The most misleading advertisments on the air

Have you seen the Visa ads in which everyone is marching in lockstep or dancing around some cafeteria. with melodious, rhythmic music playing?  The ones where everyone is swiping their debit cards and everyone (including the merchants) are laughing and smiling?  Then, of course, comes the schlub who has the temerity to use cash, and all the clock-work capitalism comes crashing to a halt.

I call BS.

I know that people are loathe to carry cash.  I know it's more convenient for guests to use a credit or debit card.  I know that many, if not most, people have direct deposit, which makes using debit cards even easier.  But don't try to sell me that the merchants are happy about this development, because I guarantee you they are not.  Not by a long shot.  It doesn't make things go faster, believe me.

I know that the "customer is always right", and, trust me, I live by that truism, except when the customer is so egregiously wrong that it has to be pointed out.  But I also know that "cash is king", and every single merchant in this world would rather take cash than debit cards.  That's because of transaction costs, mostly, BTW, which aren't the point of this rant.

Last night, a group of four people, two women and two men, came into the joint at about 11:00 or so.  We were busy, maybe a little busier than a normal Tuesday.  We have a very good happy hour -- two dollar drinks are the reason why people like to come in.  Each of the women had one drink; each of the men had two.  When they asked for their tab, they handed me three cards and two dollars. 

Really?  You don't even have five dollars on you?  Besides that, it's a twelve dollar tab.  Can't one of you (oh, I don't know, maybe one of the guys) say "That's okay, I'll buy."  It's twelve dollars! 

Next time you go out and are tempted to complain about bad service and then use a debit card for one or two drinks, just remember that you are part of the reason why the bartender doesn't have enough time to wait on people.      

Comments

[stori]

hmm...or let's talk about the money (as bartenders) we have lost due to the debit/check card?

[Rob]

Isn't this the reason most of the established bars are cash only? When I go out, I always carry cash simply for the reason that I can say I can't open a tab. Yes, I'm a cheap ass. I've even talked this one dumbass bartender chick into giving me a $3 pitcher when this stripper chick I knew was buying us all rounds and wanted me to go back to her place. Some bartenders are just stupid.