Cash only -- list of businesses not accepting Interact and credit cards

[Mike K.]

I poked into my neighbourhood barber shop this morning hoping to give the barber a try, but like with Jimmy's barber shop downtown, he doesn't accept debit or credit.

Today he lost me as a client and I can imagine many individuals with only a debit card in their pocket have done the same.

Downtown, where access to a bank machine isn't problematic, cash-only doesn't necessarily pose a big problem, but when you're a 15 minute walk from the nearest machine -- which isn't your bank and you'll be dinged service fees -- there is little desire to patronize a business that doesn't give one the option of paying with debit or credit.

I understand that there are service fees associated with electronic transactions. Those fees cut into profit and from a business perspective that's just another grab that makes it all that much more difficult to run a business. I get it and I sympathize with the rates small businesses have to pay, but at the same time, these businesses are stating loud and clear that they are disinterested in serving everyone who walks through their door. Ironically its the youth and young adults that are more predisposed to carry plastic rather than cash, and it's this age group that is inadvertently being turned away from businesses that in the near future will be reliant on that age group to turn a profit.

Anyways, I thought it'd be of some service to try and accumulate a cash-only business listing.

Right off the top of my head I can think of:

- Hernande'z Mexican food in St. Andrews Square - 700-block of Yates St.
- Jimmy's Barber Shop - 700-block of Fort St.
- Vic West barber shop [not sure of the actual name] - Craigflower @ Raynor

[Baro]

The cook st village food court is cash only, I don't go there for that reason.

[hotdoglegz]

I know that the barber shop in Esquimalt (near action motorcycle) is cash only. I believe that Lully's Sandwich Bar on Broughton is also cash only.

do the Tube Steak carts or the Puerto Vallarta Taco cart take debit?

Imperial Cleaners (dry cleaning) on Tillicum only takes cash and credit, not debit.

[VicHockeyFan]

Cabin 12 does not take credit, but they do take debit.

The business I work with does:

60% cash
25% debit
15% credit

And we serve a 19-35 crowd primarily.

The cash machine that the owner of the business also owns, earns him almost $1500 a month. It spits out almost $80k a month.

[Hotel Mike]

Gaudio's shoe repairs on Blanshard only takes cash.

[rjag]

I wish the express lines at grocery stores would be cash only, it takes forever for someone to process a debit/CC transaction....sometimes its the machine and other times its the person.


Having a background in Disaster preparedness and information management/protection, I would never ever go out and rely solely on plastic.

I use plastic for major transactions but for everyday stuff like haircuts or buying a gallon of milk I'll use cash 99% of the time.

For places like barbers or local corner stores I would bet that a significant portion of the cash haircuts are not rung through the till....which is fine by me as its not as if its hoarded, its pumped right back in to the economy as opposed to a grow-op...now those guys should take plastic!!!!

[VicHockeyFan]

Originally Posted by rjag

which is fine by me as its not as if its hoarded, its pumped right back in to the economy as opposed to a grow-op...now those guys should take plastic!!!!

I know a drug dealer that takes plastic. Runs it through his legit business.

[supernaut]

Hernande'z on Yates takes cash only.

[http]

Originally Posted by Mike K.

...these businesses are stating loud and clear that they are disinterested in serving everyone who walks through their door.
...

Oh, how? They accept Canadian currency. While many consumers find debit payment systems convenient, I would be hard pressed to call them a right, and I'd be equally hard pressed to say having them in your business is a duty.

Does running a business incur some obligation to have an ongoing relationship with any particular organization, besides the obvious ones of government (i.e. CRA, regulatory bodies)?

[VicHockeyFan]

Originally Posted by http

Oh, how? They accept Canadian currency. While many consumers find debit payment systems convenient, I would be hard pressed to call them a right, and I'd be equally hard pressed to say having them in your business is a duty.

Does running a business incur some obligation to have an ongoing relationship with any particular organization, besides the obvious ones of government (i.e. CRA, regulatory bodies)?

Did you miss my post? The business I work with does 40% of it's business through plastic.

[LJ]

Originally Posted by rjag

I wish the express lines at grocery stores would be cash only, it takes forever for someone to process a debit/CC transaction....sometimes its the machine and other times its the person.

Ever been behind some lady digging through the maze of her purse looking for the correct change down to the penny, and then "oh yeah, I got a coupon here too somewhere", sheesh.

[G-Man]

Originally Posted by Baro

The cook st village food court is cash only, I don't go there for that reason.

This is not true, the Japanese place accepts debit and credit.

[Van]

The Donair Shop in Esquimalt.

[Mike K.]

Originally Posted by http

Oh, how? They accept Canadian currency. While many consumers find debit payment systems convenient, I would be hard pressed to call them a right, and I'd be equally hard pressed to say having them in your business is a duty.

Of course it's not. A business owner can run their business however they see fit. All I'm saying is they won't get my money if I'm not carrying cash, and considering debit card/credit card use is on the rise and cash use is on the decline, they're losing out on revenue.

[Sparky]

The escort industry appears to takes plastic Mike.

http://www.seduction-unlimited.com/fees

[Sparky]

^ Don't even think about it Seb......phone for the pizza.

[sebberry]

When I had my store, Global Payments wanted me to cough up $20,000 as a security deposit before they'd give me a debit/credit card processing terminal.

[sebberry]

Originally Posted by Sparky

^ Don't even think about it Seb......phone for the pizza.

Phone for pizza? HA! I do all that online now

[Sparky]

Banks will do that now for next to nothing. They just want to clip you a percentage of the transaction.

Monthly volume dictates the transaction fee.

[Sparky]

Geezus you can order pizza online from where you are and nobody will deliver anything to where I live?

Maybe the Seductions company will deliver?...

[Holden West]

Visa is trying to break the Interac monopoly on debit transactions by issuing its own debit card. The fact that Interac is a non-profit entity while Visa is a profit-hungry corporation is bad news for your wallet.

The Vic West barber is Cliff's.

[jklymak]

^ Maybe, but Visa cards tapped into your checking acount is the norm in the US, and its a heck of a lot more convenient than a debit machine most of the time. You can do all of your online purchases, pay in restaurants w/o having to get up from your table etc. etc.

[rjag]

not to forget about the fact that merchants didnt have a choice when customers were all given premium cards and the added costs were passed to the merchants which was ridiculous.

Also dont forget that you are being profiled every time you use an electronic transaction,.....me...I like having some modicum of privacy so will use cash.....

[Baro]

I haven't carried cash for about 6+ years. Only recently now that I drive more I'll have a bit of change on me for parking. I've noticed most restaurants getting wireless interac machines now so one doesn't even need to get up to pay. Wireless interac has been such an improvement as now pizza delivery and taxi's don't have to dick around with cash anymore.

I do know a few businesses that take cards, but offer a "discount" when you pay cash. Sometimes that discount is worth it to grab some money first.

[Mike K.]

I thought charging someone a different price for cash was in contravention to the rules and conditions of the plastic terminal providers? And if I'm not mistaken any fees associated with accepting debit/plastic are not be to charged to the consumer.

At least these rules were in place when I last operated one of these terminals which was quite a while ago.