Philadelphia City Council approves bill banning cashless stores

[TexasTowelie]

Philadelphia City Council is moving forward with a proposed bill that would ban most stores from going cashless in Philadelphia.

Council approved the bill Thursday with a 12-4 vote. The bill's sponsor, Councilman Bill Greenlee, argued that cashless retail is unjust in a city with a 26 percent poverty rate, where many lower-income residents tend to use cash. A recent survey also noted that about six percent of Philadelphia's population does not have a bank account.

The bill directly impacts businesses such as Sweetgreen, the fast-casual regional chain that accepts payment only by app or card. Bluestone Lane, a cafe with two locations in Center City, is also a plastic-only establishment that would be impacted by the change. The proposed ordinance does not apply to membership-based stores such as Costco, or online retailers.

Earlier this month, the New Jersey legislature passed bills that would similarly ban cashless business in the entire state. That proposed law is awaiting the signature of Gov. Phil Murphy.

In light of the bill, Amazon reportedly is rethinking its plan to open a brick-and-mortar retail store in Philadelphia. The store would be one of 3,000 Amazon Go locations the retail giant has planned to open over the next few years.

Read more: https://www.phillyvoice.com/philadelphia-city-council-ban-bill-cashless-stores/

[Blues Heron]

1. This needs to be federal. Good first step though

Need to nip this pernicious little trend in the bud. Repeat after me "all debts, public and private"

[SoCalNative]

5. It seems to work perfectly fine

for many retailers in Europe to no longer accept cash at brick and mortar stores.

[Blues Heron]

7. I'm sure it's great for the retailers

For someone outside the bank card system - not so much. Very discriminatory.

[SoCalNative]

11. Even EBT

benefits are paid on debit-style cards now.

[getagrip_already]

2. and while they are at it....

order a 3% discount for cash sales. All too often, people paying cash subsidize those who use credit.

[alwaysinasnit]

4. +1000

[Me.]

3. Amazon Already Has Brick & Mortar Stores

WholeFoods and the prices are steadily rising.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

6. Good. And cash should bring a lower price,

except that the credit card companies all have as their agreements with the vendors that discounts for cash cannot be offered. I suppose there could be some sort of law enacted at a federal level to do that, but I don't know enough about this stuff to be certain. What I do know is that each state has its own rules and regulations about how much interest can be charged, which is why credit card companies are typically chartered in Delaware.

[FakeNoose]

8. I hope this goes statewide

[zipplewrath]

9. Sell cash cards

The easiest thing here for retailers to do is to sell cash cards. They only accept cash for the cards, you use the cards to buy stuff.

[MichMan]

10. Does this apply to airlines and rental cars?