After days of rain the sun came out and I decided to go for an outing. On my way home I stopped at a large garden centre that has nice rest rooms. Needed a coffee and a short rest too; got a latte and put down the right amount in cash.
The assistant immediately went ballistic and said cash was not acceptable. Had she been nicer I'd have got my card out, her belligerence got my back up and I decided to stand my ground and said: Its legal tender.
We don't accept it! I picked up the coffee and walked away. Sat down at a table and took a few sips only to be confronted by a man saying I could not have the coffee. He grabbed it, returned my money and accused me of being rude (I wasn't). I was stunned that they went full retard and created such a scene.
Shame I'm not on social media; if anyone wants to leave their thoughts on the Burford Garden Company (I'm in the UK) FB page feel free. Disgusting way to treat an old lady (anyone, in fact). We need to make a stand; so many are now excluded because they don't have cards or smart phones.
I would love to get a flash mob to go in, get full meals with drinks etc., try to pay in cash and walk away if they get stroppy. In the meantime I need to find out if they are legally entitled to refuse cash.
Sorry you were treated so savagely. Ever since COVID, I've noticed there is a more hostile relationship between customer and service provider. Very bad for long-term business growth. Yesterday I paid cash for a bottle of wine and the cashier took the 20 with gloves on and put it into a white envelope, like it was toxic. If you're that neurotic, don't work with the general public.
I will write to the manager and say they have lost a life-long customer and will be boycotted by my friends and the local gardening club. Very bad way to treat customers.
The other day I was in the Oxford Uni museum cafe; asked the girl if they were totally cashless and she said no, they took it if people didn't have cards. As she was trying to cope on her own and was nice I paid by card to make it easier for her.
I have not been near a Museum since last April but when I buy beer at the local Tavern, I will use debit for the beer and always tip with cash.
Good for you. I write to the establishments that are acting crazy. If we all did that, maybe they would pull their fangs in.
I agree with your sentiment about the customer/provider relationship. I have to say, though, that it goes both ways, and COVID has brought a lot of it on. Lots of FOMO and utter rudeness, to the point where a lot of restaurants and retail establishments (at least in my area) had to hang signs that stated (in so many words), "We will no longer tolerate rudeness in our establishment. Please be patient, as every one of us is going through the same hardships. You will not be served if you are rude to our staff." As shortages continue to build, I have a feeling that this adversarial relationship will get even worse for a while.
Neither side is innocent in this, and both sides continue to perpetuate this behavior. I think in the end, though, things will work themselves out when people on both sides latch on to what is actually important.
Putting up a sign like that must turn away Customers. I wouldn't eat there. Restaurants can't afford to lose Customers these days. It also depends on the Restaurant and Clientele. In a.lower socioeconomic area, a sign like that is probably very much needed.
I thought the same thing, until I spoke to an owner who said to me, "It only turns away the entitled, delusional ones you don't want." When you're/he's the only game in town in his small village facility (since many of the others have unfortunately closed due to the COVID lie), he can afford to enforce that. I've noticed that in most places around other areas, the signs have come down.
I can't disagree completely with his philosophy, either. He feels that people have bought too much into this marketed delusion that those with the most shiny objects can lord over others like they're scum, when in reality they're just yet another flittering, useless insect to those who have the real wealth and power.
I spend time in 2 cities 2 hours apart driving. One has the worst service and the other has the best service. Once a critical mass is met, everyone behaves the same way. Sadly, given the State of costs and bleak futures for younger people. It must be hard to keep a smile on your face while at work.
I started seeing those "don't be angry, verbably aggressive..." signs in doctor offices about a year ago. I asked an MA if people were getting mad in general or in specific instances. She said she had no clue. The signs just appeared one day.
Was that true. I couldn't say.
Lots of contempt for your fellow man these days. One of the signs of going from a First World society to a 3rd World. In Canada we have free healthcare but we are still at the mercy of the admin staff. I always bring them a box of chocolates when I visit my Doctor. It has saved me so much wait time and I always get an appointment within a week of calling up for one. The best investment I've ever made.
We leave a bit of candy for the trash collectors and the letter carrier. Both have been effusive in their thanks.
Long ago, my mother was a HR executive and she taught me that if you take care of the people at the bottom, they will remember it when it’s “go time”.
This is a fantastic idea
My favorite donut shop is nearly 100% cash. To use a credit card you need to buy 20 bucks or more. For a debit card they charge an extra fee also if under a certain amount. Near everyone I see when I am there pays in cash. They usually have a line of people out the door.
