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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To wonder why, in 2018, some places don't take cards?

76 replies

AvocadosBeforeMortgages · 04/03/2018 08:48

I rarely carry cash as I rarely need it. Public transport here is cash free. Works canteen is cash free. Almost everywhere else accepts card - even the market stall greengrocer.

And yet every so often I find a shop that won't take cards. I tried to buy a £2.50 item in a shop yesterday. Turned out card minimum was a fiver. Only ATM in the neighbourhood is broken, and I wasn't willing to walk a mile round trip to the next one, so they lost a sale.

Why oh why in 2018 are shops still declining cards as a form of payment?

OP posts:

dementedpixie · 04/03/2018 08:51

Because it costs them for the equipment and for each transaction Maybe?

SmashedMug · 04/03/2018 08:51

I agree completely! I was in a sandwich shop the other week and ordered my sandwich etc and then when it was time to pay, no card machine. There was nothing anywhere that said they were cash only.

haverhill · 04/03/2018 08:52

I find it pretty weird, too.

Wolfiefan · 04/03/2018 08:53

Yes. It's down to what it costs the business to take cards. A small business really ant afford the costs to process a £2:50 card purchase. Keep a note in your purse.

GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 04/03/2018 08:54

Fish and chip shops never seem to take cards either.

ButDoYouAvocado · 04/03/2018 08:56

I run a small business and was going to get a card machine until they made it illegal to charge for transactions. Given that i get charged for them it seems unfair that I cant pass them on - its effectively forcing me to cut my prices by 2.5% and I dont want to put all my prices up by the equivalent because that will put people off.

scaryteacher · 04/03/2018 08:57

Lots of places in Europe are cash only, and my local shop/P.O in the UK says they can't afford the card costs for the shop side. You queue up to get cash out at the P.O counter, then spend it at the shop!

The butcher in Devon that I've been using since 1986 finally got a card machine last year. It was cheques,or cash til then. Given the queues there, not having a card machine didn't seem to make a difference.

araiwa · 04/03/2018 08:58

Debit cards charges are usually a flat fee. They would probably take a loss on your £2.50 purchase

Credit cards are a % of transaction

If you mainly are having small transactions, its not worth doing cards as it will cost you a lot.

StickyPopcorn · 04/03/2018 08:58

I refuse to use them. Chinese in my village constantly complaining on FB about local people using the Chinese in the next village and not supporting them. Well get a bloody card machine then! I don’t usually have £50 in cash just sat in my purse

rosie1959 · 04/03/2018 09:00

It is because all of these small transactions cost the business owner
I am sure as times change this may change too
Must admit my husband is faintly amused when people buy small items like a coffee by card

harvester77 · 04/03/2018 09:00

Are we heading towards a cashless society in the not so distant future? Not my preference at all and I can see problems in the future. Too much technology. I find it weird too.

Original poster

AvocadosBeforeMortgages · 04/03/2018 09:04

Must admit my husband is faintly amused when people buy small items like a coffee by card

I spent 50p in the Poundland sale the other day. I paid by card as I didn't have 50p in cash on me. Why would I? It's so much easier and more convenient than having to find an ATM, hope you're not mugged while using it, and then carry around a load of shrapnel in your pocket for the rare occasions when you can't pay by card

OP posts:

WishingOnABar · 04/03/2018 09:05

We have two local shops in our village, one a large chain and another independent that is cash only.
The smaller shop recently sent out leaflets advertising their shop and urging residents to support local businesses, but dont move with the times. I rarely carry cash these days, in fact I usually only take my mobile to the chain shop as they take apple pay.

I understand it is a cost to be charged for the card payment but can shops afford to lose customers over it?
It would be better to up prices on products slightly to cover it

araiwa · 04/03/2018 09:07

Local shop increases prices to cover cards costs so everyone still goes to tesco local as its cheaper

StickyPopcorn · 04/03/2018 09:11

Wishing, yes our village shop is the same but they do take cards.

However it’s not worth the sighs and ten minute process it takes them to dig the card machine out and try and work it. It drives me up the wall

MereDintofPandiculation · 04/03/2018 09:11

Finding these threads strange as in my part of the world cash is the norm, and contactless a distinct minority. Yes, I accept that we're moving towards more card use, but what I find strange is the tone of incredulity of some posters that there are people who still carry cash.

WishingOnABar · 04/03/2018 09:12

Araiwa you are probably right, but our small local is trying to promote itself as a newsagent and sandwich shop, selling fresh baguettes etc. I would definitely pick them over a supermarket for those products, but to do so would have to go into the chain store to use their cash machine. Once in the chain store I’m presented with shelves of ready made sandwiches and it is then more convenient for me to buy there. I’m definitely not the only person in the area to say the same, the small shop is losing business just because they are cash only

SmashedMug · 04/03/2018 09:12

They should get a card machine and make sure the minimum spend they allow makes the cost of having it more doable. Or did minimum spends get stopped too? Genuine question that bit not sarcastic!!!

youokayhun · 04/03/2018 09:23

I live in a rural village (however "life" in the form of huge towns are stone throws away" our shop takes cards with a minimum of £5 payment but since they removed the charges you can only buy gas or elec with cash so have to queue at post office to withdraw or spend £5 and get cash back first. I work in the local pub - cash only. Sometimes I ask my boss why and he just says he doesn't want to use cards. Majority of people who use the pub know and as long as the boss knows you you're more than welcome to come in knowing you've got no cash and have a tab!

scaryteacher · 04/03/2018 09:30

MereD Agreed. Many of the shops in my part of Belgium wouldn't take cards for ages as they weren't prepared to swallow the costs. Some still won't....

madsiemoomoo · 04/03/2018 09:32

I also find it weird, and it's not just shops.

The lady that does my nails - takes card
Local taxis - takes card

All the trades that we've been looking at to get our house done - cash only despite some of the quotes being £5k plus so charges shouldn't really be relevant. Can only assume it's because they are fiddling tax. It's annoying because I can get it done now and pay card, or I can get it done in 6 months if I don't (get a bonus), plus I get extra protections by paying with card that I don't if I hand over cash

Handsupbabyhandsup · 04/03/2018 09:36

I'm in NZ. It's very unusual to have a business that doesn't accept cards and we don't have minimal spends. I've used my card to pay 0.10c 😂

ElsieMc · 04/03/2018 09:38

A local tearoom and cooked meal restaurant nearby is cash only. I think they need to move forward because you are easily looking at £50 for a family of four. The same as a hairdresser in town who doesn't accept card payments and it is over £50 for a haircut there as well. Very odd as the owner frequently advertises the fact they worked in London previously. If I have to ring first, I now check what form of payment they take to avoid embarrassment.

For very small purchases I could perhaps understand but not at this level. It is 2018 after all. I have just seen a perfectly decent local shop close, one advertised as a service to the community, simply because people don't carry cash for purchases like wine (drinking-in big business) tobacco, lottery etc and then wonder why people use the supermarkets. Such a shame and not passing judgement but the answer is staring you in the face.

Those who I do pay by cheque or cash are window cleaner, coalman and hairdresser - yes, gave up on the salon and went to mobile.

ivykaty44 · 04/03/2018 09:42

Can you not ask the local shop you’d set up a tab - pay up front £50 and then knock it off your tab as you buy stuff?

It’s surely in your interests to have a local independent shop

hotcrossbunsandtea · 04/03/2018 09:44

Because it costs per transaction so if you're only spending a £1 it often costs the shop more than that to process the payment. It's not worth it for small businesses.

Lots of local shops here won't take card for transactions under £10. It means most people add something to their shop because it's easier than going away, getting cash out and returning!

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