KFC - Cash only payment option

laughter189

Went to a local KFC today for a change and we were a bit short on cash .

This KFC branch only have one payment option and that is cash only .

There are no ATM's in the vicinity and this meant that we did'nt have enough cash to buy dinner plus dessert .

Is there any obligation on this business to offer other payment options ?

dudara

In short - no.

It is of course better customer service to offer different payment methods, but they are under no obligation to do so.

partyatmygaff

No. They're at perfect liberty to specify their accepted forms of payment, even down to what forms of cash they'll accept.

syklops

Why would there be?

Requiring business to have alternative methods of paying would only make doing business harder, and its already very hard.

Remember having a credit card terminal costs money, and that particular outlet maybe be in an area where it is not cost effective to have a terminal as most people pay with cash, e.g. its near a university or something.

laughter189

syklops wrote: »

Why would there be?

Requiring business to have alternative methods of paying would only make doing business harder, and its already very hard.

.

My own opinion would be the opposite - I believe that offering a variety of payment methods , should make doing business easier , especially for the hard-pressed consumer .

Anyway , in the present economic climate , dealing in cash seems to be the preferred method of payment to most business'es today .

The Minister for Finance is not too happy with this though .

Nody

laughter189 wrote: »

My own opinion would be the opposite - I believe that offering a variety of payment methods , should make doing business easier , especially for the hard-pressed consumer .

Anyway , in the present economic climate , dealing in cash seems to be the preferred method of payment to most business'es today .

The Minister for Finance is not too happy with this though .

Between charges for terminals, per payment, bounced payment options & disputed claims; not likely for a business doing mainly small value transactions.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

laughter189 wrote: »

My own opinion would be the opposite - I believe that offering a variety of payment methods , should make doing business easier , especially for the hard-pressed consumer .

Anyway , in the present economic climate , dealing in cash seems to be the preferred method of payment to most business'es today .

The Minister for Finance is not too happy with this though .

:rolleyes: Eh, we're talking about a cheap takeaway, right? You are having a laugh I bet. Prefer them to take Credit Cards or maybe Travellers Cheques? Come off it.

laughter189

Roland Helpful Bedtime wrote: »

:rolleyes: Eh, we're talking about a cheap takeaway, right? You are having a laugh I bet. Prefer them to take Credit Cards or maybe Travellers Cheques? Come off it.

Nope - Not having a laugh - It ain't funny when you arrive at a food outlet with no cash and want to feed a family of 4 .

You park / queue for 10 minutes , only to discover that the premises will only accept cash .

Another KFC outlet 30 miles away will accept cash/laser/ mastercard/visa .

And the food is not cheap - minimum meal deal is €6.69 per person , which is €26.76 total / 4 people .

ScouseMouse

Then plan ahead. Walking into any shop without money is silly. What if the phone lines were down? It could happen to any store.

Forest Master

laughter189 wrote: »

It ain't funny when you arrive at a food outlet with no cash and want to feed a family of 4

Yeah, I agree - that's definitely not funny - a bit dumb, actually.

laughter189

Forest Master wrote: »

Yeah, I agree - that's definitely not funny - a bit dumb, actually.

Think about cards my friend , - I have a healthy laser card and a healthy credit card .

There is more to life than cash .

compsys

Irish consumers have a higher dependency on cash than almost every other European country. And it's not surprising when you read some of the comments on here. Most advanced Western European countries are reducing their reliance on cash. It's a very Irish thing for major shops to only accept cash or expect customers to pay in cash. I totally feel for the OP here.

If you go to places like Japan people would have no problem swiping their card (or even their mobile phone!) for any type of purchase. I personally can't wait until we live in an almost cashless society and everywhere accepts cards.

Also, I wouldn't necessarily agree that it's in a shop's best interest to only accept cash. Having lots of cash on the premises can be a real headache for some shops and also makes them more attractive for robberies etc.

Also, while the charges on credit cards can be high for merchants, it's not the same for debit cards.

4-age

If you go to places like Japan people would have no problem swiping their card (or even their mobile phone!) for any type of purchase. I personally can't wait until we live in an almost cashless society and everywhere accepts cards.

