The pandemic has been a mixed bag for car brands, especially in Australia.

Unprecedented demand combined with severe supply shortages for both new and used cars has seen cars vanish from dealer lots, and waiting lists for some in-demand vehicles like the Suzuki Jimny, Toyota GR Yaris and the new Land Cruiser LC300 fill up quicker than a P-plater doing mainies in a clapped-out Subaru WRX.

Things were particularly good for premium brands. In lieu of international travel, Aussies splurged on high-end vehicles in a big way, with marques such as Lamborghini, Porsche and Tesla recording record sales years in 2021 – with strong sales continuing into 2022.

One premium car brand that seems to be struggling somewhat, however, is Mercedes-Benz… Could’ve fooled us, seeing as how many G-Wagens patrol Sydney’s streets these days. But no, Mercedes has just recorded its weakest February sales in Australia in over a decade.

This is particularly embarrassing for the giant German brand as it coincides with their controversial decision to move to a non-negotiable fixed pricing model from the start of the year… Seems as if Aussies aren’t keen.

Hang on, what do you mean by ‘non-negotiable fixed pricing’? Well, it’s exactly what it says on the tin. Rather than haggling with the dealer on a price for your car, there’s a consistent fixed price for every Mercedes model across the country. Mercedes calls it a move from a “dealership model” to an “agency model”.

In theory, it’s a good thing for consumers. Buying a new car can be a stressful and opaque system process – having a consistent, predictable, transparent pricing model takes a lot of the stress out of car shopping, especially for younger buyers (who Mercedes are definitely trying to court). It should make things fairer.

RELATED: Want A Good Deal? Use These Body Language Hacks When Buying Your Next Car

But as Drive reported last year, detractors of the fixed-price sales structure suggest it actually leads to higher prices, because buyers lose their negotiating power regardless of which dealer they visit. Furthermore, because dealers no longer own the cars on the showroom floor, there is less incentive for them to get cars out the door, leading to slower sales.

Mercedes’ decision to move to ‘no haggle’ pricing has been very controversial. Mercedes-Benz Australia is actually staring down a $650 million lawsuit filed by a collection of their dealers (over 80% of all their dealers, actually) who claim this move to an agency model will slash their bottom lines and “piggyback[s] on the goodwill and hard work” of local car dealers, AFR relates.

Now let’s be clear: Mercedes isn’t the only car brand that’s doing this ‘no haggle’ price model in Australia. Other premium brands like Genesis, Polestar and Tesla do something similar, as does Honda, a more mainstream player. Honda made the switch in July last year… But Honda sales have been significantly down Down Under, too.

RELATED: American & Japanese Car Makers Are Going To Be Left Behind By China

It could also be too early to tell whether Mercedes and Honda’s sluggish sales are because of their new sales model, or because of other extenuating circumstances like the global computer chip shortage.

Let’s not lionise the current dealer system either. We don’t want Australia to become like America, where some cars like the new Ford Bronco see ridiculous 200% markups by dealers trying to price gouge and capitalise on stock shortages. ‘No haggle’ fixed prices are probably the future of cars: sure, dealers might get a raw deal and we might end up paying more for cars, but it’s an undeniably simpler and more transparent system.

In the meantime, Aussies who love a good haggle will just need to suck it up if they want a new Benz.

• Audi’s New Electric Sports Car Leaves Australian Luxury Buyers With Quite The Predicament
• Porsche Introduces New ‘Supercar For A Day’ Service In Australia

The post Mercedes-Benz Australia: New Pricing Model Results In Poor Sales appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

A Melburnian coffee lover has left Australia divided with their question on coffee complaint etiquette. That question? Should you complain if you’re not satisfied with your caffeinated kick to the head (aka, morning brew)?

The question led to a broader discussion on just how bad your java has to be for you to be justified in asking for a refund or a replacement, and whether or not you are really doing the coffee shop a favour by making them get back behind the machine in These Difficult Times.

The Reddit user, u/xFromtheskyx, wrote the following in Reddit’s r/melbourne community: “Is it acceptable to return a bad overpriced coffee from a small local shop that I really want to do well?”

The statement was accompanied by the following photo.

Commenters from all corners of Australia chimed in. Some said in these tough times, where the hospitality industry has been plagued with shutdowns, you should save the staff the headache, and suck it up.

Others reckoned you’d be doing the cafe a favour by complaining, so long as you do it the right way.

One member of the r/melbourne community, @coffeedoesntcare, suggested: “Politely ask for a remake and explain in simple, non-blaming terms why you’d like another, eg ‘I’m sorry, I think the milk got burnt on this one.’”

“Mistakes are made and accidents happen,” they added. “A business would rather have you satisfied than at risk of not returning.”

“Also, it may not seem like it sometimes, but hospitality folk actually do want you to have a good time and enjoy what they’ve made for you and that you have chosen to spend your hard-earned money on.”

“If they’re not okay with remaking one, then you know for absolutely sure that they’re not worth supporting.”

