quote:

'Consumers should have the right to choose if they want to pay in cash or not,' he said.

I agree with the council member here. They should have the choice. They can walk down the block and go to the next restaurant if they want. I must have missed the part where the previous law was forcing people to acquire and use electronic payment methods?

Personally I only use cash once a month, and it's not even every month. Buddy does a poker game monthly at his house. Cash is antiquated and annoying, plus if I give a cashier $47.05 for a check of $36.55 they have no clue what to do and sometimes requires manager assistance.

quote:

Originally posted by tsmccull:
When you have a cashless economy and the government decides that no one can purchase weapons, it will be a simple matter for them to halt any weapon sales. No gun owner registration needed to make that happen. And even if the 2A is still ostensibly on the books then, when they decide you can no longer buy food because you’ve attempted to buy a gun twice more after you’ve been told no, you’ll have no choice but to cave in and accept that you’re now a slave and no longer a free man. Be careful what you wish for.

Retaining the ability to pay with cash (or gold or silver or any other source of untraceable funds) avoids such a scenario. New York has it right, just for the wrong reasons.

Excellent point. It’s already happening.

https://www.zerohedge.com/news...s-refuse-service-gun

One of many links. No need to list all of them. Just google “gun purchases and banks”. For those who think it’s OK to go cashless pull your head out of the sand. The New York clock has it right today.

I virtually always pay cash at restaurants and for minor purchases in person, but I do have several credit cards and could therefore survive either way.

But for those who believe that the state doesn’t have, or shouldn’t have, the power to mandate such things, it’s a rather naïve view based on how American society has changed over the past 50+ years. The same argument was made about discrimination on the basis of race, etc. Enough people in our society believe that if a company opens its doors to the public to do businesses, it should not be able to refuse to do business with someone because of his skin color or for many other reasons. “But, it’s my private property!” Well, no, it’s not if you operate in a certain way, and most people accept that.

And the “go somewhere else” argument is just as valid if wielded in the other direction: “If you don’t like our laws and regulations, just don’t do business here. If people can get along without the ability to pay cash, you can get along without the ability to run a business. Get a job.” We can argue the rights and wrongs of the ability of society to set such rules, but there is no question that it has it.

quote:

But for those who believe that the state doesn’t have, or shouldn’t have, the power to mandate such things..........

I believe they were wrong to get involved to any degree then, just like I believe they are wrong to get involved now.

Why must a business be forced by law to do business with people a certain way, but people are not forced by law to do business with businesses a certain way?

Not that I'm proposing that, but that's exactly what makes it wrong. If I don't bake your cake I get in trouble, but you're free not to buy my cake with zero repercussions. All people should be free to conduct their lives (and businesses) however they wish, and then simply be subject to market forces.

I will make a bold prediction: we will soon be hearing of a spate of robberies of cash-flush Uber drivers in NYC.

To reiterate the point of my comments, it’s what society has the power to do based on decades of precedent, not what it should or shouldn’t be able to do. That boat sailed long, long ago, as have countless other boats that no one bats an eye about these days.

Cash is important. It preserves privacy and independence.

Philadelphia City Council pulled the same crap like two years ago, but then when you go to pay a city bill or fine...they won’t take cash!

Goddam hypocrites push this shit but then don’t even follow their own rules.

quote:

Originally posted by FishOn:
Cash is important. It preserves privacy and independence.

So is Freedom. We need bureaucrats dictating to us how we can and cannot transact business?

Nobody is advocating to ban cash. That would be very different than compelling a business to accept cash.

quote:

Originally posted by Balzé Halzé:
Who gives a shit what people do in the Netherlands?

I'm 100% for this. Cash is cash. "Legal tender for all debts, public and private."

And I know the legal requirements around this. But I still think everyone should accept cash.

Yup agreed. US dollar bills should be the legal tender for ALL debts.

^^^^^^^^^^^^

Concur. No tinfoil necessary. When the government removes “for all debts, public and private” from the currency, then OK, cash is optional. Otherwise, take them at their word and raise a stink if someone doing business in the US says no cash. Private citizens, sure; public business, not so much. Government should also be required to accept it as well, but it seems that ship’s sailed!

quote:

Originally posted by saigonsmuggler:

quote:

Originally posted by Balzé Halzé:
Who gives a shit what people do in the Netherlands?

I'm 100% for this. Cash is cash. "Legal tender for all debts, public and private."

