A handwritten sign at a Woolworths store has sparked celebration among Australians protesting the ongoing transition to a cashless society.
The notice posted in the supermarket window in Sebastopol, Victoria, on Thursday and Friday last week told shoppers they would have to pay the old-fashioned way: with notes and coins.
‘Cash only, no EFTPOS. “I’m sorry,” said the sign, which led to appreciative posts on the Call cashless businesses Facebook page.
“It finally happened,” the original poster wrote.
‘Woolworths Supermarket Sebastopol, Victoria, Friday 17 May 2024: Cash only due to all EFTPOS machines not working.
‘Girl at the door telling people to go to the bank to withdraw cash and then come back to do their shopping.
A handwritten sign (pictured) at a Woolworths store has sparked celebration among Australians protesting the ongoing transition to a cashless society.
‘This is proof that the cashless society will never work. Made my day.’
Two Woolworths employees were stationed at the front door of the store to inform customers that EFTPOS was not working and that there were two ATMs nearby.
“There was a hardware issue which meant trading in the store was disrupted for a short period of time,” a Woolworths spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia.
The problem at the Sebastopol store was fixed in time for normal operations over the weekend and there have been no problems since.
But the two cash-only days delighted hard currency advocates, who said they highlighted the potential problems of a “cashless society.”
“Cash is king, no matter what politicians tell you… they are fools if banks scam us using your card,” one commenter wrote on the post.
“Makes you wonder what a ‘cashless store’ does when the EFTPOS system stops working,” said another.
‘Spread the news, this is happening everywhere. “People need to know this cashless shit doesn’t work, we need to keep our money and our independence,” a third poster read.
Many said they were glad the EFTPOS machine broke down, with one writing that he was “a bloody Tastic fan…this will make people think.”
“Cash never goes bad – cash is glorious cash,” wrote another.
“This is happening more and more… I hope it’s normal now,” a third person said.
One woman said she had had a similar experience at her workplace.
All Woolworths stores in Australia continue to accept cash and card payments.
‘This has happened several times at the supermarket I work at. Call me an ab****, but I’m laughing inside as I yell, “Anyone paying cash? Move to the front of the line,” she wrote.
Despite the brief respite caused by an EFTPOS connection malfunction, some warned that the cash shift was still underway.
“It will happen unless people wake up,” one wrote.
All Woolworths stores in Australia continue to accept cash and card payments.