That`s not exactly true. While you can use credit cards, and eddy (through card, or phone) Japan is very much a cash society. Many places do not have credit card facilities, and it is not uncommon for resteraunts to only accept cash. Also it is not uncommon to see someone withdraw 500 to 1000 euro a go at atms. In Japan cash is still king.

ArphaRima

In Japan cash is still king.

VERY much so. All of Asia is like that. They might herald all of the new technologies but the uptake is quite low.

Wads and wads of cash are the only way to do business almost everywhere in Asia. I see people piling bricks of cash (not insignificant notes) into their bags every day at the bank counter. I do the same.

Even in Ireland I use my card for things I want to measure, like fuel, shopping, major purchases and bills etc. Cash is for day-today expenses and drinking. But I would still make sure I have between 100-550 euro in my wallet at all times.
This is for the plain reason that some places simply dont use cards. Especially in busy bars. Many will have 1 out of 3 floors accepting them.

Cabaal

compsys wrote: »

Irish consumers have a higher dependency on cash than almost every other European country. And it's not surprising when you read some of the comments on here.

While you may no like it there is a benefit of using cash to the consumer,
Using cash helps many consumers keep track of things,

if you've ever paid 900e on a credit card you#'ll know how easy it is to pay it.

However if you've ever handed over 900e in cash you'll know that it has a more material feel that you are loosing something as you can physically see that 900e.

In short it makes people appreciate money more and as such using it more wisely when compared to credit and debit card usage where it is nothing more then a number

So don't be too quick to wish for cash to disappear as it comes with downsides too.

maxer68

laughter189 wrote: »

Went to a local KFC today for a change and we were a bit short on cash .

This KFC branch only have one payment option and that is cash only .

There are no ATM's in the vicinity and this meant that we did'nt have enough cash to buy dinner plus dessert .

Is there any obligation on this business to offer other payment options ?

Maybe KFC should send you a reminder to your phone to bring cash if you are buying some food off them?

Have we reached a stage that everything is always someone elses fault and we bear no responsibilty at all for our own actions?

They're ATM facilities on nearly every street corner and KFC are not exactly local village eateries and are always in decent population centres. - My guess is there was an atm 500 yards away but the OP couldn't be bothered and would prefer to "blame" a corporation for his error.

Personal responsibilty is somthing a lot of people need to start learning and stop moaning about little things in life.

ScouseMouse

laughter189 wrote: »

Went to a local KFC today for a change and we were a bit short on cash .

This KFC branch only have one payment option and that is cash only .

There are no ATM's in the vicinity and this meant that we did'nt have enough cash to buy dinner plus dessert .

Is there any obligation on this business to offer other payment options ?

Which KFC is this exactly?

laughter189

KFC Wexford town is cash only - KFC Waterford do accept plastic as well as cash .

ztoical

laughter189 wrote: »

KFC Wexford town is cash only - KFC Waterford do accept plastic as well as cash .

City vs Town. A branch located in a city with a large student population is far more likely to get use out of accepting cards. As has already been pointed out it's not free for a shop to take cards, they have to pay for each transaction so it's only worth installing it if they are going to get that use out of it which for a fast food place isn't going to be that high.

laughter189

19 posts and only 3 posters are in favour of the consumer - Is it any wonder we exist in a capitalist state .

fifth

Can I just add that KFC in wexford town is empty nearly all of the time with abundant carparking spaces as it's in a large retail park. (I live nearby). There's a large petrol station directly across the road which (not sure if it has an atm for certain but) has at least got the facility to offer cashback if you're buying petrol/papers/other bits. If not, you can go 5 minutes down to Centra in whitemill and they definitely have an atm.

I must admit it used to irritate me when I didn't have cash and a fast food outlet only accepted cash, so I always - always - go to the atm first before going anywhere for food now.

The only downside to having cash, say 20/40 euro from the atm, and buying dinner with it is the change. I usually spend it on a paper or something trivial like a scratchcard just to get rid of it out of my pocket.

reprazant

laughter189 wrote: »

19 posts and only 3 posters are in favour of the consumer - Is it any wonder we exist in a capitalist state .