Reddit user coffeedoesntcare

This turned out to be the most “upvoted” comment of the thread.

Another response came from Reddit user avonrac. They wrote: “I returned a milk shake once because it was flavourless. They apologised and made me a new one. It was fantastic so I returned to the shop. The girl who served me originally hid when she saw me coming, so I told her coworker to tell her the replacement was amazing and the best I’d ever had.”

“They fixed the mistake and did it well, which deserved kudos. I don’t blame the girl for thinking I was coming back to complain again!”

Reddit user avonrac

Another commenter said: “My family used to have a franchise coffee shop 20 years ago. During training the guy from head office said: ‘you have one happy customer, he may tell 5 people about it. You have one unhappy customer, he will tell 50 people about it.'”

“You want the customer come to you first, you fixed his problem, make him happy, before he goes on telling anyone.”

Another Reddit user said: “I just hold my breath and drink down my miserable coffee because I’m not the type to return anything.”

Another illustrated the potential perils of complaining, saying you could just be subjecting yourself to a double dipping of disappointment.

“If it’s so goddamn awful (and assuming it’s a place I’d like to succeed/I’d likely return to) that Satan himself would call ‘time out’, I’ll do as you say and politely suggest that maybe the coffee was burned.”

“Sadly it’s about 50/50 on whether or not they f**ked up and can recover, of if they just have no idea how to make a coffee.”

Another user told the story of the time he told a cafe owner their coffee sucked.

“I remember once my coworkers all stopped going to the cafe downstairs as they found a better coffee shop up the road. I don’t drink coffee so still went in sometimes to get a drink and the owner asked me why no one came any more as he could see my coworkers walk past each day.”

“I felt super awkward but figured he better know, and said that I had heard his coffee wasn’t as good as up the road’s coffee. He got SUPER mad at me and I regretted saying anything! I mean I was just the messenger too and told him I didn’t drink coffee so had no opinion but given he had asked I would pass on what was said.”

“So yea if you tell them be prepared they might get really upset with you! Personally if I ran a business I would want the feedback though.”

Three other suggestions were: “Don’t return it but perhaps give some feedback,” “Looks like you ordered tea” and “Looks like instant coffee.” This led into a discussion around whether or not flat whites should have microform (“this was just coffee and burnt milk”).

The overwhelming consensus though, was that “the business prefers (respectful) customer complaints as it’s an opportunity to retain the customer.”

This sentiment was perhaps summed up best by Reddit user EmperorRowannicus who said “it is entirely possible to be diplomatic, courteous and assertive without being confrontational or aggressive.”

“It’s constructive criticism, not a complaint, and you could even mention that you support them and would like to see them prosper.”

“And in the long run they’re much more likely to do well if they make drinkable coffee.”

We’ll drink to that.

• A Flat White Could Cost $7 By The End Of 2022
• I Tried Sydney’s Most Expensive Coffee. Here’s My Brutally Honest Review

The post Melburnian’s Coffee Dilemma Leaves Australia Divided appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Looking for the best crypto card? Do you even know what a crypto card is? We’re going to answer both of these questions and more, so you can walk away with greater knowledge than when you walked in, and have more confidence with your ongoing cryptocurrency investments.

Cryptocurrency is fast becoming the most popular asset that can be bought, sold and traded. Even if you don’t fully understand how it works (don’t worry, you’re not alone) you’re likely to have heard of Bitcoin. Bitcoin was the first decentralised cryptocurrency and since then, numerous new coins have been created.

The sheer popularity of cryptocurrency has caused the world’s major banks and credit and debit card providers to sit up and take notice, so that anyone who owns some of the best cryptocurrency can convert it to fiat currency, which can then be used to spend on regular purchases by way of a crypto debit card or crypto credit card. You may wonder what the point of this is. After all, you need to spend your own money on crypto-assets first, only for those assets to be converted back into regular money.

In theory, however, the crypto assets you invest in should increase in value, so you can effectively earn some ‘free’ money to use on everyday purchases.

To do this, you need to arm yourself with a crypto card. Crypto cards are relatively new to the financial scene, although they first hit the market in around 2015. As cryptocurrency becomes more and more popular, so will the popularity of crypto cards. This is why knowing about and signing up for the best crypto cards could see you reap some huge rewards.

But, first, what exactly is a crypto card?

What Is A Crypto Card?

A crypto card is either a physical or digital card that can come in one of three types: credit card; debit card or prepaid card. Understanding the differences between these three will help to inform your decision with regard to which to sign up for.

Essentially, no crypto card currently allows you to spend your crypto assets directly in-store or online. All three crypto card options need to convert your cryptocurrency to fiat currency first before it can be used. This is something that may change in the future, however, as Visa and Mastercard have both committed to trialling the ability to spend cryptocurrency directly.

What Is A Crypto Credit Card?

A crypto credit card works much in the same way as a regular credit card from the likes of Visa, Mastercard or American Express. You still need to have a good credit score in order to obtain one, and it is then connected to your everyday bank account. You use it in exactly the same way as a regular credit card, i.e. you make purchases that you need to pay off, along with any interest the card provider adds on.

