These days, it feels like cash is slowly but surely disappearing as a viable form of payment as more and more Aussies go cashless.

The convenience of card payment is definitely attractive, but it comes at a cost. While we can use credit cards, we’re often charged hefty service and transaction fees that can add up rather quickly.

Plus, you have the increased risk of your credit card details being taken by hackers if you use them online—a risk that isn't present with in-person cash transactions.

That's why it's so important for us all to keep our access to cash available, but that can be difficult when big retailers impose cash-out limits.

Woolworths allegedly refused to grant a shopper's $500 cash-out request. Credit: Shutterstock.

Recently, we wrote about a shopper who was left seething when he was refused a $500 cash-out request at an unnamed Woolworths store.

The frustrated customer took to the Facebook page 'Call Out Cashless Business' to vent and said: 'I went to Woolworths and tried to get $500 cash out; they said that they had very little cash and we could withdraw $100 as everyone was withdrawing cash.'

He then added that upon the cashier opening the register, 'It had plenty of money in it.'

This comment attracted a variety of reactions from others in the comments section, some pointing out that it would be excessive to expect $500 to be in the register at all times, whereas others felt that the retailer was just not doing their job well enough.

'$500 is a lot to expect to withdraw from a supermarket. It's not a bank,' commented a fellow shopper.

Another agreed and added, 'It's a safety issue. They aren't allowed that amount in the till.'

Members of the SDC also commented on the incident, with member @JKM_Storyteller saying, 'Honestly, I don't think it's fair to expect supermarkets to be treated like a bank where you can rock up and do a cash withdrawal over the counter. And using their checkouts as ATMs? Nah.'

Member @darylfoxcroft joined the conversation and added, 'If Woolies gave everyone $500 cash out when it was requested, how long would it be before the cashiers ran out of cash to make the change? Perhaps he should have used an ATM.'

Other current and former supermarket workers also shared their own experiences, noting that the register must always contain a certain amount and that it was part of their job to be able to manage customer cash outs accordingly—something this cashier had failed to do.

'I used to work at a supermarket. We have to have over a set amount in our tills at all times. $500 is a lot, and the cashiers can't always do that,' an ex-cashier explained in the comments section.

Still, others argued that there's actually nothing wrong with wanting such a large cash out and that, as a form of payment, it is still entitled to customer service and cash out from tills just as much as any form of card payment.

'You can get cash out at the self-service. l do it all the time before l get my groceries, it's so easy,' one user commented, while another said: 'Cash is still a currency here in Australia, maybe these stores need to be reminded.'

A woman detailed the benefits of carrying and paying with cash in a letter sent to a local newspaper. Credit: Facebook.

One Blackburn North resident, Julie, wrote a letter to a local newspaper in which she lamented the fact that, while some people prefer digital transactions, it's still not fair to take away cash options from the rest of us.

She argued that data hacking is an issue, whereas if one was to be robbed of their physical cash, it would only amount to the sum in their wallet—whereas digital banking could take your entire life savings.

Her letter then touched on the faults or perceived impracticalities of digital banking by phone, such as not having any batteries whilst all digital transactions require that or dropping your phone and breaking it, which is not the case with cash.

'My $50 note doesn't need batteries, it can't be “out of range”, and it won't break if it's dropped. If the system is down, I can still use my note,' she said.

Finally, her letter concluded with her agreement that, despite the convenience of card payment, physical cash should still be available as an option in all retailers.

'For everything else, please leave me the option of cash. It simplifies life,' she went on to say.

The message was echoed in far north Queensland, where flyers shared on Twitter and Facebook invited residents of the Cassowary Coast region to band together and go cold turkey on card payments for ten days in order to raise awareness about cash still being a viable form of payment.

This was in response to a recently announced cashless policy put in place by the local council on July 1, wherein cash was not accepted at council-organised events, the swimming pool, nor in-person payments at the library and council office.

The organisers are hopeful that the event will effectively raise awareness about the ongoing necessity for Australians to have access to cash. They anticipate that it will also prompt the council to reconsider and reverse its current cashless policy.

