Is the use of cash dying out?

[Bletchleyite]

I know someone who went on a weekend break somewhere up North, they were shocked as some venues like pubs were card only (they use cash). I'm sure they said the chippy was too or something like that.
Anyone know of any 'Card only' establishments?
I should see him tomorrow so will find out more. I think it was Harrowgate of all places, but I need to check.

Arrigut is posh, so that doesn't surprise me.

 

[Elwyn]

This discussion now seems to me to be an endless mix of examples of where cash is better than other forms of payment and vice versa. None trumps the others. Both seem to have a life for the immediate future.

Google will easily find arguments from people on the edge of society who cannot survive without cash because their creditworthiness and access to alternative means of payment is limited. In an inclusive society we need to ensure they are not discriminated against, even if inadvertently. Cash may be essential for them.

I flew from Verona to Dublin recently. The airline’s on-board credit card machines were unserviceable, and we were told cash was the only means of payment which most people found inconvenient. However had cash not been an option, then no one would have got a coffee or a plastic glass of wine. Others have given many similar examples of where one form of payment beats the other. Cash is on the decrease - that seems pretty clear - but I think it’s going to continue until something equally reliable replaces it, and that probably won’t be a credit or contactless card.

 

[Bald Rick]

Anyone know of any 'Card only' establishments?

personally, I know about 100 times more card only establishments than cash only.

 

[Bletchleyite]

personally, I know about 100 times more card only establishments than cash only.

They tend to be different. Cash only I know a few chippies, barbers and the likes. Card only there are some supermarkets in the City and some pubs. Mostly both are accepted, though you're more likely to be given the card machine by default these days than needing to ask for it.

 

[Bald Rick]

They tend to be different. Cash only I know a few chippies, barbers and the likes. Card only there are some supermarkets in the City and some pubs. Mostly both are accepted, though you're more likely to be given the card machine by default these days than needing to ask for it.

Cash only near me - one barber and one Chinese takeaway.

Card only - various pubs, cafes, shops, even market stalls.

In central London theres loads of card only - even M&S in some places. My brother in law works for a small but expanding fashion retailer - every shop they open is card only, and they barely take any cash across their whole operation.

 

[johnnychips]

Cash only near me - one barber and one Chinese takeaway.

Card only - various pubs, cafes, shops, even market stalls.

In central London theres loads of card only - even M&S in some places. My brother in law works for a small but expanding fashion retailer - every shop they open is card only, and they barely take any cash across their whole operation.

In Sheffield, if I see a place saying ‘card only’, I think ‘pretentious bastards’ and avoid them (grumpy old man speaking) even though I rarely carry cash myself. But I know the tide will sweep the country from London in the end, and I’m not really bothered either way. What will beggars, of whom we have enough in Sheffield, do though?

 

[PeterC]

There are things which don't immediately come to mind when considering this, what about milkmen who pick up cash from the step?

Both the major national delivery services take all payments from your card online.

 

[ChrisC]

I’m currently enjoying a few days walking in the Lincolnshire Wolds. The hotel that I’m staying in near Louth is completely card only including the bar.

Yesterday I went over to the coast and walked along the sea front from Mablethorpe to Sutton on Sea and back. I haven’t been to Mablethorpe for years and it was good to revisit locations just about remembered from childhood holidays. I parked in a car park priced at £3 a day and paid using a £20 note so then had plenty of change in my pocket. I then continued to use cash for the rest of the day paying for cups of tea and coffee, ice cream, fish and chips, and a reasonably priced pint of beer for only £3.60. It was quite a nostalgic day and I actually enjoyed using cash for a whole day just like old times. My card remained in my wallet securely tucked away in a pocket of my rucksack and I just used cash from my pocket.

This actually seemed to be the norm in Mabelthorpe as most people I saw were also paying for their cups of tea, ice creams etc by cash. That’s how I was before Covid, I would never have considered paying for a small item like a coffee by card. On a weekday in Mablethorpe in September the majority of the people were over 60. Not wanting to generalise too much but it’s probably a town where less well off people would be enjoying a day by the sea or a a few days holiday staying in a caravan cheaply out of the main holiday season. From what I observed for these people cash still rules and I actually quite enjoyed going back to it. I wonder if I would have seen less use of cash amongst the retired people of somewhere like Eastbourne or St Ives?

