Cashless society

[DCLMP]

I always use credit cards for the points or miles. I only use debit card if I have a deposit to make at the bank or if there's some rare occasion that I need to get cash from bank.

There's no benefit to using a debit card for purchases. Totally worthless in my opinion. Cash is king when purchasing something from some other person or selling something to another person. I prefer cash over venmo in those situations.

I haven't written a check in a decade or two. It's much easier and profitable to use credit cards and just electronically pay off the balance each month. The points pay for most of my hotel stays.

 

[tvguy]

I haven't written a check in a decade or two. It's much easier and profitable to use credit cards and just electronically pay off the balance each month. The points pay for most of my hotel stays.

My daughter bought a house 5 years ago. Had a checking account with debit card but never ordered checks until she bought the house. There just were things that her only option was to write a check (or cash). Same when she sold the house in July. Landscaper, cash or check only. Power wash company, cash or check only. And settling her utility accounts, payment by check only, even though she had been paying her bills online. Refunds for all overpayments, by check.

 

[Dznypal]

We’ve noticed lately more and more restaurants are adding a fee if yiu use debit or credit so if go to those places we take cash
So by places wanting to go cashless then we’re paying even more cause they’ll still add the fees in. They’re for sure not going to pay them
So the customer is forced to pay even more

 

[luvthatduke]

There's no benefit to using a debit card for purchases. Totally worthless in my opinion. Cash is king when purchasing something from some other person or selling something to another person. I prefer cash over venmo in those situations.

I have a Cashback Rewards free checking debit card at my bank.
I just transferred over $25 into my checking account (thanks for the reminder).
For me it has definitely paid off.
I have a separate free checking account that I use like a credit card online.
I have it locked so it doesn't have overdraft protection.

My DM just saw a new Dr. and they have a sign in their checkin/out window
that reads, "No credit cards. Cash or check only."
No problem for my 85 year old DM as she has never had an ATM card (like a previous post).
Her bank is still old school & everything works out fine for her w/them
& any business she deals with.
I do say a prayer for her that people will be patient, as she writes checks at the supermarket each trip.

 

[DCLMP]

I have a Cashback Rewards free checking debit card at my bank.
I just transferred over $25 into my checking account (thanks for the reminder).
For me it has definitely paid off.
I have a separate free checking account that I use like a credit card online.
I have it locked so it doesn't have overdraft protection.

My DM just saw a new Dr. and they have a sign in their checkin/out window
that reads, "No credit cards. Cash or check only."
No problem for my 85 year old DM as she has never had an ATM card (like a previous post).
Her bank is still old school & everything works out fine for her w/them
& any business she deals with.
I do say a prayer for her that people will be patient, as she writes checks at the supermarket each trip.

I don't like cash back. I like points especially chase ultimate rewards because I can transfer them to partners like Hyatt. AA miles are my second favorite.

 

[DCLMP]

My daughter bought a house 5 years ago. Had a checking account with debit card but never ordered checks until she bought the house. There just were things that her only option was to write a check (or cash). Same when she sold the house in July. Landscaper, cash or check only. Power wash company, cash or check only. And settling her utility accounts, payment by check only, even though she had been paying her bills online. Refunds for all overpayments, by check.

Some small businesses' don't like paying the Credit card fees. In my opinion you might increase your business by opening up payment options. If I had a business I think I would be wary of checks. Do retail stores still except them?

 

[tvguy]

Some small businesses' don't like paying the Credit card fees. In my opinion you might increase your business by opening up payment options. If I had a business I think I would be wary of checks. Do retail stores still except them?

Not many stores accept checks anymore. At least not the one's I shop at. Like I posted, a couple of small businesses I frequent that are cash only are at capacity, so no advantage to them. The bakery I specified already sells out before closing every day, so taking credit cards/debit cards would only reduce his profits.

 

[DCLMP]

Not many stores accept checks anymore. At least not the one's I shop at. Like I posted, a couple of small businesses I frequent that are cash only are at capacity, so no advantage to them. The bakery I specified already sells out before closing every day, so taking credit cards/debit cards would only reduce his profits.

