Buffet trolleys - time they started taking cash again.

[yorksrob]

Isn't it about time train buffet trolleys started taking cash again.

The exchange of coins has surely been shown as not being a major transmitter of the dreaded virus, so why do rail gourmet still insist in not taking cash. ?
We don't ask want a kitkat turning up on our bank statement.

There ought to be a performance indicator forcing trolley's to accept cash.

 

[Iskra]

Isn't it about time train buffet trolleys started taking cash again.

The exchange of coins has surely been shown as not being a major transmitter of the dreaded virus, so why do rail gourmet still insist in not taking cash. ?
We don't ask want a kitkat turning up on our bank statement.

There ought to be a performance indicator forcing trolley's to accept cash.

Cash costs cash. It has to be unproductively counted, collected, banked, coin change has to to be ordered and paid for. It's all keeping the cost of tinnies down for you And yes, it is and always has been unhygienic (although that can be sorted out easily with sanitiser).

But seriously, only 12% of transactions are cash, it's dying and the sooner people realise that the better. I don't think an additional line on a bank statement (most people have dispensed with those too) is going to bother most people.

 

[SteveM70]

Cash costs cash. It has to be unproductively counted, collected, banked, coin change has to to be ordered and paid for

It’s also a security risk

 

[Blindtraveler]

Violently disagreeing with the OP here

Cash is is dying and in fact in most cases we've already had the funeral and it's gone

The number of obstacles in the way of actually physically getting our hands on any of these days (the rapid disappearance of free cash machines and higher charges for the ones that are left, closing of Banks, retailers slowly withdrawing cash back services or at least making them more difficult and the rest?) Is a disincentive and a nuisance and personally I'd far rather have the trolley, card payment and all then have to worry about having £2.50 in smash if I fancy a lukewarm cup of of gut rotting instant coffee on a train

 

[LowLevel]

Isn't it about time train buffet trolleys started taking cash again.

The exchange of coins has surely been shown as not being a major transmitter of the dreaded virus, so why do rail gourmet still insist in not taking cash. ?
We don't ask want a kitkat turning up on our bank statement.

There ought to be a performance indicator forcing trolley's to accept cash.

Rail Gourmet were taking cash until a couple of weeks ago. They recently obtained new EPOS systems and are now trialling/possibly settled on no longer taking it because of the time and effort it takes to manage for a small number of transactions when takings are already massively down.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Cash costs cash. It has to be unproductively counted, collected, banked, coin change has to to be ordered and paid for. It's all keeping the cost of tinnies down for you And yes, it is and always has been unhygienic (although that can be sorted out easily with sanitiser).

But seriously, only 12% of transactions are cash, it's dying and the sooner people realise that the better. I don't think an additional line on a bank statement (most people have dispensed with those too) is going to bother most people.

Quite the opposite. With a modern bank like Monzo, everything on the statement makes it really easy to see how you are spending and make changes as needed.

 

[yorksrob]

Rail Gourmet were taking cash until a couple of weeks ago. They recently obtained new EPOS systems and are now trialling/possibly settled on no longer taking it because of the time and effort it takes to manage for a small number of transactions when takings are already massively down.

They'll just be reducing their takings even more ! Trying to buy a can of coke on TPE when the coverage keeps going out in the tunnels is bad enough !

I'm sick of this modern tripe.

 

[Fokx]

We don't want a kitkat turning up on our bank statement.

UK society in general has more pressing issues than a £1 kitkat appearing on a bank statement

As other posters have said, cash is dying or in many cases is 6 feet under already.

I haven’t used cash for any purchase in 7 years and I’ve not used my physical bank card in around 3 years. The future is contactless.

 

[yorksrob]

UK society in general has more pressing issues than a £1 kitkat appearing on a bank statement

As other posters have said, cash is dying or in many cases is 6 feet under already.

I haven’t used cash for any purchase in 7 years and I’ve not used my physical bank card in around 3 years. The future is contactless.

