Last week I tried the cashless butcher I wrote about in May. Now that they have made the transition I wanted to experience it first have.
I’d note: they are really cashless. I tried to pay with cash and they said no. In fact, I’d forgotten to bring a card and had to go back to the office to get one. In the ten minutes I was there over two visits I was the only one who asked. I think this is due to the local clientele and the excellent signage they have in-store.
The photo shows the Tyro payment station facing the customer. They have three of these – in front of each register.
It’s a busy shop. The move seems to be working well for them.
Given the average low denomination transaction value in newsagencies and the higher traffic count I suspect a cashless move like this is not ideal for our type of business. However, as our shopper mix changes, which it will, and our average sale value increases, which it will, this is a move that could work for us at some point.
While I cannot imagine being totally cashless, our payment types have changed over the years. Ten years ago we would have been 30-40% eftpos and that is now 60-70%. This has encouraged us to get rid of a minimum eftpos amount so as not do disenfranchise customers who are more and more inclined not to carry cash.
Is this legal? I am not sure that a business can refuse to accept cash as payment. I know I will never refuse cash.
Is it convenience for the customer? that is the only question to ask. How is rejecting cash a convenience to the customer?