Refusing to accept EFTPOS/Cards despite displaying logos (Wong's Cafe Elsternwick VIC)

[Deactivated] on 09/01/2015 - 21:55
Last edited 09/01/2015 - 21:58

A colleague and I visited Wong's Cafe in Elsternwick (Victoria) earlier today (Friday 9 Jan) for take-away lunch. I have been a customer of Wong's Cafe for many years now and the dishes that I order are almost always the same so I rarely have to 'order' as the staff know what I want.

Though, one difference today - I was going to pay by card.

I have (almost) always paid my previous orders in cash, but due to some changes in my accounts and personal preference in not carrying excess cash I have recently been using cards. Further, I have seen an EFTPOS machine at Wong's Cafe since I've gone there and I once paid via EFTPOS in 2011.

The EFTPOS machine was still there today.

Today I asked the owner if he accepted EFTPOS, but he flatly said "cash would be preferable" and said that all the big four banks have ATMs within walking distance.
His reasoning? "We're trying to minimse our bank transactions".

I pointed to the card logos affixed to the window and also to a MasterCard open/close sign on the door. His response was that he did not have such a sign before and a friend gave that to him. He stopped short of saying that he did not accept cards, but repeatedly offered to "get the items ready" whilst asking that I visit an ATM and withdraw cash.

So, not having much of a choice ahd with the expectations of my colleague to uphold I reluctantly had to visit an ATM and get a cash advance (I had a credit card), then return to the shop and pay him in cash.

Surprise surprise, when I returned with my cash another young couple were settling their lunch bill at the shop using a VISA card.

So, how would you deal with this issue?

Thanks all,

KK

Poll Options

  • 67
    Leave the shop and look for an alternative that accepts cards
  • 4
    Visit an ATM for a cash advance then pay in cash at the shop
  • 202
    Insist on paying by card at the store
General Discussion

Related Stores

wongscafeelsternwick.com.au
wongscafeelsternwick.com.au

Comments

  • Mrgreenz on 11/01/2015 - 05:59
    +6

    Never go there again, most expensive 14c he ever saved

  • dbadcock on 11/01/2015 - 09:39
    +3

    In a similar scenario, I was at my local corner store a few weeks ago.

    The total bill came to $3.50, I had no cash, so naturally I went to pay by card but there was a $5 minimum. I asked if instead of enforcing this rule to just ad 20c to the bill,as there was nothing else in the shop I required, but she refused and charged me the $5 for the loaf of bread - So I was forced to spend $1.50 more than what I wanted- I will not shop there again out of protest. I know its not a big deal, only $1.50 but surely there should be more leaniency in the minimum purchase over eftpos

    • Sammy2000 on 11/01/2015 - 11:58
      +2

      You didn't grab a couple of chocolate bars or something?
      I would have walked out without the bread.

    • daydream on 11/01/2015 - 13:08
      +3

      She can choose to price the bread for $5 (and be a jerk) or not take up your reasonable 20c suggestion. Similarly you could chose not to buy it and leave. Interestingly I wonder how you would feel if the same bread was priced at $5 from the start?

      I think the issue is in the treatment we get not necessarily the actual outcome (funnily enough). ie, the OP was willing (chose) to take the action of going to the ATM (which he didn't need to do as the other couple showed) but was upset about it when he realised the others weren't in the same boat.

      Another analogy (made up), I might be happy enough to earn $20/hr till the day I find out someone else is getting $21/hr in the same situation. If I didn't know about the difference in treatment I'd still be happy with $20/hr going forward.

      • woz on 12/01/2015 - 08:31
        +1

        I upvoted this comment, and am amazed that others haven't. I think I could use this in reverse to check whether or not I'm being reasonable when I get upset sometimes. If I wasn't aware of a "difference in treatment" or (insert your own criteria here) wouldn't I be happier? Perhaps I could CHOOSE to be happier instead…

  • 01011010 on 11/01/2015 - 10:15
    +5

    Its plain and simple - he took advantage of the fact that you were a regular. He pushed the point on the cash because he thinks you will come back and most other times you have paid with cash.