Key Takeaways

• A Woolworths customer turned to Facebook to express his frustration after he was denied a $500 cash out at Woolworths.
• While the shopper claimed the register at the supermarket had plenty of cash, it's understood the cash-out limit varies depending on the store, with Metro stores only allowed to give their customers up to a $200 cash out.
• Some people sided with the supermarket, explaining that safety issues and store policies prevent high cash-out amounts, while others sympathised with the man and recounted similar experiences at other supermarkets.
• This event prompted discussion about the importance of cash in society, with one woman writing a letter to a Melbourne newspaper arguing for the continued acceptance of cash and far north Queensland locals protesting a council's cashless policy.

Members, we're curious to hear your take on this topic. Are you leaning towards embracing the cashless revolution for your transactions? Or are you more inclined to stick with good ol' cash in your pocket? Drop your thoughts in the comments section!

 

[Thecheesequeen]

I saw an article recently about $50 in cash kept in circulation keeping its value, whereas $50 spend by card keeps losing its value because of transaction fees. It put the question of cash v card in perspective. I wish I could find it again.

 

[Sammihp]

Let’s stop calling all cards credit cards - they are not! A credit card is one where you make purchases using borrowed money from the card provider and pay it off either in one transaction or multiples that incur interest.
A DEBIT card is a card that is linked to your bank account and payments are immediately taken from your account.
It’s a complete rort when businesses try to charge you for using your DEBIT card !

 

[chinkapook]

I think taking out $500.00 from supermarket is too much. If you want that much ģo to the bank

 

[VicCiCi]

My husband and l went to the to the Queensland for a week. I went to buy my lunch with cash , card only, went to buy a bottle of water card only, .If l was traveling on my own l would not of had anything to eat or drink my darling husband came to the rescue. I don’t have enough money in my account to waste on small items

 

[Thecheesequeen]

I think taking out $500.00 from supermarket is too much. If you want that much ģo to the bank

Not everyone has the luxury of having a bank close by, especially if you live in the country.

 

[Geronimo 2022]

These days, it feels like cash is slowly but surely disappearing as a viable form of payment as more and more Aussies go cashless.

The convenience of card payment is definitely attractive, but it comes at a cost. While we can use credit cards, we’re often charged hefty service and transaction fees that can add up rather quickly.

Plus, you have the increased risk of your credit card details being taken by hackers if you use them online—a risk that isn't present with in-person cash transactions.

That's why it's so important for us all to keep our access to cash available, but that can be difficult when big retailers impose cash-out limits.

View attachment 24740

Woolworths allegedly refused to grant a shopper's $500 cash-out request. Credit: Shutterstock.

Recently, we wrote about a shopper who was left seething when he was refused a $500 cash-out request at an unnamed Woolworths store.

The frustrated customer took to the Facebook page 'Call Out Cashless Business' to vent and said: 'I went to Woolworths and tried to get $500 cash out; they said that they had very little cash and we could withdraw $100 as everyone was withdrawing cash.'

He then added that upon the cashier opening the register, 'It had plenty of money in it.'

This comment attracted a variety of reactions from others in the comments section, some pointing out that it would be excessive to expect $500 to be in the register at all times, whereas others felt that the retailer was just not doing their job well enough.

'$500 is a lot to expect to withdraw from a supermarket. It's not a bank,' commented a fellow shopper.

Another agreed and added, 'It's a safety issue. They aren't allowed that amount in the till.'

Members of the SDC also commented on the incident, with member @JKM_Storyteller saying, 'Honestly, I don't think it's fair to expect supermarkets to be treated like a bank where you can rock up and do a cash withdrawal over the counter. And using their checkouts as ATMs? Nah.'

Member @darylfoxcroft joined the conversation and added, 'If Woolies gave everyone $500 cash out when it was requested, how long would it be before the cashiers ran out of cash to make the change? Perhaps he should have used an ATM.'

Other current and former supermarket workers also shared their own experiences, noting that the register must always contain a certain amount and that it was part of their job to be able to manage customer cash outs accordingly—something this cashier had failed to do.

'I used to work at a supermarket. We have to have over a set amount in our tills at all times. $500 is a lot, and the cashiers can't always do that,' an ex-cashier explained in the comments section.

Still, others argued that there's actually nothing wrong with wanting such a large cash out and that, as a form of payment, it is still entitled to customer service and cash out from tills just as much as any form of card payment.

'You can get cash out at the self-service. l do it all the time before l get my groceries, it's so easy,' one user commented, while another said: 'Cash is still a currency here in Australia, maybe these stores need to be reminded.'

View attachment 24741

A woman detailed the benefits of carrying and paying with cash in a letter sent to a local newspaper. Credit: Facebook.

