# Tipping in a cashless society. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 4, 2018, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-in-a-cashless-society/825537 "2018-12-04T06:27:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![galen\_ubal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galen_ubal/32/4440_2.png) [@galen\_ubal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galen_ubal)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2018, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-in-a-cashless-society/825537/41 "2018-12-05T03:10:49Z")
> [@Mighty\_Mouse](#): > > I work in a location with lots of buskers in the summertime. This year a lot of them were collecting tips using a card reader attached to their phone or by some phone to phone method. I’d never seen that before, but it seems to have exploded all of a sudden. > > I suspect a lot more tip income is going to show up on tax returns. The wait-staff at my favorite breakfast place were griping that 20% is equivalent to 15% because of this. [Something like one of these?](https://squareup.com/shop/hardware/au/en/products/chip-credit-card-reader-au) I’ve seen a few around. Were I to go into business, I’d investigate further. **suranyi** , Australia, at least, is not completely cashless. There’s just a lot of people who don’t bother with it. I imagine here, the parents hit the ATM, or get some cash back when they purchase something. I don’t know how someone in a truly cashless society will handle it. Me, I’d tell the little leeches to go out and hunt snakes or something, make money that way. :D\* Look, it’s not some big moral decision or anything - cash or card doesn’t make much difference, but there’s so many ways to pay by card, it’s just more convenient for me, and a lot of other people. I imagine the younger folks, more used to the technology, have even less use for cash than people in my age bracket (50+) \*Why no, I don’t have any kids. Why do I hear all those sighs of relief? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2018, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-in-a-cashless-society/825537/42 "2018-12-05T08:18:59Z")
> [@kferr](#): > > In the UK, unless you’re paying cash the card payment is handled online. The drivers don’t have a POS. And even if they did it’s extremely rare here to see a POS that’s set up to process tips. > When I have food delivered the driver would have turned around and gone by the time I stuck my hand in my pocket to fish out some change. Tipping isn’t the norm, or expected here. Some delivery services are starting to build it into their online payment mechanism - for example Amazon Prime Now suggests a tip for the driver (which can be opted out) ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2018, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-in-a-cashless-society/825537/43 "2018-12-05T09:02:26Z")
In Canada the drivers all carry wireless payment machines. You insert your debit or credit card and immediately you’re prompted with a tip method, by amount or by percentage. You enter the tip, your PIN, and voilà! I rarely if ever carry cash anymore. There literally is no need for it. ---
**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:** [December 5, 2018, 10:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-in-a-cashless-society/825537/44 "2018-12-05T10:30:18Z")
> [@Mdcastle](#): > > It’s absolutely ridiculous the notion that we should have to carry cash around when we have a valid credit card. That’s a major reason why I have a credit card, so I don’t have to deal with the hassles of cash (or checks). Good for you. Then there are people who still prefer cash and find it absolutely ridiculous the notion that they should have to carry a piece of plastic around when they have a pocket full of money. I guess I come down firmly in the middle that options are a good thing. > [@](#): > > Just put the tip on your card and be done with it. On the off chance the manager cheats the employees, it’s not your responsibility. Nor is it your responsibility to enable tax fraud by allowing tipped employees to hide income. Speaking as someone who spent several years working mostly for cash not all of us are tax cheats - I reported ALL of my income, including things like what I got for turning in aluminum cans which is definitely unusual. Why? Because it got me a bigger Earned Income Tax Credit at the end of the year and thus was in my financial interests to do so. So thanks for implying those of us who are paid in cash are criminals, that plays right into the meme that the poor are inherently criminal. :rolleyes: But you’re right - whether the manager or the employees cheat (and yes, there are many who _don’t_ properly report their income) it’s not the customers’ responsibility. > [@galen\_ubal](#): > > - Just about every shop and service has card facilities, pretty much always allowing contactless payment. Quick and convenient, tap your card and go. This includes things like parking facilities, etc. There’s still a few Mom and Pop establishments that are cash only, but they’re getting increasingly rare. > -Tipping is not a thing. Nobody expects one, nobody is reliant on them. Sounds heavenly - I’m all for giving up the tipping custom but the rest of my country is not as enthusiastic so I have to live in the society I’m in. > [@](#): > > So, why should I carry cash? I can tap my card/phone/watch to the machine, and be done, in no more time then it takes me to pay cash, and often less. About the only time I get cash is when I go to a fish shop - and the one I go to has an ATM right across the street. > > Now, the last time I was in the States, I noticed that the card infrastructure was woefully behind Australia’s, but here there’s simply no reason to carry cash unless you frequent strippers, street musicians, or (a very few) small family shops. I keep cash on hand in part because sometimes the ATM networks fail. This is getting to be both less of an issue these days (more robust/widespread systems) and more (because in the event of a power failure many places can not process ANY transaction). When I travel I like to pay for vehicle fuel by cash because no one has figured out how to hack a paper bill and if you pay in cash you don’t have to worry about “bank holds” on your card (maybe you don’t have bank holds where you are). That said - if the country went cashless I’d adapt. I’d grumble because I’m old enough to be shouting “get off my lawn!” but it wouldn’t be the worst thing ever to happen. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2018, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-in-a-cashless-society/825537/45 "2018-12-05T13:52:51Z")