I don't care about UK societies issues. I care about my issues.

If you want to come up with some half baked argument for not having cash, good for you. Don't expect me to agree.

 

[Iskra]

Quite the opposite. With a modern bank like Monzo, everything on the statement makes it really easy to see how you are spending and make changes as needed.

So it's no inconvenience then is it, which was my point

 

[Fokx]

Trying to buy a can of coke on TPE when the coverage keeps going out in the tunnels is bad enough

You’ll have a challenge buying a can of Coke on TPE considering they only stock bottles

But on a serious note the new TPE customer host card system works better than my own ticket machine one. You can even get signal throughout Cowburn Tunnel on the Hope Valley.

TPE (RG) will not be taking cash in the future and it is permanently removed. Theft of stock/fiddling cash payments has seen the end to it.

 

[Skimble19]

They'll just be reducing their takings even more ! Trying to buy a can of coke on TPE when the coverage keeps going out in the tunnels is bad enough !

I'm sick of this modern tripe.

I would’ve thought the takings loss from the very small number of people who only want to pay with cash will probably be less than the cost of continuing to take it, so I can’t imagine they’ll be that fussed!

 

[Iskra]

I don't care about UK societies issues. I care about my issues.

If you want to come up with some half baked argument for not having cash, good for you. Don't expect me to listen.

You are welcome to take issue with anything you like, but when you are in a small minority who care passionately about such things, I don't think you can expect to always get your way You can't expect society to perpetually bend over backwards to those choosing to disengage from it.

 

[Fokx]

I care about my issues.

Your issues are rightly or wrongly your issues, but that doesn’t mean that society has to pander to them

If you want to come up with some half baked argument for not having cash, good for you. Don't expect me to agree.

And don’t expect society to keep using/accepting cash, or landline phones, or phone boxes, or paper payslips etc

 

[yorksrob]

You’ll have a challenge buying a can of Coke on TPE considering they only stock bottles

But on a serious note the new TPE customer host card system works better than my own ticket machine one. You can even get signal throughout Cowburn Tunnel on the Hope Valley.

TPE (RG) will not be taking cash in the future and it is permanently removed. Theft of stock/fiddling cash payments has seen the end to it.

That's a staff issue, not a customer one. I shaln't be buying products from the TPE trolly and waiting five minutes, making awkward conversation with the buffet trolley attendant while we go through Morley tunnel, waiting for the electronic system to work in future.

The world is moving on, a


And don’t expect society to keep using/accepting cash, or landline phones, or phone boxes, or paper payslips or to pander to those like yourself who don’t want change

Big business throwing is weight around. That's what it boils down to.

 

[Fokx]

That's a staff issue, not a customer one. I shaln't be buying products from the TPE trolly and waiting five minutes, making awkward conversation with the buffet trolley attendant while we go through Morley tunnel, waiting for the electronic system to work in future.



Big business throwing is weight around. That's what it boils down to.

It really doesn’t take five minutes. I can happily testify to that, the new ePOS system is just as fast as any card machine not on the move.

I’d suggest you to actually try it, but I know you don’t wish to do so

 

[yorksrob]

It really doesn’t take five minutes. I can happily testify to that, the new ePOS system is just as fast as any card machine not on the move.

I’d suggest you to actually try it, but I know you don’t wish to do so

I guess I might be hungover on the train and need a coke. More likely I'll be put off by the prospect of having to wait ages in a tunnel.

Does ePOS work in Standedge by the way ?

 

[HullRailMan]

I love a bit of melodrama.....
If you only want to use cash, don’t use the service. Withhold your custom, end of story.

 

[Fokx]

Does ePOS work in Standedge by the way ?

Standedge is one of the better tunnels for signal on Transpennine

It should have no issue as I can sell train tickets throughout and receive signal on both my personal and work phone.

 

[yorksrob]

Load of crap. Like I'm made out to be the loony for wanting to use cash to buy a kitkat. It's this century that's gone bonkers.

