# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2020, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-pandemic-end-cash-only-businesses/849953/41 "2020-03-24T00:21:01Z")
For small businesses the catch is that using cards generates a fee for each transaction. Large companies and chains get discounted; small, individual-owner businesses get socked harder. That’s why lots of family businesses have signs saying they’ll only accept cash for transactions under ten dollars (or whatever). Banning cash is a tax on small businesses, a totally regressive tax. Unless and until you can solve that problem cash is a necessity. ---
**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 24, 2020, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-pandemic-end-cash-only-businesses/849953/42 "2020-03-24T00:30:33Z")
Yeah, who suggested banning cash? If we were to move to a cashless system, it would have to be a government-provided system, like cash is now, with no fees for use. ---
**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 24, 2020, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-pandemic-end-cash-only-businesses/849953/43 "2020-03-24T00:33:11Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > 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. > > Did you read my earlier post in this very thread? The one where I say I’m on SNAP? > > 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. The signs of poor imagination in this thread are astonishing. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2020, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-pandemic-end-cash-only-businesses/849953/44 "2020-03-24T00:34:20Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Yeah, who suggested banning cash? > > If we were to move to a cashless system, it would have to be a government-provided system, like cash is now, with no fees for use. Which is the same thing as saying it will never happen. ---
**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, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-pandemic-end-cash-only-businesses/849953/45 "2020-03-24T00:39:57Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > The signs of poor imagination in this thread are astonishing. How exactly have I shown poor imagination? I ask this as I note you’ve failed to answer any of my questions. ---
**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 24, 2020, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-pandemic-end-cash-only-businesses/849953/46 "2020-03-24T01:00:19Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Which is the same thing as saying it will never happen. That has nothing to do with whether it’s possible. > [@DocCathode](#): > > How exactly have I shown poor imagination? > > I ask this as I note you’ve failed to answer any of my questions. I’ll note that you’ve failed to address the actual subject of this thread. But hey, just for playing, I’ll try this—currently the government spends close to a billion dollars a year producing currency. It seems to me that that would be a good pot of money to start with to create a digital currency. As for your SNAP paperwork, why should that be a factor? I can get a subway card without paperwork. Base a cashless systems on that concept. Just give them away and not charge any fees for use. Really, could I ask people who want to argue against a cashless economy to start their own thread about it? ---
**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, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-pandemic-end-cash-only-businesses/849953/47 "2020-03-24T01:05:12Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > I’ll note that you’ve failed to address the actual subject of this thread. But hey, just for playing, I’ll try this—currently the government spends close to a billion dollars a year producing currency. It seems to me that that would be a good pot of money to start with to create a digital currency. As for your SNAP paperwork, why should that be a factor? I can get a subway card without paperwork. Base a cashless systems on that concept. Just give them away and not charge any fees for use. So, if somebody loses their card what then? Without paperwork how do you know you’re issuing a replacement card to the right person and connected to the right account? And I did address the op in my first post in this thread. Again, besides possibly food carts I don’t know of any cash only businesses. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2020, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-pandemic-end-cash-only-businesses/849953/48 "2020-03-24T03:28:47Z")
> [@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. Are you sure you don’t mean something like ‘Small businesses (who usually sneer at big government) wanted to make damn sure Amazon didn’t come into Philly with retail stores?’ And probably assisted by woke activists who despise Bezos. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2020, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-pandemic-end-cash-only-businesses/849953/49 "2020-03-24T12:28:33Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > The signs of poor imagination in this thread are astonishing. Unfortunately, Real Life doesn’t work and play well with imagination. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2020, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-pandemic-end-cash-only-businesses/849953/50 "2020-03-24T18:04:10Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > 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: > > 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). The folks who run the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs first announced the race would be held May 3rd as scheduled but sans attendees. A few days later they delayed the race until September. Both racetracks here in Arizona ended their meets early. There wasn’t much point in carrying on because most of the OTBs in the state are in bars and those are closed as well. They’re just not high-tier enough to attract much online betting. ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2020, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-pandemic-end-cash-only-businesses/849953/51 "2020-03-24T19:12:49Z")
> [@installLSC](#): > > Where are these cash only places? I live in the Seattle-Tacoma area and I can’t remember the last cash only place I saw besides kids selling candy. I still use cash at lots of places and have no problems, and I of course live near viral hot spots. To confirm what everyone else said, you touch screens so often using credit/debit cards you get no social distancing benefits. You’ve obviously never been to a weed shop. They can’t take credit cards and are cash-only due to federal cannabis laws. (That’s what they told me.) At least, the two I’ve been to are like this, and I’ve heard others are. They’ll stay open, as they’re considered essential businesses, and though I haven’t gone in one in almost 3 years, their parking lots are jammed. ---