  • halo9 on 11/01/2015 - 10:39
    +3

    Stuff like this really gets my goat. I would have politely agreed and told him to make the order while I got some cash. Then when walking out I would have just kept on walking and not returned. A quick call to the ATO wouldn't have hurt either.

    • [Deactivated] on 12/01/2015 - 19:31

      Now that's one tempting idea halo9…

  • tikei on 11/01/2015 - 12:14
    +3

    He said he "preferred" cash, not cash only. If you'd stood your ground he would've let you grudgingly.
    Visit again and when paying, hold out your card, say nothing. See how he responds. If he asks you to pay in cash, just say no.

    • Ughhh on 11/01/2015 - 12:32
      +6

      Arguing with the boss before receiving food? You're asking for free "extras" in your meal.

      • daydream on 11/01/2015 - 12:55
        +1

        If you eat in and pay (or choose to argue) after, your food is safe. Agreed, take away (pay before) is a different risk proposition ;-)

        • [Deactivated] on 11/01/2015 - 14:27

          Truth be told that is a subconscious thought which has run past my mind too…

        • kiitos on 12/01/2015 - 21:49
          +1

          He just needs to order over the phone - then the dishes are ready when he comes to pick them up, and plonks down the plastic.

          Note on their website that you can order online and the CC options for payment are clearly displayed.

  • centrelink on 11/01/2015 - 17:49

    You could of just dumped the card on them, say you have no money in bank blah blah blah. What can they do?

  • qazwsx on 11/01/2015 - 19:38
    +6

    I had a situation with Pizza Hut in Bondi, they had a $10 deal so I ordered it online and went around to pick it up. They had already made it and everything.
    Anyway I got there and gave them my card, and the guy said he would not take card. I said I can see your EFTPOS terminal, you have a sticker on it saying $10 minimum and my thing is $10 - he took the terminal off the counter and put it under the counter and said he was not taking it because the value of the $10 deal (which was a Pizza Hut-wide deal published on their website) was too good. I told him I had no cash (I had $5 or something, not enough), he said there is an ATM next door (Suncorp, not my bank). Did not want to pay $2 for using another ATM for the git to save the 0.7% merchant fee for taking Mastercard (would have been $0.07 for this transaction). So I told him I was walking out, he can keep the pizza and other things he already made - ordered from Dominos that afternoon and was quite satisfied.

    As an aside, for those who don't really know - EFTPOS gets a flat fee charged per transaction, something like 50c. So if you charge $2 or $200, fee to merchant is the same - hence do them a favour and don't pay by EFTPOS where you are only buying a small pissy $4 item, and I think it is appropriate for merchants to set a minimum EFTPOS amount otherwise that fee could become quite out of hand quite quickly. I find it amusing that you can buy a 300c soft serve from McD with EFTPOS - bit of a false economy there.
    Credit cards on the other hand charge by % and I have not seen anyone who charges merchants a minimum % for credit card transactions - so whether it is $2 or $200, fee as a % of the transaction amount is the same. For this reason, I cannot comprehend why there are minimums for credit card transactions, especially with things like paypass.

    • Wormetti on 12/01/2015 - 17:07
      +2

      I bought a 50cent soft serve with paywave today. Got to get my 2% cashback. Probably one reason it's not 30cents anymore at my local.

      • [Deactivated] on 12/01/2015 - 19:39

        I don't think soft serve is 30 cents anywhere now, is it? It's 50 cents virtually everywhere I've been in recent months but yes, it was cheaper earlier this year.

        The way I see it, if a business accepts electronic payments then once I've met the minimum spend requirements (if any are stipulated) it's perfectly okay to use any card that they accept.