One Blackburn North resident, Julie, wrote a letter to a local newspaper in which she lamented the fact that, while some people prefer digital transactions, it's still not fair to take away cash options from the rest of us.

She argued that data hacking is an issue, whereas if one was to be robbed of their physical cash, it would only amount to the sum in their wallet—whereas digital banking could take your entire life savings.

Her letter then touched on the faults or perceived impracticalities of digital banking by phone, such as not having any batteries whilst all digital transactions require that or dropping your phone and breaking it, which is not the case with cash.

'My $50 note doesn't need batteries, it can't be “out of range”, and it won't break if it's dropped. If the system is down, I can still use my note,' she said.

Finally, her letter concluded with her agreement that, despite the convenience of card payment, physical cash should still be available as an option in all retailers.

'For everything else, please leave me the option of cash. It simplifies life,' she went on to say.

The message was echoed in far north Queensland, where flyers shared on Twitter and Facebook invited residents of the Cassowary Coast region to band together and go cold turkey on card payments for ten days in order to raise awareness about cash still being a viable form of payment.

This was in response to a recently announced cashless policy put in place by the local council on July 1, wherein cash was not accepted at council-organised events, the swimming pool, nor in-person payments at the library and council office.

The organisers are hopeful that the event will effectively raise awareness about the ongoing necessity for Australians to have access to cash. They anticipate that it will also prompt the council to reconsider and reverse its current cashless policy.

Key Takeaways

• A Woolworths customer turned to Facebook to express his frustration after he was denied a $500 cash out at Woolworths.
• While the shopper claimed the register at the supermarket had plenty of cash, it's understood the cash-out limit varies depending on the store, with Metro stores only allowed to give their customers up to a $200 cash out.
• Some people sided with the supermarket, explaining that safety issues and store policies prevent high cash-out amounts, while others sympathised with the man and recounted similar experiences at other supermarkets.
• This event prompted discussion about the importance of cash in society, with one woman writing a letter to a Melbourne newspaper arguing for the continued acceptance of cash and far north Queensland locals protesting a council's cashless policy.

Members, we're curious to hear your take on this topic. Are you leaning towards embracing the cashless revolution for your transactions? Or are you more inclined to stick with good ol' cash in your pocket? Drop your thoughts in the comments section!

It’s the only place I feel safe taking out cash! Don’t like ATMs.

 

[kerrikennel]

My husband and l went to the to the Queensland for a week. I went to buy my lunch with cash , card only, went to buy a bottle of water card only, .If l was traveling on my own l would not of had anything to eat or drink my darling husband came to the rescue. I don’t have enough money in my account to waste on small items

That's what ATMs are for.

 

[melnugro]

FANTASTIC READ AGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY

 

[AlanQ]

Let’s stop calling all cards credit cards - they are not! A credit card is one where you make purchases using borrowed money from the card provider and pay it off either in one transaction or multiples that incur interest.
A DEBIT card is a card that is linked to your bank account and payments are immediately taken from your account.
It’s a complete rort when businesses try to charge you for using your DEBIT card !

businesses still pay a fee 1.5% on ALL eftpos transactions.

 

[Herbie1950]

These days, it feels like cash is slowly but surely disappearing as a viable form of payment as more and more Aussies go cashless.

The convenience of card payment is definitely attractive, but it comes at a cost. While we can use credit cards, we’re often charged hefty service and transaction fees that can add up rather quickly.

Plus, you have the increased risk of your credit card details being taken by hackers if you use them online—a risk that isn't present with in-person cash transactions.

That's why it's so important for us all to keep our access to cash available, but that can be difficult when big retailers impose cash-out limits.

View attachment 24740

Woolworths allegedly refused to grant a shopper's $500 cash-out request. Credit: Shutterstock.

Recently, we wrote about a shopper who was left seething when he was refused a $500 cash-out request at an unnamed Woolworths store.

The frustrated customer took to the Facebook page 'Call Out Cashless Business' to vent and said: 'I went to Woolworths and tried to get $500 cash out; they said that they had very little cash and we could withdraw $100 as everyone was withdrawing cash.'

He then added that upon the cashier opening the register, 'It had plenty of money in it.'

This comment attracted a variety of reactions from others in the comments section, some pointing out that it would be excessive to expect $500 to be in the register at all times, whereas others felt that the retailer was just not doing their job well enough.

