Credit card is a must for some bookings - doesn't have to be a local (Swiss) one, though.
Otherwise, PostFinance current account with PostFinance Card Direct should cover virtually everything in Switzerland: ATMs and post offices widely available in the big cities and POS transactions should be possible everywhere - if the store does accept card payments at all.
Can't think of one counterexample off the top of my head - and I'm a huge card payer (90% of my transactions in shops / restaurants).
One small caveat: Swiss declined payment by PostFinance card when I attempted to book a ticket for a third-party traveller living abroad. MasterCard did it in this case.
I have never seen a 500 Swiss franc note - according to Wikipedia withdrawal from circulation started in 2000.
Anyways, I think your big cash withdrawals were totally unrelated to your PostFinance card (and its limits). I guess the PostFinance card was probably just used as a means of identifying you as account holder for a standard cash withdrawal at the counter. In which case the relevant withdrawal limits for the account apply, not your card's.
Card limits are, of course, relevant at POS and ATM:
Should be either a limit unilaterally set by SBB, or (maybe more likely IMO) the transaction was also done as cash withdrawal.
EFTPOS has a limit of CHF 3000 for PostFinance card (see link above). Providing sufficient funds in the account and other limits have not yet been met. I can personally attest to this CHF 3000 daily limit as I personally handle such transactions regularly.
OK I have my first complain about postfinance...I check my bank account online and see X amount of money there, last transaction was today...go to the post office and I cannot withdraw the amount! There is some delay in transactions appearing...still really annoyed.
That's perfectly normal banking practice - your apparent balance will show the credit as soon as it comes in, but sometimes there can be a delay of up to two or three days before the whole transaction has been cleared by the issuing bank. I doubt that it would be any more or less likely with PF than with any other institution.
Yup. And it's this that scammers use to their advantage. They send you a transfer/cheque. You see the money and wire them some cash, then a few days later the payment gets rejected.
The only place where I saw complaints about using Credit Cards in restaurants was Germany. There my Maestro comes in handy - once not even Maestro was accepted, only German EC Karte.
Do you have experience with the PostFinance Card used as "EC Karte" in Germany? Is it possible?
The limitation I've run into is that making online purchases with the PF card incurs a 1.9% service charge.
Two examples.
1) I bought some concert tickets off of starticket.ch and had to pay 1.9% for using PF.
2) I want to buy something from Mediamarkt, but they don't have it in stock, so I have to order from their website. If I pay with PF I get charged 1.9%. This seems a bit strange to me.
I don't quite understand why this is. If I use PF in a store I never have to pay any fees, but sometimes you have to buy online.
At 1.9%, it's cheaper to use a foreign CC and pay 1% foreign transaction fees and then get some miles or cashback incentives to offset.
I am curious to hear if anybody has any suggestions for easier workarounds.
At starticket (and many other shops) you pay a charge for paying by cc too. You can often use 'sofortueberweisung' or TWINT without charge. TWINT credit can be loaded onto the app straight from your account or by buying a charge code in the coop using your PF card.
After using PostFinance Plus card for 3 months I found few places in Zurich and around where it was not accepted:
1. Chinese restaurant in Silhcity
2. Chinese fastfood next to Stadelhofen Bhf
3. "Hof" with fruits and vegetables next to Effetikon
Other limitation I found with PostFinance account is that credit cards repayment with Direct Debit is not compatible with PostFinance account.
I know there is planned Post system with "traditional" banking system merger in July 2018. I am curious to know if at least direct debit limitations will be resolved then?
I also wonder why PostFinance doesn't issue normal debit cards like Maestro or Visa Classic?
If you have a yellow card and a credit card at PostFinance you should be covered for all the situations.
Yellow card works only in 95% of places in Switzerland (my experience), so there will be places where it's not accepted. When you go abroad you cannot use it to pay (POS), but you can use it to get cash from ATMs.
Credit cards from PostFinance work everywhere, but transactions fees are higher.