What do you do if a place doesn't accept credit cards?

[chwebb1]

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@kroberts67 wrote:

It's only annoying because I don't carry much cash.  It's really their choice.  I don't see the big whoop in boycotting, it just depends on how much cash I have with me and how back I want what their selling if I'll spend bucks on ATM fees.  Generally my boyfriend always carries cash, i carry cards.  Problem solved.  

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I wouldn't say that I boycott them. But as a practical matter, I don't carry cash ever, so I can't shop there.

[chwebb1]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@chwebb1 wrote:

It amazes me that some businesses still don't accept credit cards in 2013 (almost 2014). I personally don't shop at places who won't at least take a Visa or MC since I don't carry cash. I'll be fairly likely to return if they take Amex and the product/service is good. How about you guys? What do you do if a place doesn't accept credit cards? Will you go in the first place if you know that they don't? Will you return?

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I used to be suspicious of stores and restaurants that did not accept credit cards, but that hasn't really been an issue as of late. I cannot think of a business I have been to recently that did not accept them. I probably would not return to a store that did not accept credit cards because it's a huge inconvenience for me to get cash. My primary bank is not in my college town and I don't like the idea of going to the grocery store to get cashback/deal with atm fees just so I can give a store my business.

I can't wait for those surcharges to help defray electricity expenses .

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Agree completely. It would be a LOT cheaper for the business to take a credit card than it would be for someone to get cash at ATM and pay a several dollar fee. Considering that it's mostly restaurants that don't take cards, we'll say the ticket is $10 for simplicity. So, I pay a $2-3 fee, which means that my food is actually 20-30% MORE expensive than the menu price. It would cost them approximately 3% to take a card. That's incredibly annoying. Just increase the price on the menu by 3% and take cards. I don't think you'll run anyone off with a 3% price increase.

[enharu]

@chwebb, it's not just about the transaction fees. Some restaurants are not accepting cards for fraud related purposes. Most restaurants do not ID customers who are paying via card, because it may just seem rude outright to be carding someone at his/her dinner table as if he's suspicious / shady. Not exactly the best dining experience. It's also an inconvenience to make customers walk to the cashiers table to card them. Thieves usually avoid using credit cards at major retailers simply because of the CCTVs in place, hence they target mom and pop establishments instead.

And of course, some restaurants are doing it to report less taxes. I won't go into the legality of such actions, but if they pull it off successfully, its a lot of savings.

For me personally, it all depends on my mood at that time and how lazy I am. Most cash only places that I frequent happen to be restaurants. If I'm craving that food a lot and don't mind making a trip to the ATM, then yea why not. I do try keep a couple hundred on me at all times, just in case anyways.

I usually avoid cash only stores or using cash in stores, unless they provide some sort of substantial discount for using cash. Certain stores do give nice discounts, such as not charging sales tax, if payment is made via cash. For an expensive purchase, that can be a pretty significant discount. You have to trust the store and do your homework of course since you won't have credit card companies to back you in the event that something goes wrong.

[notfancy]

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@sailor_mercury wrote:

There were two places I frequent that did not accept cards of any type, a dry cleaner and a donut shop.  The dry cleaner is a VERY VERY sweet older Vietnamese couple who must be in their 70's who speak very little english, they also have full tailoring and alterations and half the place is set up like a dress shop.  I have no problem with paying them cash for any service.  The donut shop is another long time neighborhood small business and most transactions are $5 or less.  They recently started accepting credit cards but I totally understand how merchant fees could kill their profit margins.  My son likes a donut (or 3) from them, it's become a tradition on Saturday mornings.  His three donuts, my cup of coffee and I'm out of there for around $6 when you include a $1.change tip.  I can't tip on their CC/POS system so cash is fine.

The one place that IRRITATES the heck out of me for not taking a card is Costco's lunch counter.  Costco already forces you to use AMEX, DEBIT or a check for warehouse purchases.  Again, I know these are not big purchases but sometimes I just don't have cash on me or I have the $2 for a hot dog and soda when what I really want is the $5 cesar salad and I don't have the cash.  Yes that is stupid not to have a little something on me, but it seems like the harder I try to keep cash on me, the more my 15yo son needs it for one reason or another. 

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Okay the highlighted part made me laugh lol.. those darn teenagers!

[Platinum]

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@enharu wrote:
@chwebb, it's not just about the transaction fees. Some restaurants are not accepting cards for fraud related purposes. Most restaurants do not ID customers who are paying via card, because it may just seem rude outright to be carding someone at his/her dinner table as if he's suspicious / shady. Not exactly the best dining experience. It's also an inconvenience to make customers walk to the cashiers table to card them. Thieves usually avoid using credit cards at major retailers simply because of the CCTVs in place, hence they target mom and pop establishments instead.

And of course, some restaurants are doing it to report less taxes. I won't go into the legality of such actions, but if they pull it off successfully, its a lot of savings.

For me personally, it all depends on my mood at that time and how lazy I am. Most cash only places that I frequent happen to be restaurants. If I'm craving that food a lot and don't mind making a trip to the ATM, then yea why not. I do try keep a couple hundred on me at all times, just in case anyways.

I usually avoid cash only stores or using cash in stores, unless they provide some sort of substantial discount for using cash. Certain stores do give nice discounts, such as not charging sales tax, if payment is made via cash. For an expensive purchase, that can be a pretty significant discount. You have to trust the store and do your homework of course since you won't have credit card companies to back you in the event that something goes wrong.

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enharu,

What is the difference between fake cash and fake cards ? And how they lose any money if the bank authorizes the transaction ?

[Gunnar419]

I live in a small town with lots of mom and pop businesses and immigrant owned businesses that don't take credit cards, so paying cash is just a reality for me and I don't mind it at all, especially for small purchases. A lot of the more hip business owners and small contractors have started using services like Square that let them take cc payments on their cellphones and iPads, but most of the older ones never will.

One business I shop at in our regional market town is a very good health food store whose owners are Christians of some hardcore type that believe credit cards are related to the mark of the beast. I don't share their view, but the store is great so I shop there all the time even though I know they will NEVER take ccs. They've been in business for decades and are always busy.

[Anonymous]

This is exactly why I always carry between 80 and 110 cash.

[Platinum]

Prediction:

Some day in the future the cash will be discontinued as a legal tender. All transactions will be electronic, safe and transparent (transparent to authorities) so that no one is able to cheat any more in gray economy.

Just my prediction.  

[Gunnar419]

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@Platinum wrote:

Prediction:

Some day in the future the cash will be discontinued as a legal tender. All transactions will be electronic, safe and transparent so that no one is able to cheat any more.

Just my prediction.  

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I also expect that will happen. I just disagree that eliminating cash will make us more SAFE. Ask anybody who recently shopped at Target about that or ask any of the millions who've had their data stolen through hacks or some corporate or government idiot losing track of a laptop computer or an old hard drive.

[Platinum]

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@Gunnar419 wrote:

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@Platinum wrote:

Prediction:

Some day in the future the cash will be discontinued as a legal tender. All transactions will be electronic, safe and transparent so that no one is able to cheat any more.

Just my prediction.  

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I also expect that will happen. I just disagree that eliminating cash will make us more SAFE. Ask anybody who recently shopped at Target about that or ask any of the millions who've had their data stolen through hacks or some corporate or government idiot losing track of a laptop computer or an old hard drive.

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The technology will advance. All electronic transactions will be safe in the future.