Australia seems like it’s quickly sprinting towards becoming a cashless society.

In fact, it feels like we are just a step away from fully embracing card-based and digital payments. For better or for worse, the days of our beloved coins and notes seem to be dwindling.

In an intriguing new development, supermarket giant Coles is leading the race to cashless transactions, much to the frustration of many customers.

The supermarket has faced significant backlash over the launch of a new store in Brisbane with a key difference.

Coles’ new store in Brisbane accepts cards only as a source of payment. Image source: Shutterstock.

Do you remember the joy of handling cash, making sure you had the right number of notes and coins for exact change? Well, it seems that era might be winding down. In this new Coles store, there might be no place for those who prefer to pay for their goods with cash.

The new store features a row of self-service checkout machines that have left many customers flabbergasted. Why, you might ask? Well, they all strictly say 'card only'.

A video showcasing these cashless machines quickly found its way to social media, fanning the flames of debate about the rapid movement towards a cashless society.

'The new Coles, no cash machines at all,' the person filming laments incredulously. These words sparked a slew of contentious debates, even triggering calls for boycotting shops that no longer accept cash.

'Everyone needs to only use cash. If they don't accept cash, then don't buy from them,' one impassioned customer responded.

Another vehemently advised, 'Everyone needs to leave the groceries at the checkout and walk off.'

There's more to this moving away from cash than just the convenience of card payments, though. Several pointed out that Coles' march towards self-serve checkouts spells bad news for potential jobseekers, threatening employment in an already competitive market.

The trend does have its fair share of defenders, however, with many accepting the inevitability of a cashless society.

One person commented, ‘Cash is going. Get used to it. Cash, unfortunately, is mostly used by criminals and tax cheats. More and more businesses are declining to do cash transactions.'

Meanwhile, Coles responded to the video by stating that there are still options for customers who prefer to pay with cash in all their stores.

Coles isn’t the first supermarket chain to attempt a venture into cashless transactions. In 2021, Woolworths rolled out a trial for cashless supermarkets but faced significant resistance, leading to the trial's abandonment. The move was branded as an effort to make shopping as seamless as possible for busy inner-city customers.

Ultimately, customers' preference for cash was overwhelming. 'Cash is legal tender, and I do not support the cash ban and will take my money elsewhere,' one customer wrote defiantly on Woolworths' Facebook page.

The verdict on whether Australia is ready to let go of cash is still open to debate.
While it's true the Reserve Bank estimated just 13% of transactions in late 2022 were in cash, critics argue this push towards cashless transactions could be detrimental to older people and those with disabilities who still rely on physical cash.

Key Takeaways

• Coles is facing customer backlash over a new store in Brisbane where the self-checkout machines do not accept cash, sparking a call to boycott similar shops.
• Despite the move towards cashless checkout, a Coles spokesperson confirmed that there are still cash payment options in all stores, and there are no completely cashless stores yet.
• Woolworths abandoned a trial of cashless supermarkets in 2021 due to fierce resistance from customers who still prefer cash transactions.
• As Australia moves towards becoming a cashless society, critics warn that the decline in the use of cash and physical bank branches could cause significant harm to older people and those with disabilities who still rely on these services.

What do you think of this move by Coles, members? We’d love to read your thoughts in the comments section below.

 

[siameezer]

If this goes ahead, Coles will become a "Veggiepatch-less" entity.

'Everyone needs to leave the groceries at the checkout and walk off.' I like this idea! Fill a trolley with random frozen goods and abandon them at the checkout. Nice!

What a stupid idea ... and then you will whinge and moan about prices going up because the cost of all the spoiled food will have to be recovered!

 

[siameezer]

I am over eighty and prefer to know how my budget is working. With cash, I can SEE this immediately.I have also worked with people with disabilities and KNOW that some of them will NOT keep up with using a card for purchases. To some of them, not passing over cash makes it FREE. Most people I know prefer to see at a glance how their budget is working by checking their cash. Being cashless leaves the possibility of overspending due to mathematical error much more likely than when the cash has to be handed over.