> [@galen\_ubal](#): > > Maybe I can provide a little context for our American friends: > > {snip} > > So, why should I carry cash? I can tap my card/phone/watch to the machine, and be done, in no more time then it takes me to pay cash, and often less. About the only time I get cash is when I go to a fish shop - and the one I go to has an ATM right across the street. > > Now, the last time I was in the States, I noticed that the card infrastructure was woefully behind Australia’s, but here there’s simply no reason to carry cash unless you frequent strippers, street musicians, or (a very few) small family shops. American here. I can think of only one occasion in recent memory where I couldn’t use a credit card: the purchase of my Thanksgiving turkey (cash or check only). I wasn’t even forced into that one; it was a farm-raised turkey, and I could have used a card anyplace else to purchase a turkey if I’d needed it. Are there any cash-only places in the USA? Yeah, there probably are _some_, but I’m not personally aware of any, so their little quirks have no bearing on my life. I would think that the only possible need for cash would be for person-to-person transactions, such as garage sales, Craiglist transactions, and the like. And to visit the stupid Ernest Hemmingway museum in Key West. When I visited Australia, I’m not even sure I used any currency. My archaic, non-tap credit card worked everywhere, although the clerks tended to laugh when the POS informed them that I needed to sign the receipt. Yeah, no PIN for American chip cards. And chip transactions in the USA are unbearably slow compared to the old magstripe transactions. Luckily NFC is getting to be more and more popular, so I can use my phone, which is instant. ---
**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:** [December 5, 2018, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-in-a-cashless-society/825537/46 "2018-12-05T14:03:53Z")
I feel obligated to tell the pizza delivery guy that I included a tip when I ordered online. It feels awkward to get a delivery without handing the guy a couple bucks. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2018, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-in-a-cashless-society/825537/47 "2018-12-05T14:10:30Z")
> [@Balthisar](#): > > Are there any cash-only places in the USA? Yeah, there probably are _some_, but I’m not personally aware of any, so their little quirks have no bearing on my life. At my business I’ve had people ask if we accept cash. _That’s_ a weird question. I’ve also had older farmer-types take me aside, waggle their eyebrows and ask “how much if I pay cash?” I quests they think I’ll not report the income, but I’m too afraid of the IRS to do that. I drop the price a bit (my original estimate usually is padded to allow some wiggling) and let them think what they will. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2018, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-in-a-cashless-society/825537/48 "2018-12-05T20:22:30Z")
> [@Balthisar](#): > > Are there any cash-only places in the USA? Yeah, there probably are _some_, but I’m not personally aware of any, so their little quirks have no bearing on my life. I frequent this Mom & Pop fried chicken joint. In the Google reviews, one of the reviewers wrote: “That’s how you tell it’s a REAL ghetto joint. They only accept cash” They DO make the best chicken in town. But it’s cash only, and the only thing they offer to drink is sweet tea, and red kool aid. Oh, and a “whole bird” consists of: 3 legs, 3 thighs, 3 wings, and 1 breast. Lol, where do they find these birds? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![filmstar-en](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/50afbb/32.png) [@filmstar-en](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmstar-en)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2018, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-in-a-cashless-society/825537/49 "2018-12-06T02:02:30Z")
I will know a cashless society has truly arrived when street people asking for money from passersby have card readers. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2018, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-in-a-cashless-society/825537/50 "2018-12-06T02:48:53Z")
This last time I used cash was during one of the summer festivals, and I noticed almost booth was set up for cards this year. I was on holiday in the UK and there were 2 pubs in Liverpool city centre that didn’t take cards, so I’m glad I had £50 with me. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2018, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-in-a-cashless-society/825537/51 "2018-12-06T04:03:44Z")
> [@suranyi](#): > > I pay my kid’s allowance in cash. How do people in a cashless society do it? He’s too little to have an account. If he’s old enough to receive allowance, he’s old enough to have an account. Lots of banks have kids accounts that allow for no fees or penalties as long as they are under 18. When my son was 9, we opened an account for him and my husband direct deposited his allowance into his account. He loved having a “pay day” and was a good saver because he had to think about going to the bank to get money for stuff instead of just spending what was in his pocket. By the time he was in junior high he was going to the bank and making deposits (like birthday money or money from cutting lawns) and withdrawals on his own. I think it’s good for kids to have bank accounts. That being said, I think it’s smart to always have a bit of cash on hand. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2018, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-in-a-cashless-society/825537/52 "2018-12-06T04:18:48Z")
> [@Rhiannon8404](#): > > If he’s old enough to receive allowance, he’s old enough to have an account. Lots of banks have kids accounts that allow for no fees or penalties as long as they are under 18. When my son was 9, we opened an account for him and my husband direct deposited his allowance into his account. He loved having a “pay day” and was a good saver because he had to think about going to the bank to get money for stuff instead of just spending what was in his pocket. By the time he was in junior high he was going to the bank and making deposits (like birthday money or money from cutting lawns) and withdrawals on his own. I think it’s good for kids to have bank accounts. > > That being said, I think it’s smart to always have a bit of cash on hand. You got a smart boy. I remember when my parents did the same thing to me, and at the time, thinking it was total fucking bull shit. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-in-a-cashless-society/825537.md?page=2)