I'm buying a puppy next weekend. They take cash, check or a 2.5% on credit cards. Sometimes the rewards on a cc is worth the service charge and sometimes it's not. I've noticed a lot of small businesses will tack on a service charge for a CC. I will probably just pay in cash this time. They live way out in boondocks. I hate to drive all that way and their internet is down.

 

[tvguy]

I'm buying a puppy next weekend. They take cash, check or a 2.5% on credit cards. Sometimes the rewards on a cc is worth the service charge and sometimes it's not. I've noticed a lot of small businesses will tack on a service charge for a CC. I will probably just pay in cash this time. They live way out in boondocks. I hate to drive all that way and their internet is down.

These days you just have to be prepared to pay cash or use a credit card depending on the practices of the business. I will say most cash only/ credit card only places are pretty good about having large signs up warning you if they only take one kind of payment.

 

[barkley]

I'm buying a puppy next weekend. They take cash, check or a 2.5% on credit cards. Sometimes the rewards on a cc is worth the service charge and sometimes it's not. I've noticed a lot of small businesses will tack on a service charge for a CC. I will probably just pay in cash this time. They live way out in boondocks. I hate to drive all that way and their internet is down.

if I'm paying cash then one thing i've gotten into the habit of doing (I watch too dang many court shows ) is making a withdrawal the day of/day prior to the payment so I can attach the bank receipt to my copy of the merchant/vendor's receipt. in a couple of cases with larger amounts i've gotten the merchant/vendor to sign that bank receipt as well so there's no question that I did indeed pay in cash-in full.

 

[_19disnA]

I always pay home repair/maintenance people, landscapers, etc. with a check. Most of the time they are workers, not the owners so there won't be any 'misunderstanding' of them not giving the cash to the office when they return. The cancelled check is also my proof of payment if any issues arise. My impression is most of them are not equipped to swipe credit cards so the choice is cash or check. I never pay for a job before the work is done. Sometimes they ask for 50% upfront on larger jobs to purchase materials which makes sense. They get paid the balance when 100% of the work is finished.

The big home improvement stores tend to hire/pay their installers on their own, so no money changes hands when they do the work at my house. That works for me as well.

 

[goofyernmost]

I've carried around $20 in my wallet for at least 5 years and have never taken it out. I haven't needed it because everything I buy I can use credit or debit cards. I honestly have never run into a place that required cash. I have seen a few that didn't even take cash. They felt that having cash available requires to much math for the employees and without loose cash hanging about there is less of a risk of hold ups. It's even a challenge to get cash, in coins at banks. I keep asking them why they even have brick and mortar buildings any more. I do all my banking on line and even when I financed my car I never stepped into a building. It was all done on line. I have a laundry on my floor that requires Quarters. I do have to get cash for that from checkout and walk 10 feet and exchange it for rolls of quarters but it is getting harder and harder to find a bank that will sell you coins. I was told a couple years ago that our machines were going to be switched over to accept cards, but it hasn't happened yet.

 

[barkley]

The big home improvement stores tend to hire/pay their installers on their own, so no money changes hands when they do the work at my house. That works for me as well.

not to take this thread off topic but....I have heard and known personally so many horror stories involving the big home improvement stores/their installers. when a problem comes up and you contact the store they tell you that they are not the responsible party and refer you to their sub-contractor installer but when you contact the installer they point out that their contract is with the big home improvement store and they must facilitate any issues/disputes. round and round and round it goes.

 

[_19disnA]

I guess anything is possible and can't to speak to issues someone else may have had. However, I have had excellent results working with the local Lowe's store to get a number of things purchased/installed. Was always seamless, they already had known/reputable installers who did the work. Thought this was a way more reliable way to have things done when first moving to a new state and other than asking some of my new neighbors for references, this seemed far more predictable.

Was in the process of building a new home a few years ago and the local Lowe's store at my former location let me order/purchase window treatments from that store. They then worked with an installer associated with the store close to where we were moving (in another state) so they could go to the home while still under construction and measure all of the windows. Builder was very agreeable to allowing them access to the home even while it was still under construction. The installer was able to take measurements, order the materials and then install all of the window treatments even before moving in. That was an example of Lowe's having excellent coordination between stores located in different states. Have purchased a number of other things from them and never had any issues related to the work done by their installers.

