Should a retailer have the right to refuse cash?

[El Presidente]

General question: Should a retailer have the right to refuse cash? 

I am not talking about $50,000 for a car. I am talking about $15 for a sandwich and a coffee or $3000 for a big screen TV. 

"Digital payment only" is increasingly being adopted by retailers here and there is some significant pushback. 

Should a retailer be entitled to refuse cash? 

Would love your thoughts. 

[mikejh]

I think its probably a decision that a business has a right to make for itself for better or worse, I almost never carry cash anymore.

[El Presidente]

8 hours ago, mikejh said:

I think its probably a decision that a business has a right to make for itself for better or worse, I almost never carry cash anymore.

So grandma goes up and asks for a coffee. Coffee made and she goes to pay but is informed it is digital payment only. "Look at the sign nana, "says the hipster barrista. 

"F*** Y** you oiled and manicured bearded prick. I don't have an effing digital phone you metal headed moron, so take my legal currency $5 and shove it up your arse!"  says grandma. 

Who is in the right? 

[mikejh]

8 hours ago, El Presidente said:

So grandma goes up and asks for a coffee. Coffee made and she goes to pay but is informed it is digital payment only. "Look at the sign nana, "says the hipster barrista. 

"F*** Y** you oiled and manicured bearded prick. I don't have an effing digital phone you metal headed moron, so take my legal currency $5 and shove it up your arse!"  says grandma. 

Who is in the right? 

That's probably the biggest issue, losing a certain amount of customers or a certain demographic, and I'm sure that's something businesses who have done this have taken into consideration before doing it.

[El Presidente]

8 hours ago, mikejh said:

That's probably the biggest issue, losing a certain amount of customers or a certain demographic, and I'm sure that's something businesses who have done this have taken into consideration before doing it.

So the question becomes, "when does discriminating against a particular demographic be considered acceptable?"  

 

 

[Cigar Surgeon]

What's interesting about this is the reverse scenario has played out in the past here in Calgary. Cash only places. Fortunately, they are wise enough to post notice outside of the shop so I know to frequent someone else.

Surprised a shop would not accept cash though, seems poorly thought out.

[ha_banos]

One of my local pubs is 'cash free'. These days even granny will have her contactless debit card. So she'll likely be fine. Or are you taking crypto digital cash? That's still a micro demographic. 

I was talking about this the other night with the crew...over double magnum of vino. The largest denomination is a 500€ note over these ends. So should stores have to accept for a litre of milk and a baguette? You could probably call the cops on the storekeeper for some woke violation of freedom I'd expect.

Anyways this side of the channel the largest denomination is the 1oz gold Britannia? Like to see anyone pay with that! 

[TacoSauce]

In the US, legal tender laws dictate that cash must be accepted for all debts. So if the service has already been rendered or the product delivered/consumed, then the vendor must accept cash as payment. However, if the transaction has not proceeded to a point where a debt is incurred, then the vendor can refuse cash payment and deny service or product delivery. In the case of the granny, the vendor would be within rights to refuse cash payment and withhold the prepared coffee. But... if Granny stormed up to the counter and took a big gulp before settling the bill, a debt is incurred and the vendor must accept the cash or go without payment. 

[Chibearsv]

Happens every summer, I order a Gatorade from the bar cart on the golf course, pull out a five to pay and she says she can’t accept cash, card only. I pull out another 5 and viola! Cash accepted. I don’t understand why they would limit the methods of payment. Seems stupid to turn away paying customers. 

[Pantone151]

Devil's advocate:

From the business point of view eliminating cash gets rid of minimum wage employees pocketing money also not having to deal with holding cash and depositing it at the bank or paying brinks to come and pick it up.

[Hammer Smokin']

I don't find this that unique. We have many places here (in Ontario, Canada) that absolutely do not accept cash. Digital forms of payment only. And quite a few. (I'm assuming enough that those who do it don't see a reduction in customers.)