What makes a crypto credit card different, is the fact you earn rewards in the form cryptocurrency, instead of the usual rewards points you may have become accustomed to, such as air miles. The card provider will usually tell you which cryptocurrency, or cryptocurrencies, you can be rewarded with based on your spending.

Remember, if you arm yourself with a crypto credit card, it acts in the same way as a regular credit card. If you don’t pay off the minimum amount, or the amount agreed upon during the application, there could be serious financial consequences.

What Is A Crypto Debit Card?

A crypto debit card works in a similar way to a regular everyday debit card, but the source of money is different. Whereas your everyday debit card is linked to your bank account, a crypto debit card is linked to a crypto wallet. This means you can use your crypto assets to pay for items in-store and online; basically, anywhere you’re able to use a regular debit card, you can use a crypto debit card.

When you make a transaction, the card draws from your crypto wallet, converting the value of your crypto assets into enough fiat currency to be able to make the purchase. This conversion is done at the exchange rate connected with your particular card, so knowing this piece of information before you sign up could prove to be vital.

What Is A Crypto Prepaid Card?

Not much separates a crypto prepaid card from a crypto debit card. The only major difference is that, as its name suggests, you have to preload your crypto prepaid card using cryptocurrency from your crypto wallet. You can then convert your crypto assets into various currencies, handy if you’re a regular traveller and need USD one week and AUD the next.

Of course, you can only spend or withdraw up to the maximum amount loaded onto the card, but you’re able to make instant transfers from your crypto wallet to the crypto card using smartphone applications. Some crypto prepaid card providers may also offer rewards based on the transactions you make, or how much crypto you have stored on the card at any one time.

Best Crypto Cards

Because crypto cards are still a relatively new phenomenon, there aren’t a huge number of options available in Australia. For example, you can’t get a crypto credit card in Australia at the moment, but you can get either a crypto debit card or a crypto prepaid card in Australia.

These are currently the best crypto cards available to sign up for in Australia

Crypto.com Visa Prepaid Card

• 5 Tiers 
• Up to 8% in rewards
• Range of benefits depending on tier
• Up to $1,000 AUD free ATM withdrawal each month

The sporting arena is the home of the Los Angeles Lakers NBA basketball team, and also plays host to a number of other sporting and music events.

Crypto.com’s prepaid Visa card is one of the best crypto cards currently available. You can top up its value using either fiat currency or funds from your Crypto.com crypto wallet. Once you’ve topped it up with money (or equivalent value in cryptocurrency) you can then use the Crypto.com Visa card to make purchases online or in-store, at any terminal where a Visa card is accepted.

However, in order to sign-up for a Crypto.com card, you first need to buy CRO tokens and stake them for 180 days. This means you need to pledge your tokens to Crypto.com for the 180 day period. You still own those coins, but you won’t be able to sell them during the 180-day window.

The number of coins you stake will depend on which Crypto.com Visa card you want to apply for. There are five tiers of Crypto.com Visa card with the CRO stake being either: $0 AUD; $500 AUD; $5,000 AUD, $50,000 AUD or $500,000.

Various rewards and benefits are offered depending on which tier you sign-up for. For example, if you stake the maximum $500,000 worth of CRO tokens, you will be rewarded with 8% of the value of your card spend, paid out in CRO tokens.

Other benefits include receiving rebates on services such as Spotify, Netflix and Amazon Prime, LoungeKey airport lounge access and rebates on Airbnb and Expedia bookings. Crypto.com also provides free ATM withdrawals, with the maximum amount you can withdraw for free changing depending on the tier you sign-up for.

You can read our full review of the Crypto.com Visa crypto debit card here.

Wirex Multicurrency Travelcard

• Up to 8% Cryptoback on all purchases
• Fee-free FX
• Spend 150+ currencies around the world

Wirex is a worldwide digital payment platform and was the first to introduce a contactless payment card, that you could use to spend your crypto, in 2015. The company’s multicurrency travelcard lets you spend any of 49 currently supported crypto assets, along with traditional fiat currencies, anywhere that a Visa card is supported.

The Wirex multicurrency travelcard cannot currently be used at terminals that accept Mastercard in Australia, although it is accepted in the UK and EEA (support for this will arrive in the future), making it one of the best crypto cards for travelling. When you do spend with your Wirex crypto card, the transaction will be automatically converted based on the exchange rate at the time of the transaction.

You can earn up to 2% back in WXT tokens (Wirex’s own coin) every time you use the Wirex crypto card in-store and online. There are always zero exchange fees whenever you use the card.

Embily Crypto Card

• Virtual card available within 5 minutes; physical card one week
• Apple Pay and Google Pay support 
• Accepted worldwide at all Visa location

Embily is another blockchain payment gateway platform that has launched its own crypto card to be used in stores and online. The Embily card is a debit card, meaning it is connected directly to your crypto wallet, and so all purchases are debited from the value of your wallet at the time of the transaction.

