Restaurants not accepting cash [General]
2020 Jan 31
If you have a credit card, use that, get your cashback or whatever rewards, and just pay it off immediately as if it were cash. Seems like a no brainer unless you don't have credit or even a debit card. So I don't really see the fuss, it's certainly better than if the place were cash-only. I'm guessing they just don't want to have to deal with the overhead of having cash
2020 Jan 31
O Solo: It’s having the choice rather than being dictated to. Also both my wife and I have had ID theft issues, related to using plastic, and like the security of using cash, esp for small transactions. At 65, I grew up before the internet, hell, before bank machines even, and I’m sure I’m not alone in feeling this way, in my age group,
2020 Jan 31
H_Pete: Who's being dictated to?
The restaurant has the choice to accept cash or not. You the potential customer has the choice to eat there or not. No one is requiring you to use a cc, tho perhaps i'm wrong but it seems that you feel the restaurant should be required to accept cash.
If 'on principle' - more than an actual fear dining at that that specific restau will lead to ID theft - you will deny yourself a meal you wanted to enjoy, that's your call, not the restaurant's.
The restaurant has the choice to accept cash or not. You the potential customer has the choice to eat there or not. No one is requiring you to use a cc, tho perhaps i'm wrong but it seems that you feel the restaurant should be required to accept cash.
If 'on principle' - more than an actual fear dining at that that specific restau will lead to ID theft - you will deny yourself a meal you wanted to enjoy, that's your call, not the restaurant's.
2020 Feb 1
I think I brought this up before with Wolf Down. I knew it was cashless, yet when I went in I didn't have my credit card on me (which is common) and had actually emptied my bank account of discretionary funds. I only had cash. After a brief philosophical discussion with the cashier, they admitted that they DID have cash and would accept it as payment.
I feel similarly to Hungry Pete. It is discriminatory. Yes, they are currently able to make this decision for their business. Yes, I am free to shop elsewhere. I will do so.
I don't use my credit card if I can help it. I often only deal in cash and have no card access to funds that are not earmarked as available. I don't have a phone with NFC, so can't use an ePay system. I'm not alone.
I feel similarly to Hungry Pete. It is discriminatory. Yes, they are currently able to make this decision for their business. Yes, I am free to shop elsewhere. I will do so.
I don't use my credit card if I can help it. I often only deal in cash and have no card access to funds that are not earmarked as available. I don't have a phone with NFC, so can't use an ePay system. I'm not alone.
2020 Feb 1
This is not about lack of access due to credit or tech as you previously indicated it's your preference to use cash. You have those payment methods you just chose not to use them. I could understand
if this was an essential service, however it's not. Until the seller is dictated to accept cash you'll have to either meet their requirements or keep shouting at the clouds.
if this was an essential service, however it's not. Until the seller is dictated to accept cash you'll have to either meet their requirements or keep shouting at the clouds.
2020 Feb 1
Stewtine:
I am not referring to my situation particularly. That is your assumption. As Rizak has pointed out, no-cash businesses discriminate against a variety of people, those who may not have credit/debit cards, a sizable population, given the number of payday loan businesses in town, and older people, such as myself, who may not feel comfortable using said cards. My neighbourhood is full of people in my demographic. Perhaps they just do not care. Perhaps you don’t see it as discrimination, because you are not the one affected.
BTW two other small restaurants have opened up in my neighborhood recently, and I go to them regularly. They are happy to take my cash.
I am not referring to my situation particularly. That is your assumption. As Rizak has pointed out, no-cash businesses discriminate against a variety of people, those who may not have credit/debit cards, a sizable population, given the number of payday loan businesses in town, and older people, such as myself, who may not feel comfortable using said cards. My neighbourhood is full of people in my demographic. Perhaps they just do not care. Perhaps you don’t see it as discrimination, because you are not the one affected.
BTW two other small restaurants have opened up in my neighborhood recently, and I go to them regularly. They are happy to take my cash.
2020 Feb 1
I'm sort of with Hungry Pete on this one...
It might seem like a small issue but for some it wouldn't be, we've had a couple of people work for us that were refused a bank account so they literally 'cashed' their cheques so those people would be treated as second class citizens & refused service?
I understand the reasons behind going cashless but it's all for the benefit of the business not necessarily the customer....