 

[tvguy]

not to take this thread off topic but....I have heard and known personally so many horror stories involving the big home improvement stores/their installers. when a problem comes up and you contact the store they tell you that they are not the responsible party and refer you to their sub-contractor installer but when you contact the installer they point out that their contract is with the big home improvement store and they must facilitate any issues/disputes. round and round and round it goes.

Depends on the store management. My wife's nephew manages a Home Depot and his installers know if they get complaints they won't have any more jobs referred to them. So it is up to the installers to resolve any issues if they wish to continue to work for his store.

 

[kymom99]

I always pay home repair/maintenance people, landscapers, etc. with a check. Most of the time they are workers, not the owners so there won't be any 'misunderstanding' of them not giving the cash to the office when they return. The cancelled check is also my proof of payment if any issues arise. My impression is most of them are not equipped to swipe credit cards so the choice is cash or check. I never pay for a job before the work is done. Sometimes they ask for 50% upfront on larger jobs to purchase materials which makes sense. They get paid the balance when 100% of the work is finished.

The big home improvement stores tend to hire/pay their installers on their own, so no money changes hands when they do the work at my house. That works for me as well.

I thought this was interesting. We ordered some dining chairs from an Amish group that makes furniture. I paid part of the amount with a credit card as a down payment at the shop. They told me when the chairs are delivered, I will be able to pay the balance to the delivery people by card. I was surprised by that. I was expecting to need to pay cash.

 

[ronandannette]

remote ? It’s Canada, your neighbour. For sure we do things differently, but we really are not remote from you. We would not need that ATM, as most of our banking is done online, and sent to us, removing the need to go TO the bank entirely. We pay our bills instantly, send E transfers in seconds. Can’t remember the last time I went in a bank.

And to @CdnCarrie , I was at Tim’s 2 weeks ago for a tea/muffin with a friend. Paid with cash, no issue. It is rare that I go, but my husband goes every day (that’s another topic lol), and reports back cash is fine.

I'm without cash most of the time, unless I've gotten some for a specific purpose. I can go for months and months with none in my wallet except my cart loonie (IYKYK) . I'm not a big user of credit cards either, except for on-line shopping. Whenever I try to use one in a bricks-and-mortar I panic a little trying to remember the pin. Everything is debit. There's a podcaster I love called Tyler Bucket that does nothing but compare and contrast various conditions in America to conditions in Canada, from a US perspective. The episode he did on things like "the machine" (mobile debit in restaurants and for home deliveries) was absolutely hilarious.

As far as cashless places go, the only ones I've ever encountered are on airplanes for in-flight food or wifi purchases and at sports venues. The Saddledome here in Calgary is cashless, Scotiabank Arena in Toronto is cashless and we went to a basketball game in Oklahoma City last winter and their arena was cashless too, so I've got to assume it's the standard thing. I'm not a big Tim Horton's customer but I've never been to one that was cashless. Doesn't mean there aren't any though, I suppose. A cashless bank would bug me because about the only thing I ever go in for is to get foreign currency and having to go to a different branch would be inconvenient.

 

[cayennews]

I am not a fan of cashless businesses. I hope this does not spread too quickly.

 

[DCLMP]

I am not a fan of cashless businesses. I hope this does not spread too quickly.

Me neither. I use CC for the points, but I do think all businesses should take cash. I'm afraid of what will happen if that goes away.

 

[barkley]

I thought this was interesting. We ordered some dining chairs from an Amish group that makes furniture. I paid part of the amount with a credit card as a down payment at the shop. They told me when the chairs are delivered, I will be able to pay the balance to the delivery people by card. I was surprised by that. I was expecting to need to pay cash.

speaking of the Amish-we went to a conference this summer that had a number of Amish vendors. we did a few purchases and noticed that at each booth there was at least one specific person that was brought into the transaction if you indicated you wanted to pay by debit or credit card. those individuals (whose clothing gave the impression they were not Amish) conducted all the electronic transactions. if someone paid by check or cash anyone else at the booth was fine to do it.