credit? Fraudulent cards are definitely a possibility, but those costs generally affect the credit company, not the firm. Are there additional factors that contribute to a firm's losses when customers use credit cards?

Overall, do you think the costs associated with cash are equal to or greater than those of credit? My instinct says credit is more expensive than cash, but I'm not altogether convinced of that now. I realize other factors such as time and convenience should be factored into the equation, but those are different topics for another day.
BLS   
16 Dec 2011
Law / Credit card fees vs. Cost of Using Cash in Poland [15]

Someone must count the money (or oversee machines that do this), then they must pay to deliver the money to a bank. There are probably bank fees as well. I can't think of any other possibilities, but perhaps someone else can...
BLS   
16 Dec 2011
Law / Credit card fees vs. Cost of Using Cash in Poland [15]

I had a discussion with one of my English classes yesterday regarding fees associated with using credit cards at markets, shops, etc. One of my students pointed out that using cash also bears inherent costs (accounting, transport to banks, etc) - it was an astute observation, so I would like to learn the costs of using cash in a typical business (say, Kaufland). A Google search was fruitless.

Does anyone have knowledge of such costs? I am pretty sure that credit card fees are higher than using cash, but I'd like to know the facts (and bring numbers to class next week). Thanks!
BLS   
12 Dec 2011
Life / Internet problems in Krakow? [8]

the authorities are hiding the info in fear of provoking panic.

How did you get the skinny?
BLS   
12 Dec 2011
Life / Internet problems in Krakow? [8]

Has anyone else been having trouble with the internet lately? Recently, I have experienced many difficulties with websites such as Facebook, BBC News, and Google/Gmail - they are occasionally very slow to load (if they load at all).

Is anyone else experiencing this, or could this be a localized problem? I reset my router, but it didn't seem to change anything. BTW, I live in the SW part of Krakow. Thanks!
BLS   
8 Dec 2011
Travel / Differences between trains in Poland? [15]

I have noticed that the rates advertised on PKP's website are rarely what I pay at the counter - they are almost always higher. For instance, the online rate last week for a TLK train from Krakow to Opole was 41 zł - when I purchased the ticket that same day at Krakow Glowny, I paid 34 zł.

I'm not complaining, mind you, simply curious - why the discrepancy? When I returned, the cashier at Opole Głowny charged exactly the rate that was listed on PKP. Tickets purchased at Warsaw Centralna have also been consistent with online rates. Any ideas?
BLS   
1 Dec 2011
Food / Food hygiene in Poland [60]

O.k. I will go now, I'm bored.

Do us all a favor and go already...you've posted 4 times since you said you would go.

Croggers made some salient points in his initial post - why the negative backlash? He isn't complaining - he's airing some concerns about basic sanitation in regards to food preparation in Poland. I have many of the same concerns and am very interested in the subject.

I get so tired of posters on this forum who are obviously so frustrated with their own lives that they need to come online to lash out at innocent bystanders.
BLS   
25 Nov 2011
Food / Pinto beans in Poland [17]

I found something at Kaufland that looks similar - however, I don't recognize the name: kolorowe fasola jednolita czerwona. I understand what the individual words mean, but I don't know the English equivalent - any ideas?

Thanks to all!!!

BTW, the information on the counter at Kaufland reads "fasola czerwona cętkowana", not what is written on the packaging. Spotted red beans - seems I am in the neighborhood of pinto beans...
BLS   
23 Nov 2011
Food / Pinto beans in Poland [17]

Are pinto beans available in Poland? They are very popular in Mexico - used primarily for refried beans.
BLS   
3 Nov 2011
Life / Electric rate (Tauron charges per kilowatt hour) in Krakow [9]

I'd like to know how my bill breaks down as well. It appears that I have 6 separate charges + VAT (the first is easy to understand, the others not so much):

1) Energia elektryczna czynna - 0,2682/kWh
2) Opłata przejściowa - 4,50/month
3) Opłata jakościowa - 0,0070/kWh
4) Opłata dystrybucyjna zmienna - 0,1889/kWh
5) Opłata dystrybucyjna stała - 3,03/month
6) Opłata abonamentowa (OSD) - 0,84/month

Including the 23% VAT, it looks like my total electricity rate is 0,6235/kWh - significantly higher than the basic rate. If anyone can shed some light on these surcharges, I would be most appreciative! Thanks...
BLS   
6 Oct 2011
Food / Grilled Oszczypek/bacon/cranberry sauce - where to find in Krakow? [6]

I came across a wonderful taste sensation this summer - grilled oszczypek cheese with bacon and cranberry sauce on top. I had a craving for it last week, so I returned to the restaurant where I get my fix - unfortunately, the restaurant was no longer there.

