Places that only accept cash or places that have gone completely cashless

[sbagirl]

In light of the suggestion to give cash in the "Can I buy a VISA gift card without a fee?" thread, how many places do you know of today that only accept cash? A small diner (5 booths + 11 counter seats) near me only accepts cash.

Conversely, an amusement park we love (Waldameer in Erie, PA) has gone 99% cashless over the past few years. The only places that accept cash are the ticket booths to buy ride-all-day wristbands and the machines to add money to your WallyCard (used for merchandise, food, games and rides). You can also pay with credit/debit cards for food and merchandise.

A small restaurant chain near me recently posted signs indicating that their credit card fees have increased, that they have been absorbing the additional costs but could no longer do so without increasing prices, and they would now be adding the additional percentage to checks paid by card. I didn't think card issuers allowed that. I suspect they'd like to go to cash only but it may not be feasible because the chain is not as small as I thought - it has 12 locations.

[KayLR]

A small thrift shop near me where I love to shop has a cash or checks only policy for the reason you state. The fees are such that they'd have to recoup them through higher prices.

[razz]

The local Salvation Army kettle campaign is facing this situation. The machines to go cashless are expensive but so few people use cash that the needed donations are down.
Some high density areas now have debit machines to handle the cashless donations but smaller communities, such as mine, still go with cash or envelopes in which to place a cheque.

[jp1]

I can think of a couple of bars that only accept cash. And an upscale coffee place near my old office that looked at me like I had 3 heads when I paid with cash.

[Teacher Terry]

My chiropractor and groomer don’t take CC’s to keep costs down.

[SteveinMN]

My barber does not take cards or checks. Cash only. The local farmer's market is cash-only, though there is an ATM on the premises and there's a kiosk at which they translate WIC credits for chits accepted by the farmers. Some local restaurants do not accept cards.

There was a food court at one of the local malls that went card-only -- and flopped within months. OK, the food was partly at issue, but they caught some flak for not accepting currency. They've since replaced those food court vendors with a new concept that accepts cash, checks, and cards the same way any other restaurant/food truck does.

[Gardnr]

Parking garages here went CC only. I don't like that.

[Tradd]

Seems to be a thing with small Chinese restaurants around here.

[mschrisgo2]

The local laundromat went credit card only, pay at the machine. Sure has changed the clientele, but I wonder if it’s going to be sustainable. I only go there with extra large loads, mostly in the winter, of dog beds, and blankets, and throw rugs, because they have the extra large machines.

Conversely, we now have at least half of the restaurants in town, mom-n-pop shops, that are only accepting cash.

A board member from my church mentioned that the church is paying $700-800 a month to process credit cards, all small transactions of less than $50. They are looking at ways to mitigate the expense.

[Tradd]

The local laundromat went credit card only, pay at the machine. Sure has changed the clientele, but I wonder if it’s going to be sustainable. I only go there with extra large loads, mostly in the winter, of dog beds, and blankets, and throw rugs, because they have the extra large machines.

Conversely, we now have at least half of the restaurants in town, mom-n-pop shops, that are only accepting cash.

A board member from my church mentioned that the church is paying $700-800 a month to process credit cards, all small transactions of less than $50. They are looking at ways to mitigate the expense.

Are they getting enough in donations via cc to make accepting cards worthwhile?

[Yppej]

Tolls are electronic only in my state.

One gas station gives a 10 cent per gallon cash discount. Drug dealers and other criminals take cash only, or sometimes barter.

Taking cash is the least favorite part of my job, but a few people cannot be approved for a credit line and some can't even get a credit card or debit card. I wish we had self-checkout and a robot could deal with the money.

Some contractors take cash or credit only but if you have an emergency they can have you make a card payment on their account at their supply house.

[ToomuchStuff]

Donut shop, several mom and pop restaurants. A supplier that I pick up from, stopped taking credit cards, and now only takes cash in the exact amount, but the business checks are no problem (no idea about personal ones). I assume they also have some sort of account thing, but we have always done Check on pickup.

Going the other way, a friend was the manager of the Hyvee gas station when they first opened them. In the first year, they were taking in something like $15K a day in cash. When he left, they were at $5k a day in cash and plastic had dramatically gone up, and total sales had gone up.

Edit:
I have never understood, how places (or their customers), like QuickTrip, take plastic for just soda refills. Other convenience stores I have seen only take cash for sub $5 purchases.

[rosarugosa]

The cannabis dispensaries only take cash or debit.

[sbagirl]

I just remembered that my DH's barber only takes cash also (it's a one-man/one-chair shop) and my hair salon no longer allows you to add the tip to a credit/debit card payment.

The PA Turnpike is converting to cashless. If you don't pay by EZ-Pass, they take a photo of your license plate and send you a bill. You also get a discount for using EZ-Pass.

The bus system here in Pittsburgh is actively encouraging people not to use cash but to use their Connect Cards or tickets. They charge $2.75 for cash fare but only $2.50 if it's being deducted from a cash-value Connect Card. I get the annual pass so I only pay for 11 months but ride for 12 months.

[Gardnr]

I learned yesterday, there is a clothing store here that refuses cash. He went to buy my sister her gift and had to use a debit card instead. He was quite incensed.

[Greg44]

My friend just returned Saturday from a business trip in China - he said in Beijing - his experience was everyone paid for everything on their phone. No credit cards/cash! Even business cards are exchanged via your phone.

Locally my barber shop takes only cash - and I rarely carry any cash - all debit card for me, so I am always having to drop by the ATM before i get my hair cut. Fortunately my barber and bank are with a block of one another. I think it is a combination of high CC fees and perhaps some clipping under the table going on. I know our business' CC fees run about +/- $ 2,000.00 a month!

[hana]

The local church run thrift store is cash only. The more they pay in credit card fees, the less money goes to helping people. Some small business have a $50 minimum to use a credit or debit card.

[early morning]

Our city farmer's market is mostly cash - almost everyone selling there (inside stalls, some permanent, water and power to the food vendors, very organized) is set up to take credit, but the signal is so weak that most of the time you have to pay cash anyway. Frustrating until you realized it's an ongoing issue and just show up with cash. I don't think anyplace I go is cash-less, most take either.