Standedge is one of the better tunnels for signal on Transpennine

It should have no issue as I can sell train tickets throughout and receive signal on both my personal and work phone.

Well you must be linked into Cape Canaveral because I've never once got signal in Standedge.

 

[zwk500]

Load of crap. Like I'm made out to be the loony for wanting to use cash to buy a kitkat. It's this century that's gone bonkers.

Out of interest, what do you consider to be the tickover point for using a card?

 

[yorksrob]

Out of interest, what do you consider to be the tickover point for using a card?

I don't like using one for stuff under about four quid. I prefer to pay for a pint with cash, but will do card if need be.

 

[Fokx]

Well you must be linked into Cape Canaveral because I've never once got signal in Standedge.

The three devices are connected to EE (TPE) and O2 (personal) networks if that’s any explanation

 

[yorksrob]

The three devices are connected to EE (TPE) and O2 (personal) networks if that’s any explanation

Well, it didn't help the trolley attendant a few months ago who ended up tiring at the machine for ages them the customer gave up (not myself, just witnessed it).

 

[dk1]

Didn’t realise there was a problem dealing with cash now the pandemic has passed. Saying that it does seem odd not using contactless these days which is so convenient.

 

[John Luxton]

I have been using cards since I was a student and had my first credit card back in in late 1978. However, for small transactions, parking, small transactions and buying light refreshments prefer to use cash.

Some years ago I recall having one of my credit cards blocked (I think it was Barclays) as I had used the card to pay of a short phone call from the hotel where I was staying. The phone had a card swipe attachment.

Fortunately, I didn't use that card again whilst I was on that trip but discovered on my return home an answerphone message from their fraud department querying the small spend - I think it was around 50p. This had led them to blocking my card as it was explained that their system thought it was a test purchase from someone who might have stolen my card.

Now if that had been my only credit card I could have been in a bit of a pickle.

Hence I have always had a bit of distrust when it comes to plastic for small transactions.

I am sure I am not alone in this and then of course many businesses do not take cards.

Last week I arrived at New Brighton Station and noticed on the door of the station cafe as I passed by "Cash Only - No Cards"

Small traders often like cash.

I do most of my shopping at Costco which is a wholesaler and obviously has a lot of trade customers.

Some people pay cash in significant amounts for their purchases - sometime four figures.

Thus if you think cash is dead think again.

 

[zwk500]

Didn’t realise there was a problem dealing with cash now the pandemic has passed. Saying that it does seem odd not using contactless these days which is so convenient.

The problems (cost) of dealing with cash was around long before the pandemic, to be fair. There is a genuine concern about the very poorest being cut out of a cashless society as they struggle to access bank accounts and technology necessary to participate, but the issue of being able to buy a kitkat on a train without using the card you used to buy the ticket is not really that big of a deal. I think TPE will survive selling 1 less kitkat.

 

[dk1]

The problems (cost) of dealing with cash was around long before the pandemic, to be fair. There is a genuine concern about the very poorest being cut out of a cashless society as they struggle to access bank accounts and technology necessary to participate, but the issue of being able to buy a kitkat on a train without using the card you used to buy the ticket is not really that big of a deal. I think TPE will survive selling 1 less kitkat.

Even the snack machines in our messroom are now contactless. Such simplicity.

 

[Geoff DC]

Easy Jet and others handle Epos payments at 24.000ft - can't be hard for TOCs to do it at ground level
My solution would be to charge 10% extra for cash payments to cover all the additional costs.
It should be the cash payers paying for it - not the card payers

 

[zwk500]

Even the snack machines in our messroom are now contactless. Such simplicity.

I agree, I've even used contactless to pay the 50p for the tyre inflator at the petrol station before. Vending Machines, coffee shops etc. Saves faffing about counting out change, fumbling about putting the change back etc. And at the end of the day everything I paid for is on my bank statement, instead of a series of ATM withdrawals.