'$500 is a lot to expect to withdraw from a supermarket. It's not a bank,' commented a fellow shopper.

Another agreed and added, 'It's a safety issue. They aren't allowed that amount in the till.'

Members of the SDC also commented on the incident, with member @JKM_Storyteller saying, 'Honestly, I don't think it's fair to expect supermarkets to be treated like a bank where you can rock up and do a cash withdrawal over the counter. And using their checkouts as ATMs? Nah.'

Member @darylfoxcroft joined the conversation and added, 'If Woolies gave everyone $500 cash out when it was requested, how long would it be before the cashiers ran out of cash to make the change? Perhaps he should have used an ATM.'

Other current and former supermarket workers also shared their own experiences, noting that the register must always contain a certain amount and that it was part of their job to be able to manage customer cash outs accordingly—something this cashier had failed to do.

'I used to work at a supermarket. We have to have over a set amount in our tills at all times. $500 is a lot, and the cashiers can't always do that,' an ex-cashier explained in the comments section.

Still, others argued that there's actually nothing wrong with wanting such a large cash out and that, as a form of payment, it is still entitled to customer service and cash out from tills just as much as any form of card payment.

'You can get cash out at the self-service. l do it all the time before l get my groceries, it's so easy,' one user commented, while another said: 'Cash is still a currency here in Australia, maybe these stores need to be reminded.'

View attachment 24741

A woman detailed the benefits of carrying and paying with cash in a letter sent to a local newspaper. Credit: Facebook.

One Blackburn North resident, Julie, wrote a letter to a local newspaper in which she lamented the fact that, while some people prefer digital transactions, it's still not fair to take away cash options from the rest of us.

She argued that data hacking is an issue, whereas if one was to be robbed of their physical cash, it would only amount to the sum in their wallet—whereas digital banking could take your entire life savings.

Her letter then touched on the faults or perceived impracticalities of digital banking by phone, such as not having any batteries whilst all digital transactions require that or dropping your phone and breaking it, which is not the case with cash.

'My $50 note doesn't need batteries, it can't be “out of range”, and it won't break if it's dropped. If the system is down, I can still use my note,' she said.

Finally, her letter concluded with her agreement that, despite the convenience of card payment, physical cash should still be available as an option in all retailers.

'For everything else, please leave me the option of cash. It simplifies life,' she went on to say.

The message was echoed in far north Queensland, where flyers shared on Twitter and Facebook invited residents of the Cassowary Coast region to band together and go cold turkey on card payments for ten days in order to raise awareness about cash still being a viable form of payment.

This was in response to a recently announced cashless policy put in place by the local council on July 1, wherein cash was not accepted at council-organised events, the swimming pool, nor in-person payments at the library and council office.

The organisers are hopeful that the event will effectively raise awareness about the ongoing necessity for Australians to have access to cash. They anticipate that it will also prompt the council to reconsider and reverse its current cashless policy.

Key Takeaways

• A Woolworths customer turned to Facebook to express his frustration after he was denied a $500 cash out at Woolworths.
• While the shopper claimed the register at the supermarket had plenty of cash, it's understood the cash-out limit varies depending on the store, with Metro stores only allowed to give their customers up to a $200 cash out.
• Some people sided with the supermarket, explaining that safety issues and store policies prevent high cash-out amounts, while others sympathised with the man and recounted similar experiences at other supermarkets.
• This event prompted discussion about the importance of cash in society, with one woman writing a letter to a Melbourne newspaper arguing for the continued acceptance of cash and far north Queensland locals protesting a council's cashless policy.

Members, we're curious to hear your take on this topic. Are you leaning towards embracing the cashless revolution for your transactions? Or are you more inclined to stick with good ol' cash in your pocket? Drop your thoughts in the comments section!

Having worked in the industry, people expecting large withdrawals is increasingly popular and it boils down to the Supermarket isn’t a bank so there have to be limits put in place. Where I worked the banks were within easy few minute walking distance but withdrawal at EFTPOS was free therefore they wouldn’t use ATM’s. No different to people taking their money boxes to the supermarket, buying a packet a gum then expecting the supermarket to cash the money box in. The supermarkets don’t clear coin, so are then stuck with all that coin. . They aren’t banks. There are always 2 sides to every story but only ever one told.

