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Salvation Army - why don’t they do this?

(61 Posts)
Witzend Tue 12-Nov-24 09:17:19

Once again the nice old SA chap was outside M&S with his collecting tin, but no card reader. I do very much support the SA, especially for their work with homeless people, but I rarely carry cash any more, same as many people I expect - they must surely be missing out?

Last December, on a very cold and dismal day, their band was playing carols outside M&S, I went in, just to use the cash machine, in order to have something to give them.

GrannyGravy13 Tue 12-Nov-24 09:19:14

I imagine the cost of the card reader unit aalong with fees charged by the provider.

A lot of new generation smart phones are able to do the job of a basic card reader (my nail lady uses her Samsung Galaxy)

escaped Tue 12-Nov-24 09:25:06

I agree.
And all these charities who still supply little envelopes to pop your coins or notes in. Who has real money lying around anymore?
Question, Do charities not get free card readers given them? I assume they get reduced fees on transactions too? I've no idea really.

GrannyGravy13 Tue 12-Nov-24 09:31:51

Just had a quick Google not all card machine companies allow donations it is rather more complicated for a charity to get a card reader than a business/sole trader 🤷‍♀️

RosiesMaw2 Tue 12-Nov-24 09:42:26

We all day “oh I don’t carry cash any more” and then bewail its absence!
Why not make a point of carrying a small amount - remember “ use it or lose it” ?

Recently I stopped to fill up with petrol (dangerously low, I know, not my usual habit) and when I went in to pay the computer systems were down and they could not take card payments (or sell anything, so bang went my teatime sandwich)
The pumps had been closed behind me and I would have been happy to leave my name and address and pay the next day, but as it happened I had just been to a cash point and had £50 on me, just a £ or so short of my total. The staff were only too happy to settle for that.
So as I said, why don’t WE make the effort to carry a few £coins and low denomination notes?

Kate1949 Tue 12-Nov-24 09:46:53

I never feel comfortable if I don't have a bit of cash in my purse. I'm not sure why. Old habits I suppose.

Calendargirl Tue 12-Nov-24 09:47:02

I pay for nearly everything with my credit card, as I earn cash back on it, but I always have my purse with me with some money in it.

My local butcher only accepts cash or cheque, never seems an issue. All the regulars know this, and if a visitor comes in, they have to go and get cash from the ATM.

The butchers do a good trade, so obviously not a problem for them.

infoman Tue 12-Nov-24 09:55:17

I notice that all the poppy collectors had card readers.

Witzend Tue 12-Nov-24 10:04:36

infoman

I notice that all the poppy collectors had card readers.

Me too. It must surely be worth the cost.

pascal30 Tue 12-Nov-24 10:10:53

I always carry cash with me, about £20 and I like to have a cash stash at home of a couple of hundred.. it's really useful for odd jobs I need doing in the house..

Allira Tue 12-Nov-24 10:57:25

I always carry money.
Well, usually unless I've spent it.

Use it or lose it.
Like cheques.

Allira Tue 12-Nov-24 10:59:20

Can you imagine the collections in church, especially on the Sunday just gone, being by card reader?

They'd have to sing about six hymns to get round.

People were putting notes of various denominations into the baskets.

HelterSkelter1 Tue 12-Nov-24 11:03:51

Good idea to have a 20.00 note ... or a couple... and some £ coins in a zipped pocket or bag.

When lots of machines were out of action a few months back I could pay for my shopping in Waitrose.

That reminds me I must top up my stash now I am wearing the same warm coat most days and it has zipped pockets and a secret pocket....so secret I only found it when the coat was 2 years old!

escaped Tue 12-Nov-24 11:08:57

Can you imagine the collections in church, especially on the Sunday just gone, being by card reader?
It's quite common in the churches/cathedrals I attend. There's a fixed amount on the screen, you just tap the card on it if you're happy with that amount.

Aldom Tue 12-Nov-24 11:15:40

Allira

Can you imagine the collections in church, especially on the Sunday just gone, being by card reader?

They'd have to sing about six hymns to get round.

People were putting notes of various denominations into the baskets.

Our parish church uses a card reader.
The card reader is on the hymn book desk, near the entrance. Everyone uses the reader (if they don't Direct Debit) either before or after the service. Just a different system to the collection plate going round the church during a hymn.

Allira Tue 12-Nov-24 11:18:51

Very modern, Aldom!

I haven't noticed one (but I'm not there every week).

Allira Tue 12-Nov-24 11:20:22

escaped

^Can you imagine the collections in church, especially on the Sunday just gone, being by card reader?^
It's quite common in the churches/cathedrals I attend. There's a fixed amount on the screen, you just tap the card on it if you're happy with that amount.

Good heavens!

I shall go and ask the vicar 😀
Certainly the baskets were going round on Sunday.
But the collection was not going to the Church, it was going to the Poppy Appeal.

madalene Tue 12-Nov-24 11:21:06

I pay for pretty much everything by card, probably like the rest of us on here, but I always carry some cash with me. My hairdresser only takes cash anyway, and as she’s a very small independent business (with lots of high end, posh hairdressers nearby) I don’t mind at all paying in cash, to save her the cost of using a card reader. I can also give her a tip and a ‘Christmas box’ in money which goes straight to her, by using cash.

madalene Tue 12-Nov-24 11:21:42

Plus I put cash into the collection plate when I go to church.

midgey Tue 12-Nov-24 11:42:32

I keep some cash in my car just for emergencies. Easy enough to pop a note into a spectacle case.

Ziplok Tue 12-Nov-24 11:49:36

I always carry some cash with me. I think it’s important to do so, not only for situations where cash only is accepted (my hairdresser is a case in point) but also because if we stop withdrawing cash, we ultimately risk its disappearance - and not everyone has access to electronic means for transferring money, and neither should they be forced into doing so.

dogsmother Tue 12-Nov-24 11:54:28

I have a secret cash stash in my car too, coins included.

Primrose53 Tue 12-Nov-24 16:32:10

I still use cash as much as I can. I have been scammed on parking machine so no more of that!

I was in a shop recently where everything went down to do with cards so you could only pay cash. I was fine.

Buying everything by card, Big Brother can see where you shop, what you buy but if you have a problem and need to speak to your bank it takes forever to get sorted.

Cash is still king for me. 👍

Jaxjacky Tue 12-Nov-24 16:41:34

We use cash as often as we can, definitely for all purchases in the village, garage, butcher, hair, pub, and co-op. For window cleaner, gardener and Christmas boxes - haven’t seen the postie or bin men with a card reader yet.
If you only use online payments how do you tip people?

Norah Tue 12-Nov-24 16:48:00

We pay in cash, donate cash. Preferring cash to continue existing.