I know of at least one place that only takes cash, they have an ATM for you if you don't carry you pay a small fee for the transaction but you also are charged a small fee from your bank for using an independent ATM rather than a 'bank' machine so I don't support that either..
I don't like to dictate to my customers, I like them to feel comfortable...
Cash is legal tender & it's rare enough as it is, for the small amount of people that prefer to use cash I don't really see the need to cut it out entirely..
Terry (New Computer & lost my old account)
It might seem like a small issue but for some it wouldn't be, we've had a couple of people work for us that were refused a bank account so they literally 'cashed' their cheques so those people would be treated as second class citizens & refused service?
I understand the reasons behind going cashless but it's all for the benefit of the business not necessarily the customer....
I know of at least one place that only takes cash, they have an ATM for you if you don't carry you pay a small fee for the transaction but you also are charged a small fee from your bank for using an independent ATM rather than a 'bank' machine so I don't support that either..
I don't like to dictate to my customers, I like them to feel comfortable...
Cash is legal tender & it's rare enough as it is, for the small amount of people that prefer to use cash I don't really see the need to cut it out entirely..
Terry (New Computer & lost my old account)
2020 Feb 1
Yes my assumption was based on your initial post which didn't really read as "there's an injustice in society" but more "... I like to pay cash. I will not go to this place" and that is my choice. I agree that organizing a society around minimizing discrimination is preferable. Luckily, in this case, neither of us are affected.
2020 Feb 1
I consciously avoided using the ‘d’ word initially (although I am glad someone else did), because it can be loaded, but my real objection is that the practice is exclusionary, not that it is a burden on me. This is why I said I objected, on principle.
The articles I linked to made my argument better than I could myself.
The articles I linked to made my argument better than I could myself.
2020 Feb 1
Using the US as a proxy is disingenuous because it's not the same social, business nor banking context. The US has more unbanked Americans then there are Canadians. That's not to say unbanked Canadians isn't also an issue but the percentage of unbanked Canadians (about 3%) is less than half that of the US (nearly 8%) and the banking regulation in Canada is much different and much less hostile to, well anyone, but mostly the poor (though still worse than it is to those with money). I'm not saying it's not a problem, it is and it needs solving but the sources, scale and solutions of the problem are different in Canada (it's mostly the homeless, which is not the case in the US).
That said cash only or card only are both discriminatory. The worst and most egregious being cash only and putting a for profit cash machine in the business. This is far and away the most expensive and customer hostile option of them all. It costs the customer more and the business makes money off it. If you want to take a stand on principle you should avoid any business that removes options from customers.
Also, someone having the means to pay by card but "doesn't like to" doesn't make a card only business discriminatory against that individual. Your payment preferences are your own.
That said cash only or card only are both discriminatory. The worst and most egregious being cash only and putting a for profit cash machine in the business. This is far and away the most expensive and customer hostile option of them all. It costs the customer more and the business makes money off it. If you want to take a stand on principle you should avoid any business that removes options from customers.
Also, someone having the means to pay by card but "doesn't like to" doesn't make a card only business discriminatory against that individual. Your payment preferences are your own.
2020 Feb 1
The default for payment for goods and services in our Canadian free market economy is cash, I feel. The default should always be available. While I have always loved the ability to pay for things online or with a credit/debit card and welcomed it when it was introduced, it is a luxury that is built on top of the cash transaction model. Therefore, I feel that if something should be optional, it would be cards.
2020 Feb 1
It could be argued that cash is no longer the default (whatever that means) as the vast majority of Canadians pay with a card the majority of the time.
from: www.bankofcanada.ca
"Cash is now used in one transaction out of three, or 15% of the total value of goods and services purchased."
from: www.bankofcanada.ca
"Cash is now used in one transaction out of three, or 15% of the total value of goods and services purchased."
2020 Feb 1
I guess what I mean by that is that I don't need a secondary device of any kind to be able to use cash. I can drop a loonie in a streetperson's cup. I can pay for something I buy on Kijiji with it. Cash is the most basic thing we can understand about our money and how to use it.
Now I've opened the door for pedants to say, "but what about the gold standard?" I think I've cleared up what I was trying to say, though.
Now I've opened the door for pedants to say, "but what about the gold standard?" I think I've cleared up what I was trying to say, though.