What makes Embily one of the best crypto card providers is just how quickly they can get your card delivered to you. The company offers one of the, if not the fastest dispatch, so you’ll receive your physical card usually within a week of you ordering it. But, obviously wanting its users to be able to spend as quickly as possible, you can add a digital card to the wallet on your Apple iPhone around five minutes after you’ve signed up to the Embily service. Support for Google Pay has been promised in the future.

You can currently top up the Embily card with any of six crypto tokens and there is a 1% fee added on every time you load currency onto it. There is also a 2 Euro monthly charge for being in ownership of a card.

However, transactions made using your Embily card are currently only accepted at Visa terminals. It’s not yet clear if support for Mastercard terminals will be added in the near future.

Monolith Visa Debit Card

• Best for use with Ethereum
• Buy crypto within the app at competitive rates
• Currently only available in UK and Europe

If you’re someone who is a particular fan of Ethereum, then the Monolith Visa debit card is for you. This is because Monolith runs on the Ethereum ecosystem, meaning only tokens that run on this system are supported. For now, the Monolith crypto card can only be ordered in the UK and 30 European countries, along with some Special Member State Territories, however, it can be used to make purchases anywhere around the world where Visa payments are accepted.

Monolith also has its own token, TKN, which can be used to waive some fees you can expect to pay if you top it up using other tokens. Predominantly, this relates to the 1% Community Chest feature. With this, every time anyone who owns a Monolith card tops up their card with any other token, 1% of the value of that top up is given to the Community Chest. If you top up your card using TKN, you won’t pay this fee.

TKN holders can then claim their share of the Community Chest at any time using the company’s Cash & Burn feature.

There are various fees related to owning, using and topping up the Monolith Visa debit card, and all of these are explained with transparency on the company’s website.

Coinbase Visa Debit Card

• Choose which crypto you want to spend
• $0 transaction fee on all purchases
• Only available in the US and select European countries

Coinbase is a popular online crypto platform for buying, selling and trading crypto assets. The company’s Visa debit card is funded by the value of your Coinbase wallet, making it one of the best crypto cards for direct spending.

The Coinbase crypto card essentially acts exactly in the same way as a regular debit card, it’s just connected to your digital wallet instead of a bank account. You can use it to make purchases anywhere Visa is accepted and make withdrawals from ATMs. You can even select which crypto assets you want to use to spend with from within the Coinbcase app.

Spending summaries within the app act in the same way as bank statements too, and underneath the value of each transaction, you’ll be told how much of the particular crypto coin you used, was spent.

At the moment, only residents in the US and select European countries can sign up for a Coinbase card. Anyone that does sign up for a Coinbase card can begin using it online instantly, using the information provided within the app. The Coinbase card is also supported by Apple Pay and Google Pay.

Various rewards are available too, and these can be tailored within the app. Rewards can be earned on your spending, no matter which crypto token you use to make the purchase.

Voyager Debit Card

• Up to 9% in rewards
• No annual fee
• Accepted at Mastercard locations worldwide

Voyager is another incredibly popular cryptocurrency trading platform, thanks in part to its zero trading fee feature. The Voyager crypto debit card is one of the few cards currently available that is accepted at Mastercard terminals.

It too offers rewards in the form of crypto back into your account. What is particularly appealing about this feature is that you get rewarded in USDC, a stable coin that is pegged to the price of the U.S. dollar, making it a pretty stable offering. You are able to change the coin you get rewarded in, however, within the Voyager app. If you choose to stick with the USD Coin, you can earn up to 9% annually when you hold the minimum of US$100 worth of USDC in your account.

If you hold Voyager Token (VGX) then you qualify for the Voyager Loyalty Program, which gives you extra rewards and crypto-back on purchases. The value of crypto you can receive increases depending on the amount of Voyager Token you hold.

The post Best Crypto Cards 2022: 6 Best Crypto Cards Available Right Now appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Singapore Airlines has been given the title of Best Overall Cellar at the Cellars in the Sky awards 2021. The awards were announced in February. This is the third time Singapore Airlines has won the gold medal for Best Overall Cellar, having previously taken out the rankings in both 2015 and 2018.

Singapore Airlines netted 12 awards in total at the event, including six gold medals for Best First Class White, Best First Class Red, Best First Class Cellar, Best Business White, Best Business Class Cellar and Best Overall Cellar.

Australian wines were a big part of Singapore Airlines’ success, with Clonakilla O’Riada Shiraz 2015 (from Canberra) getting the gold medal for Best First Class Red, and Giant Steps Chardonnay 2018 (from the Yarra Valley) getting gold for Best Business White.

Singapore Airlines was also a runner up in the Best Business Red category (for Lionheart of the Barossa 2017), and the Best Business Class Fortified category (for Morris Classic Liqueur Muscat NV).