Or maybe most people have pointed out that a company is not obliged to provide credit card services and the consumer should be prepared for that eventuality?

Forest Master

laughter189 wrote: »

19 posts and only 3 posters are in favour of the consumer - Is it any wonder we exist in a capitalist state .

No - you assumed they would take your credit card, when it's common knowledge they don't. I'm 32 - and in my whole life I've never known McDonalds, Burger King, Abrakebabra, Supermacs or KFC to ever take anything other than cash. So if I was going to get food from any of these places, I'd bring cash - it's called executing common sense.

We're disagreeing with your assumption they take cards - not "whether or not they should".

Boggles

syklops wrote: »

Why would there be?

Requiring business to have alternative methods of paying would only make doing business harder, and its already very hard.

Remember having a credit card terminal costs money, and that particular outlet maybe be in an area where it is not cost effective to have a terminal as most people pay with cash, e.g. its near a university or something.

Well to be fair in this instance which I'm sure is not an isolated one, not having a different facility cost them money.

To answer the OPs question, no they do not have to offer more than one payment facility, but it is naive not to at least offer a debit card facility. The majority of people in the country that have bank accounts automatically got issued with debit cards in the past year or 2, it is turning quickly into the new cash.

Fast food customers are largely impulsive shoppers anyways, the impulsiveness is removed if they have to spend 15-20 minutes finding cash.

As always vote with your feet, we no longer thankfully have to put up with businesses providing the bare minimums, it's the companies who go beyond who will survive.

laughter189

As I said in my opening piece , we did'nt have enough cash to buy dinner plus dessert .

We did scramble together the cash amount to buy a very basic meal.

However , if the card facility was there , I have no doublt that we would have spent at least another 15 euro .

I assumed they took plastic , because the last time we were in KFC Waterford , they duly obliged .

ThisRegard

Forest Master wrote: »

No - you assumed they would take your credit card, when it's common knowledge they don't. I'm 32 - and in my whole life I've never known McDonalds, Burger King, Abrakebabra, Supermacs or KFC to ever take anything other than cash. So if I was going to get food from any of these places, I'd bring cash - it's called executing common sense.

We're disagreeing with your assumption they take cards - not "whether or not they should".

McDonalds have terminals, have had them for some time now. And I'm older than you so there.

Chardee MacDennis

laughter189 wrote: »

Nope - Not having a laugh - It ain't funny when you arrive at a food outlet with no cash and want to feed a family of 4 .

You park / queue for 10 minutes , only to discover that the premises will only accept cash .

Another KFC outlet 30 miles away will accept cash/laser/ mastercard/visa .

And the food is not cheap - minimum meal deal is €6.69 per person , which is €26.76 total / 4 people .

Tbh its very stupid to queue for ten minutes and not know if they take your payment method. Any business that takes cards will generally have stickers up saying what cards they take.

Chardee MacDennis

Forest Master wrote: »

No - you assumed they would take your credit card, when it's common knowledge they don't. I'm 32 - and in my whole life I've never known McDonalds, Burger King, Abrakebabra, Supermacs or KFC to ever take anything other than cash. So if I was going to get food from any of these places, I'd bring cash - it's called executing common sense.

We're disagreeing with your assumption they take cards - not "whether or not they should".

Burger king make a big deal out of accepting cards, surprised you missed it :pac:

inforfun

Cabaal wrote: »

While you may no like it there is a benefit of using cash to the consumer,
Using cash helps many consumers keep track of things,

if you've ever paid 900e on a credit card you#'ll know how easy it is to pay it.

However if you've ever handed over 900e in cash you'll know that it has a more material feel that you are loosing something as you can physically see that 900e.

In short it makes people appreciate money more and as such using it more wisely when compared to credit and debit card usage where it is nothing more then a number

So don't be too quick to wish for cash to disappear as it comes with downsides too.

Exactly the reason why you play with chips in a casino in stead of real money/cash.