You make some very good points. There are also some arguments for not using as much cash too. As an older person, I worry about the amount of people being robbed by those who can see our vulnerability and I feel safer not carrying very much of it at all. Also, I feel for all the small business owners who have to deposit their takings after hours and, again, due to the thugs around, face the very real chance of being robbed. The young staff in stores are way more vulnerable when there is a lot of cash in the till too ... just recently three IGA supermarkets were robbed by a group of young teens all on the same night ... how terrifying that must have been for the staff!
I am not saying we should go cashless ... just pointing out there are some advantages in today's society.

 

[siameezer]

Unless the Government make a change cash is still legal tender and coles would have to accept cash as a payment

No, they wouldn't. Cash may be legal tender but if a business has signage saying they do not accept cash they do NOT have to let you pay by cash. As long as the terms are provided to you, a business can set what payments they will accept.

 

[siameezer]

I have already told a local store (MY House) that I won't be shopping there any more as ALL there stores are CASHLESS (even though I have paid by card previously in that store) Of course by shopping on line - ppl are going CASHLESS so we need to change our shopping for the rest of the year - ONLY use CASH at all shops and DON'T shop online (that will be the hardest for a lot of ppl - but PLEASE try until the end of the year as a protest.

Don't shop online? Are you for real? What would you like those of us with mobility disorders who rely on shopping online to do? Starve?

 

[tpw1961]

If Coles wants to go cashless....good luck to them, but it will mean that as soon as my local does that, I will no longer shop there. I won't have my life dictated to by a greedy supermarket giant.

Cashless socitities are ones that control your life not just your shopping. Governments know how much you earn, they can actually block your account and can probably even take money from your account if they feel you owe them. There will be no more pocket money, raffles, street stalls, small change donations, etc. Between this and the push for the removal of gas so everyone and everything is electric, we will see more and more power outages due to the enormous load on the power grid. Shops alreay shut down when the power goes out due to the fact that they can't access the internet (EFTPOS) without power or a working internet connection. Can you image what Xmas time will be like? Constant breakdowns due to this overload. We already have enough isses with ATM's crashing because of the load.

What about those in rural and regional areas? Everyone forgets about us. Some of us only travel 100kms to do our grocery shopping, but others drive for hours. When the system crashes or the power goes out, are the shops going to deliver our goods free of charge or make us turn around and make that trip all over again because of their issues?

Cashless also means no need for staff on the registers. We have already seen shoplifting increase a huge amount because of people not being honest at the self check-outs. Shops are already finding people unhappy with the newset measures that are being put into place to overcome this....expecting you to show them you goods and/or receipt to prove you paid and now cameras above the self check-outs. If you wanted to check everything was paid for, why didn't you just have a staff member on a register, checking the items in the first place. As some have said, you either trust people to self check-out or you don't, you can't have it both ways.

For the newer generation, they see no issue with these changes, but these changes, once agin DO NOT allow for people with disabilities, the elderly, etc. Many prefer and trust cash. Many will do not undersyand or even wish to learn computers, so when something goes wrong with a computer based thing such as a cashless check-out, they wouldn't have the faintest idea who to turn to or how to fix the problem.

CASHLESS - HELL NO!!!!

 

[Bob JH]

Australia seems like it’s quickly sprinting towards becoming a cashless society.

In fact, it feels like we are just a step away from fully embracing card-based and digital payments. For better or for worse, the days of our beloved coins and notes seem to be dwindling.

In an intriguing new development, supermarket giant Coles is leading the race to cashless transactions, much to the frustration of many customers.

The supermarket has faced significant backlash over the launch of a new store in Brisbane with a key difference.

View attachment 29142

Coles’ new store in Brisbane accepts cards only as a source of payment. Image source: Shutterstock.

Do you remember the joy of handling cash, making sure you had the right number of notes and coins for exact change? Well, it seems that era might be winding down. In this new Coles store, there might be no place for those who prefer to pay for their goods with cash.

The new store features a row of self-service checkout machines that have left many customers flabbergasted. Why, you might ask? Well, they all strictly say 'card only'.

A video showcasing these cashless machines quickly found its way to social media, fanning the flames of debate about the rapid movement towards a cashless society.