Singapore Airlines has focussed on its wine for quite some time. It was the first carrier in the world to have a dedicated wine panel selecting its wine list, for instance, which it introduced all the way back in 1989.

Singapore Airlines’ international wine panel is made up of Michael Hill Smith MW (Australia), Oz Clarke (UK) and Jeannie Cho Lee MW (Hong Kong).

“Together they taste over one thousand New World and Old World, white and red wines, Champagnes, and ports for the Airline each year, before recommending those to be served in all classes and on all routes flown by SIA,” Singapore Airlines says.

Speaking of their latest awards, Singapore Airlines Divisional Vice President Inflight Services & Design Betty Wong said the airline was honoured to have their inflight wine choices recognised.

“When we last participated in 2019 we earned six awards, so to double our wins this year is a significant improvement,” Ms Wong said.

“SIA has always sought to create a five-star gourmet dining experience for our customers, and we are proud to have our wine selections recognised as the best in the airline industry.”

“As we welcome our customers back on board, we will continue investing in fine wines and special pours to bring our service to a new level.”

Betty Wong

Singapore Airlines wine expert, Michael Hill Smith MW, said: “SIA and my fellow Wine Consultants, Jeannie Cho Lee MW and Oz Clarke, are thrilled with this year’s Business Traveller Cellar in the Sky results which included Best Business Class Cellar, Best First Class Cellar and Best Overall Cellar.”

“We offer a wonderful selection of global fine wine and Australia has always played an important and well-deserved role in this.

“I was particularly pleased to see 2018 Giant Steps Chardonnay from the Yarra Valley win Best Business Class White and 2015 Clonakilla O’Riada Shiraz from Canberra District win Best First Class Red.”

“Both are excellent examples of diversity and sheer quality of Australian wine that are turning heads internationally.”

Michael Hill Smith MW

Singapore Airlines Director of Food and Beverage Antony McNeil said: “Being recognised as having the Best Cellar in the sky is a significant achievement and was made possible through the dedication of our Inflight Services Food & Beverage team and SIA Wine Consultants.”

“The dedication of the entire team to taste hundreds of wine varieties, and using their experience and expertise, nominate only the best for pouring on board, to ensure they were of optimum quality for the Cellars in the Sky judging panel, is commendable.”

McNeil added: “The awards and ultimately the recognition is justification for the time and effort put in, but also reinforces our strong commitment to ensuring SIA’s wine programme is continually pushing the boundaries to meet the highest standards for all our inflight offerings.”

The Cellars in the Sky awards, run by Business Traveller, have been going for 36 years now, and recognise the best Business and First Class wines served by airlines. Airlines enter by sending their selected wines to a panel of wine experts, who judge the winning wines through a blind tasting.

The judges for the 2021 awards were: Masters of Wine Peter McCombie (Head Judge), Sarah Abbott and Sam Caporn, and winemaker John Worontschak.

In other Cellars in the Sky awards news, Korean Air won gold medals in the Best First Class Sparkling and Best First Class Fortified categories, Qatar Airways (last year’s overall winner) took out the Best First Class Rosé, Eva Air got gold for Best Business Class Sparkling, LATAM won the Best Business Class Red category, Jetblue won the Best Business Class Rosé category, and TAP Air Portugal scooped Best Business Class Fortified.

• Best Wines Served On Business & First Class Airlines Revealed
• Airline Responds To Naughty First Class Behaviour In Cruellest Way Possible 

The post If You Love Wine, You Need To Try This Airline appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Drake has never been one for subtlety.

The man born Aubrey Graham – who you might know better as one of the world’s biggest celebrities and most successful musicians – is rumoured to have a net worth in excess of US$250 million, and he’s not afraid to splash that cash, especially where jewellery is concerned.

From Patek Philippe and Richard Mille watches customised by Virgil Abloh and Chrome Hearts to diamond rings and boatloads of chains, Drake likes to make a statement and loves to collaborate with in-demand tastemakers on his pieces.

His latest pickup takes things to the next level. The 35-year-old Canadian superstar was spotted courtside at a Toronto Raptors game in his hometown on Friday wearing a US$1.9 million chain made by fellow rapper Frank Ocean’s jewellery company, Homer. That’s right. $1.9 mil.

We’ve seen rappers rock some seriously outrageous bling before but this blows everything out of the water. Sorry, fellas: bling is dead. Drake killed it.

Crafted from 18ct white gold, the ‘Sphere Legs High Jewelry Necklace’ features a chain made from orbs joined by pavé links, with each orb boasting a 0.33-inch brilliant-cut white diamond with an average weight of 2.326 carats. The pendant features another four orb branches with 0.33-inch diamonds, plus a final brilliant-cut stone in the centre, for a total weight of 127.5 carats.

Those are some seriously huge diamonds. Consider this: the average engagement ring diamond is somewhere between 1.08 and 1.2 carats… And this chain has dozens of orbs each containing those big 2.326 carat diamonds.

This means Drake officially has the most expensive chain on the planet, with his Homer piece eclipsing the previous record holder, Rick Ross.

