AIBU to put up a sign encouraging customers to pay in cash?

[Theydidnt]

I run a small business and we are taking SO much less cash than we used to. It's really having an effect on how much we are taking. But I'm interested to know whether people would be put off by a sign with this wording or whether people support it. I know lots of people think cash is a way of avoiding the tax man and may find it unprofessional. Interested to know people's thoughts

Your sign is fine. It's inoffensive, gently encourages and still gives the customer choice. I would still pay by card (unless you are in the Highlands and Islands) as I don't carry cash (except when in the Highlands and Islands).

I do object to the ridiculous 'cash is king' nonsensical signs. Or those that aggressively have half a dozen CASH ONLY signs up on every conceivable surface and get quite angry/militant about it. Anywhere like that I just walk straight out.

State that you pay a fee of xx per debit card transaction, yy per credit card transaction and zz for whatever digital payment solution you use (so customers can see the impact).

All I think is that they need some help with a business plan if they're writing nonsense like this.

These sorts of things are why I tend not to use small businesses. I just want my item not a sob story.

This. It's a business, behave like a business. Small or otherwise.

Does the OP even know how much each cash transaction costs to bank?

This is an interesting thread OP. I've been umming and ahhing about going back to a local business that was amazing because the confirmation text asked for cash payment if possible. It's a sector that's rife for modern slavery so the request was a red flag. But now I wonder if it's for this reason.

Good sign. I would cut out half the sentences.

Please pay CASH if you can.
Cards welcome, though they attract a fee.

You could also decide to put your prices up by the amount of the card transaction fee and offer a discount to all who pay cash.

Isn’t asking on here doing just that? Thinking about it from a customer’s point of view?

I have to say, not just as a small business owner but as a member of a lovely community and just as general citizen, that I find your outlook quite sad. But obviously, each to their own.

But it also costs a business to bank the cash - it's not free. There are bank charges, higher insurance and the time to count the cash and take it to the bank plus petrol to drive there. People seem to think that cash is "free" but it really isn't. Plus the risk of theft/robbery of having large amounts of cash on the premises.

The chippy by us asks for cash if possible

I love handling cash and pay with cash as much as I can.
I love the anonymity, the pictures on the notes and coins and the fact that my money retains it's spending value for the seller..

It would annoy me too. The wordy tone seems to guilt customers for not paying in cash. Just be upfront and set a limit for card payments or just have a cash preferred notice.

I'm self employed and I only accept bank transfers. I don't take cash.

Exactly. Just because there's an obvious fee for card transactions doesn't negate the financial costs of cash transactions.

I'm not the poster you responded to here, and I'm not against a "Cards welcome, cash preferred" sign, though agree that your original is too much.

But no, you asking on here isn't thinking about it from the customer's perspective. You are asking on here about whether this will change customer behaviour to your preferred without losing too much. You want to know, not what works for customers, but what's the best way to get what works for you.

I don't think there's anything wrong with that. You're a business trying to survive and thrive, obviously you're interested in how to get it to work for you. But it's not a customer centered approach that is looking primarily at what customers need or want and how you can provide that. (Though you may do that in other ways).

it is against the law to charge card payers a transaction fee/extra costs for using a card but you are allowed to implement a minimum spend, as it’s then the consumers choice.

• While Businesses can set a minimum, they cannot charge you extra for using a card.
• Card Network Rules: Although legal, setting a minimum spend can technically violate individual card network (Visa/Mastercard) rules.

You can say you’d only accept cash only, again not breaking the law, it’s the charging people extra for their choice of payment.

I think your sogn is fine and actually better than the minimum card spend ones. In my village there are two local shops next to each other. One has a minimum card spend and the other doesn't. Unfortunately I now shop more at the one where you can use your card as I often just pop in for something small and don't have any cash. With your sign it would prompt me to use cash if I had on me but not leave without buying anything if I didn't.

What? I have never used cash in any Chinese take away in south Lanarkshire. Always pay by card at the counter. My partner lives in Glasgow and we also pay by card when we pick up Chinese food. What are you talking about?

Huh?? I really can’t believe that you would be actively offended. If customers know the business prefers cash it may just prompt them to take cash next time. If you would “feel judged” I would say this is more a reflection of your insecurities than the business being rude.

I hadn't realised that. I still don't want to use cash unless I have to and don't like signs trying to guilt trip me.

I’m confused about this, because I was under the impression that businesses have to pay a fee to deposit cash. Is that not the case?

It isn’t illegal that’s why small businesses do it, it’s illegal to charge people extra to use a card.
People used to charge a % more for card payments, this illegal now.

There's no need to elevate it to "insecurities". If a business only takes cash and I know that I can decide whether it's worth my while making a trip to a cash dispenser in advance, fair enough . Just be straightforward and don't put simpering signs up trying to influence me at the point of sale.

I’m afraid I have to disagree with you here.

I don't think it's unreasonable, you have the right to accept cash only, card only, or both.

My local market hall still has stalls where ONLY cash is accepted, if I want to use them I simply withdraw the money from the bank 100 yards away.
I understand some people insist on paying by card....you still offer that facility, so I don't really see a problem.

I am perfectly happy with businesses that do this , I draw some cash every month and used it for businesses that prefer it .

The excessive use of exclamation marks would put me off straight away, and as others have said I’d assume you aren’t declaring to HMRC if you are keeping 100% of the cost of whatever it is.

I’d definitely go elsewhere if I saw this sign.

I’m so baffled by all these easily annoyed/offended people. My local cafe has a similar sign, admittedly hand written and less wordy. All it prompts is a “oh Dave prefers cash so I’ll see if I’ve got any lying around” if not it’s all good and I pay by card. I don’t assume it’s tax dodging, I assume it saves them paying the bank a % of the transaction.

I came across a shop a couple of years ago that had a sign up saying how much they paid on a small transaction, I think it was a fiver and also how much they paid in bank fees the previous month. It really shocked me and now I do tend to use cash in small businesses if I can. I am lucky I walk pass/two minutes away 7 ATMs in my daily life so it is a bit easier for me than it would be for many.