Different shops require different payment methods

kburra

kburra

Senior Member
Location
GB
Drives me crazy here in Australia, Some shops Cash only. Other shops won`t accept Cash, Some online shopping No Eftpos, Credit cards only, and on and on it goes. And no one accepts Cheques/Checks anymore, Remember when shopping was so easy, now you don`t know whether you are Arthur or Martha!!

Is it the same in your neck of the woods?
 

I noticed the other day that a lot of shops have a notice on their doors specifying what form of money they will accept. I'm boycotting all those which don't take cash. If everyone else does the same, they will soon change their policy.
 

In our supermarkets, many of the self service checkouts will only accept cards. I suppose it saves servicing the machines, making sure they have enough coins etc. The manned checkouts will accept both cards and cash. Some small independent shops and traders only accept cash.
The 'worst' case is our local coal / firewood merchant where I'm handing over about £200 in notes for a load of logs.

Apart from that, I'm happy to use a card as it saves me carrying cash - except for some loose change.
 
I always ask the small businesses whether they prefer cash or card. Most say either but there are reasons why some don't like cash. They can run greater risk being held up at the end of the day if they have a lot of cash in the till and are also at risk of being mugged on the way to the bank.

Reasons for preferring cash is because the banks take their cut for every card transaction and small business margins are thin at the best of times. That is why you often see an advertised minimum amount for using a card.

I don't think that I have the right to impose my preference so I try to carry some cash in my wallet even though I prefer to use my debit card.
 
I prefer to use cash for small purchases so as not to have to get into more extensive bookkeeping. During the height of the pandemic, however, some businesses refused cash out of concerns that it might carry the virus, so I once had to use my debit card for an ice cream cone!

Using a check for payment usually slows the payment process and can often cause problems by requiring ID and approval, but my dentist prefers checks and gives a discount for using them as it apparently saves him an electronic processing fee!
 
Cash is good and should be accepted, especially for food (takeaways) deliveries. Since the Pandemic here in Scotland, many pizza place refuse to take cash and only via debit cards.

Trust issues are at the centre of the arguments. You don't want to give access to your account to just anyone considered a casual purchase. So, if they don't accept cash on delivery, sorry but I go somewhere else.

I noticed over the years that small companies prefer cash. After all they need the cashflow to get their business going. Yes, at the end of the day, it's a juggling act, of knowing who takes this and who doesn't offer that.

Hopefully, the best course of action is not let it bother us and stick to preferred establishment that offer goods and services with respect to customers.
 
I only use a card for shopping, except in the little
coffee shop/ bar that I visit once a week, they do
not accept cards.

The use of cards by smaller establishments is not
liked, because they charge a percentage of the sale
as payment for the use of their service, it used to be
3%, but I have no idea how much they charge today,
Amazon stopped accepting Visa CCs, last year, but
after much discussion, they now accept them again,
although I don't personally have a Credit Card, only
debit cards, there is no charge as far as I know for a
%age deduction, for using a debit card, probably as
it is a direct link to your bank account.

Mike.
 
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Supernatural said:
Cash is good and should be accepted, especially for food (takeaways) deliveries. Since the Pandemic here in Scotland, many pizza place refuse to take cash and only via debit cards.

Trust issues are at the centre of the arguments. You don't want to give access to your account to just anyone considered a casual purchase. So, if they don't accept cash on delivery, sorry but I go somewhere else.
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It's a lot more than just basic trust. Why do card companies, and not just credit cards but those so called, loyalty cards, why do they want to keep tabs on us? Every penny spent, every item bought, when, time, date, cost of purchase, it's all logged on the purchaser's profile. Phone companies do much the same when payment is made electronically. The real cynical point of profiling is that profiles get bought and sold. Now that is why I will only pay by cash.
 