'The new Coles, no cash machines at all,' the person filming laments incredulously. These words sparked a slew of contentious debates, even triggering calls for boycotting shops that no longer accept cash.

'Everyone needs to only use cash. If they don't accept cash, then don't buy from them,' one impassioned customer responded.

Another vehemently advised, 'Everyone needs to leave the groceries at the checkout and walk off.'

There's more to this moving away from cash than just the convenience of card payments, though. Several pointed out that Coles' march towards self-serve checkouts spells bad news for potential jobseekers, threatening employment in an already competitive market.

The trend does have its fair share of defenders, however, with many accepting the inevitability of a cashless society.

One person commented, ‘Cash is going. Get used to it. Cash, unfortunately, is mostly used by criminals and tax cheats. More and more businesses are declining to do cash transactions.'

Meanwhile, Coles responded to the video by stating that there are still options for customers who prefer to pay with cash in all their stores.

Coles isn’t the first supermarket chain to attempt a venture into cashless transactions. In 2021, Woolworths rolled out a trial for cashless supermarkets but faced significant resistance, leading to the trial's abandonment. The move was branded as an effort to make shopping as seamless as possible for busy inner-city customers.

Ultimately, customers' preference for cash was overwhelming. 'Cash is legal tender, and I do not support the cash ban and will take my money elsewhere,' one customer wrote defiantly on Woolworths' Facebook page.

The verdict on whether Australia is ready to let go of cash is still open to debate.
While it's true the Reserve Bank estimated just 13% of transactions in late 2022 were in cash, critics argue this push towards cashless transactions could be detrimental to older people and those with disabilities who still rely on physical cash.

Key Takeaways

• Coles is facing customer backlash over a new store in Brisbane where the self-checkout machines do not accept cash, sparking a call to boycott similar shops.
• Despite the move towards cashless checkout, a Coles spokesperson confirmed that there are still cash payment options in all stores, and there are no completely cashless stores yet.
• Woolworths abandoned a trial of cashless supermarkets in 2021 due to fierce resistance from customers who still prefer cash transactions.
• As Australia moves towards becoming a cashless society, critics warn that the decline in the use of cash and physical bank branches could cause significant harm to older people and those with disabilities who still rely on these services.

What do you think of this move by Coles, members? We’d love to read your thoughts in the comments section belBound to happen

 

[Ozzy_ian]

I m fully behind to be able to use cash as it is legal tender so we have the right to use it
what about some of the oldies that do not have a card & do not want one as it is too easy to be scammed.
I am right with the comment to get a big trolly of perrishable goods & unpack it all on the conveyor & when told to use a card say sorry & walk out
the big stores will soon get sick of this
& also the banks they want to stop you from with drawing your own money so if they do this I will tell them to shut my acct with them
the Government is all for cash less so then the know every cent that come in & out of your acct & they can control you
I dont trust the government with any thing now too
like all the lies that Albo says about the yes no vote all he wants is the votes from the aboriginals but most of then are against it as well
the only voice that will unite our country is the voice in the song
"I am , you are , we are Australian" as we are supposed to be one nation & all pull together

Ian

 

[Tygie]

Australia seems like it’s quickly sprinting towards becoming a cashless society.

In fact, it feels like we are just a step away from fully embracing card-based and digital payments. For better or for worse, the days of our beloved coins and notes seem to be dwindling.

In an intriguing new development, supermarket giant Coles is leading the race to cashless transactions, much to the frustration of many customers.

The supermarket has faced significant backlash over the launch of a new store in Brisbane with a key difference.

View attachment 29142

Coles’ new store in Brisbane accepts cards only as a source of payment. Image source: Shutterstock.

Do you remember the joy of handling cash, making sure you had the right number of notes and coins for exact change? Well, it seems that era might be winding down. In this new Coles store, there might be no place for those who prefer to pay for their goods with cash.

The new store features a row of self-service checkout machines that have left many customers flabbergasted. Why, you might ask? Well, they all strictly say 'card only'.

A video showcasing these cashless machines quickly found its way to social media, fanning the flames of debate about the rapid movement towards a cashless society.

