Debit or credit, no cash accepted

Made our quarterly trip to WalMart last week to buy a few things we can not buy locally.
36 miles each way.
After finding what we needed, went to the front to find only one cashier, so went to the self checkout registers.
After we scanned everything and tried to pay , it would not accept our cash.
When I asked for help, I was told the self checkout registers only took credit or debit cards. If I wanted to pay cash I would have to go the one cashier and get in line with the other 30 people lined up there.
Thankfully, my wife was able to get me to the door before I totally lost it.
Left over $300 worth of product scanned and sacked on the register.

Has anyone else had to deal with people who do not take cash.
If I can not pay cash, I will not shop with them.

Yeah, Walmart has never been very big on the cashiers. I was using the self-checkout on day and the thing froze up near the end of my scanning. The Walmart associate assigned to the area couldn't get it on froze either. Had to put everything back in the cart and wait in the cashier line. No need to lose it though, as it is not the fault of the workers there as to the payment policy.

I have no problem with employees. Just surprised me that they only had one register that would take cash.
I guess it goes with the times. Not many of us old timers left that only use cash.

If no one uses cash all you have to do is blow up an EMP a few miles above the US and you knock out all internet, telecommunications, financial transactions and and electricity for weeks to get some things back up and months to get everything back up.

That would have little to no effect on my life.
Of course most people would go mad within a few days.

Yep, happened to me at a Walmart in CO.

Pro tip: if you only have a few items, go to the electronics counter and check out there. I did it to combat this problem when the only place that had what I wanted was there (30 min drive) or elsewhere (1.5hr drive).

You can also get a pre-paid Visa gift card that you can pay for with cash and it works like a credit card but doesn't contain the same identifying information if that's your concern.

Obviously there's a lot more behind the scenes but the surface level stuff is valid enough to just accept it and make other arrangements. It's a good wake up call if you needed one...Romans 8:28.

From a secular "good business" worldview...when a company is already entrenched and you have precious few other options it then becomes "my way or the highway". Why if it doesn't increase profits would a secular business cater to the minority?


Yes, arguments can be made for even more money and innovation to not alienate the minority AND cater to the majority but few are interested in such discussions currently.

oh, and also unlike their well trained employees who they have trained to be their cashiers you the customer are not trained in the job skill of being an "cashier" and so any error on your part should not be misunderstood as being intentional.

Definitely deters customers that way. I know they were probably trying to save money by having less being paid per hour but I guess they prefer deterring customers.

I first ran into this issue at walmart last Christmas time.
With all those self checkouts only one or 2 were set up for cash.
I had this happen once or twice during the year, and now again being holiday time it has happened 2-3 times.
I should note though that the time of day has a lot to do with it. The earlier in the day I go I don't seem to run into this issue, but when it is later, especially closer to closing time the self check outs have already been cashed out for the night, leaving only 1 or 2 to operate.
I try to be polite and let people behind me know that there are open registers for those paying by card (since the attendants always fail to do so ) and usually am told by at least the next 4 people behind me that they too are paying cash.

What really aggravated me was that a local grocery store recently redid/upgraded their self checks out and went from 4 that accepted cash to 8 that are card only. The regular checkouts will take cash still, just not the self checkout. But then the other location they have for this grocery store still has cash and card for check out (so if I have to go to this store I go across town to the second one)

I wouldn't get to alarmed over it just yet though.
There are so many places I've been to lately that have had systems failure and accept cash only.
It's fun and sad to watch the looks on peoples faces (especially if they failed to read the big sign on the door) when they are told they can't use their cards.

Their plan is to do away with cash. We're heading towards the mark, though I'm sure I'm not the only one who sees this.

Yes, you have to check which ones take cash, but they are all labeled. Mine still currently takes cash without problem, and my parents still almost exclusively use cash. I strongly prefer the self-checkout/Walmart pickup, but that said I am also an introvert who dislikes having to unnecessarily bother with people when I can do it myself.

I have this problem periodically but so far it's only been temporary. The story I'm always given is there's a change shortage. Thankfully so far it's only been temporary in OK.

The Walmart near us cannot hire enough workers to staff the checkout lines. Seems no one wants to work any more. Several restaurants have closed just for that reason.

They are solving the problem with change. By having runaway inflation the dollar will become the new dime.

The thing is, It was not an issue when we were there in August, so I did not notice is would not take cash until it was to late. Should have been a big sign telling us before we shopped.

While You like the self checkout, I am old fashion. When I spend my money in a store, I expect competent , friendly service. At these prices, I should never have to check myself out.
If I do I should receive a discount.

Walmart is paying $16 an hour to start in my area. Some employees are making over $20 per hour. The fact that they can not hire enough people to staff the store is a sad statement of the work ethic of this younger generation.
Just the results of a society that allows people to have housing, clothing, food, and of course a cell phone while never working.

There was a day when companies worked hard to get and keep your business. Wal-Mart spends money on ads and sits back and watches as the mindless sheep do what they're told. China loves Wal-Mart.

I was told by a friend that owns a local independent grocery store, that in the beginning WalMart filled a need to working people and forced everyone else to become better business men.
But as they grew in power and wealth, they wanted all the business and did what was necessary to eliminate all competition.
Now they could care less about the customer.
I only shop at Walmart when necessary.

I just realized that it is no longer necessary.

It's like they are doing you a favor by taking your money.

Our Walmart is nationally famous, they had a stampede that killed some people during Black Friday.

And what did people learn from that? Nothing...it'll happen again. These stores are still doing brisk business in Chinese-made goods!