RELATED: Justin Bieber’s Latest ‘Outrageous’ Rolex Flex Imparts Timeless Truth About Watch Investing

‘The Boss’ famously commissioned a chain back in 2010 which depicts a miniature of himself, wearing a chain that’s a miniature of himself: an Inception-worthy piece that reportedly cost him US$1.5 million.

But that chain pales in comparison to the outrageousness of Drizzy’s newest flex. As the man himself has said, “distance between us is not like a store, this isn’t a closeable gap.” Take that.

• Drake’s $3.2 Million Richard Mille Deemed A Choking Hazard By Watch Fans
• “LEGENDARY”: Remembering Virgil Abloh’s Most Iconic Moments

The post Drake’s $1.9 Million Frank Ocean Necklace Proves ‘Bling’ Is Dead appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Australian airline Qantas is dropping an NFT all of its own. The airline teased the news an hour ago (as of the time of writing) on Twitter, writing: “A new way to own a piece of Qantas history is on its way.”

Qantas added: “Interested collectors can register at http://qantas.com/NFT for updates in the lead up to the release.”

Australia’s flagship airline states on its website: “We’re looking to the future for our next collection of memorabilia. A new set of digital art collectables is gearing up for release as non-fungible tokens (NFTs).”

Though Qantas didn’t say exactly when the NFTs would be released (though they did say it would be “mid year”), they did explain how the NFTs would work.

“Using blockchain technology, each piece of digital artwork will be one-of-a-kind allowing you to buy, own, collect and sell your unique tokens,” Qantas said.

“In a world-first, the initial buyer of a Qantas NFT will be able to earn Qantas Points, with more exciting future benefits for Qantas NFT holders underway.”

Those interested in getting in on the NFT action were encouraged to register for more details and updates, ahead of the mid-year release.

Opinion of the history-making Qantas NFT has so far received a negative reception on Twitter. Comments rolled in like: “Lol. Which arsehat decided this would be a good thing?” and “wow, you really do like to flex your CO2 emissions eh” (another wrote: “Make an nft of Qantas laying off thousands of workers after getting billions of Australian taxpayer subsidies”).

Do better than this scammy terrible for the environment NFT trend. pic.twitter.com/Y2mmR3uvls

— Grae Hall (@HallGrae) March 20, 2022

I know you’re an airline but didn’t realise you hated the environment THAT much. pic.twitter.com/k0YEfQ9yZx

— Andrew Garrett (@werdnum) March 20, 2022

Many of the complaints were focused on the environmental impact of NFTs.

No. Please no. There is no such thing as a good NFT. Any good you might have done with the “Green Tier” and offsetting flights etc (and I don’t want to start a debate on that) will be completely undone by this.

— David Wengier (@davidwengier) March 20, 2022

At the time of writing there has yet to be a positive comment on the announcement’s Twitter thread (but to be fair it hasn’t been up long, and Twitter is usually a negative-skewed barometer of public opinion).

Reconsider this. NFTs suck.

— Adam Kent (@akent) March 20, 2022

Even still: it raises a big ethical question for both airlines (and their ‘buy back your impact’ approach to emissions), and the broader crypto industry. Is this just the price of progress, or a step too far? Even Tesla – a company notorious for both its founder’s Promethean attitude and its environmental bonafides – has found it a tough one to grapple with…

Why if you claim to care so much about the environment (see the recent introduction of ‘Green Tier’), would you go down the NFTs road which are proven to be deeply terrible for the environment based on supremely high energy usage? Wildly irresponsible.

— Marty K (@_marty_k) March 20, 2022

Hey @Qantas, id love to talk to your team about doing this more efficiently, since yall have been offsetting for a decade, there are better options for NFTs than what you are doing: https://t.co/Bou5pJ5poj

— Jay Z (@jayzalowitz) March 20, 2022

Given details are still scant around Qantas’ upcoming mid-year NFT release, it’s also possible the airline will have some kind of carbon emissions offsetting system to go along with the NFT. So we’ll keep an eye out for that too.

• What Is An NFT? The Digital File Taking The World By Storm
• The Most Exciting Cryptocurrencies You Need To Know

The post Qantas NFT Raises Big Ethical Question appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Trying to figure out how to get started in crypto investing can be scary. It’s way too easy for crypto newbies to feel overwhelmed by a slew of new and over-complicated information that can leave them feeling more confused than before they started out.

That’s why we’re going to start at the very beginning: choosing a trustworthy exchange to buy, sell and hold your crypto assets. Today, we’re going to take a critical look at everything that you need to know about the US-owned cryptocurrency exchange: Kucoin. 

Check out our full round-up of the best crypto wallets here

What is Kucoin?

Officially registered in Seychelles, Kucoin was technically founded in Hong Kong in 2017. 

Positioning itself as ‘The People’s Exchange’, Kucoin has emerged as market-leading crypto exchange, growing its user base to approximately 11 million users world wide. 

