American Currency- Not Good in America

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I just got back from my annual pheasant hunt in SD and stayed at 2 Holiday Inn Express locations. Neither would accept cash for payment. The first one told me the manager didn't like to have to take money to the bank. The second said they didn't trust their employees.

So it went on the credit card and I am dumbfounded.

 

[quikdraw67]

I get it. I don't like it, but I get it.

 

[DWalt]

Back before credit cards, some employees were fairly ingenious in diverting cash from sales into their own pockets. One was by “short ringing”. A customer might buy something for $25 and pays with a $20 and a $5. The employee rings up a sale of $20, puts the $25 in the cash drawer, and the customer never notices. Later the employee pulls $5 out of the cash drawer and sticks it in his pocket. The cash register balances and no one is the wiser. I imagine that trick is still used.

 

[Smeckler]

Hotel/motels have been like that for quite a while. It's got to do with having your card to charge when you trash the room or steal items from it. In the past when I've wanted to pay cash, I've had no issues doing that as long as I've also left a card with them to cover "room charges".

 

[Doug M.]

Like it or not, a properly used CC is more secure for both parties than cash. In some locales, going to the bank with a bag of cash is too much risk and insurance companies are probably teaching not to do so. I don't like carrying cash and generally only do so when traveling out of town.

 

[03hemi]

I just got back from my annual pheasant hunt in SD and stayed at 2 Holiday Inn Express locations. Neither would accept cash for payment. The first one told me the manager didn't like to have to take money to the bank. The second said they didn't trust their employees.

So it went on the credit card and I am dumbfounded.

That's when you take a stand and refuse to pay with a cc out of principal.
I pay with my debit 99.9% of the time, but tell me you don't except cash at check-out and that's all you're gonna get.

 

[sjmjax]

The one that really gets me going are the national parks and recreational areas that charge a fee but won’t accept currency!

A government agency won’t accept government printed cash? It’s obscene to me.

 

[MaricopaKid]

Back before credit cards, some employees were fairly ingenious in diverting cash from sales into their own pockets. One was by “short ringing”. A customer might buy something for $25 and pays with a $20 and a $5. The employee rings up a sale of $20, puts the $25 in the cash drawer, and the customer never notices. Later the employee pulls $5 out of the cash drawer and sticks it in his pocket. The cash register balances and no one is the wiser. I imagine that trick is still used.

I have been involved in many businesses, both on and off the books. As my old man used to say, "My pay rate is irrelevant, as long as I run the register."

 

[arjay]

The one that really gets me going are the national parks and recreational areas that charge a fee but won’t accept currency!

A government agency won’t accept government printed cash? It’s obscene to me.

My experience has been the opposite as I rarely carry cash. They have a little box for cash or check,but no way of paying with a card lol

 

[Bald1]

That's when you take a stand and refuse to pay with a cc out of principal.
I pay with my debit 99.9% of the time, but tell me you don't except cash at check-out and that's all you're gonna get.

This ^^^^^^^^^^ I’m the customer. Make it convenient for me. It’s called legal American tender for a reason. I just saw a video the other day where Dave Ramsey said he carries a couple thousand in cash in a money clip as walking around money. He also alluded to what was in his other pocket. I wonder if he’s on this forum. HEMI CULTIST ?

 

[Rustyt1953]

A privately held business can set their own payment policies.

Their house. Their rules.

About the only things we use cash for are valet parking and the carts at ALDI.

 

[Bajadoc]

I also don't like it but I get it. Their house their rules. I seem to always be able to find somebody to take my cash.

 

[Super Trucker]

I went to sturgis in august of 23. We stayed in rapid city about 30 minutes away and the homeless population in rapid city was pretty bad.
If you were near that area, the homeless problem might be why the hotel didn't accept cash.

 

[lihpster]

I went to sturgis in august of 23. We stayed in rapid city about 30 minutes away and the homeless population in rapid city was pretty bad.
If you were near that area, the homeless problem might be why the hotel didn't accept cash.

How could you tell they were homeless? It was Sturgis after all.

 

[sigp220.45]

I get it. Any moron can come up with $100 in cash, trash the room, and be gone with no way to recoup the loss.

I remember my brother getting all bent out of shape because he couldn’t rent a car for cash. This had to be 20 years ago. Same deal as above, except its a new car.

I never carry cash. I won’t shed any tears when its gone.

 

[CordWood]

If you are thinking that a cashless economy is a good move, you are wrong.
When your liquid wealth is only useable electronically your ability to use as you wish will have disappeared. Travel can be controlled or curtailed, purchases and quantities controlled, and investments controlled. Cash is important!
Butch

 

[375hh1973]

I got nothing against cash, I just find plastic way more convenient.

Keep some emergency cash in my wallet and some in the truck for those rare instances when the card reader is down.

Can't remember the last time I used it

 

[Alk8944]

There are several states which have enacted statutes to require businesses to accept legal tender currency! Unfortunately there is no federal law requiring businesses to accept currency, but there should be! What are people who do not have bank accounts, credit cards or debit cards to do? This is the reason some states have enacted legislation. Several large cities have also enacted city ordinances requiring that cash be accepted including New York City, San Francisco and Philadelphia.

Until 1987 I had never had a credit or debit card, always paid by cash or check. I absolutely refused to use credit except for items like houses and cars!

 

[CH4]

This is becoming more common around the world. Just spent five weeks in Europe, where many places preferred plastic and discouraged the use of cash.

 

[GypsmJim]

That's when you take a stand and refuse to pay with a cc out of principal.
I pay with my debit 99.9% of the time, but tell me you don't except cash at check-out and that's all you're gonna get.

My Dad absolutely refused to own a credit card. That was his "principal". One time he was refused cash and he had to do without. Boy was he mad.

My "principal" is I refuse to use cash. I pay monthly and have never in 60+ years of having a card have I ever paid one cent in interest. OTOH, my 2% cash back saves me tons of money. If I encounter a place that charges a fee for a CC, I shop elsewhere.