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600 RMB on SPTC?

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leefc

Lurker

Joined: June 09, 2009
Posts: 28
Location: Lujiazui / San Francisco
Status: Offline

Posted: July 25, 2009 - 12:00 PM
Post subject: 600 RMB on SPTC?

Is there any reason to carry a large balance on your metro pass card? Are there bulk bargains to be had somewhere?

I was passing through the turnstiles yesterday and noticed the person in front of me had a balance of over 600 RMB. Seems like a risk to carry that much on a card since you might lose it.

I typically keep 100 RMB or less, and even that much just in case I need to pay for a couple long cab rides.

*Sarita

Reacher

Joined: Jan 26, 2008
Posts: 235
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline

Posted: July 25, 2009 - 12:38 PM

I don't think bargains are to be had. Most of the time I put 400 or 500 on it, mainly because I like using it for taxis too and don't want it to run out fast.

woaishanghai07

Barker

Joined: Dec 26, 2007
Posts: 195

Status: Offline

Posted: July 25, 2009 - 12:55 PM

I agree with you leefc, I think it's a little bit of a risk. I've noticed a lot of Chinese people also carry around large amounts of cash in their wallets too.

Although I think sometimes some companies give them transport cards with money already on, perhaps 600rmb, or 800rmb or whatever is the going rate for that.

Rumpelstiltskin

PopStar

Joined: May 13, 2009
Posts: 1291

Status: Offline

Posted: July 25, 2009 - 01:04 PM

Quote:

Is there any reason to carry a large balance on your metro pass card?

Do not need waste time recharging it with small amount. I always charge my card to max (1000 RMB) and then it lasts a while. Use it for taxi and subway.

Chrisse

SuperStar

Joined: Feb 25, 2009
Posts: 1323

Status: Offline

Posted: July 25, 2009 - 03:58 PM

The only "bulk bargain" to be had is after you've spent 70 kuai during a calendar month (subway only), after that you get 10% when using the subway.

So it doesn't matter how much money you recharge it with, only how much you spend.

kimball06now
Raver
Raver

Joined: Feb 18, 2006
Posts: 474
Location: Shanghai

Posted: July 25, 2009 - 05:07 PM

Taking the card out and slipping it back in a wallet isn't too risky, but losing the wallet may be riskier. In any case, loading up a metro card may make submitting expenses easier (enter fewer items and submit fapio fewer times per expense period), someone flying a lot could quickly eat 600 kuai with long taxi rides to Pudong/Hongqiao airports, a person leaving an unsuspecting overseas company could conceivably load it up on the way out the door (not suggesting the latter is ethical, but I saw it along with a person excessively pre-paying mobile service and other things), a person could just be lazy and not feel like paying so often, etc.