 

[Hadders]

In Sheffield, if I see a place saying ‘card only’, I think ‘pretentious bastards’ and avoid them (grumpy old man speaking) even though I rarely carry cash myself. But I know the tide will sweep the country from London in the end, and I’m not really bothered either way. What will beggars, of whom we have enough in Sheffield, do though?

Some beggars in London already have card machines.

 

[Busaholic]

They tend to be different. Cash only I know a few chippies, barbers and the likes. Card only there are some supermarkets in the City and some pubs. Mostly both are accepted, though you're more likely to be given the card machine by default these days than needing to ask for it.

I don't believe there are now any card only supermarkets anywhere in the U.K., of the major groups anyway. Sainsbury's opened the first card only supermarket in Holborn, on the edge of the City of London, a few years ago and coincidentally(?) the firm had a series on the BBC at the time following their operations. It was not just card only, every item removed by a customer from the shelf and put into their basket was observed by a mountain of cameras and tallied up ready for the 'check-out.' The store was deliberately chosen as being optimal for the (initial three month) experiment. It was clear from what was shown that, from the start, this wasn't going to work, with many office workers just wanting to grab a banana and go, and it all taking far too long. After a short while, an unadvertised till at Customer Services had to be re-opened taking cash and doing scanning, with a queue of up to twenty people at times. What Sainsbury's had thought was going to be a free P.R. exercise for the firm, following the uncritical one on Iceland which preceded it, showed them with egg on their faces. The M.D. had to admit the experiment had not been a success, was removed from the branch and would not be 'rolled out' elsewhere as they originally planned.

 

[Dai Corner]

I don't believe there are now any card only supermarkets anywhere in the U.K., of the major groups anyway. Sainsbury's opened the first card only supermarket in Holborn, on the edge of the City of London, a few years ago and coincidentally(?) the firm had a series on the BBC at the time following their operations. It was not just card only, every item removed by a customer from the shelf and put into their basket was observed by a mountain of cameras and tallied up ready for the 'check-out.' The store was deliberately chosen as being optimal for the (initial three month) experiment. It was clear from what was shown that, from the start, this wasn't going to work, with many office workers just wanting to grab a banana and go, and it all taking far too long. After a short while, an unadvertised till at Customer Services had to be re-opened taking cash and doing scanning, with a queue of up to twenty people at times. What Sainsbury's had thought was going to be a free P.R. exercise for the firm, following the uncritical one on Iceland which preceded it, showed them with egg on their faces. The M.D. had to admit the experiment had not been a success, was removed from the branch and would not be 'rolled out' elsewhere as they originally planned.

Tesco have at least one, apparently.

Tesco opens new checkout-free store, ‘GetGo’

www.tescoplc.com

Tesco opens new checkout-free store, ‘GetGo’​

19 October 2021

Tesco has today (Tuesday 19 October) opened its first checkout-free store in central London, giving customers the opportunity to shop and pay without scanning a product or using a checkout. This new store trial, GetGo, offers customers the same Tesco products with a seamless shopping experience.

The rollout of this technology to Tesco Express High Holborn follows a successful trial at Tesco’s colleague store in Welwyn Garden City, which has been in place since 2019. Tesco Express High Holborn has been a cashless store since it first opened in 2018.

Our leading-edge technology means that customers with the Tesco.com app will be able to check-in to our store, pick up the groceries they need and walk straight out again without visiting a checkout. A combination of cameras and weight-sensors will establish what customers have picked up and charge them for products directly through the app when they leave the store. Tesco has partnered Trigo for the launch of this store.

There will be a section in the store specifically for age-restricted products, with a separate exit where colleagues will manually check ID verification.

As the first public GetGo store launched by Tesco, this new technology will create an even more convenient shopping experience for customers, saving time for those who want to pop in to pick up something for lunch or grab dinner on their way home.

Kevin Tindall, Managing Director, Tesco Convenience said: “This is a really exciting moment for Tesco as we launch GetGo with customers. We are constantly looking for ways to improve the shopping experience and our latest innovation offers a seamless checkout for customers on the go, helping them to save a bit more time. This is currently just a one-store trial but we’re looking forward to seeing how our customers respond”.