'The new Coles, no cash machines at all,' the person filming laments incredulously. These words sparked a slew of contentious debates, even triggering calls for boycotting shops that no longer accept cash.

'Everyone needs to only use cash. If they don't accept cash, then don't buy from them,' one impassioned customer responded.

Another vehemently advised, 'Everyone needs to leave the groceries at the checkout and walk off.'

There's more to this moving away from cash than just the convenience of card payments, though. Several pointed out that Coles' march towards self-serve checkouts spells bad news for potential jobseekers, threatening employment in an already competitive market.

The trend does have its fair share of defenders, however, with many accepting the inevitability of a cashless society.

One person commented, ‘Cash is going. Get used to it. Cash, unfortunately, is mostly used by criminals and tax cheats. More and more businesses are declining to do cash transactions.'

Meanwhile, Coles responded to the video by stating that there are still options for customers who prefer to pay with cash in all their stores.

Coles isn’t the first supermarket chain to attempt a venture into cashless transactions. In 2021, Woolworths rolled out a trial for cashless supermarkets but faced significant resistance, leading to the trial's abandonment. The move was branded as an effort to make shopping as seamless as possible for busy inner-city customers.

Ultimately, customers' preference for cash was overwhelming. 'Cash is legal tender, and I do not support the cash ban and will take my money elsewhere,' one customer wrote defiantly on Woolworths' Facebook page.

The verdict on whether Australia is ready to let go of cash is still open to debate.
While it's true the Reserve Bank estimated just 13% of transactions in late 2022 were in cash, critics argue this push towards cashless transactions could be detrimental to older people and those with disabilities who still rely on physical cash.

Key Takeaways

• Coles is facing customer backlash over a new store in Brisbane where the self-checkout machines do not accept cash, sparking a call to boycott similar shops.
• Despite the move towards cashless checkout, a Coles spokesperson confirmed that there are still cash payment options in all stores, and there are no completely cashless stores yet.
• Woolworths abandoned a trial of cashless supermarkets in 2021 due to fierce resistance from customers who still prefer cash transactions.
• As Australia moves towards becoming a cashless society, critics warn that the decline in the use of cash and physical bank branches could cause significant harm to older people and those with disabilities who still rely on these services.

What do you think of this move by Coles, members? We’d love to read your thoughts in the comments section below.

I would hate this! I struggle to control (and i lose) at keeping track of the amounts flying out by 'Tapping" the card and there is some things you need cash for as well.

 

[Nichola]

The French did this when a supermarket chain decided to go cashless. 50 people organised to go to the supermarket at the same time took their full trolleys to the cashless checkout walked away and left the goods at the checkout. The supermarket changed back very quickly.

Vive la Revolution! Vive la France!

 

[Selma]

Australia seems like it’s quickly sprinting towards becoming a cashless society.

In fact, it feels like we are just a step away from fully embracing card-based and digital payments. For better or for worse, the days of our beloved coins and notes seem to be dwindling.

In an intriguing new development, supermarket giant Coles is leading the race to cashless transactions, much to the frustration of many customers.

The supermarket has faced significant backlash over the launch of a new store in Brisbane with a key difference.

View attachment 29142

Coles’ new store in Brisbane accepts cards only as a source of payment. Image source: Shutterstock.

Do you remember the joy of handling cash, making sure you had the right number of notes and coins for exact change? Well, it seems that era might be winding down. In this new Coles store, there might be no place for those who prefer to pay for their goods with cash.

The new store features a row of self-service checkout machines that have left many customers flabbergasted. Why, you might ask? Well, they all strictly say 'card only'.

A video showcasing these cashless machines quickly found its way to social media, fanning the flames of debate about the rapid movement towards a cashless society.

'The new Coles, no cash machines at all,' the person filming laments incredulously. These words sparked a slew of contentious debates, even triggering calls for boycotting shops that no longer accept cash.

'Everyone needs to only use cash. If they don't accept cash, then don't buy from them,' one impassioned customer responded.

Another vehemently advised, 'Everyone needs to leave the groceries at the checkout and walk off.'