 

[Pinkbudgiepie]

These days, it feels like cash is slowly but surely disappearing as a viable form of payment as more and more Aussies go cashless.

The convenience of card payment is definitely attractive, but it comes at a cost. While we can use credit cards, we’re often charged hefty service and transaction fees that can add up rather quickly.

Plus, you have the increased risk of your credit card details being taken by hackers if you use them online—a risk that isn't present with in-person cash transactions.

That's why it's so important for us all to keep our access to cash available, but that can be difficult when big retailers impose cash-out limits.

View attachment 24740

Woolworths allegedly refused to grant a shopper's $500 cash-out request. Credit: Shutterstock.

Recently, we wrote about a shopper who was left seething when he was refused a $500 cash-out request at an unnamed Woolworths store.

The frustrated customer took to the Facebook page 'Call Out Cashless Business' to vent and said: 'I went to Woolworths and tried to get $500 cash out; they said that they had very little cash and we could withdraw $100 as everyone was withdrawing cash.'

He then added that upon the cashier opening the register, 'It had plenty of money in it.'

This comment attracted a variety of reactions from others in the comments section, some pointing out that it would be excessive to expect $500 to be in the register at all times, whereas others felt that the retailer was just not doing their job well enough.

'$500 is a lot to expect to withdraw from a supermarket. It's not a bank,' commented a fellow shopper.

Another agreed and added, 'It's a safety issue. They aren't allowed that amount in the till.'

Members of the SDC also commented on the incident, with member @JKM_Storyteller saying, 'Honestly, I don't think it's fair to expect supermarkets to be treated like a bank where you can rock up and do a cash withdrawal over the counter. And using their checkouts as ATMs? Nah.'

Member @darylfoxcroft joined the conversation and added, 'If Woolies gave everyone $500 cash out when it was requested, how long would it be before the cashiers ran out of cash to make the change? Perhaps he should have used an ATM.'

Other current and former supermarket workers also shared their own experiences, noting that the register must always contain a certain amount and that it was part of their job to be able to manage customer cash outs accordingly—something this cashier had failed to do.

'I used to work at a supermarket. We have to have over a set amount in our tills at all times. $500 is a lot, and the cashiers can't always do that,' an ex-cashier explained in the comments section.

Still, others argued that there's actually nothing wrong with wanting such a large cash out and that, as a form of payment, it is still entitled to customer service and cash out from tills just as much as any form of card payment.

'You can get cash out at the self-service. l do it all the time before l get my groceries, it's so easy,' one user commented, while another said: 'Cash is still a currency here in Australia, maybe these stores need to be reminded.'

View attachment 24741

A woman detailed the benefits of carrying and paying with cash in a letter sent to a local newspaper. Credit: Facebook.

One Blackburn North resident, Julie, wrote a letter to a local newspaper in which she lamented the fact that, while some people prefer digital transactions, it's still not fair to take away cash options from the rest of us.

She argued that data hacking is an issue, whereas if one was to be robbed of their physical cash, it would only amount to the sum in their wallet—whereas digital banking could take your entire life savings.

Her letter then touched on the faults or perceived impracticalities of digital banking by phone, such as not having any batteries whilst all digital transactions require that or dropping your phone and breaking it, which is not the case with cash.

'My $50 note doesn't need batteries, it can't be “out of range”, and it won't break if it's dropped. If the system is down, I can still use my note,' she said.

Finally, her letter concluded with her agreement that, despite the convenience of card payment, physical cash should still be available as an option in all retailers.

'For everything else, please leave me the option of cash. It simplifies life,' she went on to say.

The message was echoed in far north Queensland, where flyers shared on Twitter and Facebook invited residents of the Cassowary Coast region to band together and go cold turkey on card payments for ten days in order to raise awareness about cash still being a viable form of payment.

This was in response to a recently announced cashless policy put in place by the local council on July 1, wherein cash was not accepted at council-organised events, the swimming pool, nor in-person payments at the library and council office.

The organisers are hopeful that the event will effectively raise awareness about the ongoing necessity for Australians to have access to cash. They anticipate that it will also prompt the council to reconsider and reverse its current cashless policy.