*END*

NOTES:

• Tesco has partnered with Trigo to roll out its frictionless technology
• The store will be open 7am to 11pm
• The cameras do not use facial recognition technology, but instead track body movements. Visual data from customers will not be stored or saved.

How does the shop work?

• Customers will need to use their Tesco.com app. If they don’t have this already, they will need to download it and create an account before using this store.
• Customers check in at the store entrance and shop as normal.
• Cameras and technology in the store will detect which items customers put in their basket to purchase.
• Customers walk out with their purchases.
• They will be charged through the Tesco.com app after leaving the store and will receive a receipt on their phone within a few minutes of leaving the store.

 

[Hadders]

Amazon Fresh are ‘just walk out’, you scan the QR code on the Amazon app to enter with payment being made automatically via the app.

Tesco and Sainsbury’s have similar concepts on trial.

 

[Busaholic]

Tesco have at least one, apparently.

Tesco opens new checkout-free store, ‘GetGo’

www.tescoplc.com

A card-free and cash-free store, apparently. Interestingly enough, their current website makes no mention in having to have an account registered on an app to shop there, just the 'wonders' if you should, so maybe that requirement's been quietly dropped!

 

[Ediswan]

Interestingly enough, their current website makes no mention in having to have an account registered on an app to shop there, just the 'wonders' if you should, so maybe that requirement's been quietly dropped!

The link you gave includes the text:

• Customers will need to use their Tesco.com app. If they don’t have this already, they will need to download it and create an account before using this store.
• Customers check in at the store entrance and shop as normal.

 

[Hadders]

A card-free and cash-free store, apparently. Interestingly enough, their current website makes no mention in having to have an account registered on an app to shop there, just the 'wonders' if you should, so maybe that requirement's been quietly dropped!

You have to have the Tesco Clubcard app with payment card details registered to access the store.

 

[pdq]

Just been out to get fish and chips in Batley - Saturday around 1715. We have 2 chippies to choose from. Found no. 1 closes at 4pm on a Saturday and no. 2 doesn't take cards. Only had my phone on me as really didn't expect a chip shop to close so early.

Clearly this business thinks there is no gain to be had from acquiring a card machine, even though they must surely be losing more trade than just mine.

 

[Busaholic]

The link you gave includes the text:

The official Tesco Express, High Holborn link makes no mention of having to shop this way, I've rechecked it! It produces a list of frequently asked questions, the first of which should be blindingly obvious 'do I need this app to shop there or will you accept payment in the normal way?', but, as always with these things, it's ignored. I'd genuinely be interested to know whether it is a requirement - I suspect if it was it's been quietly dropped. Can anyone show a notice displayed at the entrance refusing payment to app refuseniks? Personally, I'd go round the corner to Sainsbury's Local, open longer hours too.

 

[Ediswan]

The official Tesco Express, High Holborn link makes no mention of having to shop this way, I've rechecked it! It produces a list of frequently asked questions, the first of which should be blindingly obvious 'do I need this app to shop there or will you accept payment in the normal way?', but, as always with these things, it's ignored. I'd genuinely be interested to know whether it is a requirement - I suspect if it was it's been quietly dropped. Can anyone show a notice displayed at the entrance refusing payment to app refuseniks? Personally, I'd go round the corner to Sainsbury's Local, open longer hours too.

Apologies. I just re-read your previous post more carefully. I agree the web site is unclear: https://www.tesco.com/store-locator/westminster/19-21

This video (from The Grocer) suggests you can't even get into the shop without scanning a QR code from the app (at 00:30):

 

[Busaholic]

Apologies. I just re-read your previous post more carefully. I agree the web site is unclear: https://www.tesco.com/store-locator/westminster/19-21

This video (from The Grocer) suggests you can't even get into the shop without scanning a QR code from the app (at 00:30):

Thank you, that was interesting. It presumably was shot at the end of last year, though, so it could still have been overtaken by events. My instant reaction was (a) the number of staff standing around to do checks was surely as large as would have been required before (in that sort of video you never see empty shelves or the restocking going on) and that the number of cameras required is huge, and I don't believe they'll always be accurate about what is picked up and/or put back. Their electricity bill will be huge, and you'll be paying it!

