The way transactions are conducted in everyday commerce is gradually evolving in various parts of Australia.
Recent changes by some businesses in their payment methods have prompted consumer discussion.
These alterations, involving the acceptance or non-acceptance of particular forms of currency, are generating diverse reactions within the community.
If you’ve popped into your local Subway lately, you might have noticed something missing at the counter.
That’s right—at least one Subway store in Tasmania has gone completely cashless by doing away with the cash register.
They are now joining a growing list of Aussie businesses ditching notes and coins in favour of card-only payments.
And, as you might expect, not everyone is happy about it.
A sandwich with a side of controversy
The move to cashless payments at the Claremont Subway in Tasmania has sparked a wave of outrage, with some customers venting their frustration on social media.
One individual snapped a photo of the ‘card only’ sign and posted it online, calling Subway a ‘globalist company that thinks it can dictate how Aussies spend their own legal tender’.
Others chimed in, threatening to boycott the store and take their business elsewhere.
Many echo this sentiment. In a recent poll of more than 5,700 readers, a whopping 84 per cent said they wouldn’t spend their money at a business that refused to accept cash.
Is this the end of cash?
While it might feel like cash is on the way out, the reality is a bit more nuanced. According to a Subway spokesperson, the decision to go cashless isn’t a company-wide policy.
‘All Subway restaurants are individually owned and operated. A very limited number of our restaurants have chosen to accept card payments only,’ they explained.
In other words, it’s up to each franchisee to decide what works best for their business.
Subway isn’t alone in this. Other big names in fast food—like Gloria Jeans, McDonald’s, and KFC—have also trialled or adopted cashless systems in some locations.
The reasons? Safety, efficiency, and keeping up with changing customer habits. Retail Food Group, which owns Gloria Jeans, says going cashless ‘enhances the safety of our team members by reducing the need to handle cash and coin’ and ‘streamlines operations’.
Why are businesses going cashless?
There are a few key reasons why more businesses are making the switch:
- Safety: Less cash on site means less risk of theft or robbery, which is a real concern for staff, especially in late-night or high-traffic locations.
- Speed and Efficiency: Card payments are often faster, reducing queues and making it easier to keep things moving during busy periods.
- Changing Habits: Aussies are using less cash than ever. According to the Reserve Bank, cash accounted for just 13 per cent of all payments in 2022, down from 69 per cent in 2007.
But what about those who rely on cash?
While many of us have embraced tap-and-go, not everyone is ready—or able—to go cashless. Older Australians, people in rural areas, and those on fixed incomes may still rely on cash for everyday purchases.
For some, using cash is a way to budget and keep spending in check. For others, it’s simply a matter of habit or necessity.
The move to cashless can leave these groups feeling excluded or frustrated. As one social media commenter put it: ‘They can decide what they accept in their own shop.
However, we can decide where to shop and take business elsewhere, for probably a better product at a more reasonable price.’
What are the rules?
You might wonder if it is legal for a business to refuse cash. The answer is yes.
According to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), businesses are free to choose which payment methods they accept as long as they are upfront about it.
They must clearly display signs letting customers know if they don’t take cash, and if there’s a surcharge for card payments, it must be included in the displayed price.
The bigger picture: Is cash disappearing for good?
The trend towards cashless payments isn’t unique to Subway or even Australia. Around the world, businesses are embracing digital payments for convenience and security.
However, the backlash shows that many people still value the choice to pay with cash and aren’t ready to give it up just yet.
Interestingly, while Subway has been closing stores in both the US and Australia in recent years, the number of Aussie locations has stabilised at around 1,243.
Whether cashless payments will help or hinder their business remains to be seen.
What does this mean for you?
If you prefer to pay with cash, it’s worth checking before you head out, especially as more businesses make the switch.
And if you’re unhappy about the change, remember: you can vote with your wallet.
Have your say
Has a cashless business caught you out? Do you think going cashless is the way of the future, or does it leave too many people behind? We’d love to hear your thoughts—share your experiences and opinions in the comments below!
Also read: Cashless convenience or costly trap? Cashless venue under fire for surcharges
With these companies now adding credit card usage – ie Bank charges to ALL sales, even when we use debit cards, how much are these bloody robbers making? There is no longer customer service.
Are they also placing a surcharge on the use of the Plastic ???
If they are, then they are forcing you to use Plastic, then charging you a fee for the privilege !!!
Plastic covers the use of the Physical card as well as cards stored in Electronic wallets.
I’ll NEVER patronise a store that’s ‘fantastic plastic’ only!!!
NO ONE is ever going to tell me where I can spend my cash.
With cash, no one can charge you a fee, but you’ll get one when you use ‘fantastic plastic’. I don’t have charges on my bank account, so why would I opt to pay charges just for using ‘fantastic plastic’?
I remember when the liberal government in Canada, who got reelected just now, ban the freedom protesters and anyone who donated to them from accessing their bank accounts.
If you have cash, no leftist government can tell you what to do with your money.
Well said!
Stores and businesses that go cashless immediately lose me as a customer.
As said in the article – They are free to go cashless but they need to remember we are free to shop elsewhere.
Also – for those old enough to remember – from the moment cards were first introduced the price of goods and services went up to cover the banking costs of businesses so why are they now charging a second time? – THOSE BUSINESSES ALSO LOSE MY CUSTOM AND I CAN ASSURE YOU I AM HAPPIER TO GO WITHOUT THAN TO BE SCAMMED.