2020 Feb 1
Ok, I’m younger than the original poster and I prefer cash. It’s how I manage my spending. And how I stay under radar for all the ways we get tracked these days. I also just like cash. I like counting bills & coins when I pay and I’m really disappointed when staff struggle to count change.
Using cash makes me feel more equal in our society and that matters to me. I have a real struggle when work lunch ends up at mad radish or other plastic only restaurants.
It’s definitely an interesting debate.
Using cash makes me feel more equal in our society and that matters to me. I have a real struggle when work lunch ends up at mad radish or other plastic only restaurants.
It’s definitely an interesting debate.
2020 Feb 1
You can exchange cash for a preloaded credit card at any convenience store. Banks now also provide the option of a preloaded debit card for certain clients, eventually leading to a standard debit card. Even the shitty payday loan places do this.
Canada's access to basic banking regulations ensure almost anyone can get a basic account with a card barring exceptional circumstances. I work at a bank and have for many years. If we turn you down for an account you likely lack the ID required by law.
Additionally, businesses aren't required by law to accept cash. They sell services based on their terms should you agree/meet them.
Canada's access to basic banking regulations ensure almost anyone can get a basic account with a card barring exceptional circumstances. I work at a bank and have for many years. If we turn you down for an account you likely lack the ID required by law.
Additionally, businesses aren't required by law to accept cash. They sell services based on their terms should you agree/meet them.
2020 Feb 1
Yes, there are many ways to convert your cash to plastic. I think the point is that it isn’t an age thing. Some of us like cash. We prefer to use cash and find it disappointing when it’s not an option in a business. There is an overhead to using a card, so cashless business would roll that up into their costs.
I’ve been in Ottawa for a number of weather events which caused multi-day power outages. Stores and restaurants open took only cash. So maybe it’s also a survival instinct ;)
I’ve been in Ottawa for a number of weather events which caused multi-day power outages. Stores and restaurants open took only cash. So maybe it’s also a survival instinct ;)
2020 Feb 2
I remember when I moved to Ottawa in 1997 how shocked we were that Interac point-of-sales payment was almost non-existant here compared to Nova Scotia. Later I found out that it was because Nova Scotia was the test market and therefore it was everywhere.
Anyway, that's neither here nor there - just reminiscing on a tangent :-)
Anyway, that's neither here nor there - just reminiscing on a tangent :-)
2020 Feb 2
Trunk:
I think there is a strong argument to be made that cash transactions may be underreported, or unreported, by virtue of the nature of the beast.
Think flea/farmers markets, yard/garage sales, and other private sales between citizens, using platforms such as Kijiji. I have bought and sold musical instruments using Kijiji on numerous occasions, often pretty high ticket items. Also, look at the bulletin board at your local supermarket, you’ll see ads for all kinds of services, usually offered by private individuals looking to make a few extra bucks, cash only.
There is also an elastic relationship between price and value in these transactions. A chap I used to work with built a house with materials, including new windows, doors, lumber, gyprock, tiles, and paint, he bought, usually for pennies on the dollar, at yard sales.
I think there is a strong argument to be made that cash transactions may be underreported, or unreported, by virtue of the nature of the beast.
Think flea/farmers markets, yard/garage sales, and other private sales between citizens, using platforms such as Kijiji. I have bought and sold musical instruments using Kijiji on numerous occasions, often pretty high ticket items. Also, look at the bulletin board at your local supermarket, you’ll see ads for all kinds of services, usually offered by private individuals looking to make a few extra bucks, cash only.
There is also an elastic relationship between price and value in these transactions. A chap I used to work with built a house with materials, including new windows, doors, lumber, gyprock, tiles, and paint, he bought, usually for pennies on the dollar, at yard sales.
Feb 3
While I personally use debit a lot and not credit cards. The thing about cash is it allows you to be anonymous. I didn't look up the articles contained in the links but I think there is something called "the right to be forgotten" basically paying by plastic leaves a trail and when people are buying simple basic and inexpensive items, shouldn't it be their right to pay for something without having to leave an online trail tracing you back to that burger you bought … Just saying ...
Feb 3
"While I personally use debit a lot and not credit cards."
I'm curious, why debit over credit?
