# Are stores that only accept credit cards or Apps discriminatory? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 10, 2019, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-stores-that-only-accept-credit-cards-or-apps-discriminatory/830862 "2019-03-10T00:59:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-stores-that-only-accept-credit-cards-or-apps-discriminatory/830862/1 "2019-03-10T00:59:47Z")
Philadelphia is the first city to pass a law requiring most retail establishments to accept cash. Swiping cards is convenient for many of us. But, 8.4 million households didn’t have bank accounts in 2017. The video quotes a Pew Research Center study… 34% of Blacks 17% of Hispanics 29% of people earning less than 30k Rely on Cash I have to agree it’s discriminatory for businesses to refuse cash sales. I generally use cash for transactions less than $20. Do you agree that retail businesses should be inclusive and be required to accept cash? > **[Philadelphia is first city to ban cashless stores and restaurants](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/philadelphia-bans-cashless-stores-and-restaurants/)** > > Proponents of the new law -- the first of its kind around the U.S. -- say it will protect the "unbanked" > [@](#): > > Philadelphia has passed a law requiring most retail establishments to accept cash, making it the first U.S. city to ban a practice critics say is discriminatory. > > Mayor Jim Kenney last week signed the law,passed by the city council in February, banning stores and restaurants from implementing cashless policies. It will take effect July 1, and business owners who don’t comply will face fines of up to $2,000. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-stores-that-only-accept-credit-cards-or-apps-discriminatory/830862/2 "2019-03-10T01:14:54Z")
I wouldn’t be surprised to see more city or state legislation requiring most businesses to accept cash. I guess Philadelphia’s law will be the test case for any court action? ---
**Author:** ![Smudge777](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee59a6/32.png) [@Smudge777](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smudge777)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-stores-that-only-accept-credit-cards-or-apps-discriminatory/830862/3 "2019-03-10T01:30:38Z")
Is a golf course discriminatory if it requires its patrons to own their own clubs? Is an airline discriminatory if it requires travellers to wear shoes? Not even slightly. Cash is filthy, time-consuming to exchange, and heavy and bulky to store (in a wallet, cash register, etc.). Additionally, I’m not exactly sure how things work in the US of A, but can’t anyone get a basic bank account (with corresponding debit card)? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-stores-that-only-accept-credit-cards-or-apps-discriminatory/830862/4 "2019-03-10T01:44:29Z")
I initially felt a law wasn’t needed. Supply & Demand and customer backlash can determine what payments are accepted. I’ve read that some businesses tried cc only and abandoned it. The research indicating how many people would be disenfranchised made me reconsider. They aren’t mentioned, but I know a lot of seniors use cash. I’ve been behind several as they counted out exact change for a purchase. 😉 I dislike using cc unnecessarily because it’s more risk for fraud. Skimmers are a big problem. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-stores-that-only-accept-credit-cards-or-apps-discriminatory/830862/5 "2019-03-10T01:46:21Z")
I don’t know that discriminatory is the right word to use since it implies purposeful exclusion. Voting laws demanding forms of ID which many poor people don’t have are discriminatory because they are purposefully crafted to exclude as many of those people as possible. I imagine that the vast majority of businesses which go cashless do so because the convenience outweighs the potential lost revenue. No cash means no deposits. No register to fumble with (or skim from). No worrying about whether your employees know how to make change. And so even if you’re losing money from cash-only customers, you’re making it back on all the other benefits. I can see it being simple business sense for a lot of small entrepreneurs. But even if cashless businesses aren’t ‘discriminatory,’ they **do** harm a population which is already vulnerable in a million other ways. I generally approve of legislation which benefits at-risk communities, so I’m on board with the concept. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-stores-that-only-accept-credit-cards-or-apps-discriminatory/830862/6 "2019-03-10T01:57:32Z")
> [@Smudge777](#): > > Is a golf course discriminatory if it requires its patrons to own their own clubs? > Is an airline discriminatory if it requires travellers to wear shoes? > > Not even slightly. > > Cash is filthy, time-consuming to exchange, and heavy and bulky to store (in a wallet, cash register, etc.). > > Additionally, I’m not exactly sure how things work in the US of A, but can’t anyone get a basic bank account (with corresponding debit card)? Not really. There are significant numbers of working poor who can’t meet the requirements at most banks to get an account. At least, this seemed to be the case with banks back in the early 90s, when I was transitioning from the military to civilian life. The fact that a lot of WalMarts, low end supermarkets, and payday loan outfits offer paycheck-cashing services suggests to me that this is still the case. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-stores-that-only-accept-credit-cards-or-apps-discriminatory/830862/7 "2019-03-10T01:57:43Z")
Yeah, they’re probably discriminatory in effect, but probably not discriminatory in intent. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-stores-that-only-accept-credit-cards-or-apps-discriminatory/830862/8 "2019-03-10T02:13:29Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Yeah, they’re probably discriminatory in effect, but probably not discriminatory in intent. I’ll go along with that. I understand the business reasons (some amusement parks I know have gone cashless for anything other than admission) but I’m also one of those dinosaurs who prefers using cash. If its a matter of age, race or other factors some big segments of people will/do get shut out. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-stores-that-only-accept-credit-cards-or-apps-discriminatory/830862/9 "2019-03-10T03:28:38Z")
It discriminates against people who don’t have credit or debit cards. That’s usually income related. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-stores-that-only-accept-credit-cards-or-apps-discriminatory/830862/10 "2019-03-10T03:53:27Z")
