It’s their decision ultimately, but considering there is also a message which pops up on the homepage pleading for donations to raise £450,000 to “save the railway”, to not accept cash seems a bizarre one to me. I can imagine many people who visit heritage railways still prefer to use cash, and it sounds like the railway need all the money they can get at the moment.According to a banner advert on the home page of the Swanage Railway website they are going cashless from 25th March 2024.
Not as far as I know.The Bluebell Railway has a few model railways operated by 20 or 50p coins. Does the Swanage Railway have anything similar?
Presumably the railway is moving towards cards only
Really? You won't go for a nice day out because you have to use a card?no return visits for me, then.
Costs of processing card/contactless payments are also increasing, to the extent that several businesses near me now have signs saying cash is preferred due to these rising costsGood for them. Sensible. Cuts costs of holding and handling cash. That is getting more expensive and harder to justify.
They will need to make sure they have good signal for card readers etc.
Won't go well with all obvs!
Why stick to cash? It is much less secure especially for the elderly members of society?But I do have several older relatives who refuse to use anything but cash, some of those who enjoy visiting heritage railways and spend quite lavishly in their cafes and shops.
I have a couple of places near me like that. I doubt it is electronic payment costs they are seeking to avoidCosts of processing card/contactless payments are also increasing, to the extent that several businesses near me now have signs saying cash is preferred due to these rising costs
I honestly don't understand people! This is so odd as to be satire surelyI've been a couple of times (and am only talking about going on my own - I wouldn't deprive someone who asked me to take them of a trip on principle) - and see no reason I should support an organisation that chooses to tell its guests how they should give it their money. I fully accept that they are free to do so, as I am not to give them my money. Incidentally, I am perfectly happy to pay by card when it is an option - so it's not the fact that I have to use a card but their high-handed attitude towards customers.
Not necessarily, I guess that you (like me) are savvy with using card/contactless payments. I can stop my card in seconds too if I lose it or suspect anything fraudulent using my banking app. My grandad couldn’t though, he doesn’t have a smartphone or an online banking account. If anyone got hold of his card they could tap it to the tune of £1k before a pin was asked for. He also doesn’t have good enough eyesight to make sure a touchpad is showing the correct amount even if he was to use contactless, or have any means to check he hadn’t been scammed (or a genuine mistake made) until his monthly bank statement arrived. He is however very good at counting change.Why stick to cash? It is much less secure especially for the elderly members of society?
I honestly don't get it. Waving a "wad" of cash about is more likely to attract unwanted attention than your card
You can stop your lost or stolen card in seconds. I can't get my wallet and cash back very quickly!
Many shops no longer accept cheques. Do people refuse to shop there any more because of that? The world is changing, and businesses have every right to decide how they want customers to pay. They must of course weigh up whether they are likely to lose business.Not necessarily, I guess that you (like me) are savvy with using card/contactless payments. I can stop my card in seconds too if I lose it or suspect anything fraudulent using my banking app. My grandad couldn’t though, he doesn’t have a smartphone or an online banking account. If anyone got hold of his card they could tap it to the tune of £1k before a pin was asked for. He also doesn’t have good enough eyesight to make sure a touchpad is showing the correct amount even if he was to use contactless, or have any means to check he hadn’t been scammed (or a genuine mistake made) until his monthly bank statement arrived. He is however very good at counting change.
As I said I find card much easier myself, but not everyone does and I’m a firm believer in freedom of choice, especially when paying for a service.
In Rye (East Sussex)now there's coffee shops and cafes that have gone cashless. There's also shops like the fish market that tells you that card is preferred.Many shops no longer accept cheques. Do people refuse to shop there any more because of that? The world is changing, and businesses have every right to decide how they want customers to pay. They must of course weigh up whether they are likely to lose business.
In Rye (East Sussex)now there's coffee shops and cafes that have gone cashless. There's also shops like the fish market that tells you that card is preferred.
I've been to the majority of league 1 football grounds this year all but a couple are cash free.
The airlines have been cash free for a few years.
But the Swanage Railway is not introducing the facility to pay by card - that was already in place - it’s removing the facility to pay by cash. I’m not sure why you would have a view on something that doesn’t affect you one bit.I 100% support this.
I don't even carry my wallet any more as I only pay on my phone. If you don't take card in this day and age you don't get my business
Agree. How someone can be strongly in favour of something that doesn’t affect their ability to use their preferred means of payment but reduces choice for others puzzles me. (Unless there is a clear benefit to all, such as removing cash on buses, which significantly reduces dwell times.)Puzzling that card only addicts don't like the idea of places accepting cash, when it doesn't affect them in any way. What's wrong with consumer choice?
Handling cash is very expensive and a very significant security risk, especially when cash is being handled by volunteers.It’s their decision ultimately, but considering there is also a message which pops up on the homepage pleading for donations to raise £450,000 to “save the railway”, to not accept cash seems a bizarre one to me.
Being cash only also means you can scoop a load out of the till and not declare it to the taxman, saving the cost of...tax!Costs of processing card/contactless payments are also increasing, to the extent that several businesses near me now have signs saying cash is preferred due to these rising costs
In most rural areas ATMs are rapidly becoming things of the past. Rye a big tourist attraction 5 years ago used to have 8, now it's down to Nationwide in the high street and 2 outside a supermarket opposite the railway. My nearest one is 4 miles drive away with no public transport.Puzzling that card only addicts don't like the idea of places accepting cash, when it doesn't affect them in any way. What's wrong with consumer choice? As posted just above, electronic transactions are far more insecure than cash ever was. We hear all the time about systems going down, hacking and fraud, an increasing problem, especially as AI becomes more prevalent.
If you lose a fiver, that is all you've lost. If hacked, your whole account is in danger. A case of mass delusion amongst the card addicts, blind to the risks. I use cards and cash but do not bank online, far too insecure. Choice is the key here. I can check the balance at an ATM. ATM card skimming seems to have reduced, no doubt do to increasing use of online so, thanks for the help you suckers.....
A very diplomatic way of putting itThe businesses I have encountered which are cash only do seem to be owner operated and I think that may make a difference in the decision.
It may be in this case that it is a sound financial decision by a struggling and cash-strapped (no pun intended!) enterprise which people love and wouldn't like to see vanish. Time will tell I suppose!Agree. How someone can be strongly in favour of something that doesn’t affect their ability to use their preferred means of payment but reduces choice for others puzzles me. (Unless there is a clear benefit to all, such as removing cash on buses, which significantly reduces dwell times.)