I used services with a few (3) different small businesses for work around my place last year. They told me they would have to charge me 3% more if I paid with a credit card.
(Edit - this commentary is for the US, I'm not aure what the UK laws are.)
Here's the thing about "legal tender for all debts, public and private"...
The debt has to exist. If you want to hire a contractor to build a house, but the contractor doesn't accept cash, the contractor can simply refuse to build the house. No debt exists. If the contractor builds the house and THEN refuses the cash, the contractor simply keeps the house. No debt exists.
If a coffee shop wants to take back the coffee, they can do that. They're assholes, and idiots, but they can do that. If they want to call the police, and say "we sold a cup of coffee but the customer won't pay via our preferred method" the police will say "well there's the money that you are owed, sitting right there on the counter, pick it up and stop calling us."
Again, this is how it works in the US. I would assume it's at least similar anywhere that fiat currency exists.
UK police are so woke they would probably arrest me for causing a disturbance.
Oi! You got a license for causing public disturbances? And you need a permit to defy the legal orders of a fully certified coffee shop cashier.
New word of the day! "Stroppy" Love it...
We have so many; my s-i-l was specially pleased to be able to exclaim "Bollocks" when he was miffed.
I'd love to be there and join you. This is a crying shame. We will retain our Legal Tender long past any Bitcoin or Bank cards. Then I pray you run upon these crazy people and remind them of the Injustice they did to you. God bless.
Look at it this way, anon -- the people who work there are not the type of folks you want to be financially supporting by giving them your business and they've been good enough to show you their true colors. Now you can support their competitors instead when you want gardening supplies. Had this incident never occurred you would have happily continued to shop there and put money in the pockets of people who, wittingly or unwittingly, support the promotion of electronic shackles on the public at large.
Telling all your friends is good and writing to the manager/owner is as well. If, by some odd chance, the manager wasn't aware of this behavior by his/her employees, he/she can offer you an apology, perhaps make amends, and correct said behavior by directing his/her employees to be more decent. It's likely that the rot comes from the top, but you never know. Good luck in any case.
Edit: In looking at low ratings on the TripAdvisor site, I found the following from October 2022. It seems their policy has been "no cash" for some time. On the good note... There's at least one other person in your area that's awake!!
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Geraldine T 3 contributions
Card only payment. No thanks.
Oct 2022 • Couples
Card only payment. We were due to spend £500 + on Christmas presents. It has just lost our trade. If you want Social Credits and to be told how and when you can spend your money, continue with your cards sheeple.
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https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g186358-d12119479-Reviews-Burford_Garden_Center-Burford_Cotswolds_England.html#REVIEWS
I love the word "stroppy" - it's not used near enough! I hope you get some satisfaction.
I've been boycotting any businesses that demanded masks or proof of vaccination. Try making your coffee at home. You'll save a fortune!
My reaction would have been:
"Cash is not acceptable"
leaves money on the conter, take cup and walks away to sit down and take a few sips
"You can't have the coffee"
holds coffee takes lid off and holds it away from them - glares at them so they know if they try to grab it, it'll be thrown at their face. wait for them to make their move either for or away from me.
Had I seen the man coming I'd have held on to the mug with both hands and carried on drinking. As it was I only held on to the handle and he put his hand over the top of the mug making it impossible for me to move it. Completely OTT, should have asked where his swastika armband was.
These twats can be reached on Twatter via @burfordgarden.
I really like the thrust of your post here, undine53. I'd really like to see more call to action posts where we can swarm someone on social media or in person. When we unite on things like this, we can change the culture.
Wish I wasn't across the pond from you, Undine because you'd be invited over to my place for a latte and proper warm treatment if I were closer.
The way they get so immediately defensive shows that they know what they're doing is not right.
Man, that lady is a fucking bitch!
People will physically hurt even an old lady convinced of their own righteousness....
I was in a restaurant recently and after the meal the server tells me "We've decided to go cashless" handing me the machine with the tipping options
"Oh you've decided to cashless have you? well then, you can go tipless" pressed NO
I left a fiver on the table anyway - just to prove the point, they DO accept cash (not that the brainlet server would get the point)
Now I always carry cash because I want this to happen again, after a meal is eaten, they will have a problem not me. My plan is to lay down more than enough cash and smile (and not give in).
An update on the legal position would be interesting. (EDIT: regardless, I would enjoy that day in court)
And of course, not one other person in that place did anything to stand up for you did they? They’ve all been brainwashed to be. Cucks!
You should have take. Money out the tip jar…. Threw it at them and say “thanks for my coffee comrade”