I'm with Clem on this one, sorta. I keep and roll all the silver coins old enough to have silver and all the pennies older than '84 and still copper, but the rest gets pumped into the self check kiosk before I swipe my card.
I keep the copper and silver mostly because I collected coins for a while as a kid and if one of the nieces or nephews starts up with it I'd like to be able to kick start their hobby. That and for melting down to make stuff or when I need a soft penny sized washer.
In reply to oldopelguy :
I do have a jar of 1981 and earlier pennies (1982 was when they switched to a mostly-zinc penny). And of course any pre 1965 quarters and dimes.
volvoclearinghouse said:
I also tend to pay small businesses in cash, since I know they take a percentage or two hit from me using the plastic.
That one way to view it.
The other is to assume that businesses are charging EVERYONE sufficient upcharges to cover the amount credit cards add as a fee.
Which would imply that paying with cash means you are over paying. ;-)
In reply to SVreX :
The cynicism is strong with this one.
In reply to volvoclearinghouse :
Not really cynicism. Though I will say your optimism is striking me as a little unrealistic. Perhaps that sounds like cynicism.
Nobody gets a discount for paying cash. That means that all prices are established based on the potential revenue for credit sales.
I love your encouraging attitude about small business. I’ve been a small businessman for most of my life. But it’s a different viewpoint.
Over the years I have asked many, many businesses to give a discount if I paid cash, KNOWING the credit purchase costs them more. My usual offer is to split the value of the cost of the credit purchase. In other words, I am GIVING them more money with a cash purchase than they would make with a credit purchase.
They pretty much never take the deal. So I hand them my credit card, and they make less. It doesn’t make sense to me.
I’m sorry if that sounds like cynicism to you. To me, it simply sounds like my experiences, and basic math.
No need to make it personal.
In reply to volvoclearinghouse :
...though there is one big perk you are offering small businesses when you pay them in cash. You are giving them the ability to easily dodge paying taxes. Which creates a burden on everyone else.
Really love your optimism.
I used to save change in a big jar until someone broke into my house and stole it (along with a bunch of other stuff.) That jar must have weighed 50 pounds so I hope they hurt themselves carrying it out the door. 
Anyway, ever since then I resolved to spend change as I get it. I rarely have more than $1.00 worth of coins on hand.
In reply to SVreX :
Sorry if you took it personal. It was meant as tongue in cheek. I'm not sure what was "optimistic" about my statement . It was pretty much just factual. But...thank you?
My experience has always been the opposite- whenever I've offered cash, and split the difference in the credit card fees, they usually accept.
Whether they dodge taxes or not is absolutely none of my responsibility. Up until very recently, the majority of all transactions were in cash, and somehow, taxes still got paid. I have NEVER offered anyone a "cash deal" with the implied or expressed reasoning that they could avoid taxes.
There are still gas stations around that give a penny or two per gallon discount for cash/ debit sales, too. And I have been to places that charge 1-2% additional if you pay with card.
EDIT: This topic sure took a strange turn...
Another perspective...
At the corner Mega Quickie Mart, where the cashier is not the owner, if I pay with cash, the cashier has to give me change. This now opens up the possibility that the cashier will make an error in giving me change. If that error is in my favor, like the cashier gives me $1 too much in change, then at the end of the day, the cashier will have to pay that $1 out of his/her own pocket. Do this enough times and the cashier could loose their job.
By using debit card, I am making the cashier's job easier/safer.
In reply to John Welsh :
That’s true, though very strange!
I’ve never quite understood that. I’ve always felt minor losses like that are part of the cost of doing business. A low paid worker being charged for a minor mistake seems unfair.
In my industry, people make mistakes that cost thousands. They don’t pay for them. When I had a coffee shop I never charged the employees for minor discrepancies in the cash drawer. I once made a mistake on a forklift that cost the company over $300K. I didn’t get fired.
A repetitive situation? Certainly could lead to dismissal.
I don’t get it. Oh well. Maybe that’s why I am not a wealthy man.
In reply to volvoclearinghouse :
Didn’t really take it personally... trying to respond as balanced as possible to being called a cynic. Obviously something I said came across badly... I apologize.
I was commenting on your optimistic attitude about paying with cash to small operators. I admire it.
Of course you are right that it’s not your responsibility if someone else chooses to not pay their taxes. But when it DOES happen, the rest of us DO get to pay for it. Just happens...
You'll need to log in to post.