I realize I’m overthinking this, but which question is the OP asking an answer for? Because the question about whether it is discriminatory is a pretty hard one; but I’m not really in favor of requiring businesses to take cash unless the discrimination was firmly established. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-stores-that-only-accept-credit-cards-or-apps-discriminatory/830862/11 "2019-03-10T03:55:35Z")
Wasn’t there a thread on this issue last month, but raising it in Britain rather than the US? Sounds really familiar to me. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-stores-that-only-accept-credit-cards-or-apps-discriminatory/830862/12 "2019-03-10T04:00:05Z")
The article and video raised the issue of people being discriminated against. So I based the poll in that direction. But the main question is whether businesses should be required to take cash. That means everyones money has the same respect and value. Regardless of its origin, cc, App or cash. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-stores-that-only-accept-credit-cards-or-apps-discriminatory/830862/13 "2019-03-10T04:26:50Z")
Eventually the entire country will eliminate cash and go to electronic payment. IMHO, That transition should be coordinated and planned. Make sure everyone is issued a payment card and all wages and other income get credited to it. Making this work will take some careful implementation. A piecemeal approach with businesses making the decision will create too much confusion and hardship for people without bank accounts or credit. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-stores-that-only-accept-credit-cards-or-apps-discriminatory/830862/14 "2019-03-10T04:33:06Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Eventually the entire country will eliminate cash and go to electronic payment. > IMHO, That transition should be coordinated and planned. Make sure everyone is issued a payment card and all wages and other income get credited to it. > > A piecemeal approach with businesses making the decision will create too much confusion and hardship for people without bank accounts or credit. Hey, bub, this here’s Amer’ka! We do EVERYTHING piecemeal! The confusion and hardship is how we weed out the wusses! :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-stores-that-only-accept-credit-cards-or-apps-discriminatory/830862/15 "2019-03-10T08:48:29Z")
> [@Smudge777](#): > > Additionally, I’m not exactly sure how things work in the US of A, but can’t anyone get a basic bank account (with corresponding debit card)? No. (Yes, the US is barbaric in some respects. Let me tell you about healthcare “coverage” here…) > [@Smudge777](#): > > Is a golf course discriminatory if it requires its patrons to own their own clubs? > Is an airline discriminatory if it requires travellers to wear shoes? You don’t have to go to a golf course or use an airline. You DO have to engage in financial transactions at some point to get food, among other necessities. > [@Smudge777](#): > > Cash is filthy, time-consuming to exchange, and heavy and bulky to store (in a wallet, cash register, etc.). As someone who works half the week in the store cash office I have to agree with you - cash is filthy and disgusting. On the other hand, it also is part of what keeps me employed right now so I might be biased here. Why didn’t Mike Rowe ever do an episode on cash-handling for _Dirty Jobs?_ ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-stores-that-only-accept-credit-cards-or-apps-discriminatory/830862/16 "2019-03-10T09:08:01Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Wasn’t there a thread on this issue last month, but raising it in Britain rather than the US? Sounds really familiar to me. You are probably thinking of [this thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=871030) ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-stores-that-only-accept-credit-cards-or-apps-discriminatory/830862/17 "2019-03-10T11:18:19Z")
I didn’t see that thread. So NY may do the same thing as Philly. If businesses want to encourage cc or App payments they could offer a 3% discount. That would reduce cash payments significantly without refusing to serve a third of our population that relies on cash. There was a time when cash sales got discounts. Times have sure changed. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-stores-that-only-accept-credit-cards-or-apps-discriminatory/830862/18 "2019-03-10T12:25:37Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > The article and video raised the issue of people being discriminated against. \*\*So I based the poll in that direction. > > But the main question is whether businesses should be required to take cash.\*\* That means everyones money has the same respect and value. Regardless of its origin, cc, App or cash. Uhm, I asked which question you were asking, and you just repeated the two questions that I said I’d answer slightly differently without saying which one you were asking. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-stores-that-only-accept-credit-cards-or-apps-discriminatory/830862/19 "2019-03-10T12:39:45Z")
You can’t solve the problem by just giving a discount for non-cash payment. There are a lot of costs a business incurs just by taking any cash at all, no matter what nonzero percentage of sales they make up. You need a cash register. You need a person manning the register, or to make your self-pay stations a lot more complicated to handle the cash. You need to have change on hand, both small bills and coins. You need to make regular trips to the bank, carrying something that’s easily stolen. You need means for detecting counterfeits. All of those are things you’d rather do without. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-stores-that-only-accept-credit-cards-or-apps-discriminatory/830862/20 "2019-03-10T12:52:51Z")
> [@Smudge777](#): > > Additionally, I’m not exactly sure how things work in the US of A, but can’t anyone get a basic bank account (with corresponding debit card)? No. If you’ve ever made a mistake with a bank account and not been able to pay it off immediately, it’s impossible or hard to get an account. You MIGHT be able to find a bank or credit union offering some kind of condescendingly-named product like a “second chances account” with a large monthly fee and limitations. Even among people who could get an account, there are people who don’t want one because of the real or perceived risk that it would just cause them problems. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-stores-that-only-accept-credit-cards-or-apps-discriminatory/830862.md?page=2)