Amazon warns Philly about proposed cashless store ban

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press


Updated 11:30 am CST, Friday, February 15, 2019

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia officials say Amazon has warned that a proposed ban on cashless stores would impact plans to open a brick-and-mortar location in the city.

Philly.com reports that the City Council approved a bill Thursday that would prohibit most stores from refusing to take cash as payment. Proponents argue that cashless stores discriminate against low-income residents who don't have credit or debit cards.

Councilman Allan Domb says Amazon told the city that if the bill passed, it would not consider locating an Amazon Go cashier-less convenience store in Philadelphia. City spokesman Mike Dunn confirmed Amazon told the city the legislation would "impede" plans for a Go store.

Amazon declined comment.

Read more: https://www.chron.com/news/us/article/Amazon-warns-Philly-about-proposed-cashless-store-13619577.php

[MicaelS]

1. Fuck em.

Cash is legal tender. All businesess should be forced to accept cash.

[Sherman A1]

6. Yup

It even says so on each and every bill...

[metalbot]

47. It does not

It says that it can be used for any debt, which is NOT the same thing as "you must be willing to accept this physical piece of paper in exchange for some item or service".

[Sherman A1]

48. You must have some other currency

Mine says legal for ALL Debts, Public and Private.

[metalbot]

49. And that is correct

All debts.

If you have borrowed money from me, or if you owe the government money, you have every right to pay me or the government back in cash. That's completely unrelated to whether or not cash can be used in a particular exchange where no debt has been incurred.

When you walk around a grocery store and put things in your cart, you aren't incurring a debt. If you were, you wouldn't be arrested when you tried to walk out of the grocery store without "paying your debt".

[RobinA]

7. Agree Totally

This benefits not only Amazon, but credit card users, also known as banks.

[guillaumeb]

55. An excellent observation.

And, is it possible that Bezos owns stock in banks and credit card companies?

[dalton99a]

21. +1

[Vermijelli]

25. Absolutely agree n/t

[LuvNewcastle]

27. Agreed. n/t

[tazkcmo]

2. Fuck Amazon.

Never again will I purchase through this blood sucking company.

[turbinetree]

3. Hey Amazon, how much did you make last year 11 billion..................in profits...............

how much did you get back in taxes $123 million, and then you walk around like blood sucking vampire octopus to threaten a city...........................FUCK YOU AMAZON and the horse you ride on.................

[Blues Heron]

4. Just get a cash register or two what's the big deal

This isn't the Jetsons. We have a lot of people outside the banking system in this country.

[TheBlackAdder]

5. Come on, how can Amazon track every aspect of your life and sell it to others if you use cash? :-D

[Mosby]

34. robberies.

Last edited Sat Feb 16, 2019, 02:03 PM - Edit history (1)

The cost of armored car service, the cost of employee theft, the cost of supervisors and extra security.

[Jose Garcia]

8. They will just open up a store in the suburbs

Then the sales taxes from that store will go to another municipality.

[Freddie]

28. PA Sales tax goes directly to the state

Grocery food is not taxable but paper products etc. are.
Even in the suburbs there’s a lot of people who prefer cash.

[christx30]

32. I prefer card.

Because if people want to borrow money, I can say, “sorry, I don’t have any cash on me” and walk away.

[Mr. Frost]

45. I do the same.

[yaesu]

9. too big to fail monopolies are too big to turn down. nt

[EX500rider]

39. Amazon is hardly a monopoly as there are 1,000's of websites selling products online. nt

Last edited Sat Feb 16, 2019, 06:53 PM - Edit history (1)

[KayF]

10. Amazon's plan is to take all the jobs in the country

and then sell them back to us.

[onetexan]

62. nonsense

[Yavin4]

11. Give Amazon your first born or else they will re-locate somewhere else

And you will lose those jobs.

[EllieBC]

12. What is wrong with these people???

I use cash more often than not now because I can control what I spend better. Also after so many purchases my bank charges me a fee for "excessive" Interac transactions. Use my credit card and then I end up paying more thanks to interest rates.

And I know I am not alone. Add to this amount of people who cannot get bank accounts or credit cards. Amazon has a problem. An entitlement problem.

[cstanleytech]

14. What about using a debit card instead of a credit card? Wouldnt that help you avoid

interest charges?

[SunSeeker]

16. Most banks require a minimum balance for a checking account.

And/or they charge $25 account fees or convenience fees for using their debit card. It's why a lot of poor people don't have back accounts. They can't afford them. Even if they could pay the fees, some banks still won't let them have bank accounts if their income is too low. Bank One here in California was the only bank within walking distance of my mom's home (she had no car). Because her income only consisted of a $700/month social security check, they said she did not qualify for a bank account.

[potone]

20. There must be a credit union close by.

They won't charge you fees just for using your debit card, and you won't be giving your money to some giant soulless bank. I love my credit union.

[SunSeeker]

23. There's not. Check out the banking opportunities in poor neighborhoods some day. nt

[potone]

60. That is too bad.

Years ago I lived in a poor neighborhood in Chicago, and I remember how predatory the banks were then. I assumed, wrongly I guess, that there were more credit unions now, and therefore other options. I am sorry.