I never go without cash into shops even if i plan to pay with whatever kind of card.
Happens too often that the systems are down and cash is the only way to go.

syklops

Boggles wrote: »

Well to be fair in this instance which I'm sure is not an isolated one, not having a different facility cost them money.

To answer the OPs question, no they do not have to offer more than one payment facility, but it is naive not to at least offer a debit card facility. The majority of people in the country that have bank accounts automatically got issued with debit cards in the past year or 2, it is turning quickly into the new cash.

Fast food customers are largely impulsive shoppers anyways, the impulsiveness is removed if they have to spend 15-20 minutes finding cash.

As always vote with your feet, we no longer thankfully have to put up with businesses providing the bare minimums, it's the companies who go beyond who will survive.

I am not disagreeing with you that they lost out, and I am sure if there was a demand for it, they would install a machine, but as far as I can tell, this particular KFC is in the middle of a retail park, surrounded by shops that do accept payment cards and offer cash back. So management in this KFC restaurant may be gambling with this fact in the hope of not needing to fork out for the terminals and the other costs associated with them.

Kat1170

syklops wrote: »

Why would there be?

Requiring business to have alternative methods of paying would only make doing business harder, and its already very hard.

Remember having a credit card terminal costs money, and that particular outlet maybe be in an area where it is not cost effective to have a terminal as most people pay with cash, e.g. its near a university or something.

Ztoical City vs Town. A branch located in a city with a large student population is far more likely to get use out of accepting cards. As has already been pointed out it's not free for a shop to take cards, they have to pay for each transaction so it's only worth installing it if they are going to get that use out of it which for a fast food place isn't going to be that high.

Come on folks, it has to be one or the other, you can't agree with both. :cool:

laughter189

BastardPrince wrote: »

Tbh its very stupid to queue for ten minutes and not know if they take your payment method. Any business that takes cards will generally have stickers up saying what cards they take.

Call me stupid if you want , but I did have 26 euro in cash on me and it did pay for a very basic meal for 4 .

Now you put on your specs and read the opening piece again .- Its about KFC accepting cash only as a payment option .

I had 3 payment options with me :

1. cash
2. laser card
3. visacard

But this business can only offer one payment option .

ztoical

Kat1170 wrote: »

Come on folks, it has to be one or the other, you can't agree with both. :cool:

It's different situations. I said a city with a large student population while syklops said near a university - sounds similar but is different. A large town or city with a large student population means a young population that is more likely to eat out and eat out in the evenings or later which is were fast food places do well if the branch is located in good central part of town while near or on the actually college or uni property means they're aiming more for the lunch time trade which usually means cash.

syklops

Kat1170 wrote: »

Come on folks, it has to be one or the other, you can't agree with both. :cool:

Yeah because we were both agreeing with each other. :rolleyes:

ztoical

laughter189 wrote: »

Call me stupid if you want , but I did have 26 euro in cash on me and it did pay for a very basic meal for 4 .

Now you put on your specs and read the opening piece again .- Its about KFC accepting cash only as a payment option .

I had 3 payment options with me :

1. cash
2. laser card
3. visacard

But this business can only offer one payment option .

Did you poll everyone else in the place to see if they would have prefered to pay with card over cash? Again as several people have pointed out to have a machine to take card payments costs money for the shop so they have to weigh that up againist how many actual sale they think they are going to lose out on as a result and clearly Waterford KFC thinks they'll loose more business then Wexford KFC. There is no law saying they have to take more then one payment option, hell they can take whatever they want as payment be legal tender or magic beans if that's their choice. Either don't go there again if you feel so strongly about loosing out on getting desert or remeber for next time to stop by an ATM on the way.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

laughter189 wrote: »

19 posts and only 3 posters are in favour of the consumer - Is it any wonder we exist in a capitalist state .

It's nothing to do with being on the side of the consumer, or not. It's about common sense. (Capitalist State?? Oh now the colours are unfurled ) Going out for a family meal in a takeaway without €20 in cash and expecting them to take a card, when you probably passed a few ATMs on the way there. Dim.
It's hard to stand up for the indefensible.

