Carry CASH

[VenomX]

We do not take plastic inside where I work. Never have and never will, so the owner says... We use to take it at the gas pumps and thats it because we was forced to by the gas company. The pumps and tanks are gone so no more plastic.

Yet we still get people who have been coming to this place for years who keep trying to use plastic and get all bent out of shape when told cash only.

I explain why we do not take it and give an example like we sell our 20oz Cokes for $0.99 with tax included. The place right next door its $1.25 or more even up the road a half block.

That cigar we sell for $0.79 is $1.50 accross town.

TOP cigarette papers are $0.86 from us or $2.50 accross town.

If we took plastic we would have to raise everything up to cover the fees.

I am surprised at how many people do not understand that the merchant PAYS to take your card.

So you want to stop carrying cash? Thats your choice but don't expect sympathy from me. Go up the road and pay more.

Also we just had a major snow storm with 21+" of snow. Half the town was without power for days some even weeks. We didn't lose power but if we did we could still be open and sell you stuff unlike the other stores in town that use computers for everything. How did your plastic only help you then?

[Argabarga]

I'm pretty sure those fancy-schmancy plastic cards can also, depending on type, make cash come out of those newfangled ATM thingys too...

It's just bad practice to not have a couple bucks on you if you're going to be out, parking meters, a bottle of soda, tipping, better to have five bucks in your wallet, all things considered.

[casey13]

Wow, that's like in the old days before they had computerized systems that kept track of inventory. Like the clerks movie. If our store lost power, we'd have to shut down because the counts could be thrown off.

[Amina516]

I never have cash on me, though i go to an amish owned store that takes cash only on a regular basis. I know to stop at an ATM before I get there or Im SOL.

[TonyF]

I actually prefer to pay for everything in cash. Too bad my society would rather I bust out the plastic.

I honestly think there's nothing wrong with buying a house with an upfront briefcase full of money. Too bad everyone will think it's drug money...

[bhskittykatt]

A couple stores in town take only debit or cash, and you have to pay the fee for the debit. People complain, but I actually prefer it. It means that I'm only paying for the convinience of using plastic when I use it...if I'm paying cash, I'm not subsidizing the fees for other people. I'm more than willing to pay the extra fee for debit when I use my card.

[VenomX]

Had a guy last night that wanted to use debit for $0.80! If we did take plastic we would have lost on that transaction....

[BookstoreEscapee]

Had a guy last night that wanted to use debit for $0.80! If we did take plastic we would have lost on that transaction....

I once had someone write me a check for $1.38 (this was what was left after she had cleaned all the cash out of her wallet). I don't know how check-processing fees compare to debit/credit fees, but I'll bet it cost us a decent percentage of the amount to take that check.

[MadMike]

I can remember when no grocery stores took plastic. It doesn't seem all that long about, but looking back now, I think they started taking them in the early 90s, almost 20 years ago. And it seems like it was only fairly recently that fast food places started taking them. Arby's was the first, at least in my area, and I knew it was only a matter of time before the rest of the chains followed. Still, I haven't got out of the habit of getting out money to get something at McDonald's. If I get there and find I don't have enough, then I'll use my card, but it just feels weird for some reason.

But I have to say, that's not as bad as the guy who was in line in front of me that tried to pay for his meal with traveler's checks. Really, what restaurant takes traveler's checks, or any checks for that matter?

[scruff]

Back when I was a dolee (unemployed for non-UK members) a local shop owner had some prboblems with bank Z (one of the main 3 banks in the country)

So he refused to accept cards or cheques of bank Z. And stuck posters up in his shop explaining how he wasn't taking bank Z cards cos how they'd treated him.

I don't know the details, but since he was serving a public who didn't have the transport to go to alternate shops, after a bit bank Z clearly gave him the loan he wanted..

[Green_Fairy]

i wish people started carrying cash more often...then maybe they'd actually start tipping. i make it a point to carry at least $15 in ones with me so i can tip cafes and such. working in a coffee shop, i don't really get paid much, so my tips go towards groceries. so if i get $50 a week in tips...i'm stoked. most of my transactions are plastic. so most people don't tip. lol most people drop in a few lint covered coins. it's funny when we're sorting it out

[Zell]

I'm one of those people. Reason being: keeping plastic is more secure. I'm much more okay with losing my wallet with my debit card and credit card in it than if I lost it with money inside.

I try to keep a couple of bucks, but usually I just end up not having anything but plastic. I rarely do run into a place that doesn't accept it.

[mrsmarit]

As far as I knew stores weren't charged a fee for using debit, it's just on credit card transactions.

[underemployeed]

Nothing pisses me off more than people who violate the terms of VISA which are that you CAN'T have a surcharge. Which is why I like VISA, I know that some of the other companies allow the merchant to pass fees to the customer. but that doesn't mean I havn't been charged by your stereotypical foreign owned gas station because I didn't know about their rules. Yes I will be that sucky customer at your establishment because if you advertise you take visa but try and make me pay extra to do it. I really don't care what it costs a merchant, if they don't like the fees they should just stop taking the cards. (I know that won't happen)

[Darkforge]

When we looked into getting a machine so we could accept cards at the cafe I used to work at we were given a rental fee of over £1000 a month.

Now considering there was an ATM literally across the road from us, and how little profit the owners made after rent, wages, bills etc it just wasn't worth it at all.

oh, and that doesn't take into account the money we would be charged for credit transactions.