Doesn't anybody pay for their purchases anymore with good ol' cash?

Question

I was in line this morning at a convenience store when the man ahead of me put a newspaper, a bottle of pop and a roll of Certs on his credit card! This is so annoying and holds up the line. What happened to the use of cold hard cash, atleast when making purchases as small as this?

Answer 1

i use cash on small purchases only....otherwise its credit....i dont feel safe having a heap of cash in my pockets any more......welcome to the 20th century

Answer 2

I work in a copy shop and people will pull out a credit or debit card to pay for totals less than $1. The problem is that large companies will take the cards but small businesses have to pay for credit card processing and take less from the sale if it goes on a credit card. Personally I use cash, Got into to much debt as a kid now everything is cash but I do have a credit card for emergencies. Ive never had to use it in the 3 years I've had it.

Answer 3

I understand your frustration. This is the sign of the times though. I work for a credit card company and statistics show that plastics our now more than 85% of the usual form of payment (debit card, credit card, gift card). No one wants to go to the bank anymore. Holding plastic is sometimes safer than the actual cash itself. If this doesn't add to your frustration then how does knowing that you will be able to make payments using biometrics (finger print, retinal scan, voice match) or the latest in development currently is having your debit card, credit card or both built in electronically into your cell phone so that your phone is like a digital wallet, You pass your phone over a reader and the reader will grab your account information directly from your phone. You will also be able to call up and transactions and balances on your phone as well.
I'm guilty of using plastic all the time. I rarely pay with cash anymore. It's easy for me to just pull out the plastic and pay for everything. Heck, credit card companies reward people for using their plastic (i.e., miles programs, reward bonuses, etc)

Answer 4

Perhaps it was his debit card. And don't get annoyed because it's not your problem, perhaps cash could have made the line go quicker. Some people live on credit cards unfortunately. The offers are great with free airline miles, etc. I don't use credit cards for anything unless it's a flight, hotel, or buying books online. I dont spend what I dont have.

Answer 5

I use cash only if I have to to avoid dealing with change and a bunch of bills. that was probably a debit card you are talking about - takes the money right from your checking account.

I dissagree that it takes longer to use a card. I think it is quicker to swipe and sign then it is to dig for cash and maybe some change, have the cashier count it, put it away, then give you change. it only takes longer if the ETF is slow or they use an old fashioned credit card machine... which happens less and less these days.

Answer 6

Plastic money is here to stay. In fact a generation later it will be difficult to explain to them that paper and metal currency did exist. In fact soon we might have a stage where people refuse the paper or metal cash... so lets get used to it...

Yes its troubling because cash paying is faster than credit card payment. Eventually the techies will make it faster.. so bear till then...

Credit card using needs some proper thinking on part of the consumers. Optimise your spending, because you have credits available you use it is not justified. Use it very sensibly. Use of Debit cards therefore will make a lot of sense in days to come..

Till then learn to bear with peoples changing trends till technogly bridges that time too...

Answer 7

Why would you? If you have the cash to pay for the item, doesn't it make sense to take a little something back, and earn airline miles or reward points on your purchase? If you need to finanace that roll of Certs, it's a different story...but if you're paying off anyway...you have nothing to lose...

Answer 8

I always pay cash for things. The only thing that I use credit card for is reservation. This way I don't have to worry about paying interest and being sure that my payment was received and so on.

Answer 9

I use cash when making small purchases such as the ones you mentioned because you are right it does hold up the line at the store. I hate for ppl to do that.

Answer 10

Yes it is always Good to Hold the Paper cash and Spend it!
I always try to keep some Money in my purse with a bunch of cards!
:)

Answer 11

He may have had a bank card rather than a credit card. I just got one but haven't used it yet. I have always paid by cash. It is modern technology. I don't like it either but what are we going to do? We can't change it so we will have to just put up with it.