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Comment by cyberferret | Hacker News Reader

I'd say those businesses will have to evolve or die out. There is a great Japanese place in our town that I stopped frequenting purely because they didn't have an EFTPOS machine, and I often have to cash on me when returning from a customer visit etc. and I wanted a snack to bring home. Since they (finally) installed one after new owners took over, I go back there frequently now.

With PayWave becoming so popular for even $1 transactions at the counter by literally waving your debit card at a machine, I haven't carried significant cash in my wallet for years now.

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When they say “cash only” everyone seems to understand it means “we dodge our taxes”. But the food is usually pretty cheap. I’d say they probably won’t evolve unless they start getting prosecuted for tax avoidance...

> I’d say they probably won’t evolve unless they start getting prosecuted for tax avoidance...

Or more people no longer want to pay in cash so their sales go down dramatically.

Avoiding tax on no or low income is a lot worse than paying tax on larger profits via electronic payments.

I totally understand the undercurrent of the 'cash only' operators - but I think that there will always be a portion of your customers who will use cash (travelling tourists etc.) as well as a large chunk who will want to use some form of electronic payment.

Far better for a business IMO to offer both - then they can still pocket most of the cash transactions without declaring, yet still show legitimacy to the ATO by having electronic payment records, which should keep the auditors at bay.

Our town is popular for market and pop up stalls all over the place, and while these used to be cash only for nearly as long as I have lived here, I have been noticing that a lot of them now have portable EFTPOS machines, or smartphones connected to Square or other payment swipers. Especially those that sell clothing or items >$20 because locals just don't seem to carry large notes around any more on a casual basis.

The only places I am seeing now that get away with this in Victoria are small towns/ holiday destinations.

I don't see the economics of cash only working anymore here anywhere where there is decent competition.

With all due respect, I'd say this is definitely a product of your specific location/life circumstances. I live in one of the biggest cities in North America and "cash only" is not a hurdle for restaurants here.

Thank you for enlightening us on the Australian market from North America.

> With all due respect, I'd say this is definitely a product of your specific location/life circumstances.

Well, we are talking about Australia... I don't think the poster was talking about the whole world.

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