There's more to this moving away from cash than just the convenience of card payments, though. Several pointed out that Coles' march towards self-serve checkouts spells bad news for potential jobseekers, threatening employment in an already competitive market.

The trend does have its fair share of defenders, however, with many accepting the inevitability of a cashless society.

One person commented, ‘Cash is going. Get used to it. Cash, unfortunately, is mostly used by criminals and tax cheats. More and more businesses are declining to do cash transactions.'

Meanwhile, Coles responded to the video by stating that there are still options for customers who prefer to pay with cash in all their stores.

Coles isn’t the first supermarket chain to attempt a venture into cashless transactions. In 2021, Woolworths rolled out a trial for cashless supermarkets but faced significant resistance, leading to the trial's abandonment. The move was branded as an effort to make shopping as seamless as possible for busy inner-city customers.

Ultimately, customers' preference for cash was overwhelming. 'Cash is legal tender, and I do not support the cash ban and will take my money elsewhere,' one customer wrote defiantly on Woolworths' Facebook page.

The verdict on whether Australia is ready to let go of cash is still open to debate.
While it's true the Reserve Bank estimated just 13% of transactions in late 2022 were in cash, critics argue this push towards cashless transactions could be detrimental to older people and those with disabilities who still rely on physical cash.

Key Takeaways

• Coles is facing customer backlash over a new store in Brisbane where the self-checkout machines do not accept cash, sparking a call to boycott similar shops.
• Despite the move towards cashless checkout, a Coles spokesperson confirmed that there are still cash payment options in all stores, and there are no completely cashless stores yet.
• Woolworths abandoned a trial of cashless supermarkets in 2021 due to fierce resistance from customers who still prefer cash transactions.
• As Australia moves towards becoming a cashless society, critics warn that the decline in the use of cash and physical bank branches could cause significant harm to older people and those with disabilities who still rely on these services.

What do you think of this move by Coles, members? We’d love to read your thoughts in the comments section below.

I wont be shopping at Coles.

 

[Rshlc]

Until EPTPOS machines and card only checkouts supply a receipt with an account balance on them, I refuse to use them.

Unless you're a cashed up wanker, paying by card is fraught with danger. You spend various amounts at various retail outlets by card without any track of your rapidly diminishing bank balance. Your last transaction may be met with the message "insufficient funds - contact your financial institution". How embarrassing!

Well said, I agree, what about mums with school children who need a few coins?

 

[AussieFem]

Just don't shop at supermarkets that are cashless less absolutely necessary. Money talks when they're not getting any.
Also don't use self check out in supermarkets either. They make more profit with less staff.

 

[Annna]

The statistic of 13% is a skewed truth as it is the result of a merciless push by banks over the last few years to get customers transacting online/via EFTPOS and other tech methods.

You'd be deaf, dumb and blind to say you've not been in a bank branch over recent years where staff have been coercing customers into conducting their transactions online to get them out of the branch.

Additionally, a decade or so ago, banks introduced 'over the counter fees' that similarly coerced customers to use online services (they hit them in the back pocket).

I'd ask if the percentage (the 13% noted by the Reserve Bank) would be so low but for these bank driven methods of shedding themselves of walk in customers.

 

[Veggiepatch]

The statistic of 13% is a skewed truth as it is the result of a merciless push by banks over the last few years to get customers transacting online/via EFTPOS and other tech methods.

You'd be deaf, dumb and blind to say you've not been in a bank branch over recent years where staff have been coercing customers into conducting their transactions online to get them out of the branch.

Additionally, a decade or so ago, banks introduced 'over the counter fees' that similarly coerced customers to use online services (they hit them in the back pocket).

I'd ask if the percentage (the 13% noted by the Reserve Bank) would be so low but for these bank driven methods of shedding themselves of walk in customers.

Here's some pics I took in July this year. They are of the Dandenong Plaza branch of the CBA at 2.00 pm, traditionally a quiet time. The pics were for my response to an article about bank closures and the disappearance of ATMs.


The place looks quite the opposite to a morgue.

 

[Jay Jay]

To the respondent who said cash was mainly used by 'criminals and tax cheats' - how appallingly ignorant and short-sighted you are.

