# Will the pandemic end cash only businesses? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 21, 2020, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-pandemic-end-cash-only-businesses/849953 "2020-03-21T13:51:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2020, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-pandemic-end-cash-only-businesses/849953/21 "2020-03-22T05:49:01Z")
In Connecticut we have medical marijuana, with state run dispensaries. They only accept cash because marijuana isn’t legal on a federal level, and credit card transactions electronically cross state lines. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2020, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-pandemic-end-cash-only-businesses/849953/22 "2020-03-22T05:50:11Z")
[duplicate removed] ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2020, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-pandemic-end-cash-only-businesses/849953/23 "2020-03-22T06:11:25Z")
Cash has the benefit of still working when the Wi-Fi goes out. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2020, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-pandemic-end-cash-only-businesses/849953/24 "2020-03-22T06:55:47Z")
> [@FinsToTheLeft](#): > > In Canada virtually every retail business takes credit cards and I would say 80-90% accept contactless. In the current Covid environment cash is being accepted less frequently. Sure, but we’re in Canada, where the cash is plastic. Just throw it in the laundry, and it will come out just fine, and clean. 🙂 More seriously, I think the only place I use cash is at the local race book, when I place a bet. Even there, I use a card to pay for my bar tab. Now, if only the race books were allowed to be open… ☹ ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2020, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-pandemic-end-cash-only-businesses/849953/25 "2020-03-22T07:23:29Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > In Connecticut we have medical marijuana, with state run dispensaries. They only accept cash because marijuana isn’t legal on a federal level, and credit card transactions electronically cross state lines. Same in every U.S. state that’s legalized it, including the ones that went further & have opened recreational cannabis for any adult. Every dispensary will always be cash only, until it’s legal at the federal level. It would be interesting to see what happens if a municipality with dispensaries also bans cash-only businesses. Schroedinger’s cat might be involved. ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2020, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-pandemic-end-cash-only-businesses/849953/26 "2020-03-22T10:45:12Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > Sure, but we’re in Canada, where the cash is plastic. Just throw it in the laundry, and it will come out just fine, and clean. 🙂 > > More seriously, I think the only place I use cash is at the local race book, when I place a bet. Even there, I use a card to pay for my bar tab. > > Now, if only the race books were allowed to be open… ☹ Are there any races to bet on at the moment? ---
**Author:** ![RioRico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f04885/32.png) [@RioRico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RioRico)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2020, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-pandemic-end-cash-only-businesses/849953/27 "2020-03-22T18:18:26Z")
Taco trucks and burger drive-thru’s. Dispensaries and farmers’ markets. Purchases I don’t want appearing on a credit statement. Tip jars and buskers. Dumb parking meters. I need cash and I’m not broke. If I _was_ broke, I’d need cash even more. > [@MandaJo](#): > > Currency is a government provided system for keeping track of money. We could have an electronic government provided system for keeping track of money. Oh yes, I’m sure we all want government to know every cent we gain or spend. :eek: > [@](#): > > Cash is expensive to use and it’s ridiculous to insist that people be willing to; if you want to make sure the poor can participate in the economy, give them the tools to do so. Education is expensive. Lack of education is even more expensive. Same with cash, as any who lived without cash know. Give poor folks tools to live cashlessly? Right. Which tools might the US actually provide anytime soon, like within Moscow Mitch’s lifetime? ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2020, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-pandemic-end-cash-only-businesses/849953/28 "2020-03-22T18:29:17Z")