I pretty much exclusively use credit for a number of reasons, the biggest of which is protection. If my CC is compromised I'm not liable for fraudulent purchases and the money never comes out of my account. Good luck getting your money back if you debit is compromised and someone runs up a bunch of charges before you catch it.
I also get rewards with my CC, but that's just a bonus.
"the right to be forgotten"
This has nothing to do with payment methods/info but with what information is publicly available about you. It requires any information publisher to remove public references to you at your request. Those organizations can keep the info internally, they just have to remove it from public visibility. It's also not a thing in North America, only in the EU and doesn't cover everything.
I'm curious, why debit over credit?
I pretty much exclusively use credit for a number of reasons, the biggest of which is protection. If my CC is compromised I'm not liable for fraudulent purchases and the money never comes out of my account. Good luck getting your money back if you debit is compromised and someone runs up a bunch of charges before you catch it.
I also get rewards with my CC, but that's just a bonus.
"the right to be forgotten"
This has nothing to do with payment methods/info but with what information is publicly available about you. It requires any information publisher to remove public references to you at your request. Those organizations can keep the info internally, they just have to remove it from public visibility. It's also not a thing in North America, only in the EU and doesn't cover everything.
Feb 3
This is exactly what happened to my wife. Her debit card info was stolen at a shop in Toronto, and minutes later that info was used to buy a couple thousand $ worth of merchandise in Montreal. Out bank was on it immediately, and we were not responsible for those purchases. I was very impressed with the security division of our bank.
It still scared the shit out of us though.
Credit cards offer more protection for the consumer, but I believe also involve higher transaction fees for vendors, esp, small independents.
It still scared the shit out of us though.
Credit cards offer more protection for the consumer, but I believe also involve higher transaction fees for vendors, esp, small independents.
Feb 4
I use debit as I don't usually have all that much cash on me and I want to pay for the item with money in my account. I am not all that good at managing money and you can't spend what is not in your account … I look over my bank statements and have not had a problem thus far.
Whether what I am saying is the right to be forgotten or some other idea, it' s the concept that money (cash) passes from one person's hands to another for simple transactions and it is a transient transaction. You have something I want, I buy it, get a receipt, it's now mine and my bank does not need to know what I did with my money, this does not need to appear on any bank statements, the vendor does not need to incur fees related to having debt/credit card machines or go through these companies to receive money from the transaction. Who really wants to get a bill for that burger you ate today one month after the fact …
I actually get points from my bank for using my debit card (I think I got about $250 last year which compensates for the bank fees charged). I pay by debit when I have the cash in my account, it saves me from paying monthly bills and loosing track of my spending. The way I see it, I ate the burger today, I don't want to be reminded of it one month from now when I get the credit card bill ..
Whether what I am saying is the right to be forgotten or some other idea, it' s the concept that money (cash) passes from one person's hands to another for simple transactions and it is a transient transaction. You have something I want, I buy it, get a receipt, it's now mine and my bank does not need to know what I did with my money, this does not need to appear on any bank statements, the vendor does not need to incur fees related to having debt/credit card machines or go through these companies to receive money from the transaction. Who really wants to get a bill for that burger you ate today one month after the fact …
I actually get points from my bank for using my debit card (I think I got about $250 last year which compensates for the bank fees charged). I pay by debit when I have the cash in my account, it saves me from paying monthly bills and loosing track of my spending. The way I see it, I ate the burger today, I don't want to be reminded of it one month from now when I get the credit card bill ..
Feb 4
Again, it's all preference. I pay 99% with credit because it's convenient. I don't have to worry about getting cash, having enough on me, withdrawal fees, etc. It builds credit since I always pay my balance in full, there are no fees and I get 40-50$ cash back each month for using it. I'm not bothered by paying for things later - it never even crosses my mind and I just pay the bill when I pay all my other bills later like hydro, internet. If a place does not accept credit and I want thier product I will get cash but that doesn't happen very often since most places take credit.
Feb 5
People are pointing out debit/credit fees for retailers but cash isn't free either. The primarily reason businesses go card only is to save money by avoiding the costs with handling cash. It's the same idea as going cash only, but paying with a card is far more common in Canada so they lose fewer potential customers by going card only over cash only.
Hungry Pete
Too bad it smelled pretty good inside.
I object, on principle. I’m 65 years old, I eat out a lot, and I like to pay cash. I will not go to this place.