And I know the legal requirements around this. But I still think everyone should accept cash.

Yup agreed. US dollar bills should be the legal tender for ALL debts.

No, US Currency should be legal tender, which it is. Nobody is accepting pesos or rupee at the local 7-11.

We're talking about the convenience of means of exchange - physical note vs promise to pay, ie credit instrument.

The issue is not a matter of currency or tender - it a matter of convenience, and that some folks are inconvenienced by a business not accepting cash.

Don't like cash coming into your business? Worries of staff pocketing it etc, fine, offer a discount of 3-5% for paying cashless. Set your overall prices accordingly.

Prefer cash coming into your business? Avoiding 3% fee from CCs etc, fine, offer a discount of 3-5% for paying cash. Set your overall prices accordingly.

Cash is legal tender.
Business owners should run their own businesses.

quote:

The issue is not a matter of currency or tender - it a matter of convenience, and that some folks are inconvenienced by a business not accepting cash.

Capitalism has an awesome way to fix this horrendous inconvenience. If people don't like shopping at a cashless location they will instead shop at a business that accepts cash. Free markets do their magic and these horrible cashless businesses will shutter their doors allowing a new business that takes all forms of payment to open on it's place.

Since I don't use cash I want a law FORCING all businesses to take my credit card for my convenience. Also they must accept my Amex and Discover cards so I am not inconvenienced by getting less miles or cash back then I'd like, as our founding fathers wanted it.

So all of the people who advocate that someone else accept pay in cash would be willing to accept what others deem they should be allowed to be paid in? If I wish to only accept sea shells as payment for my goods and services then requiring me to take a different form of payment when I only want sea shells would be no different than paying your wages in sea shells when you only want cash. Would you also require all transactions to offer a choice of cash or credit?

Depriving one group of liberty for the convenience of another is not right. If I want to only sell my bagels for sea shells no one is forcing you to buy my bagels, why should I be forced to accept cash as payment when all I want is sea shells. If you want to pay in cash then find someone selling what you want for cash. If the market only wants to pay in cash then the guy who only wants sea shells will figure that out. Demanding restrictions on the liberty of others for your benefit may seem like a good idea when you think it benefits you in some way, but soon it will be your liberty that is being deprived for the benefit of others. An assault on anyone's liberty is an assault on everyones liberty. Freedoms lost are seldom if ever returned and I would hate to have to get paid in seas shells.

If I recall, the city of Philadelphia banned bullet resistant dividers from some convenience stores.

Found link to story.
https://www.inquirer.com/phill...l-bill-20171130.html

If a business is required to accept cash, and they are in a crappy neighborhood, shouldn't they also be permitted to protect themselves?

quote:

Originally posted by Rightwire:
Won't this offend millennials? I understand most under 25 rarely carry cash, they do everything through cards or pay apps.

I'm no millenial (by a long shot), but I generally don't carry much if any cash anymore. A debit card or credit card is all I need to function in 99% of the places I venture.

Can someone please explain to me how New York can ban something that is 'not' illegal. Specifically what legal authority do they have to ban such businesses? I hope a class action group bans together and sues New York out of existence for this BS.

quote:

Originally posted by Balzé Halzé:

quote:

Originally posted by radioman:
Guess they've not been to a grocery store in The Netherlands recently.

Who gives a shit what people do in the Netherlands?

I'm 100% for this. Cash is cash. "Legal tender for all debts, public and private."

And I know the legal requirements around this. But I still think everyone should accept cash.

Then go find a damn restaurant or business that accepts cash. They're all over, even in New York. That's the wonderful thing about our economy, you can vote with your feet and wallet. You can be assured that this BS by this group of illiterate creeps in New York is pandering to some special interest and has 'nothing' to do with politicians helping anyone (but themselves).

In general, no business, which has gone cashless, cares about that 12%.

Personally, if they went back to large denomination coins, I think it would help. Can’t spread disease, like paper can, and more easily automated.

quote:

Originally posted by ChuckFinley:
Don't like cash coming into your business? Worries of staff pocketing it etc, fine, offer a discount of 3-5% for paying cashless. Set your overall prices accordingly.

Prefer cash coming into your business? Avoiding 3% fee from CCs etc, fine, offer a discount of 3-5% for paying cash. Set your overall prices accordingly.

Cash is legal tender.
Business owners should run their own businesses.

Don't the credit card companies require that a business accepting them not offer a cash discount?

flashguy