iPad mini Cash at Apple Store?

[ZBoater]

A debit card gives someone access to my checking account. I do not like that.

I agree living credit debt free is great. But having a credit card and paying it in full at the end of the month is my preferred strategy.

If something needs to be disputed, having not paid for it cash makes it easier. I use my credit card for all manner of online purchases, and in more than one occasion my number has been stolen. My CC company has not held me liable, cancelled my card, and issued a new one. If someone got access to my checking account and deducted money, I could perhaps get it back, but in the meantime would have to do without. I don't like that.

A CC has its uses. You just need to use it responsibly. If you cannot afford something by paying for it cash, don't buy it with a CC. That would be my suggestion. But in this online world we live in, a CC is a BIG convenience to have.

Just my own opinion, of course. My hats off to those who don't have a CC by choice.

 

[deeddawg]

I agree living credit debt free is great. But having a credit card and paying it in full at the end of the month is my preferred strategy.

Likewise. First, there's a great benefit from cash-back programs such as tjpse available from Discover, Target, or Costco Amex.

Secondly, in the US the consumer protection laws for credit card fraud are substantially different from those for debit card fraud. At its simplest, as ZBoater explained, you can dispute the charge before your money's gone from your bank; this is especially key in the event of fraud as you lessen the probability of a cascade of bounced payments for mortgage/rent, utilities, etc.

My hats off to those who don't have a CC by choice.

Agreed.

 

[old-wiz]

I agree living credit debt free is great. But having a credit card and paying it in full at the end of the month is my preferred strategy.
.

That's what we do. Of course the CC people hate it when you do that since they don't get to collect huge interest charges.

 

[iapplelove]

I was hoping to buy a Retina Mini at the Apple store in the morning but because I didn't get to the bank, I have cash Anyone buy a mini lately with cash at the Apple store?

If it's a problem, I can just wait till Monday.

op they have cash registers,they are built into the display desks on the sales floor. Apple loves cash.

 

[From A Buick 8]

A debit card gives someone access to my checking account. I do not like that.

I agree living credit debt free is great. But having a credit card and paying it in full at the end of the month is my preferred strategy.

If something needs to be disputed, having not paid for it cash makes it easier. I use my credit card for all manner of online purchases, and in more than one occasion my number has been stolen. My CC company has not held me liable, cancelled my card, and issued a new one. If someone got access to my checking account and deducted money, I could perhaps get it back, but in the meantime would have to do without. I don't like that.

A CC has its uses. You just need to use it responsibly. If you cannot afford something by paying for it cash, don't buy it with a CC. That would be my suggestion. But in this online world we live in, a CC is a BIG convenience to have.

Just my own opinion, of course. My hats off to those who don't have a CC by choice.

If you run the debit card as a credit card (do not use your pin) then you have the same protections against fraud as a regular credit card (just FYI )

 

[hologram]

Cash is legal tender. They HAVE to accept it.

 

[nostresshere]

Yes, the take cash.

BUT - you have to fold the bills into very small pieces do they bit into the little slot on their iphone/register thing.

 

[JackieInCo]

This was settled days ago...

 

[pocketpenguin]

Cash is legal tender. They HAVE to accept it.

No they don't. Cash is legal tender only in servicing a "debt". When you buy a physical product and take possession after paying, the transaction is not a debt. The vendor can limit your paying choices in this case.

I believed the same as you until a couple years ago when a news story came out about a man suing airlines that stopped taking cash for in-flight transactions like alcohol and pillows, etc. the man lost his suit based on my explanation above.

One not so obvious counter example is dining out. You usually get your food, then pay the bill afterwards (not talking fast food). In that case they have to take your cash because you've incurred a debt, e.g. eating the food.

 

[From A Buick 8]

This was settled days ago...

Over (settled), nothing is over until we say it is over.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8lT1o0sDwI&feature=player_embedded#at=12

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No they don't. Cash is legal tender only in servicing a "debt". When you buy a physical product and take possession after paying, the transaction is not a debt. The vendor can limit your paying choices in this case.

I believed the same as you until a couple years ago when a news story came out about a man suing airlines that stopped taking cash for in-flight transactions like alcohol and pillows, etc. the man lost his suit based on my explanation above.

One not so obvious counter example is dining out. You usually get your food, then pay the bill afterwards (not talking fast food). In that case they have to take your cash because you've incurred a debt, e.g. eating the food.

Great explanation.

 

[JackieInCo]

Check out the warning at target.com. Credit card #s were stolen from Black Friday on. They got names, card #s and that includes the CVV on the back of the card.

Another reason to use cash.

 

[Bear]

A debit card gives someone access to my checking account. I do not like that.

