To pay by card?

[elvislives2012]

Went into a small corner shop to send a parcel. They didn't do collectplus so didn't send. While I was in there I spy Pepsi max CHERRY 😋. "Ooh a can would be lovely" Thinks I. Go to pay and the shopkeeper was really pissed off that I wanted to pay with my card. I didn't have my purse as a spur of the moment thing and don't carry cash generally now due to COVID. I get there are fees etc but I thought we weren't "supposed" to be paying with cash? I didn't buy anything in the end because he quite clearly didn't want me to. When I left he said "everyone is using cash now"
So...... AIBU to pay for a can of drink with my card??

If they accept cards then 🤷🏻‍♀️

It does cost them money, though.

I mean, YANBU but I get why he's pissed off. Lots of little card payments end up being really expensive for small retailers. They have to pay for every single card transaction they do.

A quick google tells me it's technically illegal to have a minimum spend, but that this is practically impossible to enforce.

gocardless.com/guides/posts/minimum-card-payment-limits/

I don't turn down any card payments, but I have a good payment processor who takes a percentage of any transaction, but no fixed transaction fee, so I pay the same percentage no matter what the goods cost.

Some payment processors take a fixed fee plus a percentage per transaction, so I can understand that if this man is using one of them, it would cost him a lot of the purchase price.

[quote vanillandhoney]I mean, YANBU but I get why he's pissed off. Lots of little card payments end up being really expensive for small retailers. They have to pay for every single card transaction they do.

A quick google tells me it's technically illegal to have a minimum spend, but that this is practically impossible to enforce.

gocardless.com/guides/posts/minimum-card-payment-limits/[/quote]
It's not illegal to have minimum spend per your own link.

I have found this frustrating, I do understand from small shops that there is a charge but nearly everywhere is pushing card usage to the point I was glared at and commented to about being selfish after my card was stolen and I had to use cash whilst waiting for a new one. So in normal times I completely understand a smaller shops frustration but I actually don't think it's fair currently.

Cash is being frowned upon most places so it's not unreasonable most people use cards currently. It's even hit the local group that beg outside our supermarket as several shoppers have pointed out to them noone is carrying cash at the moment because of the request for contact less in shops. This was after he was upset nokne ever gave him money lately.

Took us 3 fish and chip shops at the weekend to find one that wasn't cash only. It's hardly a pennies purchase, we spent about £20, plus everywhere is encouraging card because of covid, plus it's the 21st century...

I thought lots of the card issuer transactions were reduced a few years back, plus handling cash isn't the easiest due to the time taken cashing up and paying in. And theres the theft risk too, and covid of course, you'd think places would be moving away from cash to an extent. But I guess it's their business and they can do as they like

I wish everyone would use cards! I would say that 90% of customers are back to paying with cash :(

www.ft.com/content/fa83f563-0d5d-442f-9026-552d41e49c41

It's not illegal to have minimum spend per your own link.

Well, it's more complicated than that. The link says that certain card manufacturers have made it illegal to have minimum transactions linked to their cards - and they can technically cut off services in places where this is enforced.

There is no minimum card payment law, which means that there’s nothing stopping businesses from setting a minimum spending limit. However, there are rules set out by card networks which state that any merchant accepting their cards cannot set a maximum or minimum limit. Setting a minimum spend on card payments is a violation of these rules and can result in a hefty fee or account suspension.

So while it might not be illegal to set a limit, it is technically in violation of the agreement they have with the card merchants.

I have stopped using our local corner shop because they have a minimum spend of £7.

I can see both sides.

Totally understand why you want to pay by card - but he would most probably make a loss or a very tiny profit on the transaction. Most card payment providers charge a set fee of something like 20p plus a small percentage. The profit on a lot of grocery goods isn't high - so for one can of juice I can understand why he wasn't happy.

I don't think you were unreasonable, but neither was he.

BRB, got to remove this splinter from my arse.

I notice a lot of "cash-only" businesses, possibly more lately, but since forever really. Small businesses are under bad financial strain right now, margins pushed to the very limits. I think you should carry cash OP, if you want the option of small purchases.

@ThisIsntMeHonestGuv

I can see both sides.

Totally understand why you want to pay by card - but he would most probably make a loss or a very tiny profit on the transaction. Most card payment providers charge a set fee of something like 20p plus a small percentage. The profit on a lot of grocery goods isn't high - so for one can of juice I can understand why he wasn't happy.

I don't think you were unreasonable, but neither was he.

BRB, got to remove this splinter from my arse.

I agree :)

YANBU. Places that don't take cards don't get my custom and I know there are plenty like me. They're losing way more than they would lose by card fees.

I don't understand the chip shop thing. Like a PP said, they're mostly taking decent sized transactions. It's rammed whenever I go in. I obviously know to take cash but it is frustrating.

I help run a community centre which runs a bar and shop. Since the covid crisis we have been taking cards only. Even for say a packet of crisps. From a cost and time perspective it is a lot easier and more cost effective. When we took mostly cash we had to bank frequently and were charged for cash deposits. Card payments are simple, no banking and no cash charges. In our experience, operating by card is cheaper than taking cash. We keep a small float for anyone that cannot transact by card, so we could still take cash if required.

Yanbu even our icecream man takes card payments now!

Ah that's what I thought! Seems unanimous. He was so shitty that I thought it was me! I know it's crap for small businesses at the moment but it would mean I won't go back there again

Have noticed a lot more shops are becoming cash only - seems to be the little independent shops. I prefer cash any way and use it where ever I can.

I do agree with you, You should have been able to use your card if they accepted cards no matter how much you spent.

@yeOldeTrout

I notice a lot of "cash-only" businesses, possibly more lately, but since forever really. Small businesses are under bad financial strain right now, margins pushed to the very limits. I think you should carry cash OP, if you want the option of small purchases.

Hmmm I could keep a couple of squid in my car...