Key Takeaways

• A Woolworths customer turned to Facebook to express his frustration after he was denied a $500 cash out at Woolworths.
• While the shopper claimed the register at the supermarket had plenty of cash, it's understood the cash-out limit varies depending on the store, with Metro stores only allowed to give their customers up to a $200 cash out.
• Some people sided with the supermarket, explaining that safety issues and store policies prevent high cash-out amounts, while others sympathised with the man and recounted similar experiences at other supermarkets.
• This event prompted discussion about the importance of cash in society, with one woman writing a letter to a Melbourne newspaper arguing for the continued acceptance of cash and far north Queensland locals protesting a council's cashless policy.

Members, we're curious to hear your take on this topic. Are you leaning towards embracing the cashless revolution for your transactions? Or are you more inclined to stick with good ol' cash in your pocket? Drop your thoughts in the comments section!

businesses still pay a fee 1.5% on ALL eftpos transactions.

Spot on…don’t start blaming woolies for the banks’ failure
Woolies NOT a bank, Using the old standard, “imagine if everyone started asking for 500 cash out, I am a fervent believer/user of cash but 500 feels like abuse when you consider woolies has to ensure they have a minimum in their tills
What a target they would be (and not from all honest people) if they had to heavily load their tills with cash like a bank
Get real or that facility will be shut off (or charged) as well

 

[ElizabethL]

I thought there was a cash out limit.
$500.00 cash out is a bit of a cheek to ask at a supermarket and then when refused complain about it.
Use a bank or make other cash out transactions from somewhere else.

 

[Herbie1950]

Not everyone has the luxury of having a bank close by, especially if you live in the country.

This is true, but $500 is unrealistic to expect from a supermarket and yes I live in the country.

 

[Herbie1950]

I don’t support a cashless society, it’s just making the banks richer and I believe we should have a choice.
But I don’t believe in getting on social media and blaming a supermarket or any business for for that matter, for refusing a large cash withdrawal most likely due to store policy of cash holdings. The banks have created the problem, they need to clean it up.

 

[theresek]

That's what ATMs are for.

That’s what I think. I don’t know if there are everywhere ATMs in Australia.
I use alway cash which I get in ATMs

 

[Gaena]

Let’s stop calling all cards credit cards - they are not! A credit card is one where you make purchases using borrowed money from the card provider and pay it off either in one transaction or multiples that incur interest.
A DEBIT card is a card that is linked to your bank account and payments are immediately taken from your account.
It’s a complete rort when businesses try to charge you for using your DEBIT card !

I hear and agree with you, however there is a but. Yes Debit cards access your own account so the money being used for the transaction is actually yours and not real credit where you would pay interest. But some of the banks use the credit card System to operate their debit cards, as an example WESTPAC use Mastercard for all of their debit cards, which means although you are using your own cash it is actually being provdided through the Mastercard Credit System. Interest is not charged to you because the bank has an arrangement with mastercard and no doubt pay a hefty fee to Mastercard for the use of their system. It is all very confusing, I was working At Westpac when they introduced Their Debit Card in an effort to discontinue Their eftpos cards I never understood why they needed to do that in the first place but to this day I still have one it still works and is replaced when it expires. The whole process and why they (the Bank) took the decision to use Mastercard and how It would all work for the customer really did my head in at the time, even more so when we had to explain it to those customers, I still struggle with it now. I think, if memory serves me at the time WESTPAC said there was some security concerns with, Eftpos cards that would be eliminated by using Debit cards.

 

[dikarn]

I think this shopper is being very unreasonable. $500 is a large amont to expect the checkouts to dispense. An ATM is usually in most shopping centres. In smaller towns an ATM is usually near Woolworths or Coles.

 

[Da Freddo]

I think this shopper is being very unreasonable. $500 is a large amont to expect the checkouts to dispense. An ATM is usually in most shopping centres. In smaller towns an ATM is usually near Woolworths or Coles.

I totally agree, want cash out, let's make it $100 max one time per day...

 

[Craigz]

These days, it feels like cash is slowly but surely disappearing as a viable form of payment as more and more Aussies go cashless.

The convenience of card payment is definitely attractive, but it comes at a cost. While we can use credit cards, we’re often charged hefty service and transaction fees that can add up rather quickly.

Plus, you have the increased risk of your credit card details being taken by hackers if you use them online—a risk that isn't present with in-person cash transactions.

That's why it's so important for us all to keep our access to cash available, but that can be difficult when big retailers impose cash-out limits.

View attachment 24740

Woolworths allegedly refused to grant a shopper's $500 cash-out request. Credit: Shutterstock.