 

[Libnotes]

Until EPTPOS machines and card only checkouts supply a receipt with an account balance on them, I refuse to use them.

Unless you're a cashed up wanker, paying by card is fraught with danger. You spend various amounts at various retail outlets by card without any track of your rapidly diminishing bank balance. Your last transaction may be met with the message "insufficient funds - contact your financial institution". How embarrassing!

It is expected that card users will keep track of their spending, not just keep spending regardless.

 

[Shazza13]

Australia seems like it’s quickly sprinting towards becoming a cashless society.

In fact, it feels like we are just a step away from fully embracing card-based and digital payments. For better or for worse, the days of our beloved coins and notes seem to be dwindling.

In an intriguing new development, supermarket giant Coles is leading the race to cashless transactions, much to the frustration of many customers.

The supermarket has faced significant backlash over the launch of a new store in Brisbane with a key difference.

View attachment 29142

Coles’ new store in Brisbane accepts cards only as a source of payment. Image source: Shutterstock.

Do you remember the joy of handling cash, making sure you had the right number of notes and coins for exact change? Well, it seems that era might be winding down. In this new Coles store, there might be no place for those who prefer to pay for their goods with cash.

The new store features a row of self-service checkout machines that have left many customers flabbergasted. Why, you might ask? Well, they all strictly say 'card only'.

A video showcasing these cashless machines quickly found its way to social media, fanning the flames of debate about the rapid movement towards a cashless society.

'The new Coles, no cash machines at all,' the person filming laments incredulously. These words sparked a slew of contentious debates, even triggering calls for boycotting shops that no longer accept cash.

'Everyone needs to only use cash. If they don't accept cash, then don't buy from them,' one impassioned customer responded.

Another vehemently advised, 'Everyone needs to leave the groceries at the checkout and walk off.'

There's more to this moving away from cash than just the convenience of card payments, though. Several pointed out that Coles' march towards self-serve checkouts spells bad news for potential jobseekers, threatening employment in an already competitive market.

The trend does have its fair share of defenders, however, with many accepting the inevitability of a cashless society.

One person commented, ‘Cash is going. Get used to it. Cash, unfortunately, is mostly used by criminals and tax cheats. More and more businesses are declining to do cash transactions.'

Meanwhile, Coles responded to the video by stating that there are still options for customers who prefer to pay with cash in all their stores.

Coles isn’t the first supermarket chain to attempt a venture into cashless transactions. In 2021, Woolworths rolled out a trial for cashless supermarkets but faced significant resistance, leading to the trial's abandonment. The move was branded as an effort to make shopping as seamless as possible for busy inner-city customers.

Ultimately, customers' preference for cash was overwhelming. 'Cash is legal tender, and I do not support the cash ban and will take my money elsewhere,' one customer wrote defiantly on Woolworths' Facebook page.

The verdict on whether Australia is ready to let go of cash is still open to debate.
While it's true the Reserve Bank estimated just 13% of transactions in late 2022 were in cash, critics argue this push towards cashless transactions could be detrimental to older people and those with disabilities who still rely on physical cash.

Key Takeaways

• Coles is facing customer backlash over a new store in Brisbane where the self-checkout machines do not accept cash, sparking a call to boycott similar shops.
• Despite the move towards cashless checkout, a Coles spokesperson confirmed that there are still cash payment options in all stores, and there are no completely cashless stores yet.
• Woolworths abandoned a trial of cashless supermarkets in 2021 due to fierce resistance from customers who still prefer cash transactions.
• As Australia moves towards becoming a cashless society, critics warn that the decline in the use of cash and physical bank branches could cause significant harm to older people and those with disabilities who still rely on these services.

What do you think of this move by Coles, members? We’d love to read your thoughts in the comments section below.

I think you should still be allowed to use Cash as it is Legal Tender. There are a lot of other older people who don’t have Credit/Debit Cards still rely on Cash. Personally I prefer Cash but with my circumstances I need my Carers to shop for me so Cashless is easier all round. Please give the Option of Cash or Card at all times.

