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

Laulau, 'there is more cash around than there has ever been' =/= 'people are increasingly using cash over cards for customer transactions'

They are simply not.

Lots of small businesses don’t want to educate themselves (eg merchant services) nor engage the services of an accountant, often missing out in the process.

They fear through ignorance things like tax returns and the HMRC, heads buried in the sand, carrier bags full of receipts, money and allowances falling through cracks in the floor.

It costs a lot to pay cash into the bank for a business, natwest charge 70p per £100.

The Financial Times must have it wrong then or everyone keeping it under the bed 😀

The little salon I worked in 16 years ago took cards so I'm surprised some places still don't! Most people don't have cash on them anymore. The fees should be in the prices which I'm sure people wouldn't mind paying for the convenience.

DenPerry omg I just rewatched both series of PN- fantastic show!

Bank charges and card machine charges and leasing are overheads so allowable business expenses. I don't see the problem with them using them.

Very much doubt the FT got it wrong. I just think you may be drawing incorrect conclusions there. Don't know what's going on without seeing the article.

A few of the hairdressers near me don’t take card; one is a cheap no frills sort of affair and I think that each hairdresser rents the seat from the salon as they all have their own tupaware box for payment.
The other one is in a tiny little village and exclusively deals with perms and people who own cheque books.
It’s irritating, but I guess they have to cut costs and that might be an easy one for them.

Mine only takes cash as well, it doesn't bother me particularly as my bill is usually around £60. However, if I was having a treatment like highlights, or a Brazilian blow dry, where my bill would be over £100 I'd have to consider whether to use them. That is simply for the fact that I prefer to pay that sort of amount on a card, and then it's my choice whether to clear my bill immediately, or pay for it over 2 or 3 months, according to how I wish to budget for it.

Sorry I can’t find the FT article online
I don’t take card payments anymore
I pay all my suppliers with cash or cheque
I pay all my staff wages in cash
I pay my tax & vat electronically

All on the advice of my accountant who believes I pay the bank enough of my profit as it is

The vast majority of businesses will accept cards for transactions over a certain amount and it is very unimpressive that your hairdresser won't considering you have spent £108. I would go else where.

SillyLittleBiscuit where in London is your good curly hairdresser please?

My hairdresser doesn’t take card, I presumed as a small independent business that it’s just not financially viable for her. I’ve never thought it strange.

not saying i like it but u cant stand there arguing over how they run their business-my nail salon only takes cash its their shop they can do as they please

doubleshotespresso I asked the same question! I hope silly gets back to us, good hairdressers for curly hair can be hard to find!

Yes every transaction costs them money, even a debit card.

While this is true, I often wonder about the cost of a cash transaction. Granted there is no directly levied cost, but what is the time spent in handling/banking etc.?

Do you think they actually care if you come back or not.

If you don't like their policies go elsewhere.

It seems a bit counter intuitive to worry about incurring small charges on card payments but not to worry about losing customers who spend over £100 a go.

Most of the local hairdressers I know don't take anything but cash and I always thought that was the norm unless going to a big chain.
Most tattoo parlours are cash only as well and my usual one charges on average £250 per hour so a lot more than the cost of a trim and blow dry.

Isabella
It costs 70p per £100 to pay cash in for a business account.

I'd think most businesses would prefer to keep existing customers. Especially people who spend over £100 a go.

YANBU op. I pay for everything by card now, and if I can't, I go without or go somewhere else where I can. Even the market traders near me (SE England) use izettle or allow you to pay via Paypal.

I'd be a bit to be asked to pay in cash, round my way even the little village salons manage to take cards.

Agree with PP that I'd expect to be told the cash-only policy at the time of booking so that I could at least pick the cash up on the way to the appointment, rather than have to go out and come back to the salon with the pre payment the appointment.

Do you think they actually care if you come back or not.

For £100 haircuts? Umm, probably yes?

It costs me over £500 to take approx £12k a year thru a card machine. We charge 50p to anyone wishing to pay by card.

In my other business we are cash only at present.

It is not a tax fiddle just a way to keep costs down for small businesses