> [@RioRico](#): > > Taco trucks and burger drive-thru’s. Dispensaries and farmers’ markets. Purchases I don’t want appearing on a credit statement. Tip jars and buskers. Dumb parking meters. I need cash and I’m not broke. If I _was_ broke, I’d need cash even more. > > Oh yes, I’m sure we all want government to know every cent we gain or spend. :eek: > Education is expensive. Lack of education is even more expensive. Same with cash, as any who lived without cash know. Give poor folks tools to live cashlessly? Right. Which tools might the US actually provide anytime soon, like within Moscow Mitch’s lifetime? Virtually all of the places you listed above take credit cards in Canada, buskers being the exception. As for the government knowing how much we make, that’s part of the deal: we pay taxes, the government provides services. If you don’t like that, vote for someone that will change it. Where do you think the potential $1.6T bailout fro the US is coming from? ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2020, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-pandemic-end-cash-only-businesses/849953/29 "2020-03-22T19:30:51Z")
> [@MandaJo](#): > > Currency is a government provided system for keeping track of money. We could have an electronic government provided system for keeping track of money. > > Cash is expensive to use and it’s ridiculous to insist that people be willing to; if you want to make sure the poor can participate in the economy, give them the tools to do so. What we need is is some kind of digital cash system, like the standard Sci-Fi “credit chit”. Something you can load money onto, but that isn’t linked to your personal credit card or bank account. Have some sort of system that lets you load money from your accounts to the chit as needed. Make them anonymous and cheap enough that they can just be handed out for free as needed. Tap it to pay for little things, or just give it to someone to pay for larger things (have a reader to show the chit has $100 on it, then just give it to the person you owe $100 to). We already have the technology to make this work, since that’s how [a lot of bus passes now work in Canada](https://www.prestocard.ca/en/). We just need to make the social changes needed to make this free to use, and ubiquitous. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2020, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-pandemic-end-cash-only-businesses/849953/30 "2020-03-22T21:06:51Z")
> [@FinsToTheLeft](#): > > Are there any races to bet on at the moment? Yes, if Equibase and the _Daily Racing Form_ are to be believed. Both sources list entries for today at various tracks. However, I understand many tracks are not allowing spectators to attend races in person. Although I didn’t check every track, I did look at [Santa Anita](https://www.santaanita.com/blog/covid-19-health-safety-update/#.XnfdjWB7mM8), which had this to say: > [@](#): > > Having consulted with our governmental and industry partners, horses at Santa Anita and Golden Gate are continuing to exercise and race… > > With the utmost regard for the safety and well-being of our customers and employees, and in following the best available guidance from local and international health authorities, Santa Anita Park is temporarily closed to the public until further notice. > > During this period, live racing will continue as scheduled… > > Fans can enjoy the races online at [santaanita.com](http://santaanita.com), [xpressbet.com](http://xpressbet.com), 1st Bet, or on television via TVG Network, or Fox Sports 1. So, it appears that races can still be seen, and wagers can still be placed through websites and apps, if the local race book is closed (as mine is). ---
**Author:** ![RioRico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f04885/32.png) [@RioRico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RioRico)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2020, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-pandemic-end-cash-only-businesses/849953/31 "2020-03-23T05:17:27Z")
> [@RioRico](#): > > Taco trucks and burger drive-thru’s. Dispensaries and farmers’ markets. Purchases I don’t want appearing on a credit statement. Tip jars and buskers. Dumb parking meters. > \ > Oh yes, I’m sure we all want government to know every cent we gain or spend. > [@FinsToTheLeft](#): > > Virtually all of the places you listed above take credit cards in Canada, buskers being the exception. California isn’t Canada so forget dispensaries. Plenty of parking meters only take coins. Cash tips actually reach the tipped. I feel puny charging $3 tacos or a $2 apple - and the seller incurs a card fee. And credit statements can still be embarrassing. > [@](#): > > As for the government knowing how much we make, that’s part of the deal: we pay taxes, the government provides services. If you don’t like that, vote for someone that will change it. Where do you think the potential $1.6T bailout fro the US is coming from? Government indeed knows our retirement income. It needn’t know what we made or spent at yard sales, what eateries we prefer, which buskers we rewarded, how many old coins I gave my sister, what we paid a handyman neighbor to build a fence, and a few other personal details. YMMV. Where’s the bailout coming from if it does? Conjured from thin air, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Carryon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc29f/32.png) [@Carryon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carryon)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2020, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-pandemic-end-cash-only-businesses/849953/32 "2020-03-23T07:03:27Z")
