From the Archive: Credit Cards
I follow the concierge through a maze of narrow hallways until we enter a minuscule interview room. It looks to be prepped for an important guest. A woman is going over questions in hush tones in one of the corners. My throat dries up. With a loud gulp I straighten my tie and try to look confident. I run my hand through my hair. The poor substitute of a comb doesn't help my messy hair. With a swift movement I make my way to the interviewee chair and attempt to sit down unnoticed. Failing dreadfully at doing so. The moment I reached the cushions all the lights turned my way. The lady from the corner stood in front of me. She sat down steadily, almost as if she was acting in front of an audience. "Mr Corbeaux, what can you tell us about the pros and cons of credit cards?" These tiny plastic rectangles with a magnetic strip became a quintessential part of our lives. Possessing one is a sign of independence and immediate wealth at one's disposal. Having a few of these bad boys and using them haphazardly can leave you stranded on debt island. Nothing clears out your wallet and makes it more streamlined than a few plastic cards. The instant you draw one you feel like you have all the power of a consumer at your fingertips. Don't get me wrong, you really do, all the way up to the end of the month. At that point the monetary institution kindly reminds you of the amount due. The horror! Let's turn the page and look on the bright side of things. Using a credit card is straight forward. Consider it a worldwide accepted currency. Personally, I only have two. In my case, there's no reason to have more and I consider it plenty. However, I'm not most people, which makes me sometimes think of those who tend to have more accounts, more credit cards and other membership cards. You might end up lost in the pile or cary too much plastic in your wallet, or purse for that matter. What if you could have all payment related cards in one? Surely you heard this one before. There's but a handful of companies who are trying to break the ice with a "one card to rule them all" philosophy. One particular startup stands out - Coin. It's straightforward method of integrating your cards is sleek and hustle-free. I might not be the target market, considering having only two cards, but my curiosity peaks when it comes to gadgets, which actually make things easier. How about paying with our phones? Or having only our finger scanned to get things done? We have definitely come to the intersection of tangible versus virtual. This could be the right time to make the next step in payment with a substantial impact on the environment.* All in all the credit card is here to stay, at least for now. It will take us another few years, or even a decade even, to bypass the rectangular plastic and go with one of the above. Until then, be safe and don’t make “debt island” your holiday destination.
*17 billion plastic credit and membership cards are made annually