[MagicalBikeRide]

I would estimate that >80% of cafes and coffee shops here (Ireland) won’t accept cash. I’m unsure re the law. I use tap / Apple Pay on phone effectively everywhere. That said - I’d be fine with the idea that all shops would be forced to accept cash. 

[Namisgr11]

Citizen's Bank Park where the Philadelphia Phillies play is all cashless transactions inside, as well as to access the parking lots.  It limits logistics problems that handling cash from 35,000 patrons can create, so in that setting I think it makes a lot of sense.

For a typical shop or restaurant to refuse cash, on the other hand, would seem within their rights, just as customers retain their right to not spend money there.

[El Hoze]

Funny timing, I just got back from the Mets/Yankees game at Clover Park in Port Saint Lucie, FL, which is the Mets spring training facility. Some guy in front of me was going bonkers that he could not buy a beer with cash. Clover, for those that may not know, is a cashless point of sale payments company and their name is on the field. You can’t use cash for anything, even to park. Once I told the guy that he actually laughed. 

[riderpride]

It's illegal up here to refuse legal tender, though many try - especially after 'Vid. On the flipside, I associate cash-only with laundering as they usually bounce between tills.

Cheers

[CigarmanTim]

Go to Ohio State stadium. They do not accept cash. They do have machines you can feed your cash into and it spits out a debit card so you can use it to buy food ect.I think its just a matter of time. Covid accelerated the transition a bit.

[unaslob]

Makes me wonder what costs more - 

1) cost of handling cash and theft issues. 

2) paying the banks and CC company vig for using cards. 

[Lucas Buck]

They should be able to do whatever they want but doesn’t mean I have to like it. I take my business to those that still accept cash. 

[Habanoschris]

I think legal tender should be legal tender, with that being said I use my phone to tap for 99% of my purchases ...

[ATGroom]

In Australia we had been moving towards a cash-free society for some time, but it really went universal during the Covid era.

As far as I know, most places will still technically accept cash if want to use it, but they certainly don't expect cash.

I.e., you order your coffee and the server will automatically key the amount in and offer you the debit machine...if you then pull a note out they will say "oohhhh" and fumble around cancelling the transaction and finding you change. People in the line behind you might roll their eyes.

Which leads to the next issue - almost all small businesses in Australia now add the credit card fee (generally 1.4%) to your order. So we've quietly all accepted an extra 1.4% tax on our entire spend.

[rckymtn22]

I am still a cash guy especially if the transaction is under $100. I would go somewhere else if the place didn’t accept cash. Using just cards is another reason so many people are so far in debt. The credit card companies and bank love it. Those $5, $10,  $15 charges add up quickly. 

[LaoFan]

Nobody pays cash in China. Nobody even uses credit cards. It's all WeChat/Alipay. But it's illegal to not accept cash and businesses can face heavy consequences if they get caught.

[rascalmonkey]

Lots & lots of places in LA are card only + I put up a stink at first and then surrendered.

[Greenhorn2]

6 hours ago, ATGroom said:

In Australia we had been moving towards a cash-free society for some time, but it really went universal during the Covid era.

As far as I know, most places will still technically accept cash if want to use it, but they certainly don't expect cash.

I.e., you order your coffee and the server will automatically key the amount in and offer you the debit machine...if you then pull a note out they will say "oohhhh" and fumble around cancelling the transaction and finding you change. People in the line behind you might roll their eyes.

Which leads to the next issue - almost all small businesses in Australia now add the credit card fee (generally 1.4%) to your order. So we've quietly all accepted an extra 1.4% tax on our entire spend.

Most places in US is gouging 3%.

[SirVantes]

8 hours ago, El Presidente said:

so the question becomes, " when does discriminating against a particular demographic be considered acceptable?"  

That question some miles on it already. What is today’s attitude to “no shirt, no shoes, no service”? Can you turn away someone with bad BO? How about smelling of weed? 

Despite legal tender laws, “this store has less than $X change after Ypm” has never caused outrage. Is not being able make change a justification refusing cash? I have no idea where the lines should be drawn.