Does anyone have any ideas where I can find this in Krakow? Any decent restaurants offering it on their menus? I imagine there are plenty, but I don't know where to start looking - thanks!
BLS   
3 Oct 2011
Food / The Fortuna beer brewed near Poznan, Poland [8]

Has anyone tried Fortuna beer? It's brewed in a small town just outside Poznan and it's wonderful! The dark honey beer is a bit sweet for my taste, but the dark cherry beer is absolutely the best Polish beer I have ever tried! Highly recommended if you like lambics or piwo z sokiem!
BLS   
23 Sep 2011
Food / Orange Roughy in Krakow? [9]

Has anyone come across frozen orange roughy in any stores in Krakow? It's a very popular fish in America, but perhaps it isn't in Europe...

Apparently is is also known as deep-sea perch. The Polish name is gardłosz atlantycki. Please tell me - is it popular in Europe?
BLS   
28 Jul 2011
Travel / Warsaw transport mobile phones app - iPhone/iPad/Nokia and travel apps [15]

I'm in Krakow and use Scheduler PL - it works in many Polish cities including (of course) Warsaw. It's a free app, but you must pay a $2.99 yearly subscription fee to get schedule updates. Definitely worth the cost, IMHO - however, the current version of the app tends to crash often when opened.

itunes.apple.com/us/app/scheduler-poland/id322983240?mt=8
BLS   
17 Jul 2011
Travel / Differences between trains in Poland? [15]

I am surprised that it takes 2 hours.

The train last night took 2:15 - there were many instances when it slowed and even stopped for no apparent reason. It was one of the most frustrating train rides I have ever experienced!

Good to know that one website shows all trains - if only the ticket-selection process was this simple!
BLS   
17 Jul 2011
Travel / Differences between trains in Poland? [15]

I always searched for trains on the PKP website (rozklad-pkp.pl) - after reading the remarks posted here, it seems to me that I may be using an incomplete search engine. Is there a better website that will show all available routes?
BLS   
17 Jul 2011
Travel / Differences between trains in Poland? [15]

I was returning to Krakow via rail yesterday and had to switch trains in Katowice. The IR train that was supposed to arrive at 18:55 never showed up, so I opted for the next train to Krakow. A TLK train arrived at 19:15, but I didn't have a ticket - when I bought one on the train, I was charged 18 zł plus an additional 10 zł for purchasing it on the train.

What makes this rather frustrating is this: I had the opportunity to buy a ticket on the platform (at an automated ticket machine), but the only ticket choices were Regio and InterRegio. Would either of those types of tickets have sufficed for the TLK train? And if not, why have an automated machine that sells tickets for only two types of trains? This must be absolutely perplexing for tourists - I wonder how many travelers have inadvertently purchased the wrong type of ticket and have been forced to buy a second ticket on the train.

And a more-general request - can someone in the know outline the differences between all the train choices in Poland? I've lived here for 3 years, yet I am pretty much in the dark. Thanks for any and all constructive input...
BLS   
30 Jun 2011
Life / Where to recycle stuff in Krakow? [5]

Apparently Poland does not participate in a recycling program for empty laser toner cartridges like many other countries, so does anyone know of an alternative method of recycling them in Kraków? I prefer not to throw them in the trash. Thanks for all constructive input!
BLS   
12 Mar 2011
Law / Duty rules - threshold for paying duty on goods? [4]

What is the threshold for paying duty on packages mailed from America to Poland? I have always heard $25, but one of my colleagues claims that this amount varies depending on the contents. Also, he says that used items typically are not charged duty regardless of their worth - I find that hard to believe...

Does anyone have knowledge of these rules or a office/website that outlines these rules? Thanks in advance for all constructive input!