Aside from that, I find it supremely ironic that a forum on which anti-authoritarian, 'Big Brother' viewpoints are used to attack almost all 'official' reactions to the Covid 19 epidemic is also party to the exact opposite = going along with providing any financial and other information to large commercial, often near monopoly organisations and companies that decide they'd like to have it for their own devices.The idea of cameras actually following, rather than being enabled to, your every movement while you shop for butter and cereals is so abhorrent, why would anyone not a cretin go along with it?

 

[najaB]

...that the number of cameras required is huge, and I don't believe they'll always be accurate about what is picked up and/or put back. Their electricity bill will be huge, and you'll be paying it!

There are objections, but the number of cameras or their electricity requirements is not one of them.

 

[Busaholic]

There are objections, but the number of cameras or their electricity requirements is not one of them.

It is if part of their P.R. guff is saving hugely on costs.

 

[najaB]

It is if part of their P.R. guff is saving hugely on costs.

Not really. Buying the cameras is a capital cost - you only buy them once, rather than having to pay for them every month. Speaking which, a typical CCTV camera uses around 10W, so probably about 12p a day in electricity. At £4/m per camera you could run over 300 cameras for less than the wages of one employee at minimum wage.

 

[Ediswan]

Thank you, that was interesting. It presumably was shot at the end of last year, though, so it could still have been overtaken by events.

The latest Google Street View is August 2022. Looks the same.

Buying the cameras is a capital cost - you only buy them once, rather than having to pay for them every month.

Depends what Tesco's deal is with Trigo, the technology supplier. Tesco may be leasing the whole GetGo system.

 

[najaB]

Depends what Tesco's deal is with Trigo, the technology supplier. Tesco may be leasing the whole GetGo system.

That's also a possibility - though it would still be the same equation, just a different entity purchasing the equipment.

 

[syorksdeano]

What will beggars, of whom we have enough in Sheffield, do though?

Not seen Gemma begging for a while. Dosy cow probably nicked a card machine hoping it would be linked to her bank account.

For those that don't know Gemma, she's the gobby one that always needs to go to London or Nottingham as her auntie has died. Bearing in mind I've lived here since 2007 and until recently used to see her more or less everyday, it makes me wonder how many aunties she actually has.

It's always fun getting the abuse when you tell her no, then will ask you again a few hours later forgetting that she has seen you

 

[Bletchleyite]

The Holborn Tesco is definitely still like that as of about 2 weeks ago.

 

[Busaholic]

The Holborn Tesco is definitely still like that as of about 2 weeks ago.

Nobody has answered my simple question - is access denied to anyone not with an enabled app?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Sep 2022 ==

Not really. Buying the cameras is a capital cost - you only buy them once, rather than having to pay for them every month. Speaking which, a typical CCTV camera uses around 10W, so probably about 12p a day in electricity. At £4/m per camera you could run over 300 cameras for less than the wages of one employee at minimum wage.

It's hardly just a 'typical CCTV camera' in view of what it's having to calculate about each individual without mixing them up! I can guarantee the cost of the 'project' is huge and someone will have charged/continue to charge Tesco exorbitant sums as there's no way this can be run 'in house' I suggest. As for identifying individual customers, what if someone wearing a hat takes it off midway through their shop, or if two are shopping together and both removing/putting back items from shelves?

Your last sentence is palpable nonsense I'm afraid. The whole shebang will be costing them far more than keeping two or three peopled checkouts going plus a few self -service ones, aside from the many lost potential and actual customers.

 

[johncrossley]

I've been to one of the Amazon convenience stores and there are definitely no tills there. You have to scan a barcode to enter the shop.

 

[najaB]

It's hardly just a 'typical CCTV camera' in view of what it's having to calculate about each individual without mixing them up!

That's an artificial vision program running in a data centre somewhere. Again, very little cost compared to someone's wages.

Your last sentence is palpable nonsense I'm afraid. The whole shebang will be costing them far more than keeping two or three peopled checkouts going plus a few self -service ones, aside from the many lost potential and actual customers.

On the contrary. If it didn't have the potential to save money they wouldn't be doing it in the first place.

 

[Darandio]

Nobody has answered my simple question - is access denied to anyone not with an enabled app?

Yes, that's how it works. You need the Clubcard app enabled to use GetGo, this gives you access to the shop.