A man in Taiwan has found an unconventional way to make payments easier by tattooing an e-invoice barcode on his forearm. The news, originally reported in 2022, has resurfaced on the Malaysian news site SAYS.
The man explained that he got the tattoo to avoid the hassle of turning on his phone to scan his e-invoice barcode every time he made a purchase.
He shared videos on Taiwanese social media platform Dcard showing the tattoo in action. The videos depicted him using the barcode tattoo for payments at convenience stores and gas stations. Each time he scanned his tattoo, his e-invoice account number appeared on the cashier’s screen.
He also shared the reactions of cashiers who were surprised by his unique payment method. “When I buy something now, the shop assistants will say, ‘Wow, is this really possible? How could this happen?’ They have crazy eyes, but I enjoy watching their surprised expressions,” he said.
However, he noted the importance of choosing a skilled tattoo artist for such a precise design. The barcode had to be exact to work properly, as even a small mistake could make it useless.
Despite the positive response, the tattoo artist advised against getting barcode tattoos. “The lines will fade over time, and the barcode will not be functional anymore. If you were to get it, please think twice!” the artist commented.