Here, in the US, cash is " legal tender", so a legit shop should take it. I'd be leery of places that took only cash. Cash doesn't necessarily have to be reported on income tax forms, and if they're cheating on their taxes....do you really want to trust them?
I've gone cashless for a few years now. I don't have to worry about having enough cash to buy stuff, and accumulating piles of unwanted change. I think the days of using cash are on the way out.
 
horseless carriage said:
It's a lot more than just basic trust. Why do card companies, and not just credit cards but those so called, loyalty cards, why do they want to keep tabs on us?
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I agree with you. Using cred/debit cards leaves an electronic trail, which can be mined for data about you. That's probably why cash may be more and more associated with illegal activities- like drug dealing. Maybe not in our lifetime, but I think we are headed for a cashless society.
 
I think it depends on where you are.

In recent years, I've never had a Canadian store turn down either cash or cards. Even at the farmer's market, most vendors take electronic payments now.

If a store or service accepted only cash, I'd suspect they were cheating on their taxes. I remember calling a tow truck once. On arrival, he gave me two prices; the card price was 33% higher than the cash price. But at least he gave me a choice.
 
Lavinia said:
I'm boycotting all those which don't take cash. If everyone else does the same, they will soon change their policy.
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If they started this during the pandemic and they’re still in business, people aren’t boycotting.

I prefer places that take credit and avoid those that want cash or debit only.

NorthernLight said:
Even at the farmer's market, most vendors take electronic payments now.
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That’s one place I won’t use a CC is places that use those, e.g. four square. Many are using public wifi. I could be wrong but I don’t want my CC going through those. I get a bundle of $5, loonies ($1) and quarters at the start of the summer.
 
WinCo Cash or debit/EBT card, no credit (due to fees)
Safeway, Albertsons, Kroger, Walmart and most grocery are all accepting cards

I think small shops are hit with high fees for credit transaction, so that's why cash only. Or they don't trust the clerks (like a Midwest DMV) had a sign stating "Card or check, NO CASH accepted" as the employees were stealing!
 
In one shop I went in, I asked why they don't like cash and was told, 'It means we have to make a trip to the bank'.
I can understand that security is a good reason for not wanting cash. A business is less likely to be robbed if thieves know that there is no actual money on the premises. However, card fraud and on-line theft is just as likely.
 
Jules said:
If they started this during the pandemic and they’re still in business, people aren’t boycotting.

I prefer places that take credit and avoid those that want cash or debit only.


That’s one place I won’t use a CC is places that use those, e.g. four square. Many are using public wifi. I could be wrong but I don’t want my CC going through those. I get a bundle of $5, loonies ($1) and quarters at the start of the summer.
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In Britain our notes are made of plastic so it's easy to sterilize. I started cleaning all my money during the pandemic and it's a good habit to get into anyway.
 
Some places in my small town accept cash only. I feel sorry for them. It's like their business is in such bad shape they can't afford the credit card costs, and then they often get avoided because of the cash only thing. Then their business is in even worse shape.
 
Capt Lightning said:
Now I'm retired I'm glad I don't have to file a tax return,
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Wow. Is that an age thing about not filing taxes. People here file so they can get help if their income is low

Lavinia said:
In Britain our notes are made of plastic so it's easy to sterilize. I started cleaning all my money during the pandemic and it's a good habit to get into anyway.
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So are ours. No thanks, I’ll just keep using my card.
 
I am a "credit card user" as I am afraid of purse snatchers. My limit on the CC is the minimum ($2,000?). The outstanding amount is paid automatically at the end of the month.
 
horseless carriage said:
It's a lot more than just basic trust. Why do card companies, and not just credit cards but those so called, loyalty cards, why do they want to keep tabs on us? Every penny spent, every item bought, when, time, date, cost of purchase, it's all logged on the purchaser's profile. Phone companies do much the same when payment is made electronically. The real cynical point of profiling is that profiles get bought and sold. Now that is why I will only pay by cash.
Click to expand...
I'm using cash exclusively for in store shopping these days. I agree that I don't see the necessity of every transaction being recorded and electronic purchases do this. For my own sake, I can keep better tabs on how much I have and spend and actually I'm saving money using cash. I use CCs online, of course. I haven't seen a merchant thst accept checks in years but some online merchants do accept E-checks.
 

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