Boggles

syklops wrote: »

I am not disagreeing with you that they lost out, and I am sure if there was a demand for it, they would install a machine, but as far as I can tell, this particular KFC is in the middle of a retail park, surrounded by shops that do accept payment cards and offer cash back. So management in this KFC restaurant may be gambling with this fact in the hope of not needing to fork out for the terminals and the other costs associated with them.

I think you may be over stating the cost of having a debit card facility. It's actually relatively cheap.

You did state that having more than one payment choice is "hard for business".

Which quite frankly in the majority of cases that is nonsense. Your goal should be to sell as much as you can especially if your products cater to the very definition of an impulsive shopper.

If your customer has a limited or finite amount of cash, you limit that sale at the very best, they will bypass your business at the worst. Which obviously is not good for business, if you expect your customer to call into B&Q to buy something and get cash back to use your business, than that is bad business. Your relying on so many different variables, it's madness.

The OP wrongly assumed that this establishment offers more than one form of payment. He has acknowledged that and learned from it.

But to be fair, it's not like he assumed valet parking and to be able to do the transaction in punts. What he assumed was pretty rational.

Lesson learned, go somewhere else.

By the sounds of it this place is not busy, this could be one of the reasons why.

Forest Master

ThisRegard wrote: »

McDonalds have terminals, have had them for some time now. And I'm older than you so there.

haha. Yeah, I don't go to these places anymore, so likely out of touch - but I'd never assume that they take cards. I always bring cash when I plan to eat anywhere.

dilallio

laughter189 wrote: »

Call me stupid if you want , but I did have 26 euro in cash on me and it did pay for a very basic meal for 4 .

You should have gone for the Bargain Bucket or Family Feast and saved yourself a few quid

laughter189

dilallio wrote: »

You should have gone for the Bargain Bucket or Family Feast and saved yourself a few quid

I give my family options - i don't force them to eat from a bucket , or eat a feast of food against their wishes .

I gave them the option of choosing from a menu ( unlike KFC payment options )

syklops

Boggles wrote: »

I think you may be over stating the cost of having a debit card facility. It's actually relatively cheap.
.

You need a phoneline, for the terminal to work, I think you need broadband too with the newer models, or if you want to have multiple terminals. The terminals themselves are about 100 euro each to buy, or you can rent them.

So line rental, broadband, a couple of terminals. You need to sell a lot of burgers to cover the cost of all that. Many shops and filling stations have a policy of only accepting card payments on transactions over 10 euros because of the cost associated. Considering you can get a meal deal for one in KFC for about 7 euro, they probably felt that they would be getting too many transactions in the sub-ten euro bracket to warrant buying payment card facilities.

Boggles wrote: »

You did state that having more than one payment choice is "hard for business".

.

Actually I said, requiring businesses to offer more than one form would be hard for business. Think of all the burger vans, ice-cream men, and news paper stands who would suffer if they had to land out for payment card facilities, despite few of their transactions being higher than 3 or 4 euro.

Boggles

syklops wrote: »

You need a phoneline, for the terminal to work, I think you need broadband too with the newer models, or if you want to have multiple terminals. The terminals themselves are about 100 euro each to buy, or you can rent them.

So line rental, broadband, a couple of terminals. You need to sell a lot of burgers to cover the cost of all that. Many shops and filling stations have a policy of only accepting card payments on transactions over 10 euros because of the cost associated. Considering you can get a meal deal for one in KFC for about 7 euro, they probably felt that they would be getting too many transactions in the sub-ten euro bracket to warrant buying payment card facilities.

So you agree with me, it is relatively inexpensive.

I don't think anyone has an issue with a minimum debit transaction. That's a fair and decent protective business practice.

syklops wrote: »

Actually I said, requiring businesses to offer more than one form would be hard for business. Think of all the burger vans, ice-cream men, and news paper stands who would suffer if they had to land out for payment card facilities, despite few of their transactions being higher than 3 or 4 euro.

Sorry in the context of what we are talking about that's just plain silly.

keithclancy

syklops wrote: »

You need a phoneline, for the terminal to work, I think you need broadband too with the newer models, or if you want to have multiple terminals. The terminals themselves are about 100 euro each to buy, or you can rent them.

