Starbucks don't take cash

[CoastalWave]

AIBU to think this is ridiculous?

Took DS yesterday for a treat after school with his birthday money. We only spent £8 but as he handed over his £10 we were told, sorry we don't take cash anymore, card payments only.

Is this just the start of the slippery slope down to a cashless society ?

Really annoyed me!

I think there's a strong argument that it is. But only a court can decide.

However, the bus thing is ok because the elderly have passes, and I am guessing that TFL offers passes for disabled people as well?

In Jersey they prefer contactless on the buses but do take cash. You pay an extra 10p for your journey though (might be 20p now).

Sorry a strong argument that it is indirect discrimination! The post didn't quote properly.

@antelopevalley Starbucks is a business, not a public service. It's within their right to choose whether accepting cash makes sense for their business model. If customers don't like it they will vote with their feet & if enough of them do that, Starbucks might have to reconsider.

No one is forcing them to go to shops that don't take cash. Shops are privately owned businesses who can choose payment methods.
I don't agree with a cashless society, that's just the way it is.
There are a lot of businesses that I can't use because they don't have wheelchair access, I just spend my money elsewhere

Another one for me to avoid then. I make a point of paying cash for everything. I also make it clear cash is welcome in my business even though it can be easier to take a card payment. I would never want a cashless society

I think you may find your choices very limited!

@Conkersareback no quite the opposite. I haven't yet personally been anywhere that doesn't take cash.

I think we should be very wary of going cashless.The government will have complete control of how we spend our money once the transactions all go through Bank of England (a possibility in the future). Once money is controlled by an app on our phone then the government can impose sanctions if they wish on where and when we are able to use the app.

@Goatsanddogs i totally agree! Very risky, slippery slope

Legally shops have to serve you, even if that means bringing things outside for you to look at.
I do know the practice is harder though.

Businesses have to make "reasonable adjustments" for disabled customers. What is "reasonable" will depend on the business in terms of size, staffing, location, building layout etc etc. For some, staff bringing things outside will be "reasonable", for others it won't be. Ultimately the courts decide.

Of course I am. I'm making the point that muggers don't just go for cash, and I'll also say that I would much rather somebody took my cash than my phone. I don't keep my cards with my cash (or my phone with either). I'm also a business owner/freelancer and like a pp I'm happy to take cash payments; I understand why some choose not to and also that what others choose to use is nothing to do with me and not for me to comment on.

I've also yet to see a post explaining why somebody thinks that people having fewer options is a good thing. Nobody is making you change your behaviour, so why do you care how I pay for my milk/toothpaste/taxi?

Nope. Shops don’t have to serve anyone they don’t want to, barring discriminatory reasons of course.

@SocksAndTheCity well as a business owner who takes cash, I hope you're not putting your employees in danger of being held up to snatch the cash.

Much less heard of these days, due to sensible business owners using cards, but you'll be a prime target.

The only people who need worry about the government tracking their transactions are criminals. If they wanted to sanction or control people's spending they'd just go straight for your bank account. How are you going to get your cash out then?

Seriously the paranoia of some is laughable. Sooner cash is a thing of the past the better.

I'm a sole trader and don't have employees. Your concern is touching, but I can assure you that I have excellent security procedures which I'm certainly not going to detail on a public message board.

I'm also not a criminal, @Beneficialchampion2 . Still no reason why reducing people's choices is good, I see.

@SocksAndTheCity I'm glad you don't have employees that you're putting at risk.

At least that's a positive.

Obviously Starbucks do, and they're taking precautions.

And I am at no more risk than I would be if I didn't take cash and only accepted cards and bank transfers, which I also do. Starbucks (and other retail/hospitality businesses) has members of the public wandering in freely off the street; I do not.

Since I've covered your points and you're still either unwilling or unable to answer mine, I'll leave you to it.

I work in a shop that doesn't take cash, many customers decide it's probably all my fault and give me shit about it.
Don't be that customer.

@SocksAndTheCity what were your points?

That phones are more at risk? My phones no more at risk than cash in my pocket.

But cash theft is harder to track, and we're heading to a cashless society, so no I won't be carrying around £100 to pay for a shop in the unlikely event they can't take card.

As others have said the only "cash only" establishments strike me as tax evasion outlets.

Coming home tonight , the poppy collectors at both Kings Cross and the Green Park had card machines and the busker at Kings Cross had a card machine as ell

I've already replied and I'm not going to explain again the difference between money laundering and criminals and the vulnerable being unable, for example, to pay for groceries or similar.

That was to a previous poster. Q something or other, I think.

As each business make their own choices, and so can each customer, and I will choose to boycott those companies that will not accept cash as payment, and I won't be alone in that.