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.

I often shop for my mum and she insists on giving me cash. It annoys the hell out of me because I have to find time to bank it, during covid times banks operate stupid hours so it's massively inconvenient. Cash just isn't convenient

My mum does too. I just spend it in Superdrug as that's the one shop that have never been awkward about taking cash (I don't think the supermarkets are either, but their self-service tills are often card only). And there was one time I went to get a sports massage and their card reader had stopped working, so they asked if I had cash, and I did because my mum had given me some! That was very useful.

I've not taken money out of an ATM since March 2020.

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.

True, but as I said, most people do most of their purchases on card nowadays and it’s so much more convenient to do so. So shops that only take cash or have a minimum card spend are on a hiding to nothing.
I also won’t shop at food places like bakeries and sandwich shops that take cash and then give/make you the food without washing their hands < not envy

@PattyPan

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.

Well, I need cash three times a week to pay for children's activities/ tutors/ music teachers that are cash only. And 20p or 50p coins are needed for youth club tuck shop!

All my kids activities are payable via PayPal now.

I don’t have kids but DP and I do lots of activities ourselves (inc sports and music lessons) and don’t pay any of them in cash, mixture of online card payment, bank transfer, direct debit etc. Even the swimming pool lockers have padlocks rather than pound coins now!

Quite a few of our regular customers dont actually have bank cards. The demographic round here is old and poor.

On our row of shops there is our community pharmacy, a corner shop, a chippy and a hairdresser. We all take cash, or cards for over a fiver. We have been gaining customers galore over the various lockdowns, so it obviously isn't that hard for people.

Even basic bank accounts provide debit cards. I got my first debit card with a kids account when I was 11.

Even basic bank accounts provide debit cards. I got my first debit card with a kids account when I was 11.

You have to want it, though. Some people don't see a need to change or might fear bank accounts, difficulties with budgeting, the ability to go overdrawn, bank charges and such.

It might be a bit like internet access - many elderly people aren't online, when they would be able to do so if they wanted, for relatively little money - they just don't see the need for it and often see it as an added complication when they're managing just fine as it is. It 100% wouldn't be my perspective on it or choice, personally, but they aren't me and I'm not them.

I was raising money for charity last weekend. I let someone pay by paypal (straight to our charity paypal account). I let them choose payment service which meant paypal got 65p in charges.

Would have not lost the 65p if they just paid in cash. Cash is better.

@WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll

Even basic bank accounts provide debit cards. I got my first debit card with a kids account when I was 11.

You have to want it, though. Some people don't see a need to change or might fear bank accounts, difficulties with budgeting, the ability to go overdrawn, bank charges and such.

It might be a bit like internet access - many elderly people aren't online, when they would be able to do so if they wanted, for relatively little money - they just don't see the need for it and often see it as an added complication when they're managing just fine as it is. It 100% wouldn't be my perspective on it or choice, personally, but they aren't me and I'm not them.

Having a card doesn’t affect any of that. You can go overdrawn by drawing too much cash out!