I use cash (USD) almost exclusively for small transactions. It's still the best way to pay if you care about anonymity and privacy.
It is in fact cash that is decentralized and anonymous. If I go into a dark alley and give you a $100 bill, there is not a single soul other than you and me who knows about the transaction that took place.
It's not like tracking credit card or Venmo transactions, but if you take out $500 and give it to someone who deposits it, and if they read the serial numbers, it's clear what happened.
I’m curious, how do you personally handle change specially small currency like pennies and nickels?
How hard is it to carry cash? You don't have to take coins; you just take your wallet which already has the bills. "various" doesn't make sense: you don't need to make sure to bring some 1s, a 5, 4 10s, etc.
Just put the change in your pocket and put it in a bowl when you get home.
I suspect the POS defaults to credit. But I've never looked at any of the interfaces.
I know US Postal Service somehow detects my card is debit and then requests a debit transaction because the credit card pad asks for a PIN not a signature. So maybe some POS have an autodetect option.
(See also my other comment)
Many of the local places (Seattle - Belltown & the Market) are cool with rounding transactions to the nearest dollar, so that helps. It might also be part of being an active participant in the local society.
Plus I can tip easily, split bills, not have to worry about internet connections, etc
Although tips won't be taxed, that only affects federal taxes, starts 2026 and finishes 2028 (amongst other limitations).
This may be true for some people. Doesn't work for me at all. I see the money equally in digital and print formats.
A number of random places will charge extra for a credit card.
Not a lot, of course. But something.
Cash "just works" until you run out, or have too large denominations that people refuse. And there are more stores now that don't take cash at all.
In the US, if you have actually incurred a debt (e.g. you've already eaten your meal, or you've already had the repair performed, etc), the business can "refuse" payment in cash, but by so doing, they have effectively declared the debt void.
US legal tender case law permits businesses to refuse cash for non-debt-mediated transactions, but if a debt has been incurred, they have to accept it.
Of course not. I guess you haven't been to shops that say their network is down, so it's cash-only until it comes back online.
It used to be shops had those credit card imprint sliders to handle payments when phones lines were down, but nobody has those anymore (many credit cards don't even have the raised numbers anymore).
I’ve had multiple places not able to accept credit cards due to internet issues.
Literally had that last week. (Library, they had to call me later for payment.)
How many shops actually use the fake bill checker device?