Originally Posted by
notquiteaff
Not the OP, but twice. Once in Vienna trying to buy train or subway tickets. No big deal, I had cash. Second time at an unattended gas station near AMS when trying to fill up the rental car on a Sunday morning before returning it. I had to quickly find another gas station to make my flight.
Since that gas station experience I now have a European card with Chip + PIN for the "just in case" scenario.
Yeah, the ticket machines etc. have been a known issue for a while. OP made it seem like regular stores were starting to say "no" to American cards though, which would be extremely concerning if true. Hopefully that's not the case.