Given that we’re all supposed to use contactless payment wherever possible now, AIBU to think it’s a bit shit to have minimum spend amounts?

[AngeloMysterioso]

I try to use small and independent local businesses wherever possible but I’m getting quite tired of having to meet (sometimes quite high) minimum spend amounts.

Example- lovely local greengrocer, went in for a piece of ginger, £2.40. Minimum spend- £5. I put it back and went to M&S where the same sized bit of ginger was half the price and that was all I had to pay.

This is particularly annoying given that at the moment everyone is encouraged to use contactless or card payments as it is more hygienic than cash. I know there is a fee applied to card payments but surely these independent businesses are going to drive away customers if they insist on passing it on? I really like the greengrocers but I’m not going to waste money on things I don’t need if I’m not getting £5 worth of stuff whenever I go in there- I’ll just go to the supermarket instead.

@Ostara212

Sillyducks but you could still use cash? Unless you buy literally everything online which I guess you do.

I don't want to. It is not convenient for me. If I wanted to, I would. I don't, so I won't shop in places that aren't set up for card payments. I was swerving places that required cheque deposits and bankers drafts long before they were thankfully sent back to the dark ages. It's just my preference, my high street died long before I decided I was done with it.

Just get some cash out : £10 to use in the future when you want to shop local

@pantonepenny

Just get some cash out : £10 to use in the future when you want to shop local

Or just use shops with card machines?

@MakingMNGreatAgain but lots of small businesses don't deposit their cash - they use it it pay suppliers or staff.

@AngeloMysterioso

Cash is not spreading Covid: it's airborne.

I know that... I said it’s more hygienic to use card. Which it is.

"More hygienic"? Don't you touch any surfaces when out and about?

I like using my phone. Just wave it over the terminal and no limit in Lidl

@Bryonyshcmyony

I don't carry cash. I live rurally, no cashpoints, I think there might be one in the local Sainsburys. The only time I have cash is when the dcs have been given some for their birthdays from aged relations, they give it to me as they literally don't use it - I transfer money into their bank accounts.

They "don't use it"? Well they could! It's not complicated, you just hand it over to the person in the shop.

@PrimulaPrimrose

Cash is not spreading Covid: it's airborne. I'm spending cash.

... and this is why we live in the world we do. Over 18 months of daily news and detailed information about Covid, and still people haven't a clue ....

They "don't use it"? Well they could! It's not complicated, you just hand it over to the person in the shop

They 'shop' very little. They buy online mainly.

We dropped minimum charges in our shop years ago, it just doesn't make any sense. The card charges are a pain yes but you just build them into your pricing structure.

It's normally against your vendor terms and conditions to enact either a charge or a minimum spend

@Ostara212 my bank doesn’t have branches so no idea where I would pay cash in! I’ve had the account for a few years and no one has given me cash so I’ve not had to. We do bank transfers between friends etc.

I do sometimes wonder if I live in a different world to other people. The number of folk who consider books (made out of paper), CDs and DVDs as though they're like a horse and cart or doublet and hose. Not just acknowledging that they're less popular than they were, as alternative higher-tech options become available, but actually believing them to be consigned to ancient history, even though all the shops still have them and plenty of people still buy them.

Surely, even though cards or phone payments might be your preferred regular method, it doesn't actually prevent you from being able to use another simple method on occasions when your preferred method is unavailable or unfeasible?

Also, unless you receive a particularly large lump payment in cash, isn't the whole idea of it that you don't usually pay it in - but just keep it and use it yourself, as and when you need it?

I can't really believe that most people would react with horror or bafflement if they ended up with a tenner on their person - most young children would understand that you keep it in a purse, bag or packet until you see something for sale that you'd like to swap it for.

*pocket

Yeah. I never realised that I should be kind of proud as and adult of managing to be able to use more than 1 form of payment😂

I can't really believe that most people would react with horror or bafflement if they ended up with a tenner on their person - most young children would understand that you keep it in a purse, bag or packet until you see something for sale that you'd like to swap it for

🤣🤣 I think everyone saying they prefer using a card or their phone understands how cash works. They just...prefer using their card or phone.

Just use cash for stuff like that. It's not actually difficult is it.
Contactless payment is encouraged but cash is still legal tender.

Also, unless you receive a particularly large lump payment in cash, isn't the whole idea of it that you don't usually pay it in - but just keep it and use it yourself, as and when you need it?

Except you don’t need it most of the time, because everywhere around here takes cards, even taxis, market stalls and charity collectors in the street.

Cash is inconvenient because you never want to buy something that’s £10, it’s either more and you don’t have enough or less and you’re left with annoying coins which you can’t use for anything. I think I have some coins in my purse but I can’t remember the last time I actually took my purse out with me.

I think everyone saying they prefer using a card or their phone understands how cash works. They just...prefer using their card or phone.

I was being a bit flippant - but 'preferred' doesn't mean 'only way possible'.

I went to the beach yesterday. Parking - an app on phone. Lollies and coffee - phone. Dd3 crap from the beach shack shop - her phone. I didn't even take my handbag or a purse. No annoying coins, no having to carry around a purse with cash and credit cards which would be a disaster if lost or stolen. I just find it so much easier. I did have a tenner in the glove compartment if there was anything cash only, but there wasn't and hasn't been for ages.

Also, unless you receive a particularly large lump payment in cash, isn't the whole idea of it that you don't usually pay it in - but just keep it and use it yourself, as and when you need it?

Except you don’t need it most of the time, because everywhere around here takes cards, even taxis, market stalls and charity collectors in the street.

OK, maybe I worded that slightly ambiguously: I meant 'as and when you need to spend money in a place that takes cash'. You're perfectly at liberty to request payments only in cash and/or to only buy from shops/sellers that accept cards - it just means that you might be limiting yourself if others can't or are unwilling to comply.

Even cards themselves seem to be seen as old-fashioned now by many people who just want to use their phones for everything. All well and good, but one unexpected sudden battery drain/fault or other technical glitch and that's you entirely unable to pay for anything.

Yes I do make sure my phone is charged!

the speed things are going cash will disappear & it will happen sooner or later at least they
won't be blowing up ATMs. even amusement arcades are going cashless,saves fraud & theft

@PrimulaPrimrose

Cash is not spreading Covid: it's airborne. I'm spending cash.

There are loads of places still not accepting cash though, especially cafes (probably they've also realised that they save time and effort in banking cash and they can also nick all the tips).

My nectar card and tesco club card are on my phone also, linking to my Google pay account. I love it.