Should a retailer have the right to refuse cash?

[HenryMartin]

Gen Z cashiers too lazy to give change, trying to tell me its "new policy" as if cash is a boomer concept. When I bring up the real policy, they say I don't have change.

I usually end up walking out as a sign of protest but sometimes I really need that artisan coffee!!

[BoliDan]

I'm gonna ask Di if I can pay cash by snail mail next order. 🤣 Actually she might, the Ayala's are good folks.

If the business is willing to risk losses because of it sure. if someone refused my cash for a bagel and cream cheese, I'd just thank them for letting me know and ask the worker to let their manager know they've lost a returning customer.

[westg]

I love going back to my home town. Early morning ☕️ shop with my old fishing mates. You can hear them coming from two blocks away with all the change they have in there pockets. God help who ever tells them we don't accept cash. 💣☠️

[Habanoschris]

* Yes the credit card fees are being passed to consumers here, usually 3%. I ate at a restaurant on Friday that has cash price/credit card price on menu. I thought I heard this was illegal years ago but guess not, it's commonplace now.

[westg]

Interesting, very interesting. I worked for myself for almost 30 years. If I was paid in cash the last place it would go to would be the bank or the backward shit kickers that run the place here. Me personally, I don't mind either way for payment. Fact is now it's somewhat of a relief to be able to leave the house on vacation or any period of time and not worry. As good as it is especially on holidays generally having too much cash is a pain in the arse in Oz. Spend it ! 

[Li Bai]

In France it's what we call a "refus de vente" (refusal to sell) and it's illegal.

[Çnote]

  On 3/24/2025 at 10:50 PM, Pantone151 said:

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.

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I'd guess we spend ~12 man hours a week dealing with 10% of the total payments made in cash and the 90% is maybe 2 hours a month.

  On 3/24/2025 at 11:34 PM, unaslob said:

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. 

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1-3% on everything depending on something contractable, or unmetricable hours and having to fire competent trained employees that make desperate decisions when tempted? Also reduces the honeybee employees that are just waiting for a hot cash day. (A career in liquor stores and bars may have odd perspectives.)

[Arabian]

Here in Saudi Arabia and GCC region in general, there's a massive shift to cash-free transactions, especially after Covid. 

- the Shop MUST provide a POS connected to the local payment network (Mada). VISA, MC and AMEX are optional. as well as accepting Cash (paper, coins).

- the shop is responsible for the transaction fee and not the Customer. 

- if the shop has a VISA, MC and Amex stickers 'accepted here', the shops POS MUST be connected to those networks as well.

- The shop CAN'T decline a business if the product is visible/ on the shelf. "oh this box of cigars is only for our VVIP customer". It must be taken away. 

Although I rarely use cash, Cash is still king. There were some cases where the payment system/bank was down due to routinely weekly maintenance. 

  On 3/24/2025 at 11:18 PM, riderpride said:

 I associate cash-only with laundering as they usually bounce between tills.

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Or avoiding Taxation/VAT. My barber has POS machine for them surprise city visit (which I think never happens in my neighborhood) or those customers who know the law, most of time its hidden. By law they MUST submit VAT if the annual revenue is 100k USD. I don't blame them. Why would I pay 15% VAT if I'm a small barber shop? They accept digital wallet transfer like Venmo for example.

[Vetteman]

  On 3/25/2025 at 5:26 AM, Habanoschris said:

* Yes the credit card fees are being passed to consumers here, usually 3%. I ate at a restaurant on Friday that has cash price/credit card price on menu. I thought I heard this was illegal years ago but guess not, it's commonplace now.

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Restaurants and gas stations got in early on this trend. In the last few months I’ve seen this at an oral surgery office and a car dealership service department. Not different prices, but a sign alerting customers to the Credit card surcharge. As to the original question, I say yes. For as long as I remember there have been businesses that were “cash only”. This is just a variation of that.

[ned]

  On 3/24/2025 at 9:58 PM, 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? 

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Well Nana needs to pull her head in, based on this scenario, the barista isnt the one who makes the decision. It is the cafe owner. 

