There is a discourse that using Credit Card causes a lot of debt. However, in my own opinion, Octopus is also a device that let us spend more. The logo of Octopus is the symbol of number eight, “8”, also a mathematical symbol “infinity”, means “infinite” possibilities in official explain, but in my own opinion, it may also remind us that if we use it carelessly, we will spent infinite by using Octopus Card.
Nowadays, Octopus Card is very convenient in Hong Kong, not only use it for transportation, but also can use in fast food shop, supermarket and car parking, or even use it for login campus, library or residents. Accordingly, there are more than 95% of 16 – 65 years old Hong Kong citizen using Octopus.
Compare with other electronic payment system, Octopus are more convenient than other system like Credit Card or EPS. Octopus only need put upon the receive machine and wait until a “do” sound, it can also automatically add value in the card linked with personal bank account.
However, the advantages are also the disadvantages because of the securities. The conveniences of Octopus Card lead to conveniences of spending, not only the signature or password procedures skipped, but also to urge consumer to spend without thinking. When we spend by credit card, we need to check the bill, and signature to confirm; when we spend by EPS, we also need to type the password; even when we use cash, there are times we consider the amount during we count the bank note. But the appearances of Octopus totally change the trading procedure, since the amounts are small, the environments are in hurry, people sometimes haven’t got enough times to think, but have already connected to receiver machine. Furthermore, the amounts spend in Octopus Card are small, it is so convenience that people spend without checking, until the value in the card is zero.
Despite taxi, Octopus can solve all the travel expends in Hong Kong, having lunch and dinner in fast food shop, buying magazines in convenient shop, preparing the commodity in supermarket, paying the car park’s bills, and finally entering the resident by using the card. Also, Octopus developed a rewarded system, provide coupons and discounts in supermarket, restaurants, or products, Octopus developed a huge system that the trading procedure are in a short period of time. People’s habit have shift by using Octopus rather than cash or other systems.
Nowadays, the global are actively promoting wireless electric payment system used in transportation fee and trading without change, but there are not much cities that as successful as Hong Kong that Octopus Card dominate the market and hence increase the conveniences and widely used.
There is no doubt that Octopus Card is so useful in Hong Kong. However, using Octopus rather than cash brings the problems that we need to eliminate the change and the wrong counting situation; the value counted in the card cannot easily change. And people will spend more due to the value is too small and the procedure is too short that people won’t think deeply.
