Cash only in on site shops

As long as the wardens are happy to run 'as is' I am totally content. If I wished to run it purely as a business income I would simply supply gas and Icecream on most sites.

I would have thought that just from a security point of view the Club should discourage the use of cash on campsites. JK mentioned that he had to go to the bank twice to get rid of cash and change so I imagine the amounts were more than just small change? 

The OP mentioned ice cream but what about the emergency purchase of a gas refill costing say £25, hardly a small transaction? The trouble with many of the views on here is that people see no further beyond what they do and seem not to recognise that an increasing number of  people run their lives very differently. If the Club is to attract younger people then they do have to change with the times . It is not an insurmountable problem to introduce electronic payment for small purchases it just requires a will to do it.

David

 But David, JK ended his post with this - 

"I really haven't experienced the issues you highlight but if it was to be the case I'd be more than happy to have empty shelves and do nothing."

Maybe if the club took over the running of on site shops there'd be an argument for card payments but whilst the onus seems to bensure on wardens to "do what they can" I think it's less justified.

The trouble with many of the views on here is that people see no further beyond what they do and seem not to recognise that an increasing number of people run their lives very differently. If the Club is to attract younger people then they do have to change with the times . It is not an insurmountable problem to introduce electronic payment for small purchases it just requires a will to do it.

I thought it was old farts that were incapable of flexibility!

Sales in the site shops may very well improve if those shops (warden run or otherwise) took cards..........

Our local corner shop for a long time would not take card payment for amounts less than £5, with the result that we shopped at the next nearest store, a Coop, for small purchases like a couple of pints of milk and a loaf as they will take a card for any amount......

A few weeks ago I called at the corner shop again to post a parcel (Hermes) and they had lowered the card spend limit to £2 and so I bought 4 litres of milk. As they are an easy walk away, I will now go there again..........

Cash transactions are just a complete nuisance for all involved, shopkeeper and customer. They have to have a float of change and I end up with a pocket full of shrapnel (1p, 2p, 5p's etc) which I usually end up putting in the bin as they are literally more trouble than they are worth....

If a site shop took cards, I would probably end up buying more from them......

Whether a warden actually wants that or not is a different matter, I am quite sure most will say they are busy enough running the site without having to stock & staff a mini supermarket.....!

I would have thought that just from a security point of view the Club should discourage the use of cash on campsites. JK mentioned that he had to go to the bank twice to get rid of cash and change so I imagine the amounts were more than just small change?

The money that JK referred to was the money paid for site fees. The CC provides the facility to pay by card but obviously some, for whatever reason chose to pay cash. How does CC discourage cash for those that choose to use it other than removing the option to pay in cash or giving a discount for card payment? 

JK said: Interesting you mention several times that young families / we are a cashless society. This last week has been a school half term and we were completely full all week. Twice we had to go to the bank with bags of cash that people had paid their site fees with, that's a lot of cash from those 120 young families.

Anyone not having £25 for gas will know better next time when dealing with site office of either club.

"....end up with a pocket full of shrapnel (1p, 2p, 5p's etc) which I usually end up putting in the bin as they are literally more trouble than they are worth...."

Why not give it to charity? Either a collection box or hand it in at a charity shop. You don't even have to count it.

A very good idea TW, I tend to pocket change when it's handed to me, its later in the day when it falls out of, or weighs down my pocket that I get fed up with it and chuck it away.  I shall try & follow your advice in future.....!

Nevertheless, pockets full of change are a nuisance, and wherever possible my business goes to people who take card payments......

Sales in the site shops may very well improve if those shops (warden run or otherwise) took cards..........

I can't imagine a great uptake. Most weekenders will take what they need but may want gas or icecream. May be a balm, bap, muffin, batch or whatever your local parlance. Maybe milk or eggs. 

I am unlikely to want anything else myself simply because I will shop every 5 days or so as I need My preferred milk, Whatever protein form takes my fancy, low sugar small sized bake beans. Most of us have specific and varying requirements beyond what a small site shop could provide in the office. I don't drink green top milk for example but many do but are likely to buy with other shopping.

It would only be likely to make decent sales if there was no nearby alternative. 

I did that last Friday, Took my two grandsons into a charity shop to choose a nice book each. There were wrapped chocolates on the counter but neither can have dairy products, offered a biscuit instead but both gluten intolerant. Whilst they were each spending their 50p for a nice book I found about 45p in 'shrapnel' which I swapped for a rather nice chocolate