This was published 6 months ago
Mary Street Bakery goes back to cash after angry customers abuse staff too many times
By Claire Ottaviano
Mary Street bakeries across Perth are once again accepting cash after fierce backlash about taking cards only.
“During COVID we thought we’d take the opportunity to stop using cash when people didn’t want to,” owner Paul Aron said.
“It’s been very good in terms of time saving, but the reason we’ve gone back is because staff were getting abused.
Mary Street Bakery owner Paul Aron says allowing cash payments keeps all of his customers included.
“I also realised over time that it is difficult for some people not to use cash and I don’t want to alienate any of our customers.”
Going back to cash means the business has had to streamline how it processes daily takings as bank branches decline, making it more difficult for staff to get to a branch.
“It’s time that it takes for our stores to count cash in the morning, in the afternoon and when they close, and it’s the time it takes my accounting team to reconcile seven cash drawers and to figure out unders and overs, and the closure of bank branches is making it really hard to bank,” he said.
“It’s quite an expense and a bit of a pain actually, but my overarching sentiment is that I was happy to bring it back because it’s about making sure everyone who wants to come, can come – and about protecting my staff.”
Choosing to pay with cash is a fundamental right for all Australians, say independent MPs pushing for the preservation of banknotes and coins.
Businesses could face hefty fines of up to $25,000 if they refuse cash payments under new legislation introduced to federal parliament on Monday.
Independent MP Andrew Gee says many Australians fear cash is being phased out deliberately.Credit: Getty (altered, composite image)
Despite a Reserve Bank of Australia survey finding the decline of cash use was accelerating, former Nationals MP Andrew Gee told Radio 6PR’s Gary Adshead today Australians wanted the right to choose cash when paying in person.
“I’ve had overwhelming support on this, not only from my own area – which is the central west of NSW – but right around the country,” Gee said.
“Many Australians are concerned that cash transactions are being phased out deliberately, and this bill fills a real void in the law that [says] businesses don’t have to accept payment by cash if they give you notice before the transaction takes place.”
Between 2019 and 2022 the share of in-person transactions made with cash halved from 32 per cent to 16 per cent.
In his address to parliament, Gee also called merchant fees charged by financial institutions and passed on to customers an “insidious tax” that cost Australians $1 billion a year, effectively penalising customers for using cards over cash.
Unaware of the possible coming changes in legislation,
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission says businesses can choose what types of payment they will accept for a transaction as long as they make customers aware of this before the transaction takes place.
The Keeping Cash Transactions in Australia Bill 2024 would legislate that businesses operating in face-to-face settings must accept cash payments for transactions up to $10,000.
The bill provides for maximum civil penalties of $5000 for individuals and $25,000 for companies, with some exemptions.
The voice to keep cash is growing an online following, with a Facebook page naming and shaming cashless businesses – Call Out Cashless Businesses – gaining more than 55,000 members in 12 months.
Read more
Byford killing in front of child was ‘dreadful domestic violence case’
Rio Tinto unveils $215 million ‘green steel’ Rockingham research plant