In order to do this, you would first have to make laws that require cash and credit to be charged the same. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2020, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-pandemic-end-cash-only-businesses/849953/33 "2020-03-23T07:10:23Z")
> [@Carryon](#): > > In order to do this, you would first have to make laws that require cash and credit to be charged the same. Is this another shot at credit card fees? I’m glad to know that cash didn’t cost a thing then. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2020, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-pandemic-end-cash-only-businesses/849953/34 "2020-03-23T17:49:11Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Welfare (WIC) is done with electronic accounts now. WIC is pregnant women and young children only. Supplimental Nutritional Assistance Program (or SNAP) is food stamps. I’m on SNAP. It covers only food. You can’t buy paper towels or condoms. The government gives me a certain amount each month. In the unlikely event I don’t use it all, it rolls over. As this is charity from the government, I accept restrictions on what I can buy and I accept the government knowing exactly where, when and what I buy. I don’t accept those conditions on any other funds I manage to get. I like being able to buy friends gifts at Goodwill without any paper trail. RE Cash _Only_ OTTOMH, other than flea markets and such- Halal Gyro King food carts, I think they are cash only. They do an excellent falafel. $5, includes a drink. HIGHLY recommended. If you get on a bus here without having purchased a ride in advance, I don’t think you can pay the fare with a credit or debit card. I can’t think of another legal business that is cash only. RE Going Cashless The city council of Philly agreed with me that cashless business discriminate against the poor. So, they outlawed them within city limits. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2020, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-pandemic-end-cash-only-businesses/849953/35 "2020-03-23T18:30:17Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > WIC is pregnant women and young children only. > > Supplimental Nutritional Assistance Program (or SNAP) is food stamps. > > I’m on SNAP. It covers only food. You can’t buy paper towels or condoms. The government gives me a certain amount each month. In the unlikely event I don’t use it all, it rolls over. As this is charity from the government, I accept restrictions on what I can buy and I accept the government knowing exactly where, when and what I buy. > > I don’t accept those conditions on any other funds I manage to get. I like being able to buy friends gifts at Goodwill without any paper trail. > > RE Cash _Only_ > > OTTOMH, other than flea markets and such- > > Halal Gyro King food carts, I think they are cash only. They do an excellent falafel. > $5, includes a drink. HIGHLY recommended. > > If you get on a bus here without having purchased a ride in advance, I don’t think you can pay the fare with a credit or debit card. > > I can’t think of another legal business that is cash only. > > RE Going Cashless > > The city council of Philly agreed with me that cashless business discriminate against the poor. So, they outlawed them within city limits. The point is that the technology exists to allow the implementation of a general digital monetary system. Around here we all carry contactless cards to access public transportation. Universities have card systems that students can use to pay for nearly everything. There’s nothing inherently anti-poor about a digital monetary system. It’s completely dependent on the implementation. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2020, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-pandemic-end-cash-only-businesses/849953/36 "2020-03-23T23:35:38Z")
I’m not arguing it can’t be done. I’m arguing it shouldn’t be done. If you think you have a system that isn’t biased against the poor, I’d love to hear the details. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2020, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-pandemic-end-cash-only-businesses/849953/37 "2020-03-23T23:38:36Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > I’m not arguing it can’t be done. I’m arguing it shouldn’t be done. > > If you think you have a system that isn’t biased against the poor, I’d love to hear the details. Give everyone, regardless of poor ness or richness, or the existence of a bank account, the same uniform access to the same digital payment technology. We have them for the local public transportation. We have them for college campuses. We can have one for everything. There you go. Done. We know it’s technologically possible. The details are to be left to the experts. In any case, I’m more interested in your thoughts on the existence of cash-only establishments and whether they will survive the pandemic. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2020, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-pandemic-end-cash-only-businesses/849953/38 "2020-03-23T23:40:29Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Give everyone, regardless of poor ness or richness, or the existence of a bank account, the same uniform access to the same digital payment technology. There you go. Done. > > We know it’s technologically possible. The details are to be left to the experts. So you have a wonderful proposal, just without details? ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2020, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-pandemic-end-cash-only-businesses/849953/39 "2020-03-24T00:09:28Z")
