The proud owner of a cash-only country pub in Western has defended her EFTPOS ban, saying the only complaints she gets are from ‘out-of-towners’.
Sam James, 60, who runs King River Tavern, 11km north of Albany, said the decision to accept cash payments only was made after a major storm 15 years ago.
Two years after buying the lease to the popular pub, the damage from the weather event forced Ms James to temporarily close her business because everything ‘had been underwater’ and needed replacing, reports 7News.
However, this gave Ms James the time to have a look at the pub’s accounts, which showed the restaurant part of the business wasn’t making a profit.
The publican re-opened with the kitchen permanently closed – meaning there wasn’t a need for the EFTPOS machine as cash was predominately used in the bar.
This pub in WA switched to cash-only after a storm 15 years ago when the publican realised the monthly EFTPOS fees were too expensive when most payments in the bar were paid in cash
Publican Sam James, 60, (pictured) said the added benefits of cash-only include being able to operate in a blackout and people donating their change to the local hospice charity tin
With the EFTPOS machine costing her a steep fee each month, it was an easy decision for Ms James.
‘I actually had to pay to give [the EFTPOS machine] back,’ she said.
Ms James installed an ATM before going completely cash-only, and although this came with initial costs, she now saves on EFTPOS fees, which cost another local business $300 each month.
The business owner said switching to cash-only ‘wasn’t a big deal’ at the time, and it is only now people seem to be having a problem with it.
Another perk she has found is her business can still run during a blackout by lighting a few candles, because she is not dependent on electricity to take payments.
Ms James said that the only time the payment system is ‘sometimes’ an issue is when ‘out-of-towners’ visit the pub.
The business owner said switching to cash-only ‘wasn’t a big deal’ at the time, and it is only now people seem to be having a problem with it (stock image)
Ms James recounted the time a man put out his fist to pay, as he was wearing a payment ring – and the publican instead thought he wanted to fist-bump her, and she obliged, leaving them both confused.
‘Apparently you can pay with a ring! It just looked like a glass ring to me. Since then, he’s come back, and he’s very happy with the whole cash situation now. He said that he got rid of the ring,’ she said.
However, with the cash payment system in place to eliminate bills, there is another important reason Ms James will remain cash-only.
The publican has a charity tin for the Albany Community Hospice, and because her customers always carry cash, the tin is regularly filled up – with $9,000 being raised last year alone.
‘Being a cash-only venue, a lot of people say, “Oh, keep the change, keep the change,” and I say, “Well I’ll chuck it in the hospice tin,”‘ she said.
Ms James (pictured left) knows that a cash-only payment system wouldn’t work for every business and feels lucky it works for hers
Ms James said if she were to go back to a digital payment system, the donations would stop.
An n Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) spokesperson told 7News that regional areas represent 30 per cent of n businesses.
They said many regional businesses need to find the cheapest way to collect payment and do their banking – so cash remains popular.
Ms James said she knows her payment method may not suit some other businesses and feels fortunate it works for her and her customers.
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