[EllieBC]

17. I already said what is wrong with that.

My bank charges a fee for excessive transactions.

[stopwastingmymoney]

19. The problem with using debit cards

Is that if you get skimmed somewhere, they can empty your bank account

If a credit card gets skimmed it's pretty easy to deal with, comparatively

This is, of course, advise for people who have both

[Jake Stern]

56. What about I don't want people always knowing what I purchase?

Such as a book by a controversial author. If I use a card that privacy goes ((POOF!)).

[FreepFryer]

13. Bye, Felicia. We're done being pushed around. (n/t)

[SunSeeker]

15. Parking meters and vending machines take cash, why can't Amazon?

Seriously, why can't Amazon install a machine that takes cash?!

[DeminPennswoods]

18. Really, yeah

Walmart and other stores who have both cashiered and scan and go non-cashiered lanes have scanners that accept cash and make change. It's hardly new technology. It's not like the store won't be re-stocked daily. The same person can empty the register, re-fill the cash and make a deposit at the bank.

[dalton99a]

22. .

[NYC Liberal]

24. Fortunately, people are pushing back against Amazon.

We defeated them here in NY. Hopefully Philly does, and other cities continue too.

[truthisfreedom]

26. Every automated self checkout I've seen accepts cash.

Wtf Amazon?

[allgood33]

29. Why not kick low-income workers and their families while their already down?

There are about 4 million cashier jobs across the USA. They will all soon be replaced by robots...not Mexicans or other immigrants. Who will the Trumpians have to left to smear and attack then? OK, go on attack the robots. They don't feel a thing but wait until they start moving into your neighborhood and begin sending their kids to your schools and out score them on all the standardized tests.

[Dorian Gray]

30. Cashless

stores and restaurants are unethical. They are class dividers. They limit people who don't have credit cards from shopping.

Screw Amazon.

[Mosby]

33. you can get reloadable debit cards at walmart

[Blues Heron]

35. What does that have to do with Amazon?

We need to nip this nonsense in the bud. It's beginning to be a trend and companies are using the BS security excuse. Get a security guard if your store is so dangerous.

[Mosby]

36. Reloadable cards can be used anywhere

You don't need a bank account.

[Codeine]

44. Cash is going away at every class level.

In a decade the entire system will be largely cash-free.

[Bengus81]

31. That link is worthless,guess they want money too.

[MichMan]

37. Will the law apply to airplane tickets, hotels and rental cars?

[Igel]

43. Don't know.

Nor do I know what's currently required for planes, trains, and automobiles, much less hotels.

But I've paid for all of them with cash. The only hitch I've run into with car rentals was the need to have a credit card on file, not for payment but as surety in case I run with the car or crash it.

[Initech]

38. This is some mafia level shit right here!

[Yavin4]

40. You will obey Amazon!

OBEY!!!!!

[Akacia]

41. I prefer to use cash because why would I want to pay interest?

I am not in a position financially to give my money away and that is how I feel when paying interest. Yes I have a few credit cards but if I can pay cash I will.

[metalbot]

57. The two aren't related for the most part

You don't pay interest on credit cards when you pay them off each month. Interest only applies to balances carried forward month to month.

[workinclasszero]

42. Amazon to Philly: Nice little city you got there, would be a shame if anything happened to it

Philly to Amazon:

[NurseJackie]

46. Cashless doesn't bother me. "Self-serve" people-less checkouts bother me more.

Cashless doesn't bother me. "Self-serve" people-less checkouts bother me more. Especially when the item doesn't have a barcode and needs to be weighed. Or when the item is so lightweight that it won't register on the bagging area's scale. ("Please place the item in the bagging area. Please place the previous item in the bagging area before continuing. Please do not remove items from the bagging area. Please call for assistance.&quot

Besides, nobody robs cashless stores. Dishonest employees can't skim a little from the till, short-change customers, or ring-up bogus returns.

Remember that fellow who wanted to pay his entire cable bill in a wheelbarrow full of loose pennies? His "legal tender" argument didn't get him very far.

Anyway... if that's what the city council wants, let them have it. It's their city, their choice, their rules, their loss. People and businesses will adapt or fail or succeed and only time will tell if the cashless retail businesses are eventually scorned for staying away from cities that prohibit them. Many other cities would probably welcome cashless convenience stores and restaurants and other service-businesses (and reap the benefits from having them as well).

People and cities make their own choices and will live with the consequences (or benefits) depending.

[JCMach1]

50. Cashless should bother everyone, imagine a cashless

System tied into China's new social credit system...

Total government control of everything...

[NurseJackie]

58. Oh dear.

[Kurt V.]

54. Sometimes people who have privileges others do not sincerely do not know any better.

[christx30]

61. I prefer self-service checkout.

Many times I’ve been behind someone that wants to chat with the checker. I just want to get my stuff and go.
I like the idea that I can walk into a store, get milk, eggs, bread, and walk out without entering into any conversation with anyone.
Just dont get produce and you won’t have to worry about the scale.

[guillaumeb]

51. Economic blackmail from an economic predator.

Recommended.

[samnsara]

52. I cant wait to try the one in Seattle

[samnsara]

53. they DO take tender..just not at the purchase time...

..how is this any different than charging to a credit card online?