So line rental, broadband, a couple of terminals. You need to sell a lot of burgers to cover the cost of all that. Many shops and filling stations have a policy of only accepting card payments on transactions over 10 euros because of the cost associated. Considering you can get a meal deal for one in KFC for about 7 euro, they probably felt that they would be getting too many transactions in the sub-ten euro bracket to warrant buying payment card facilities.


Actually I said, requiring businesses to offer more than one form would be hard for business. Think of all the burger vans, ice-cream men, and news paper stands who would suffer if they had to land out for payment card facilities, despite few of their transactions being higher than 3 or 4 euro.

Actually you don't need a phoneline, can just use a GSM Terminal, they also work on Wifi, or Phoneline.

http://www.gprocessing.com/wireless_credit_card_terminals.php

As a retailer offering different methods of payment is GOOD for business. This is for a number of reasons.

Loyalty Schemes (e.g. Tesco Visa card you get points buying anything on it, in the UK anyway)
Customers don't like carrying cash.
Shops have to pay for change.
Less time spent counting up at the end of business.
Less risk with large amounts of cash on the premises.

IMO Germany/The Netherlands is mainly cardless, this cash only thing is a foreigners perception. Germany they only take EC Cards and in the Netherlands they only take PIN.

Almost every single shop here in NL has a sign on the machine with "You can begin with PIN" meaning you can pay with your card for any size transaction.

They don't take foreign debit/credit cards though (Only in maybe 80% of restaurants) and some of the train stations (Schiphol, The Hague, Amsterdam, Utrecht)

Having notes in Germany trying to get a Tram ticket is as bad as having no money, you have to go off and buy a bottle of coke or something to break a note, then get coins, whereas if you just load 50 euros onto your GeldKarte (Electronic Wallet) you can just pay at any terminal on or off the tram.

borderlinemeath

laughter189 wrote: »

I give my family options - i don't force them to eat from a bucket , or eat a feast of food against their wishes .

I gave them the option of choosing from a menu ( unlike KFC payment options )

But you limited the choice because you didn't have the foresight to bring cash and your refusal to go and find an ATM.

The cost for terminals, rental, transaction fees all add up. I would imagine this particular KFC did a cost analysis and realised that the amount of credit card sales was not covering the terminal/banking costs. If it wasn't a liability it would probably be in use in this outlet.

I have never gone into any food outlet (KFC, chipper, dominos etc) without cash. It's just the way it has always been and I hope we never become a "cashless society", there is a physical value to cash that cannot be matched by cards, and it all the more evident with the amount of credit card debt that is prevalent in our society and plenty of other first world nations.

syklops

Boggles wrote: »

So you agree with me, it is relatively inexpensive.

It is an expense.

Boggles wrote: »

I don't think anyone has an issue with a minimum debit transaction. That's a fair and decent protective business practice.

But if your minimum debit transaction is 10 euros, and most people spend less than 10 euros in the course of a transaction, then what is the point of the extra cost?

Boggles wrote: »

Sorry in the context of what we are talking about that's just plain silly.

What is silly? Please explain.

keithclancy wrote:

Actually you don't need a phoneline, can just use a GSM Terminal, they also work on Wifi, or Phoneline.

Yes but GSM isnt free. You need a GSM contract with a GSM provider, and I know they can work on wifi, but the wifi isnt free either. It then connects to a wireless router which is then connected to a broadband line.

keithclancy wrote:

IMO Germany/The Netherlands is mainly cardless, this cash only thing is a foreigners perception. Germany they only take EC Cards and in the Netherlands they only take PIN.

The US is the same. When I was there earlier this year I used my card everywhere. Even buying a coke in a shop for a dollar, I used to use my card as they dont have minimum transaction fees/policies. The two main reasons for this is in both the US and mainland europe is broadband is cheap and widely available, and differences in how banks charge for transactions.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Boggles wrote: »

Sorry in the context of what we are talking about that's just plain silly.