**Author:** ![installLSC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2020, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-pandemic-end-cash-only-businesses/849953/52 "2020-03-24T20:44:56Z")
On one hand, a (paywalled) article in the San Francisco Chronicle notes businesses are starting to refuse cash although SF is a no-cash-ban city. (The city claims it’s still enforcing the law). On the other hand, NYC [has started a delivery app that accepts cash.](https://ny.eater.com/2020/3/23/21190759/nyc-bodega-food-delivery-app-coronavirus) ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Quatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc8723/32.png) [@Mr\_Quatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Quatro)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2020, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-pandemic-end-cash-only-businesses/849953/53 "2020-03-25T01:34:44Z")
I thought the reason for cash in cash only stores was due to up to 23 cents on the dollar for credit cards … I don’t know what ATM cards cost to process ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2020, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-pandemic-end-cash-only-businesses/849953/54 "2020-03-25T11:33:16Z")
> [@installLSC](#): > > On one hand, a (paywalled) article in the San Francisco Chronicle notes businesses are starting to refuse cash although SF is a no-cash-ban city. (The city claims it’s still enforcing the law). On the other hand, NYC [has started a delivery app that accepts cash.](https://ny.eater.com/2020/3/23/21190759/nyc-bodega-food-delivery-app-coronavirus) I can’t figure out how an app can accept cash - unless they mean that the app simply replaces a phone call and then works like traditional delivery, where pay the delivery person in cash. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2020, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-pandemic-end-cash-only-businesses/849953/55 "2020-03-25T19:32:57Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > I went to a place that did not take credit or debit cards. Ironically they sold valuable coins. Coin dealers generally always deal in cash only. I believe in part because they are often not just engaged in collectible coin sales, but in currency exchange. Which means there are two issues with debit/credit cards: 1. The exchange fees are large compared to currency exchange fees, which means they’d have to drastically increase their fees to cover it. 2. Buying money with a credit card counts as a cash advance. ---
**Author:** ![rbroome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/838e76/32.png) [@rbroome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rbroome)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2020, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-pandemic-end-cash-only-businesses/849953/56 "2020-03-26T18:23:34Z")
My use of cash has increased with the curbside pickups. Cards still work, but are even more inconvenient than just settling the bill on the spot. I am in the US and I understand Europe has a different procedure. ---
**Author:** ![installLSC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2020, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-pandemic-end-cash-only-businesses/849953/57 "2020-04-25T19:43:30Z")
Well now that we’re a month (or more) into lockdowns has anything changed? Not in my area; outside of a few takeout-only places cash is still freely accepted. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2020, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-pandemic-end-cash-only-businesses/849953/58 "2020-04-25T20:33:26Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > I’ve thought the whole cashless system would be good for something like this pandemic but I find I’m still being forced to touch surfaces that multiple people have touched. > Going to get gas seems easy, just slide your card, but then I get asked a dozen questions “do you want a car wash? Receipt? Credit or debit? Zip code?” that all require me to touch the same yes/no button that everyone else has. > I’ve taken to using a car key to push these buttons but some are touchscreens now that require a tactile touch. The self checkout at places like Target are even worse with how many screen and keyboard touches are required for a cashless transaction. My ritual- as for now only applied at the supermarket because I’ve not gone ANYWHERE else in 5 1/2 weeks… is to carry a zip-lock bag with a bunch of Lysol or Chlorox wipes with me. I approach the self-checkout. Stop the cart. Take out a wipe. Scrub HARD on the stainless steel Pre, Check and Post areas. Wipe down the touchscreen used for choosing products ( produce, etc ). Wipe down the keypad and card slot. **Every** area my purchases or my hands will touch get wiped down. Takes about 1 minute. And if someone finds that objectionable, well tough titty. To date nobody from the store has said boo about my efforts. Wonder if anyone else is doing this. To address the O.P.: We make a real effort to not use credit cards at local businesses. I carry more cash by far than the younger generations. Either they see cash as too bulky and old-fashioned or simply could not give a damn about the 3% lost by a vendor from every single sale. YES- cash is filthy. Always has been Wear freaking gloves and handle with care. I use the credit card at Key Foods because they can afford it. I use cash at the local burger joint because they can, ditto at the bodega 2 blocks away that is miraculously hanging on. ( And which had Lysol Spray in stock when nobody else did. ) This will not end cash businesses, IMHO. ---
**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:** [April 25, 2020, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-pandemic-end-cash-only-businesses/849953/59 "2020-04-25T22:00:47Z")
A lot of places have “no cash payments accepted” signs up. I haven’t seen a single one that says “cash only.” ---
**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:** [April 25, 2020, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-pandemic-end-cash-only-businesses/849953/60 "2020-04-25T22:03:44Z")
> [@Cartooniverse](#): > > simply could not give a damn about the 3% lost by a vendor from every single sale. Doing business comes with costs. This is just a cost of doing business in the modern world. You just hike your prices to account for it. We are all paying more for food and household goods now anyway, because of demand and scarcity. Just add it into the transaction costs. In my opinion, anyone demanding cash only right now is doing a disservice to the public. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-pandemic-end-cash-only-businesses/849953.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-pandemic-end-cash-only-businesses/849953.md?page=4)