DocCathode: Do you realize it costs a lot of money to print currency and coins? For example Bureau of Engraving: $887 million to print currency: > **[20.-BEP-FY-2020-CJ.pdf](https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/266/20.-BEP-FY-2020-CJ.pdf)** > > 215.76 KB Mint–coins, etc: $2.7 billion > **[23.-US-Mint-FY-2018-CJ.pdf](https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/266/23.-US-Mint-FY-2018-CJ.pdf)** > > 94.32 KB Are you acquainted with the EBT program which replaced food stamps nationally and welfare payments in some states? > **[Electronic benefit transfer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_benefit_transfer)** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > > Electronic benefit transfer (EBT) is an electronic system that allows state welfare departments to issue benefits via a magnetically encoded payment card used in the United States. It reached nationwide operations in 2004. The average monthly EBT payout is $125 per participant. > Benefits provided via EBT are of two types: food, and cash. Food benefits are federally authorized benefits that can be used only to purchase food and non-alcoholic bevera... Perhaps this system could be modified. Are you acquainted with stored value cards? > **[Stored-value card](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stored-value_card)** > > A stored-value card (SVC) is a payment card with a monetary value stored on the card itself, not in an external account maintained by a financial institution. This means no network access is required by the payment collection terminals as funds can be withdrawn and deposited straight from the card. Like cash, payment cards can be used anonymously as the person holding the card can use the funds. They are an electronic development of token coins and are typically used in low-value payment systems ... Some government examples such as the Navy Cash card: [https://fiscal.treasury.gov/stored-value-card/about.html](https://fiscal.treasury.gov/stored-value-card/about.html) Are you acquainted with prepaid debit cards? While often these have significant fees, the government could subsidize these and offer them through the Post Office. So while I am not sure of the best technical approach there are options available. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2020, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-pandemic-end-cash-only-businesses/849953/40 "2020-03-24T00:14:40Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > DocCathode: > Do you realize it costs a lot of money to print currency and coins? > For example Bureau of Engraving: $887 million to print currency: > [https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/266/20.-BEP-FY-2020-CJ.pdf](https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/266/20.-BEP-FY-2020-CJ.pdf) > Mint–coins, etc: $2.7 billion > [https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/266/23.-US-Mint-FY-2018-CJ.pdf](https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/266/23.-US-Mint-FY-2018-CJ.pdf) Those costs are paid by taxpayers. If I give a $5 bill to somebody, there’s no additional cost. If I pay by card, there is a transaction fee. > [@](#): > > Are you acquainted with the EBT program which replaced food stamps nationally and welfare payments in some states? > [Electronic benefit transfer - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_benefit_transfer) Did you read my earlier post in this very thread? The one where I say I’m on SNAP? > [@](#): > > Perhaps this system could be modified. > > Are you acquainted with stored value cards? > [Stored-value card - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stored-value_card) > > Some government examples such as the Navy Cash card: > [Stored Value Card - About](https://fiscal.treasury.gov/stored-value-card/about.html) > > Are you acquainted with prepaid debit cards? While often these have significant fees, the government could subsidize these and offer them through the Post Office. Modified how precisely? To qualify for SNAP I had to produce all kinds of documents the homeless and poor likely don’t have. So while I am not sure of the best technical approach there are options available. [/QUOTE] [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-pandemic-end-cash-only-businesses/849953.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-pandemic-end-cash-only-businesses/849953.md?page=3)