Actually I fully agree with what was said. A KFC outlet is not a kick in the teeth away from a chipper van or ice cream van. The analogy is very good.

keithclancy

syklops wrote: »

Yes but GSM isnt free. You need a GSM contract with a GSM provider, and I know they can work on wifi, but the wifi isnt free either. It then connects to a wireless router which is then connected to a broadband line.



The US is the same. When I was there earlier this year I used my card everywhere. Even buying a coke in a shop for a dollar, I used to use my card as they dont have minimum transaction fees/policies. The two main reasons for this is in both the US and mainland europe is broadband is cheap and widely available, and differences in how banks charge for transactions.

Nah man,
Broadband is cheaper by miles than in Germany/The Netherlands.

I was able to pickup a Meteor sim a get 30 days broadband + a 7.5GB cap for 20 euros when I was back last week.

There is no comparible package on prepay or even contract for that matter in NL or Germany. Broadband in Germany/NL can be a ripoff unless your supplied by Cable (At the mercy of KPN or T-Com) and even then cable is more expensive

E.G.
Fibre Power 25mbit Broadband only.
UPC Ireland - 35 euros / month ex vat
UPC Nederland - 37.05 euros / month ex vat

On top of that you have to pay a bloody deposit on the modem with UPC here.

Its just Irish retailers skimping to save and in the process losing the long term benefit. I.E.
Go into shop want to buy something
Don't take card
Fine - I'll go somewhere else and buy it, 90 days insurance for me if I purchase with card.

Shop loses a sale, no big deal to me but the shop should be bending over backwards these days to sell their goods.

Boggles

Roland Helpful Bedtime wrote: »

Actually I fully agree with what was said. A KFC outlet is not a kick in the teeth away from a chipper van or ice cream van. The analogy is very good.

Yeah in the same way as Easons is not a kick in the teeth away from that ould fella on the corner that sells evening heralds out of a pram.

Gone way off topic anyway's, we are into the pros and cons of debit transactions which really isn't a consumer issue, backed up with a combination of misguided assumptions and crazy analogies I'll bow out.

borderlinemeath

keithclancy wrote: »

Nah man,
Broadband is cheaper by miles than in Germany/The Netherlands.

I was able to pickup a Meteor sim a get 30 days broadband + a 7.5GB cap for 20 euros when I was back last week.

There is no comparible package on prepay or even contract for that matter in NL or Germany. Broadband in Germany/NL can be a ripoff unless your supplied by Cable (At the mercy of KPN or T-Com) and even then cable is more expensive

E.G.
Fibre Power 25mbit Broadband only.
UPC Ireland - 35 euros / month ex vat
UPC Nederland - 37.05 euros / month ex vat

On top of that you have to pay a bloody deposit on the modem with UPC here.

Its just Irish retailers skimping to save and in the process losing the long term benefit. I.E.
Go into shop want to buy something
Don't take card
Fine - I'll go somewhere else and buy it, 90 days insurance for me if I purchase with card.

Shop loses a sale, no big deal to me but the shop should be bending over backwards these days to sell their goods.

In fairness, it's different strokes for different types of retailers.

Most if not all clothing, textile, furniture, large grocery accepts cards and your quite correct in paying by card to garner payment insurance.

syklops

This has just gotten ridiculous now so I am unsubscribing. I thought I made some good points but Boggles refuses to engage on any of them. And is guilty of some crazy analogies himself.

And while broadband might be cheaper than in Germany, business GSM contracts, and business broadband packages are not cheap.

I give up. You win.

kippy

While I can see where the OP is coming from - most places do have laser card facilities nowadays, I can see why the business wouldn't have that as a payment option.
I dont know exactly the costs of providing Laser/Credit card facilities but I have heard here and elsewhere that they are not cheap so not every business will put them in place.
That in my opinion is fair enough - they are under no obligation to do so. Its just another one of those things (such as whether they provide free ketchup or not) that consumers can use in determining if they want to use the service provided there.
I have to say, despite the moves to cards I still use cash for takeaways, small shops etc and will continue to have at least 50 quid in my pocket at all times for these kind of things.