Has Paying for Things With Actual Money Become Passe?

[Cogidubnus]

I think Ally might (genuinely) prefer Hog's Pudding...sliced and fried it's a glorious breakfast treat...and I'm not allowed fried breakfasts any more

All the best

Dave

[Ally]

Oh blimey!...um....I'll get some black pudding in, then.

[c.d.]

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/0...ng-your-phone/

Here is an article about people paying for their coffee by simply having their cell phone swiped. This would appear to be the wave of the future.

c.d.

[Robert]

Oh blimey!...um....I'll get some black pudding in, then.

No, obviously I use banks/building societies, but I like the passbook ones. I do have one account with a debit card which I use for bits and pieces, but I'm jolly careful not to keep much money in it.

[Ally]

Hi Ally

Well, for one thing I don't trust the banks' security.

You keep your money under your mattress? Hmmm... let's all go visit Robert!

[Robert]

Hi Sally

I've a feeling that those checkout helpers will gradually be withdrawn. And of course, once they've got customers serving themselves, the next thing is the shoplifters will have to arrest themselves. What a cheek!

[Robert]

Hi Ally

Well, for one thing I don't trust the banks' security.

[Ally]

I believe in money, not bits of plastic.

Practically speaking, what's the difference between bits of paper (money) and bits of plastic??

[Sally]

[QUOTE=Robert;265945]I believe in money, not bits of plastic. Furthermore, I refuse to insert a card in a machine to get my money. Instead I go into the bank and talk to a human being.

I don't use those bloody supermarket automatic checkouts either. Why should I put someone out of a job?[/QUOTE]

Completely agree. I hate the bloody things - and inherently object to their existence. These days several major retailers have installed them - manned by an encouraging retail assistant who's job it seems to be to stand by the self-checkout machines all day assisting hapless shoppers. Doesn't that kind of defeat the object of the exercise???

I refuse to use them. If (as has happened on several occasions) there are no manned tills, I complain until I get one. I know that's just one voice; but how will the retailers know how their customers feel if we don't tell them?

Ok. Rant over

I'd be sad if money disappeared. I use it all the time - helps me keep track of what I'm spending on a day-to-day basis.

[Cogidubnus]

Cash is still a good way to pay your bus fare...though with on-board cashless payment/card readers just beginning to catch on with the larger companies, probably not for a whole lot longer...and monthly passes are now available online too...

The problem as I see it with a cashless society is when your card goes tits up...like mine did two days before my daughter's wedding! At the moment you can visit your bank and make an emegency withdrawal...but if we all lived off just the one card...

All the best

Dave

[Wickerman]

Paper money, especially, is a good medium for passing on germs.

And then there's the checkout girl who has a cold and wipes her nose with a tissue after every customer she served, then she starts handling your bread, your vegetables, your tins, etc.
No thanks.

I don't mind the machines, or using debit cards, in fact I'm beginning to forget to take money out with me when we go anywhere.

[Robert]

I believe in money, not bits of plastic. Furthermore, I refuse to insert a card in a machine to get my money. Instead I go into the bank and talk to a human being.

I don't use those bloody supermarket automatic checkouts either. Why should I put someone out of a job?

[Damaso Marte]

I'm 26 and my preference is to pay via a credit card. It's easier: I only have to get a new credit card every few years, as opposed to having to go to an ATM everytime I run out of cash. And I can pay my bill with one click online.

However, at least in America, many small businesses either don't take credit cards or have a $5-10 minimum for use of credit card. This latter habit is technically a violation of their agreement with the credit card companies, but I've reported businesses to the credit card company many times for this and nothing has ever happened as a result.

Also, most vending machines in America don't take credit cards yet. It is critical to have $1 bills and coins for me if I want to use a vending machine.

[c.d.]

I frequent a Starbucks coffee shop near where I live. It is also right near a University so there are always a lot of students and younger people there. I have noticed that I am one of the very few people who pays for their coffee with cash. Everyone else uses a credit card and lately they just hold up their cell phone which the cashier seems to scan and all is good.

I find this all very bizarre and it makes me feel quite old.

c.d.