    • [Deactivated] on 12/01/2015 - 19:37
      +1

      Ohhh, the good old EFTPOS machine not working trick…
      What I prefer doing is ordering online and then also paying online so I don't have to put up with some merchants' nonsense.

      I went to Domino's Glenferrie earlier this year and was told that they do not accept American Express. No biggie, so I paid with Visa.

      Next time I went to the same store (about a month later), I ordered online then paid online using my AMEX card.

      That worked and every time I visit Domino's I do exactly this, although admittedly I haven't paid online with Pizza Hut.

  • Davo1111 on 11/01/2015 - 20:07
    +2

    He stopped short of saying that he did not accept cards,

    Well there's your answer, say card is all you've got.

  • fusion17 on 11/01/2015 - 20:07
    +1

    Are businesses who specifically say Cash Only taxed differently, or checked up more carefully?

    I understand why they would accept cards to get more customers. But, once they have an established name/base, why don't they then just change to cash only? If asked could make up a bs 'customers ordering one item and paying card' to not look bad etc.

    I think the 2-3% charge is otherwise perfectly acceptable. OP was clearly a tax incentive to the business.

    • Davo1111 on 11/01/2015 - 20:50
      +1

      Are businesses who specifically say Cash Only taxed differently, or checked up more carefully?

      It makes it easier to not declare income. However, they also save money by avoiding credit card fees. So it works both ways.

  • drfuzzy on 11/01/2015 - 20:12

    The ATO use their huge dataset to calculate the ratio of cash to eftpos transactions cafes in any city/suburb should receive. This allows them to calculate a risk rating for each cafe to determine the probability the owner is extracting cash. Eg. if the owner takes out cash to dodge tax the ratio of cash/card transactions falls outside the expected range.

    One way to balance things is to still accept card but brow beat as many customers as possible into using the ATM instead. Using this strategy a cunning cafe owner can reduce the chance of an ATO audit.

    I'm not saying this is what is happening in this case. Mr Wong may be totally above board. I have no evidence at all, but given the situation it could be one logical explanation.

    • Baysew on 12/01/2015 - 16:11
      +1

      Tax returns and BAS statements simply ask for a income figure.
      There is no breakdown of Cash or Cards, reported to the ATO, just a sales figure.

  • [Deactivated] on 11/01/2015 - 22:09
    +2

    I went to a BBQ restaurant a few months ago.
    Our table was near the till, so I got to see the man-at-the-till tell everyone who wanted to pay by card that their card-machine isn't working, and that there's a ATM just outside. But it wasn't a bank ATM, it was one of those ATM with fees! yuk.

    • McFly on 12/01/2015 - 00:37
      +1

      So was it really broken?

    • snook on 12/01/2015 - 17:12
      +1

      Was it out the front of his shop? Any business can install a machine in their shop and get rental for use.

      • [Deactivated] on 12/01/2015 - 19:43

        Spot on.

        Just need to make sure that nobody attempts to hook it up to their fully sick ute and withdraw it from the venue…

  • ironplus on 12/01/2015 - 03:39
    +1

    From what I've read, you don't seem the type of person to make a scene. You have delayed a moment in your life that you now wish you did something about and now it is bothering you, trust me I know. You don't want to report him because you are loyal enough to not too, however not loyal enough to let him know of his mistake.

    I think what you want to do is let him know what he did to you and how you were mistreated as a regular and taken 'advantage' off. What you want to hear is somebody tell you what you already know, which is going to be me.

    What you want to do, as much as you probably don't want too is to purchase from him again and pay with your card. And see if he accepts. You are hoping he doesn't so that way you have your opportunity to let him know how often you come in and how rude he was for not accepting your card but accepting others. You want to tell him you've had enough and that loyal members are hard to get by. You want him to feel guilty, which he should. So do it, purchase the minimum required for eftpos and let him have it. If he says no, then you say no and he gets no money. He probably can't do anything about because as you said, he advertises in shop. You walk out. You feel good. Vendetta accomplished.

