Covid-19 Shortages

[Irving]

I don't see how they could be increasing their profit margins, as it costs money to process credit cards, and I bet more people would pay with a card than abandon their change.

[brutal]

I do believe there is some level of a shortage.

That said, there is a profit incentive for things like drive-throughs to tell people there is a shortage, and they can't give change. For 90% of drivers, the drive through just increased their profit margin by an average of around 5-10%. That's a ton. I know one drive through has even been sued over this. At any rate, even when the "shortage" ends, I look for some unscrupulous owners to keep saying it hasn't.

I find it hard to believe, without seeing evidence, that the cost of a merchant transaction offsets the cost to handle cash/coins.

Maybe I'm overlooking something obvious.

[Great-Kazoo]

I find it hard to believe, without seeing evidence, that the cost of a merchant transaction offsets the cost to handle cash/coins.

Maybe I'm overlooking something obvious.

People who pay with cash at grocery stores and other business with cash. I always ask , excuse me but i believe you forgot to give me change back. There are some people for who it's not even on their radar. With the amount of seniors in this area. I believe some of that is guilting them in to "doing their part" since they were kids during the depression.

As well as, in the war, or part of "The War Effort" From early 40's till the cease fire in SEA.

[GilpinGuy]

I do believe there is some level of a shortage.

That said, there is a profit incentive for things like drive-throughs to tell people there is a shortage, and they can't give change. For 90% of drivers, the drive through just increased their profit margin by an average of around 5-10%. That's a ton. I know one drive through has even been sued over this. At any rate, even when the "shortage" ends, I look for some unscrupulous owners to keep saying it hasn't.

Are you implying that some drive throughs claim they can't give change for cash transactions and the customer has to just absorb the difference and NOT get change back? I'd simply say "cancel my order" and drive off if that was the case. Who knows, maybe lots of people wouldn't drive off and not care about a few coins. I'm one of those wierdos that likes to have some change in my pocket or in my truck and pay exact change cash anyway.

I don't get to town much, but the only real signs of a "shortage" I've seen was when I drove to Des Moines a few months ago. Most Nebraska convenience stores had signs out, some with "exact change only". Crossed into Iowa and no signs. Other than that, we haven't seen it at all up here in Gilpin, in Las Vegas, Idaho, or Washington Sate. Giant nothing-burger IMHO.

[brutal]

Are you implying that some drive throughs claim they can't give change for cash transactions and the customer has to just absorb the difference and NOT get change back? I'd simply say "cancel my order" and drive off if that was the case. Who knows, maybe lots of people wouldn't drive off and not care about a few coins. I'm one of those wierdos that likes to have some change in my pocket or in my truck and pay exact change cash anyway.

I don't get to town much, but the only real signs of a "shortage" I've seen was when I drove to Des Moines a few months ago. Most Nebraska convenience stores had signs out, some with "exact change only". Crossed into Iowa and no signs. Other than that, we haven't seen it at all up here in Gilpin, in Las Vegas, Idaho, or Washington Sate. Giant nothing-burger IMHO.

Maybe that's where I got lost because I would never imagine having to pay in cash and not get change. Sorry, but if you don't accept cash, then you can pay 3% to Visa and take my card. If you piss me off and you take Amex, then it will cost you 5%.

[FoxtArt]

There was at least one drive through that was retaining change and got sued for it. But I haven't paid in cash at a drive through in a long time. Still, I suspect most people paying with cash aren't going to immediately switch to a card, but certainly some would.

[FoxtArt]

Now, a rounding policy would be brilliant (under 49 cents, we keep, over 50 cents, we round up to the next dollar in change for you) but every good-ol-penny skimping accountant-wanna bees would get their panties in a twist every time they fell under 49 cents, meaning anything like that will forever be impossible.

There's just so much bigger issues in life than for me to get torq'ed over pocket change.

[Irving]

I don't really understand the push to get rid of cash from the perspective of businesses, especially small ones.

I just can't imagine it would be so much easier to operate the business that it would outweigh the card processing fees. I also can't imagine that most businesses don't enjoy the freedom of accounting that working with cash provides.

[Great-Kazoo]

I don't really understand the push to get rid of cash from the perspective of businesses, especially small ones.

I just can't imagine it would be so much easier to operate the business that it would outweigh the card processing fees. I also can't imagine that most businesses don't enjoy the freedom of accounting that working with cash provides.

OR just getting paid in, CASH. Think about it.

[JTP80]

Went to a couple Costco stores just to get enough canned veggies to put on my shelves. One store only had canned peas and was empty in the other slots, then the other had the corn and green beans I wanted, but no peas. I usually get those 3 in bulk there to rotate on my shelves and fill in with single cans, frozen or fresh other vegetables in my meals. If SHTF, I want more than MRE's and freeze dried food even if it's just me.