Oh boy—it’s the End Times, everybody! The Christian Broadcasting Network’s “news” division reports that a D.C. restaurant has stopped taking cash. Other restaurants will no doubt follow its lead. Next up: no food sales to anyone lacking the Visa/MasterCard/United Nations Mark of the Beast!
In a shocking inversion of the all-too-familiar “our earthy breakfast place is too popular/too much of a drug front to take your lousy credit card” scheme, the owner of Snap Crepes has decided to cut out the awkward fumbling-for-change part of the dining experience and go to a no-cash policy.
“I know exactly how many sales we had—and I don’t have to go to the bank,” said the eatery’s owner, who added that Kofi Annan had promised her a place by his side in the luxurious eighth layer of Pandemonium after the thwarting of the Second Coming.
Also quoth CBN’s article (in sentence-fragmenty manner):
Although she’s well aware of online bloggers, some of whom say her policy discriminates against those who can’t afford a credit or debit card.
The offline bloggers—who typically use ink and vellum, signal rockets, or Morse code to create their “posts”—are, by contrast, largely in favor of the restaurant’s decision. HoratioHornblower23 of the offline semaphore flag blog Flag It!, wrote: “Cafe. Good. Efficient.”
Either that, or he signaled that his frigate was taking on water.
oh my god – insanely funny post. thanks!
Nice try, and I’m sure that the publicity is worth millions, but it is actually illegal to refuse cash for payment. US Currency is “legal tender for all debts, public and private”. That means that a restaurant has to accept your cash.
How many times have you seen a “$20 minimum on all credit card sales” sign? Also not legal, at least in New York State. Stores and restaurants, in order to accept Visa, Mastercard and Amex, must agree to accept it for any and all amounts that the card company authorizes the for transaction. Minimum sales are specifically not allowed, but some people try to get away with it.
Why would anyone visit restaurant whose owner appears more concerned with about managing her daily sales receipts than providing a good customer experience? And yes, it is an amusing article, thanks.
I eat here almost every day, for lunch hour; I think the food is great, the owner is always friendly, I’ve never been overlooked for “the daily receipts.” I mainly stick to the entree crepes, though I’ve heard the deserts are good too. I like the bubble tea, I usually get the Mango/Coconut.
As per the legality of only accepting credit, quote the law or go back to law school. Why does everyone on the internet think they are a lawyer? I love the “at least in New York State” part, the restaurant is in DC.
Well I don’t know a law, but I know that according to credit card company rules minimums are not allowed. That is, if you are a business and you have a CC min and it is reported you stand a good chance of having a hefty fine levied on you. The credit card companies strive to have their cards be as similar to cash as possible [ie accepted in the same circumstances].
What would happen if I ate at that restaurant and did not have a credit card – but of course had the cash to pay for my meal? Would they really refuse it? Could they arrest me for stealing although I had the money to pay for the meal and was willing to do so?
Very strange, and dangerous.