 

[Shazza13]

It’s a Big problem that we don’t get receipts when using Cards as I need to keep a close tally on how much I spend. I only get $70 fortnight to buy what ever I want or need every week so I really need to know my Tally to see what’s left in my account to see if I can afford to spend anymore.

 

[Veggiepatch]

Don't shop online? Are you for real? What would you like those of us with mobility disorders who rely on shopping online to do? Starve?

I don't shop online and never will. Even with a temporary disability (severely broken ankle), I made to the shops with a wheelchair, which were 3 kms away, by public transport. Stand on one leg, collapse the wheelchair and literally hop onto the bus. The driver was stunned. The reason I did it for was to not inconvenience other passengers by having the driver pulling the wheelchair up and down every time.

 

[Jeninene]

Australia seems like it’s quickly sprinting towards becoming a cashless society.

In fact, it feels like we are just a step away from fully embracing card-based and digital payments. For better or for worse, the days of our beloved coins and notes seem to be dwindling.

In an intriguing new development, supermarket giant Coles is leading the race to cashless transactions, much to the frustration of many customers.

The supermarket has faced significant backlash over the launch of a new store in Brisbane with a key difference.

View attachment 29142

Coles’ new store in Brisbane accepts cards only as a source of payment. Image source: Shutterstock.

Do you remember the joy of handling cash, making sure you had the right number of notes and coins for exact change? Well, it seems that era might be winding down. In this new Coles store, there might be no place for those who prefer to pay for their goods with cash.

The new store features a row of self-service checkout machines that have left many customers flabbergasted. Why, you might ask? Well, they all strictly say 'card only'.

A video showcasing these cashless machines quickly found its way to social media, fanning the flames of debate about the rapid movement towards a cashless society.

'The new Coles, no cash machines at all,' the person filming laments incredulously. These words sparked a slew of contentious debates, even triggering calls for boycotting shops that no longer accept cash.

'Everyone needs to only use cash. If they don't accept cash, then don't buy from them,' one impassioned customer responded.

Another vehemently advised, 'Everyone needs to leave the groceries at the checkout and walk off.'

There's more to this moving away from cash than just the convenience of card payments, though. Several pointed out that Coles' march towards self-serve checkouts spells bad news for potential jobseekers, threatening employment in an already competitive market.

The trend does have its fair share of defenders, however, with many accepting the inevitability of a cashless society.

One person commented, ‘Cash is going. Get used to it. Cash, unfortunately, is mostly used by criminals and tax cheats. More and more businesses are declining to do cash transactions.'

Meanwhile, Coles responded to the video by stating that there are still options for customers who prefer to pay with cash in all their stores.

Coles isn’t the first supermarket chain to attempt a venture into cashless transactions. In 2021, Woolworths rolled out a trial for cashless supermarkets but faced significant resistance, leading to the trial's abandonment. The move was branded as an effort to make shopping as seamless as possible for busy inner-city customers.

Ultimately, customers' preference for cash was overwhelming. 'Cash is legal tender, and I do not support the cash ban and will take my money elsewhere,' one customer wrote defiantly on Woolworths' Facebook page.

The verdict on whether Australia is ready to let go of cash is still open to debate.
While it's true the Reserve Bank estimated just 13% of transactions in late 2022 were in cash, critics argue this push towards cashless transactions could be detrimental to older people and those with disabilities who still rely on physical cash.

Key Takeaways

• Coles is facing customer backlash over a new store in Brisbane where the self-checkout machines do not accept cash, sparking a call to boycott similar shops.
• Despite the move towards cashless checkout, a Coles spokesperson confirmed that there are still cash payment options in all stores, and there are no completely cashless stores yet.
• Woolworths abandoned a trial of cashless supermarkets in 2021 due to fierce resistance from customers who still prefer cash transactions.
• As Australia moves towards becoming a cashless society, critics warn that the decline in the use of cash and physical bank branches could cause significant harm to older people and those with disabilities who still rely on these services.

What do you think of this move by Coles, members? We’d love to read your thoughts in the comments section below.

I have been a Coles customer for over fifty years, but that will be the last time I will shop there. I am almost 90 years old and usually use cash. I think there is a great deal of discrimination against old folk, this is another case. I also hate multi-buys.