Recently, we wrote about a shopper who was left seething when he was refused a $500 cash-out request at an unnamed Woolworths store.

The frustrated customer took to the Facebook page 'Call Out Cashless Business' to vent and said: 'I went to Woolworths and tried to get $500 cash out; they said that they had very little cash and we could withdraw $100 as everyone was withdrawing cash.'

He then added that upon the cashier opening the register, 'It had plenty of money in it.'

This comment attracted a variety of reactions from others in the comments section, some pointing out that it would be excessive to expect $500 to be in the register at all times, whereas others felt that the retailer was just not doing their job well enough.

'$500 is a lot to expect to withdraw from a supermarket. It's not a bank,' commented a fellow shopper.

Another agreed and added, 'It's a safety issue. They aren't allowed that amount in the till.'

Members of the SDC also commented on the incident, with member @JKM_Storyteller saying, 'Honestly, I don't think it's fair to expect supermarkets to be treated like a bank where you can rock up and do a cash withdrawal over the counter. And using their checkouts as ATMs? Nah.'

Member @darylfoxcroft joined the conversation and added, 'If Woolies gave everyone $500 cash out when it was requested, how long would it be before the cashiers ran out of cash to make the change? Perhaps he should have used an ATM.'

Other current and former supermarket workers also shared their own experiences, noting that the register must always contain a certain amount and that it was part of their job to be able to manage customer cash outs accordingly—something this cashier had failed to do.

'I used to work at a supermarket. We have to have over a set amount in our tills at all times. $500 is a lot, and the cashiers can't always do that,' an ex-cashier explained in the comments section.

Still, others argued that there's actually nothing wrong with wanting such a large cash out and that, as a form of payment, it is still entitled to customer service and cash out from tills just as much as any form of card payment.

'You can get cash out at the self-service. l do it all the time before l get my groceries, it's so easy,' one user commented, while another said: 'Cash is still a currency here in Australia, maybe these stores need to be reminded.'

View attachment 24741

A woman detailed the benefits of carrying and paying with cash in a letter sent to a local newspaper. Credit: Facebook.

One Blackburn North resident, Julie, wrote a letter to a local newspaper in which she lamented the fact that, while some people prefer digital transactions, it's still not fair to take away cash options from the rest of us.

She argued that data hacking is an issue, whereas if one was to be robbed of their physical cash, it would only amount to the sum in their wallet—whereas digital banking could take your entire life savings.

Her letter then touched on the faults or perceived impracticalities of digital banking by phone, such as not having any batteries whilst all digital transactions require that or dropping your phone and breaking it, which is not the case with cash.

'My $50 note doesn't need batteries, it can't be “out of range”, and it won't break if it's dropped. If the system is down, I can still use my note,' she said.

Finally, her letter concluded with her agreement that, despite the convenience of card payment, physical cash should still be available as an option in all retailers.

'For everything else, please leave me the option of cash. It simplifies life,' she went on to say.

The message was echoed in far north Queensland, where flyers shared on Twitter and Facebook invited residents of the Cassowary Coast region to band together and go cold turkey on card payments for ten days in order to raise awareness about cash still being a viable form of payment.

This was in response to a recently announced cashless policy put in place by the local council on July 1, wherein cash was not accepted at council-organised events, the swimming pool, nor in-person payments at the library and council office.

The organisers are hopeful that the event will effectively raise awareness about the ongoing necessity for Australians to have access to cash. They anticipate that it will also prompt the council to reconsider and reverse its current cashless policy.

Key Takeaways

• A Woolworths customer turned to Facebook to express his frustration after he was denied a $500 cash out at Woolworths.
• While the shopper claimed the register at the supermarket had plenty of cash, it's understood the cash-out limit varies depending on the store, with Metro stores only allowed to give their customers up to a $200 cash out.
• Some people sided with the supermarket, explaining that safety issues and store policies prevent high cash-out amounts, while others sympathised with the man and recounted similar experiences at other supermarkets.
• This event prompted discussion about the importance of cash in society, with one woman writing a letter to a Melbourne newspaper arguing for the continued acceptance of cash and far north Queensland locals protesting a council's cashless policy.

Members, we're curious to hear your take on this topic. Are you leaning towards embracing the cashless revolution for your transactions? Or are you more inclined to stick with good ol' cash in your pocket? Drop your thoughts in the comments section!

I thought it was illegal to refuse payment by legal tender.