As of today, Kucoin offers its investors a staggering selection of over 600+ cryptocurrencies. This means that you can purchase major tokens like Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH) and Ripple (XRP) and if you were looking for a more obscure token, chances are you’ll find it on Kucoin. 

The Kucoin platform and mobile application is definitely aimed more towards seasoned investors, as the user-experience could be seen as daunting by newbies. If you’re looking to scoop up lesser-known coins, Kucoin is definitely one of the top choices. 

To get a better understanding of Kucoin, let’s use a classic pros & cons list to weigh up the verdict.

Pros & Cons of Kucoin

Pros

• Enormous Selection of Tokens & Altcoins: Perhaps one of the most frustrating experiences is getting completely set up on a new app or platform and then realizing that the random, niche altcoin your mate mentioned to you isn’t actually available on this app you’ve just signed up for. You definitely won’t have this problem on Kucoin, as it offers over 600+ digital assets, covering one the widest ranges of tokens you could possibly ask for. Kucoin is always more digital assets to the platform. 
  
• Extremely Low Fees: Kucoin offers some of the lowest fees in the entire industry, charging just 0.1% per trade, offering investors an incentive of 0.08% fees if they use its native KCS token. 
  
• Can Be AUD friendly: By default Kucoin lists crypto prices on its platform and app in US dollars, however Aussie users can easily switch to view assets in AUD. 
  
• Packed With Different Features: Kucoin offers more advanced investors a massive selection of unique trading features such as staking, margin trading and leveraged futures. If you’re looking to trade different cryptocurrencies in a range of different pairings or fiat currencies, then Kucoin is the exchange for you. 
  
• Great for International Users: Kucoin also offers over 45+ different fiat currency options, meaning that transferring funds around the world is simple and easy for almost every user. 

Cons 

• Can Be Complicated: As Kucoin is aimed more towards seasoned investors, complete newbies may find interacting with the platform a little difficult initially. If you are just looking to buy and hold different cryptocurrencies long-term, other more beginner-friendly exchanges such as CoinSpot, Swyftx or Digital Surge may be a better choice. 
  
• Poor Customer Service: While Kucoin is loaded with features, customer service is lacking when compared to other exchanges like CoinSpot, Swyftx or Digital Surge. While these large Australian-owned exchanges all offer some form of LiveChat customer support Kucoin does not, meaning that technical or administrative issues can often be frustrating to resolve.  

Kucoin Fees Explained

Fees are ultimately how crypto exchanges and platforms make their money, so it’s really important for investors to understand how much they’re paying every time they make a trade. Fee structuring can be pretty tricky, as platforms often like to disguise hidden costs in the form of strange fees.

Kucoin has some of the lowest fees in the cryptocurrency industry. 

Kucoin Deposit & Withdrawal Fees

Depositing your fiat currency onto Kucoin can become expensive quite quickly. If investors want to use Kucoin, it’s best to use another exchange with cheaper fiat deposits to purchase crypto and then transfer it to Kucoin, as its fiat-onboarding fees can be quite high. 

• If investors choose to purchase crypto directly on Kucoin via a credit or debit card, the fee can be as high as a staggering 12%. 
• However, if you choose to onboard your fiat via a 3rd party service such as Banxa, it will incur an approximate 3% fee and you may also be charged an international conversion fee by your bank. 

Kucoin Transaction Fees

Despite the fiat deposit process being clunky and expensive, Kucoin’s transaction fees are extremely low and extremely simple. 

Spot Trades: Kucoin fees for spot trading begin at a blanket 0.1% fee. Kucoin offers investors a further incentive of a 20% discount if they use Kucoin’s native KCS token to pay fees. This means that investors only end up paying 0.08% per trade.

Is Kucoin Safe to Use?

No matter your experience level, the security and safety of the platform used to buy and sell digital assets is usually a top concern for crypto investors. Kucoin is among the most secure and reliable cryptocurrency exchanges in the Australian market. 

Kucoin is a well-established and secure exchange that works to ensure that investor’s funds are safe at all times. They undertake many different security measures including micro-withdrawal wallets and multilayer encryption. 

Despite being hacked in 2020, and having approximately US$275 million stolen from the exchange, Kucoin worked hard to recover over 80% of the stolen funds and promptly reimbursed investors for the remaining assets that went missing. They increased security measures directly afterwards and have not suffered an attack since.

All Kucoin login activity is further protected by 2FA (two-factor authentication) that requires investors to enter a code generated on their registered mobile device to sign in to the Kucoin platform.

Kucoin Alternatives

If Kucoin doesn’t have the tokens you’re looking for, or the fees are slightly too high for your looking, the alternatives listed here are ranked in order of similarity and preference for using AUD.

