Why this sign is drawing praise from Aussies as Cairns store takes a stand against cashless payments
A cafe is being showered with praise for asking customers to pay in cash and pointing out that it costs them more to use an electronic payment system.
Helga’s Pancake House in Cairns, Far North Queensland, has been receiving praise since a sign was placed in the store.
‘Join the cash revolution! Banks earn up to $1 million per hour in payment fees! Don’t let the banks cash you in! Pay with cash today!’ it says on the board.
Owner Birgit Machnitzke said her restaurant not only offers cash, but she put up the sign to let people know the cost of using a credit or debit card.
“For me, it’s all about choices,” Ms. Machnitzke said news.com.au.
The cafe is just one of many businesses discovered in Australia that are opposing a cashless society and encouraging cash payments.
A cafe owned by Birgit Machnitzke (pictured) is being showered with praise for asking customers to pay in cash and pointing out that it costs them more to pay electronically
Helga’s Pancake House in Cairns in far north Queensland has been receiving praise since a sign (pictured) in the store was featured on the Cash is King Australia Facebook group
Ms Machnitzke said the cafe was paying up to $1,200 a month to banks until six months ago after it decided not to pass on card payment fees to its customers.
But as the cost of most of its stock, power and other bills rose, it decided to stop absorbing payment costs and added a surcharge for customers paying via EFTPOS or credit cards.
Despite the extra costs, most of its customers still pay by card. She said paying cash would “save them money, but a lot of people don’t care.”
Credit and debit card fees typically range from 0.5 percent to 2 percent of the value of a transaction, according to comparison site finder.com.au.
But businesses can set their own surcharge amount, as long as it’s based on the cost of accepting a particular type of payment.
With most of her customers still happy to pay by card, Ms. Machnitzke is trying to tempt them back to cash by offering a five percent discount to customers who pay with notes and coins.
Her sign informing people of the charges has sparked many conversations about the benefits of cash, as well as praise online.
“That’s the best sign yet,” one Facebook group member wrote, while another said: “Onya Cairns Pancake House. Well done.’
Other commentators said she was a “hero” for her stance against electronic payments.
However, the overall trend is going the other way: more than 90 percent of payments are now made by cards and some predict that Australia could be almost completely cashless by 2026.
Owner Birgit Machnitzke said her restaurant (pictured) not only offers cash, but she put up the sign to inform people about the costs of using a credit or debit card
The Heritage Bakery in the southeastern NSW town of Milton recently put up a sign declaring it ‘Australia’s First Cashless Bakery’.
Above an image of a smiling gingerbread man, the sign emphasizes the benefits of not using physical money.
“Cashless is fast…, Cashless is clean… Cashless is accurate,” the sign reads.
“Thank you for being an early adopter.”
However, Helga’s Pancake House is not the only one trying to move away from cash; many other stores, restaurants and businesses are putting up similar signs.
One in the Victorian town of Kyabram, 200 kilometers north of Melbourne, is asking people to ‘Please pay in cash if you can.’
A store (pictured) in the Victorian town of Kyabram, 200 kilometers north of Melbourne, asks people to ‘Please pay cash if you can’
The ‘cash is king’ movement has become a new favorite of conspiracy theorists, who view electronic payments as something more sinister (pictured)
It adds that this is a good idea because it avoids bank fees, keeps cash alive, supports local businesses instead of banks and teaches children about money.
The sign then ends with the stark warning: “Cash is king.” Use it or lose it.”
The ‘cash is king’ movement has become a new favorite of conspiracy theorists, who view electronic payments as something more sinister.
“The removal of our CASH is only possible because of the continued betrayal of their citizens by the UN controlled government politicians TRAITORS in most UN member state governments,” one wrote next to an ad featuring the Kyabram sign.