To be narked that my hairdresser will only accept cash?

[Hillfarmer]

Had my hair cut and coloured at a small local salon in London i.e. not West End. At the weekend. Came to £108.00. Only taken my daughter there before for a trim so it was under £15 and must have paid cash previously.

I asked why, and they said it was ‘easier’. I said it was ‘easier’ for me to pay with a card. They said every card transaction costs them money. I said ‘even a debit card?’ and they replied with a yes.

So off I had to trot to the ATM up the road, presumably just like most of their other customers.

The more I think about it, the more it pisses me off. They are obviously just avoiding tax in some way, aren’t they?

I feel like dropping them a note saying I like my haircut, but won’t be coming back unless they drop the insistence on cash.

AIBU?

P.s. I tip in cash.

They

I avoid cash only places through fear of trafficking, my hair dressers I wouldn’t mind as I know the women there, nails and beauty treatment I would want to pay by card. I would want to pay by card over £100 for my own protection in case of any comeback.

Thats presumptious of them to think people walk around with hundreds of pounds in their purses. I wouldnt go back tbh - most haridresses i know take card.

I wouldn't go back.

What comeback could there be Though? You receive a service, you pay for it, you leave.

Isn't it because they rent chairs and it's hard to sort out money or something?

That's what my hairdressers excuse is for only accepting cash is anyway!

Interesting.

I wouldn't go back.

I would also pay by card for my own protection.

I would also think they're avoiding tax.

My salon is cash only too. They don't even accept a cheque, and my cut & colour is £100+
The only carpark is 2 hours max stay and my hair appointments usually take longer, especially having to find a working cash point for the salon bill first! So someone invariably has to dash out and re-ticket my car.
Actually writing this it's just a PITA all round, I should really find a new salon with a card machine and long-stay carpark

@moggle I used to sell at craft fairs and these days every stall has one of these little readers that deposits their money into their bank or paypal account.

Not much use if you're somewhere with no signal.

Cards incur additional costs, yes. Bank accounts also incur costs because they are based on annual turnover, not profit or amount in the account.

So if you get £100 in, and pay £50 out for expenses your turnover is £100 if it all goes through the account.

If you use cash, then you only need to bank the £50, so less fees.

Bank account charges for small businesses can be exorbitant. So add up all these costs, and it gets quite expensive. Not to mention that some of their suppliers probably give them discount for using cash, because of their costs.

But..... that's the reality of the world. The amount of customers they would lose over this would likely make up these costs over a period of time. Hard for them to quantify though.

Isn't it because they rent chairs and it's hard to sort out money or something?

Yes, many operate on a "rent a chair" system where all the stylists are individually self employed. Perfectly legitimate way of operating. They'd each need their own card reader.

My optician only takes cheques simply because of card charges. Renting the machine, paying for the connection and 2-5% charges.

@SillyLittleBiscuit don't suppose you'd be willing to share the name of your hairdresser?

My local hairdresser rents a chair in the salon so only accepts cash as she's self employed. The salon hairdresser and barber accept cards as it's their business. Complete pita

I would find it inconvenient, and would be concerned about the business complying with tax and employment regulation.

“Chair renting” is often done deliberately to try to avoid the de facto employer paying tax and providing employment rights - “false self employment” and poor practice IMO.

Or is 'chair renting' a bit like having a lodger?

Salon owner has no control over the hours etc that the chair renting stylist works - they can choose to work certain days and only provide certain types of services for example. They just pay the salon owner for use of the chair, sink etc and maybe even take their own appointments - a hairdresser friend of mine just has a mobile and uses FB to book a lot of her appointments.

Chair renting stylist has the use of salon facilities without the full committment of lease, rates etc, a bit like renting a room as a lodger.

That’s fair enough if the stylist actually does choose their own hours, can subcontract the services etc. But it’s very often not the case.

A lodger isn’t selling services to third parties and cannot sublet the room.

No they are not obviously avoiding paying tax. It can cost a fucking fortune to have card machine.
It's hard enough for small businesses as it is.

When my nail lady rented a chair she had her own card machine, as do most of the traders at the market I go to. If a guy running a candle stall off a trestle table can have a card machine then I’m sorry, but there’s zero excuse for a bricks and mortar shop to not have one or for each stylist to have a mini one of their own.

Card and contractless payments are the way the world is going, so for them not to see that this will cost them business in the long run is so shortsighted. Failure to keep up to date with customers’ expectations and preferring to skimp a few pennies on each sale would make me wonder what else they’re cutting corners on or buying in cheap. Would not revisit.

Kool, lots of PPs have pointed out the ways in which it's possible to minimise or avoid card-machine charges.

I would think that for the sake of good customer relations, small businesses could and should consider this.

If a business cannot afford transaction costs, it’s not a viable business.

I don’t take cards in my shop & I pay all my income tax & VAT it’s not just the 2% charge & machine rental I would need another full time member of staff to do the paperwork that goes with it which would make my business unviable

My hairdresser is also cash only. I think it’s not uncommon. Annoying though!