• CoinSpot: Australia’s largest cryptocurrency platform with more than 350 digital assets available.
• Cointree: An Australian operated exchange and fully AUSTRAC-regulated. Offers similar features to Kucoin but with a smaller selection of tokens and slightly higher fees.
• Digital Surge: Another Australian exchange with more than 200 cryptocurrencies that operates natively in AUD. Has a quick verification process but higher fees than CoinSpot.
• Binance: The largest crypto exchange in the world based on daily trading volume. Binance is oriented more strongly towards non-Australian users and is more suitable for advanced traders looking for niche pairs.
• Coinbase: Possibly the most well-known exchange in the world. Investors can trade a variety of different cryptocurrencies but fees are high and all values are denominated in USD.
• eToro: Offers commission-free crypto trades with the added bonus of social and copy trading.

Overall Kucoin Conclusion

Kucoin is definitely a solid choice for Australian crypto investors who are looking for an extremely wide selection of tokens. While the Kucoin interface can be daunting at first, its extremely low fees (just 0.1% per trade) and enormous selection of 600+ cryptocurrencies as well as support for 45+ fiat currencies make it an enticing prospect for investors. Kucoin’s additional features such as staking, futures, and margin trading make it a great option for seasoned crypto enthusiasts.

Read Next

• Digital Surge Review 2022: Everything Australian Cryptocurrency Investors Need to Know
• Binance Review Australia 2022

The post Kucoin Review 2022: Everything Australian Investors Need To Know appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

There are a lot of unanswered questions around plane travel. Just how old are those plastic-wrapped bread rolls? How clean is the coffee? Do flight attendants mind if you switch seats mid-flight? How do baggage handlers fit so many suitcases in such a small space? Is the mile high club a myth or a secret society?

Sorry to burst your suitcase, but today we aren’t going to answer any of those questions. We are going to answer, however, why windows never seem to line up perfectly with your seat.

DMARGE spoke to Anthony Harcup, senior director at design house Teague, to get to the bottom of the matter.

“It’s because seat-spacing and positioning is dictated by airlines’ commercial requirements, and the window spacing is driven by the aircraft OEM’s engineering requirements,” Harcup said.

He explained that window spacing is worked into the structural sections of the aircraft: “Aircraft are built in structural sections that are covered over by the large interior lining panels – each housing 2 window reveals (we call these ‘frame-bays’),” Harcup said.

“They have over-lapping articulating seams that allow the aircraft to flex in flight without revealing the engineering structures. Per aircraft model (ie: A320/ B737/ A350/ B787 etc…) these do not change – and will all leave the factory with the same spacing regardless of the airline/operator.”

As for seat spacing, “seats are configured and ‘pitched’ to meet the commercial requirements of the airline,” he said.

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“Airlines all have different business models (LCC, ULCC, Full Service Carriers) that demand different seat types, different pitch ranges, and different configurations. The LOPA (Layout Of Passenger Accommodation) definition process is an entirely separate process that does not consider window placement.”

As Insider puts it: “Their [the airlines’] goals are fitting as many people into seats as possible—not setting a scenic stage for your in-flight Instagrams.”

There you have it. That’s why plane windows usually don’t perfectly align with each seat.

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The post Plane Windows Never Line Up Perfectly With Your Seat: Here’s Why appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Nowadays, relationships come in different varieties. These days people are free to diverge from the traditional monogamous ‘boyfriend and girlfriend’/’husband and wife’ option. For example, there are open relationships, friends with benefits, and throuples…

If you’re unfamiliar with the term, a throuple is three people who are romantically involved, as opposed to the traditional two. However, this newer type of relationship isn’t for everyone. Case in point: influencer Taylor Cezanne.

Cezanne, a 26-year-old woman, had been with her boyfriend for three years and the two decided to shake things up by inviting a third person into their relationship. According to the New York Post, Cezanne and her boyfriend met the third person – another woman – through his work.

Both Cezanne and her partner were attracted to the new woman and decided to pursue a relationship with the newcomer, but slowly. Cezanne confessed, “We just wanted to have some fun but she was a virgin so I didn’t want to pressure her at all.”

However, shortly after the three of them started their throuple relationship, Cezanne began to feel left out; especially as the other two worked together. Apparently, “​​They ended up being closer,” which led Cezanne to feel slightly jealous. Despite this jealousy, the throuple lasted for seven whole months.

But then, after not coming home one night, Cezanne went to look for her two partners and found them – having sex without her. While this wasn’t necessarily against the rules the three set up at the beginning of the relationship, seeing them involved like that made Cezanne realise she couldn’t be in a throuple anymore.

She immediately told her boyfriend that she only wanted him and wanted to break it off with their third partner. But her boyfriend didn’t. “I told him I didn’t want to date her anymore but he wanted us both.” Knowing that her boyfriend didn’t want to stop dating the ‘other woman’, Cezanne broke up with him and ended up single.

Luckily, Cezanne isn’t bitter about the outcome.

“I’ve moved on and am happy. I’m grateful for the experience and what it taught me.”

The lesson here it seems, at least to Cezanne, is that the old saying ‘two’s a party and three’s a crowd’ is still relevant – for some.

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The post Thinking Of Starting A ‘Throuple’ Relationship? You May End Up Single… appeared first on DMARGE Australia.