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Businesses are switching to cashless payment only during the pandemic as people enact social distancing to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus. This comes after stopping the use of non-disposable cups in cafes and the general reduction of the use of cash across society. This could well be the tipping point to make cashless payments the norm across the world. Some believe it could well be the start of killing off the use of cash for good.
It's not paranoia if you know they are out to get you.
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Coronavirus may Help End the Reign of Cash
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The worst part of valor is indiscretion.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by istartedi on Monday March 23 2020, @11:48PM (2 children)
During the "public safety" power shut-offs in NorCal, cash was king. The nature of that disaster was that electronic payments were unreliable at best. You might be able to process payments if you had a generator, and all the providers between you and the processing center have power too. Often they didn't, or they didn't reliably stay up so lots of retailers went cash-only in that situation. The same thing happens in hurricanes, earthquakes, and other events that take out a large part of the grid. Sometimes it randomly happens due to server issues with payment processors.
The virus is a *different* kind of disaster, so it calls for different tools. I didn't bother going to the ATM for this one. I've been using my card everywhere, even where I'd usually just pay cash. You pound nails with a hammer. That doesn't mean you don't need wrenches.
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(Score: 2) by istartedi on Monday March 23 2020, @11:51PM
The one case where cash made more sense for the virus situation was at the gas pump. We have one station around here that has always been full service. It's usually a convenience for when the cheap station has too long a line, and you're in a hurry. In this case, cash made more sense because I handed it to the attendant (who was wearing gloves) and I never touched the pump.
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(Score: 5, Insightful) by PinkyGigglebrain on Tuesday March 24 2020, @01:00AM
Or the store's DSL modem just gave up and died. I was at a big name supermarket a few months back were that happened. Their Internet connection was down and they could only take cash.
As you pointed out, if the electric or power infrastructure is knocked out electronic payment options are useless. But another factor is that most mid/small business's don't have a backup plan for the their local internet connection going down, not even something as simple as using a cell phone as an up link just to allow CC payments.
"Beware those who would deny you Knowledge, For in their hearts they dream themselves your Master."