Would You Walk

[teacake44]

In the last week or so I've walked out of 4 shops without getting what I've wanted. A lot of the shops are insisting on card payment, that's fine with me contactless is a great way to pay, so I no longer carry cash. However many are dictating a minimum spend of £5, each time I've gone in my spend has been around £3/£4, so have been refused, are these people off their nuts or what, considering their crying out for shoppers. Its not so long ago that they were outlawed in charging 50p per transaction on a card, so have they just found a different way round it by using the present situation. I well understand that they have running costs, including banking charges, but when pricing items, all these factors should already be included. Would you be dictated to on how much more you spend, or walk, if you don't have cash on you?

[jourdain2]

Yes, I would walk away. No need for their demands. I pay all small sums (newsagents, local fruit & veg. stall etc.) by cash and they're more than happy.

[vulcan42]

I would walk, if they don't want my few paltry pounds others will.

[cashier]

I would leave empty handed. I use cash.

[Mamyalynne]

I'd be going elsewhere.

[gingejbee]

If I knew that I didn't want much, I would avoid entering shops with that policy.

[bednobs]

Tc which shops was it (so I can avoid)

[Tuvok]

I was in B&Q a few months ago (think it was months - but who knows these days!!!). Had the cash ready and hand it over only to be told card only - and she pointed to a sign - not in an obvious place!

I prefer to pay by cash - only use the credit card (never debit card no matter how little) if I don't have enough cash on me.

It would depend what I was buying if I would walk or not - if there was another way of getting it then probably walk. Always use cash in our village shop/post office - and then usually end up "robbing the bank" at the same time!!!!

[teacake44]

This to me is just one of many areas were we are being dictated too, what they want is for you to go wondering round the shop to buy something you don't want just to make the difference up, its a ruddy cheek. The one was a fish and chip shop, and yes the smallest of the purchases, I don't normally bother with chip shops but was passing and feeling a bit peckish. A cone of chips is what I asked for @ £1.80 which to me is ruddy expensive anyhow, they insisted on card, but refused when I said that's all I wanted. The funny part is there was no one else in there at the time, so you have to ask how many times they've refused throughout the day and night?

[diddlydo]

Since Covid I haven't come across anywhere that now insists on cash under £5 (or any amount)- our local shop, butchers and market stalls used to be cash only but they now take contactless for any amount - several of my "spends" have been under £1! And yes, I would walk away if they refused to accept cards for small payments.

[bednobs]

what were the other 3 tc. although im not likely to go to your local chippy, if the others are chains i might

[Buenchico]

I generally refuse to use any shop that doesn't accept cards but, although 'minimum spend' requirements used to be common, I can't recall encountering any at all within the past few years. So there must be some very odd shops in your area, TC44!

In the early days of debit cards banks, did tend to charge retailers highly when they accepted cards for small amounts, so it made sense for retailers to insist upon a minimum spend. These days though the charges made by banks are far more reasonable ( https://tinyurl.com/y2oeps4f ) but perhaps some retailers haven't yet realised that?

[ichkeria]

I’m very surprised to hear that large ships are insisting on cards AND a minimum spend if £5.
Can that be right?
The two local shops in our area take card payments for any small amount and one of the shops is really small.

[fiction-factory]

Yes, some used to require a minimum spend of £5 but most accept any amount now. I recently paid 55p by card at a supermarket.

[teacake44]

15.12 there not big chains, smaller retailers in my area

[Mamyalynne]

Stuck in their ways obviously, they must be confident they have a captive customer base to a point.

[ichkeria]

Insisting on card payments and then also insisting on a minimum spend isn’t very clever.
I don’t know shop here doing the former or the latter .
Both together is pretty dumb

[teacake44]

15.38 Well that was my thoughts too, pretty dumb.

[woofgang]

I would walk too. If shops want customers they must make it easy to be customers. I thought the whole point of contactless payment was to buy small items?

[SlackAlice]

I'd walk away as well. Paid as low as 70p by debit card with no issues.

[Vagus]

No I wouldn’t necessarily walk out, it would depend if I needed the item(s)immediately.
If my spend was £3 to £4 then I could easily find something I’d use to make it up to £5, I think. Depends on what type of shop it is really.
Did you ask what the reason for the minimum spend is?