A handwritten sign in a Woolworths store has sparked celebrations among Australians protesting the ongoing transition to a cashless society.
The notice, posted in the supermarket window in Sevastopol, 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. Sorry,” the sign read, prompting messages of thanks on the Call out cashless businesses Facebook page.
“The time has finally come,” the original poster wrote.
‘Woolworths Supermarket Sebastopol, Victoria, Friday 17 May 2024 – cash only as all EFTPOS machines are out of order.
‘Girl at the door tells people to go to a bank to withdraw money and then come back and do some shopping.
A handwritten sign (pictured) in a Woolworths store has sparked celebrations among Australians protesting the ongoing transition to a cashless society.
“This is proof that a society without cash will never work. Made my day.’
Two Woolworths employees stood at the front door of the store and told customers that EFTPOS was not available and that there were two ATMs nearby.
“There was a hardware issue that disrupted store trading for a short period of time,” a Woolworths spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia.
The problem at the Sebastopol facility was resolved in time for normal operations this weekend and there have been no further issues since.
But the two cash-only days upset many hard currency advocates, who said it highlighted the potential problems of a “cashless society.”
“Cash is king no matter what the politicians tell you… they are fools if the banks scam us by using your card,” one commenter wrote on the post.
“It makes you wonder what a ‘cash free store’ does when the EFTPOS system goes down,” said another.
‘Spread the news, this is happening everywhere. People need to know that this cashless c*** doesn’t work. We need to keep our money and our independence,” said a third poster.
Many said they were glad the EFTPOS machine broke down, with one writing that it was ‘a bloody Tastic… this will make people think’.
“Cash never breaks – cash glorious cash,” wrote another.
“It’s happening more and more… I hope it’s normal now,” a third person said.
One woman said she had a similar experience where she works.
All Woolworths stores across Australia continue to accept both cash and card payments
‘This has happened several times in the supermarket where I work. Call me ab****, but I’m chuckling inside as I shout, “Is anyone paying cash? Come to the front of the line,” she wrote.
Despite the brief reprieve caused by a faulty EFTPOS connection, some warned that the switch to cash was still underway.
“It will happen unless people wake up,” one person wrote.
All Woolworths stores across Australia continue to accept both cash and card payments.
