If you only accept cash then you need to have change

[FreeButtonBee]

I know card machines can have high costs. But surely if you only accepts cash in a restaurant then you need to have enough change to manage your customers.

Sitting watching every single person paying being asked for odd combinations of coins to make the owner’s life easier (mine too graciously)...

YANBU. Card machine charges aren't that high. Just don't run a business with such tight margins that you can't offer customers a convenient payment mechanism

I went to a local soft play, not realising there was no card machine. I whipped my card out and the woman behind the till just looked at me and said 'oh no we don't take card, we take cheques though!' I know NOBODY with children of soft-play age that use a cheque book, let alone carry one round.

Yanbu.

Isn't there that less than £20 a month portable card machine available with little to no fees? What business can't absorb that? I keep seeing ads for them.

YANBU. I own a small business and use an izettle. It's cheap and easy and means we get far more business. Also can't abide it when there isn't change - send someone to the bank fgs!

Isn't there that less than £20 a month portable card machine available with little to no fees?

If it really is no fees, there'll be limits as to transaction values, numbers, and probably even the restrictions as to the trade. If it really was so cheap, then everyone would use them. They're aimed at irregular/occasional transactions, not shops/restaurants, etc.

I go to two societies for a hobby and they've both just switched from only cash at the door to offering the machines, too. One of them will only get used once a month (to take quite a high amount of money though, likely).

YANBU

The craft beer shop near me no longer accepts cash. They said that the cost of dealing with cash is far greater than transaction costs and not accepting it has had no impact on their business.

I always wonder if they really believe people will have ‘the 27p’!

Even some Big Issue sellers have card machines these days.

@IWouldPreferNotTo Independent wine bar near me has stopped taking cash and is card only. My kind of place!

I use an izettle in my shop - no monthly costs, and just 1.75% transaction charge. Brilliant.

Even some of the buskers on the tubes take card now!

@kate20091985, omg,a cheque
The only people I know who still use a cheque are my parents. They won't use cards and naturally it's everyone else fault when most places won't take a cheque anymore.
I'd imagine they've been laughed out the door a few times.

YANBU. If they’re gonna be like that they need to advertise it before people order (‘we only take cash, exact change please’). Otherwise it’s ridiculous to spring it on people when it’s time to pay! I don’t know anyone who carries cash anymore, if I went to eat there and it was time to pay I wouldn’t be able to unless there’s a cash point nearby and somewhere to get change. None of which should be the customer’s responsibility, it doesn’t exactly give a good impression.

Well for businesses the cost of handling cash is paying people to come in before opening & stay after close to sort out the money. We'd be at work anyway but it's usually floating and cashing up (and changing up) tills that takes the time. And banking routines and paying G4S or Loomis or whoever to handle your bank collections and change drops. People means wages.

We always used to reckon we'd be in and out in half the time without cash! Especially anywhere that requires witnessing and counter-signing.