2026-01-17 09:21:27

The comparison of the convenience of different payment methods is quite interesting. Scanning a QR code with a mobile phone can achieve a convenience score of 85 points, with only a 5 yuan printing cost. In contrast, NFC payments with a handheld POS machine are indeed more convenient, reaching 99 points, but each costs 2000 yuan.

This is the core issue— the same 2000 yuan cost is not a big deal for a barber shop owner in the United States, and merchants doing small businesses at subway entrances in first- and second-tier cities in China can also afford it. However, if it’s passed to a vegetable farmer at a market in Henan, it becomes a huge expense, possibly taking several months to recoup. Therefore, the slow adoption of NFC is ultimately due to the high cost barrier.

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MagicBean

· 12m ago

This is reality. 2000 yuan means different things to different people. The key is whether the ROI can be calculated. The guy selling vegetables doesn't have spare money to mess around with this; the QR code is enough. To put it simply, the widespread adoption of payment tools has always been an economic issue, not a technical one. No matter how convenient it is, you still have to survive.

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ImpermanentPhilosopher

· 1h ago

That's right, which is why QR codes thrive so well domestically. Cheap, convenient, anyone can use it; even NFC can't compete with the 2000 yuan threshold. --- How much can farmer brothers earn in a month? 2000 yuan is a big deal for them, and they simply can't recoup the cost. --- Ultimately, it's a matter of wealth disparity. American friends don't care about this amount of money, but small merchants here can't afford that cost. --- So, the popularity of payments is linked to the level of local economic development. This logic is actually similar to the adoption rate of cryptocurrencies. --- 2000 yuan may seem like not much, but for stall owners, that's several months' profit. No wonder NFC has been lukewarm. --- It's quite realistic; cost is the biggest limiting factor. Even the best products are useless without a solid economic foundation.

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ShibaSunglasses

· 1h ago

Scanning code for 5 yuan vs NFC for 2000 yuan, such a big price difference is really a problem. Small merchants simply can't afford it.

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MetaverseHobo

· 1h ago

That's right, 2000 yuan is really an astronomical number for a market aunt at the vegetable market. But on the other hand, QR codes have long penetrated into every corner of our lives, becoming the strongest payment infrastructure. No matter how convenient NFC is, it still needs to survive first. --- Chinese-style payments are like this: cheap and easy-to-use solutions always win. The cost barrier is essentially a life-and-death line. --- The problem is that the business logic in first- and second-tier cities is fundamentally different from that in county towns. NFC is like giving all the people in the country an Apple phone—sounds good, but what about reality? --- Ultimately, it still comes down to adapting to national conditions. QR codes may be low-tech, but their costs are controllable—that's the real key.

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FlatTax

· 2h ago

To be honest, this comparison is a bit heartbreaking. The wealth gap is directly reflected in the payment tools. The American guy casually spends 2000 yuan, while our Henan vegetable farmers have to save for several months. The disparity is really outrageous.

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UnluckyLemur

· 2h ago

The core issue is the wealth gap—2000 yuan is 2000 yuan regardless of who it is for. That NFC system is indeed convenient, but how do vegetable vendors handle it? QR codes are still more popular. This is where Web3 should make an effort—can decentralized payment solutions break through? Forget it, maybe we still have to wait many years. The real pain point is that small merchants simply don't have the money to experiment.

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