    I wrote all of this on my phone now my fingers hurt…

  • nikhi24 on 12/01/2015 - 09:31
    -2

    Crying out loud there's a lot of dribble on these boards. Still not sure what's wrong with my comment that most shops should have eftpos. I would be happy to pay 50c extra for the convenience and the amount of customer increase this would attract pretty much outweighs any argument that cash isn't being pocketed.

    • King Tightarse on 12/01/2015 - 09:47

      This being a bargain site, I doubt you will get many people agreeing with your being "happy" to pay an extra 50c per transaction. Also abusing the general population of the site as speaking "a lot of dribble" (assume you mean drivel) is no way to garner support.

  • nikhi24 on 12/01/2015 - 11:47
    -1

    Regardless the convenience of not carrying around cash is a real and popular one. I have no need to "garner support" just surprised that others thought strongly enough to make it a negative comment and no I meant dribble in this case :) hope everyone has a great day.

    • [Deactivated] on 12/01/2015 - 19:17

      Hi nikhi24, thanks for taking the time to post your opinions in this thread.

      My intention, by making this post, was to primarily highlight my experience at Wong's Cafe in Elsternwick, and secondly to gauge what others would do had they faced an identical or similar situation.

      I for one do appreciate your input here and please do not be discouraged by any conflicting opinions. I welcome everyone's comments and ideas impartially and thanks for your comments again.

  • cash8 on 12/01/2015 - 17:03

    This time get over it. Next time ask in advance if u can pay by card. If Wong says no, walk away.

  • snook on 12/01/2015 - 17:09
    +4

    You need to pay back your credit card straight away to avoid interest charges cos by the end of the month it's going to be a $48 dollar cafe visit

    • [Deactivated] on 12/01/2015 - 19:11
      +1

      Thanks snook, I transferred the withdrawn cash advance amount back to the CC later that day.

      Rightfully though, I've been charged the cash advance fee by the bank though hopefully haven't been bitten too hard by interest.

      Sound advice snook, many thanks again.

      :)

  • love2buy on 13/01/2015 - 00:54

    Cash is king!

  • SirFlibbled on 13/01/2015 - 09:25
    +2

    It confuses me when a business doesn't have eftpos. The costs of using it isn't that high to the business but when you factor in the risk of using cash, the costs to counting and banking the cash etc it's not a very good business decision to not use it (unless of course they do a lot of cash in hand deals).

  • Maz78 on 13/01/2015 - 09:46

    Grew up in Elsternwick and always remember seeing Wong's there. One of the few original remaining businesses on Glenhuntly Road. However, never eaten there!
    Meh, to the OP -> I would have said you offer Eftpos, I'm paying via Eftpos. If they don't / didn't have facilities different story.

  • mattyman on 13/01/2015 - 12:27

    Pay in 5 cent pieces.

    • [Deactivated] on 13/01/2015 - 15:31

      For $40 I don't think paying in 5c pieces is legal tender… But if that wasn't the case hey it'd be a worthy comeback

  • fiend on 13/01/2015 - 13:10

    I would have walked out the door, never to return.
    They stuffed you around and I bet you paid what, $2+ to get money out?

  • subywagon on 13/01/2015 - 14:43

    Tell them you'll continue to pay by cash if you get a discount, call it a cash payment fee ;)

  • dcnguyen82 on 13/01/2015 - 17:06
    -3

    JUST ORDER WHAT YOU WANTED AND WHEN YOU SAW THE COUPLE PAY WITH CARD, SAY YOU NOT HAPPY WITH THE SERVICE THEREFORE WONT BUY THE MEAL.

    HE JUST WASTED TIME MAKING YOU MEAL WHILE HE WASTED YOUR TIME GOING TO ATM.

  • boonanza on 13/01/2015 - 17:36
    -4

    Well after reading this post earlier today I rang the ATO and have reported this business. The person I spoke to was very interested.

