Chip shop and cash
Discussion
Yesterday working from home I fancied a bag of chips so off I went to my local chippy.
Ordered battered sausage chips and curry sauce as a special which means it comes in a tray and slightly smaller amount of chips for the very reasonable price of £3:70.
Offered up my card to pay and unfortunately I was told they don’t accept card payments for less than £5.
I had no cash on me and haven’t carried cash due to recent situation for months. There is a cash point literally a few feet away from the chippy but unfortunately it was out of order.
So no chips!
Are the charges for card machine use really so high as to make use below £5 un profitable? The world has changed so much recently that surely card payments should be welcome for any amount? Is this establishment just a little behind the times as I have successfully used my card for far less elsewhere?
All was not lost as I went to the next nearest chippy where card payment was accepted without problem (slightly higher price of £3:85 but larger full size portion)
Ordered battered sausage chips and curry sauce as a special which means it comes in a tray and slightly smaller amount of chips for the very reasonable price of £3:70.
Offered up my card to pay and unfortunately I was told they don’t accept card payments for less than £5.
I had no cash on me and haven’t carried cash due to recent situation for months. There is a cash point literally a few feet away from the chippy but unfortunately it was out of order.
So no chips!
Are the charges for card machine use really so high as to make use below £5 un profitable? The world has changed so much recently that surely card payments should be welcome for any amount? Is this establishment just a little behind the times as I have successfully used my card for far less elsewhere?
All was not lost as I went to the next nearest chippy where card payment was accepted without problem (slightly higher price of £3:85 but larger full size portion)
Louis Balfour said:
One of the families at our school has several privately educated children on the proceeds of a single chip shop. It is unclear whether this is due to a broken card machine or other.
Funnily enough there is often a new roller parked outside one near us in the iffy end of townPsycho Warren said:
Depends on the size of the business but card rates can be considerable. Plus extra charges for credit cards. American Express have some silly charges hence so many places refuse to take Amex.
I was pleasantly surprised to find that the chip shop nearest my house accepts Amex!A chinese near me doesnt accept cards. Means I always have to have the right cash which is a pain. Infact a few eateries in my area dont do cards which in this day and age seems silly. The only reason I foresee is that it means they can adjust they figures and pay less tax i.e. 1/3 of the take isnt declared.
Normally I wouldnt use the chinese but they do such good salt and pepper squid :-)
Normally I wouldnt use the chinese but they do such good salt and pepper squid :-)
Card payments cost. Our end bill is nearing £1000 a month. Now imagine saving that because they pay cash. Thats a staff members wages covered. It was better back when you could charge 50p below a fiver. My store i manage had to stop all card payments on lottery and gas and electric etc. Simply, it costs more per transaction than you make.
People want to pay £400 rent by card. Thats about £4+ charges. On £1000 we nearly get £1 commission. I know iv went off but I fully understand no cards under a fiver. The normal person who thinks cards are free doesn't understand.
People want to pay £400 rent by card. Thats about £4+ charges. On £1000 we nearly get £1 commission. I know iv went off but I fully understand no cards under a fiver. The normal person who thinks cards are free doesn't understand.
Sheets Tabuer said:
Makes it harder on the declared earnings I'd imagine.
No I don't think it can work like that.If a chippy has bought in 100 fish then it has to show on its accounts it's sold 100 fish, 50 can't go missing because cash.
They won't be paying their suppliers in cash either. It's all traceable via the paper trail.
In the curare tclimate, I'm surprised they want to handle cash at all.
There's a hipster type but pretty cool boozer in town which used to be cash only. When they were able to open again last year (now closed again, of course!), they'd got hold of one of these card readers you see advertised on TV - so they didn't have to handle cash. I'm sure they can't be too costly to run, especially as they're safer with contactless payments.
Maybe that chippy just want / need some undeclared earnings with how things have been going.
You could have increased your spend to £5, too.
There's a hipster type but pretty cool boozer in town which used to be cash only. When they were able to open again last year (now closed again, of course!), they'd got hold of one of these card readers you see advertised on TV - so they didn't have to handle cash. I'm sure they can't be too costly to run, especially as they're safer with contactless payments.
Maybe that chippy just want / need some undeclared earnings with how things have been going.
You could have increased your spend to £5, too.
Spare tyre said:
My local chinese say their card machine is always out of order, they managed to fix it during the first lockdown, will be interesting to see if it breaks again once corona leaves
Its bizarre how often the card machines don't work in chinese takeaways eh. I suppose how is the owner meant to pocket the earnings for the casino that night without cash. Was there a sign or something? I used to see some minimum spend for card payment signs in a few shops, but not since Covid - I'd have thought a business would take a sale no matter how you're paying. Especially at the moment.
Though I admit I'd have just got a couple of extra cans of drink, paid, and thought no more about it.
Though I admit I'd have just got a couple of extra cans of drink, paid, and thought no more about it.
RC1807 said:
In the curare tclimate, I'm surprised they want to handle cash at all.
There's a hipster type but pretty cool boozer in town which used to be cash only. When they were able to open again last year (now closed again, of course!), they'd got hold of one of these card readers you see advertised on TV - so they didn't have to handle cash. I'm sure they can't be too costly to run, especially as they're safer with contactless payments.
Maybe that chippy just want / need some undeclared earnings with how things have been going.
You could have increased your spend to £5, too.
That's a poisonous post There's a hipster type but pretty cool boozer in town which used to be cash only. When they were able to open again last year (now closed again, of course!), they'd got hold of one of these card readers you see advertised on TV - so they didn't have to handle cash. I'm sure they can't be too costly to run, especially as they're safer with contactless payments.
Maybe that chippy just want / need some undeclared earnings with how things have been going.
You could have increased your spend to £5, too.
hotchy said:
Card payments cost. .................. The normal person who thinks cards are free doesn't understand.
Agreed and also if its takeaways, many have to be on just eat etc these days to get the custom. You pay a hefty surcharge on these uber/deliveroo websites for the lazy convenience. The takeaways also pay a lot to be on those sites. I use a few takeaways, all of whom use those sites. I never order through the site, i will look for their own site or phone it in. Then pay cash on collection. Often they will happily give a bit of discount (without asking). I always ask with a new shop if they prefer me to order direct or through just eat etc. Never had one yet that preferred through the site.
hotchy said:
Card payments cost. Our end bill is nearing £1000 a month. Now imagine saving that because they pay cash. Thats a staff members wages covered. It was better back when you could charge 50p below a fiver. My store i manage had to stop all card payments on lottery and gas and electric etc. Simply, it costs more per transaction than you make.
People want to pay £400 rent by card. Thats about £4+ charges. On £1000 we nearly get £1 commission. I know iv went off but I fully understand no cards under a fiver. The normal person who thinks cards are free doesn't understand.
if everyone paid you cash what are the banking costs for banking it and taking the cash float from the bank vs the £1000People want to pay £400 rent by card. Thats about £4+ charges. On £1000 we nearly get £1 commission. I know iv went off but I fully understand no cards under a fiver. The normal person who thinks cards are free doesn't understand.
Psycho Warren said:
Blockbuster said:
I was pleasantly surprised to find that the chip shop nearest my house accepts Amex!
NO one really likes amex except amex card holders. lol. You get a lot of benefits but the retailers end up paying for it. Gassing Station | The Lounge | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff