Not grocery bags. Payment type.
I wouldn’t have thought a law like this was necessary…
Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., and Sen. Kevan Cramer, R-N.D., introduced the Payment Choice Act of 2025. The bill would require businesses to accept cash and bar them from charging a higher price to those who chose to pay in cash.
Choose Wisely
I have been to businesses that are ‘card only’. Apparently they don’t want the bother of handling currency. More counting to do manually, more deposits to make, and more possibility of employees helping themselves to a few bills. ‘Card Only’ is pretty rare but it does happen.
There are ‘card only’ self checkout machines at Home Depot and Costco, although if you bring greenbacks I think there is a way to use them.
Credit and debit card companies charge businesses a ‘swipe fee’ to process transactions, and those fees have been rising. Some businesses have responded by charging plastic users a higher price or adding a surcharge. My chiropractor charges $75 for an adjustment, but adds $3.50 since I pay with plastic. I’m getting yet another dental implant, and the dentist offers a 2% discount for checks and 3% for actual cash. I go with the check route since the amounts I need for implants are large and there isn’t enough room in my wallet even using $100 bills.
Some gas stations have a ‘cash price’ verses a ‘credit price’, with the latter being higher. But until I read about the proposed ‘Payment Choice’ legislation I didn’t realize that anyone charged more for payments in currency than cards. I haven’t encountered that yet.
You can pay your property taxes in San Joaquin County with plastic, but there is ‘convenience fee’. No thanks; the check is in the mail. No word on whether if you show up at the County Treasure’s office with cash they will take it, or add a charge for the hassle.
In Europe I bring euros and pay in cash at restaurants and most business. So far none have said no. I do this because the credit card I have is fine in the US, but charges a stiff fee for foreign currency transactions, and offers a bad exchange rate to boot. B of A gives me a pretty good exchange rate for physical euros and doesn’t charge a fee if the amount is over $1000. And I like the look of euros. All the bills are different colors and physical sizes. Bigger bills are bigger, imagine that. And there are 1 and 2 euro coins instead of bills.
Not Monopoly Money
The US has tried to get a $1 coin for my entire adult life. We had one once, but it was made with real silver, and inflation meant the metal was worth more than $1, so those coins left circulation. Gresham’s law anyone?
The trend is for cash to fade and plastic prevail. but I’m going to fight it. There is something nice about pulling out a bill that is way too big for my loaded burrito purchase, and telling the counter person to ‘keep it’. She always gives me a smile and thank you. The electronic tip screen just isn’t the same.
Rich Freggiaro Cycling Blog 