@chris @aral Well, in Europe, Chip + Pin is the norm and contactless payments usually don't allow more than € 25 per transaction or €100 per day - whichever is lower...
Cash is just more normal in Germany and people like myself tend to literally buy cars with it.
So whilst big grocerers will allow you to check out with almost all CCs and Debit Cards [you may have issues with UnionPay, AliPay, DinersClub, AMEX, ApplePay and GooglePay / SamsungPay acceptance] most small kiosks will nope you.
We had our European debit card (chip and pin) skimmed in Europe, and it was a nightmare. The number was used in Russia in rapid succession in 20+ transaction, they wiped our bank account, and the bank was "uh... we do not know if this is fraud". The kick of it is that for US to use the card online an authorization via app was needed. But fuckers in Russia buying with strip readers a few hours after we made a purchase in France???Nah! That sounds legit!