    • grasstown on 14/01/2015 - 08:05

      Did they lose interest when you told them you weren't there, saw nothing, heard nothing, but just read it on a forum?

      • Baysew on 14/01/2015 - 10:43
        +1

        No, they were very interested. They typed it up on their invisible typewriter.

  • aero11 on 13/01/2015 - 19:31

    Simple, don't ask. When you ask, they'll say cash because they know you've probably got it.

  • donbot on 13/01/2015 - 20:45
    -1

    I've thought about this whilst looking at our merchant fee summary at work today.

    I still can't get over everyone's assumption that cash must equal tax evasion. By that logic, the good guys must be Australias biggest tax dodger (pay less, pay cash).

    I'm not saying it's impossible, but reading through this thread makes it sounds like he's doing a double dutch tax dodge via the Cayman islands… All on an assumption because he asked for cash.

    What happened to the innocent until proven guilty, and not making potentially false and defamatory claims on a public ensure with the business named explicitly?

    • McFly on 13/01/2015 - 23:27

      Do GG make people pay cash?
      While assuming is always a bad idea, the chance of this being a tax dodge is more than 0%.

  • francis.tks on 14/01/2015 - 00:27

    If all else failed, do it the Singaporean style,

    https://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/what-is-buzzing/sim-lim-shop…

    But damn, this person is mad.

  • 2ndeffort on 14/01/2015 - 18:00

    Vote with your feet, there must be other restaurants around, go there!

  • paul11 on 14/01/2015 - 18:53
    +2

    I live in a predominantly Asian/Chinese suburb. 95% shopkeepers are Asian/Chinese. And almost 70% display "Cash Only" signs. Its all cash economy here. Some display signs EFTPOS ($20/30/40 minimum). Some Asian food shops have longer queues than McDonalds and Subway, yet they don't accept cards. Pure Greed …!

    • McFly on 14/01/2015 - 19:36
      -2

      If a shop (owner) doesn't want to do EFTPOS/CC that's up to them - it's a free country!
      And good luck to them if they have a longer queue - obviously their customers are happy to pay cash.
      Having said that I'd be happy for cash to be abolished tomorrow (and McDonald's and Subway too for that matter!)

      • grasstown on 14/01/2015 - 22:47

        Good comment, but about abolishing cash, no way, chaos when all the accounts get frozen, even for a day, or a lot longer. Or a bank deposit levy of 40 % like in Crete .

  • RJK on 15/01/2015 - 01:28

    Personally I'd find it a bit rude.

    I'd pay via ATM as requested, but I'd simply choose not to eat there again. I also wouldn't think too much about it after that.

  • tikei on 15/01/2015 - 02:40
    +2

    Op, have you gone back? I'm sure the owner would know about this thread by now with the excessive web traffic and possibly some customers mentioning it. Keen to know how he treated you :)

  • Lukian on 21/04/2015 - 14:07

    Interestingly, I spotted Wong's Cafe on the usual delivery sites recently.

  • [Deactivated] on 26/05/2015 - 22:13
    +1

    @tikei - Yes, I have gone back there in recent times though I have slightly changed my habits. Which leads me on to the next point…

    @Lukian - I too, earlier this year, came across the presence of Wong's Cafe on numerous online ordering sites, including Delivery Hero, Menulog and EatNow.

    Nowadays, whenever I order something from Wong's Cafe (wither of my own accord or on someone else's behalf) I always order via one of the online channels. This way, I am able to use CC (or even PayPal on some sites) for the same items which I paid in cash for previously.

    Recently, the owner asked me why I order online all the time now. I simply told him that I would like to pay by card. He then told me that I could call him instead whenever I wanted to place an order, and that when I came in to pick it up that he "can EFTPOS it through".

    I asked him "So I can't pay on credit? Savings only?" to which he replied "Yes yes, Savings, that's right".

    Can't select SAV with a CC the last time I checked (and I don't have a VISA Debit or Debit MC), so looks like I'll be ordering online until the next development happens…

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