Accepting cash costs a business costs anywhere from 4.5% to 15%, not to mention the reduction in working capital as you need to carry a float in your till. That would be a minimum of $200 for most places, now add to that you need to buy a safe, deal with the headaches of keeping the cash safe(taking it to the bank or having it collected, which again costs money/time), the risk of counterfeit cash, staff theft, staff errors in cash handling etc

I think as long as it is clear it should be up to the business owner

 

[joeypots]

I went to three big ski resorts this winter and all had a no cash policy. Aspen, Snowbird, and Killington. The no cash thing is also being coupled with self check out and a food tray put under a scan will produce a sum to be paid by CC. Just like my local back water supermarket.

You know all this already, but to see in action a “no cash” policy covering a retail resort like Ski Corp is kind of startling. The savings must be immense or they wouldn’t be adopting the policy and WTF are the people with a stack of bills going to do with their hard earned untaxed cash? Oh, that’s right, the gov’t doesn’t want you to be able to use cash because it’s hard to tax and trace electronically. So the idea that it’s a right to use cash, if it is indeed a right, will be gone sooner than later. 

When’s the last time you saw a brinks truck? The poor suffering people in Charleston Massachusetts must be crying in their beer.

[Li Bai]

  19 hours ago, joeypots said:

Oh, that’s right, the gov’t doesn’t want you to be able to use cash because it’s hard to tax and trace electronically. So the idea that it’s a right to use cash, if it is indeed a right, will be gone sooner than later. 

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Exactly, businesses may be saving a lot of money but in the end we'll all regret cash imo...

[HarveyBoulevard]

I don't believe a business has a legal 'right' to refuse valid U.S. Currency...period.  

Despite my personal opinion on the legality of the matter, I refuse to do business with any establishment that does not take cash.

[HarveyBoulevard]

  22 hours ago, ned said:

Well Nana needs to pull her head in, based on this scenario, the barista isnt the one who makes the decision. It is the cafe owner. 

Accepting cash costs a business costs anywhere from 4.5% to 15%, not to mention the reduction in working capital as you need to carry a float in your till. That would be a minimum of $200 for most places, now add to that you need to buy a safe, deal with the headaches of keeping the cash safe(taking it to the bank or having it collected, which again costs money/time), the risk of counterfeit cash, staff theft, staff errors in cash handling etc

I think as long as it is clear it should be up to the business owner

 

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Taking credit cards costs me FAR more than taking cash.  I'd be a cash only business if it were feasible but unfortunately it is not and so I also take debit/credit.  Have not gotten on the Zelle/Venmo train yet and probably won't.

[Hammer Smokin']

  On 3/24/2025 at 11:18 PM, riderpride said:

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

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I wonder how that actually works, this refusal thing. 

Our CFL Football stadium is cashless. No way in heck is someone getting served a free beer cause the stadium refused his cash. I'm sure it has something to do with the ticket you purchase that states the stadium is a cashless environment. 

[riderpride]

  14 hours ago, Hammer Smokin' said:

I wonder how that actually works, this refusal thing. 

Our CFL Football stadium is cashless. No way in heck is someone getting served a free beer cause the stadium refused his cash. I'm sure it has something to do with the ticket you purchase that states the stadium is a cashless environment. 

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Interesting... there must be some fine print on the ticket or website before clicking 'purchase'. A gate-driven league would leave no room for error.

Cheers!

[Shakey]

  On 3/24/2025 at 9:43 PM, El Presidente said:

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. 

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In the US: 

1. Is it legal to only accept cashless payments? Yes, generally, except for a few cities that have specifically required some businesses to accept cash. 
2. Should it be legal? Oh man, that’s a really deep question about what kind of society you want to have. I think it’s okay *if* you live in a place where basic debt-card services are offered for free to all residents (like postal banking in Japan and similar countries.)

Note to Americans - “legal tender” means that something can be used to pay a debt, it doesn’t mean that the local coffee shop is required to accept Federal Reserve notes (which are legal tender!) for coffee. 

[MrBirdman]

I don’t see a problem with it unless you are a locality with a significant population of unbanked residents. 

[ha_banos]

  On 3/25/2025 at 6:16 AM, Li Bai said:

In France it's what we call a "refus de vente" (refusal to sell) and it's illegal.

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I knew it 😁

[KavalanWhisky]

  On 3/25/2025 at 12:57 AM, LaoFan said:

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.

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Luckily I can get away with using AlipayHk as they used to only accept WeChat and Alipay China.

The issue with trying to use cash in China is that they don't have change to give you back, so basically you end up having to just give them the full note, or just hope for the best.