I agree living credit debt free is great. But having a credit card and paying it in full at the end of the month is my preferred strategy.
...
A CC has its uses. You just need to use it responsibly. If you cannot afford something by paying for it cash, don't buy it with a CC. That would be my suggestion. But in this online world we live in, a CC is a BIG convenience to have.

Just my own opinion, of course. My hats off to those who don't have a CC by choice.

Pretty good advice. One aditional piece. You can ask for a low credit limit like $500 to $1000. I know someone who uses electronic payments from his bank to pay off the credit card in the middle of the month if necessary (rare, but it happens) to be able to buy more than $1000 in a month if needed.

Oh and if you pay your credit card at the end of each month, you're still debt free.

Check out the warning at target.com. Credit card #s were stolen from Black Friday on. They got names, card #s and that includes the CVV on the back of the card.

Another reason to use cash.

Or to use a credit card and not a debit card.

 

[deeddawg]

Check out the warning at target.com. Credit card #s were stolen from Black Friday on. They got names, card #s and that includes the CVV on the back of the card. ... Another reason to use cash.

Not really IMHO, especially not as compared to the risks of keeping/carrying/displaying a bunch of cash. There's a pretty good set of protections in the event of credit card fraud and you limit the impact of an event if you keep two different cards.

What's scary though is when a debit card info gets stolen. Then you're in a pickle.

(plus I'm amazed when someone tells me they don't use credit cards online but gladly hand over a paper check with their name, address, drivers license# or SSN, routing and account numbers to complete strangers )

 

[gnasher729]

Cash is legal tender. They HAVE to accept it.

Well, that is right and wrong at the same time.

They have to accept cash as a payment of a debt. They are under no obligation to sell a product to you. No sale, no debt, no requirement to accept cash. So if they repair your Mac and you have to pay, they have to accept cash. Their choice to accept the cash or to give you the repair for free. If you want to buy a Mac with cash, they are perfectly in their rights to refuse to sell it. Their choice to accept the cash or to lose a sale.

 

[sixrom]

The CC people hate me - I pay them every month in full, so perhaps that's their way of getting back at me.

I too pay the full balance monthly.

Yet it's very risky, I once got a notice that I was dangerously solvent

 

[gnasher729]

Yeah, a lawsuit for racial discrimination as I recall. Logic was the lady couldn't get a credit or debit card, so Apple's refusal to take her cash was discrimination.

No, a _claim_ about racial discrimination.

My suggestion against scalpers: As long as the product is scarce, sell it for $50 less, but with product warranty limited to the original buyer (or if it is a present, they need to give the name of the person who it is bought for). So you know if you buy a product from a scalper, you won't get any warranty.

 

[From A Buick 8]

Pretty good advice. One aditional piece. You can ask for a low credit limit like $500 to $1000. I know someone who uses electronic payments from his bank to pay off the credit card in the middle of the month if necessary (rare, but it happens) to be able to buy more than $1000 in a month if needed.

Oh and if you pay your credit card at the end of each month, you're still debt free.

Or to use a credit card and not a debit card.

You get the same protections with your Debit card as you do with your credit card, when you run your transaction as credit and not debit (not using your pin). It still works like a debit card, pulls the money from your linked bank account. I now use cash envelopes for 95% of my transactions and Debit card for the rest.

There are several studies that show that most spend more when the pay with plastic (this includes debit cards sadly), then when using actual cash.

 

[deeddawg]

You get the same protections with your Debit card as you do with your credit card, when you run your transaction as credit and not debit (not using your pin).

How does this help in context of a data breech such as Target.com if/when the bad guys run the stolen numbers as debit transactions?

There are several studies that show that most spend more when the pay with plastic (this includes debit cards sadly), then when using actual cash.

Yep, I imagine that's quite true.

I'm not entirely sure of your point however; are you posting that generalization as your reason for your choice, or an argument against anyone using credit?

 

[Bear]

You get the same protections with your Debit card as you do with your credit card, when you run your transaction as credit and not debit (not using your pin). It still works like a debit card, pulls the money from your linked bank account.
...

Except one protection is missing, if your card is used fraudulently your money gets drained from you bank account, checks you wrote to pay bills bounce and then you wind up with bounced check fees to both your bank and the companies you tried to pay. And a messy credit report probably.

And yes, I know a few people who this has happened to.

 

[ZBoater]

Except one protection is missing, if your card is used fraudulently your money gets drained from you bank account, checks you wrote to pay bills bounce and then you wind up with bounced check fees to both your bank and the companies you tried to pay. And a messy credit report probably.

And yes, I know a few people who this has happened to.

Precisely. I'd rather have the bank's money on the line than mine. I'd rather pay the bank at the end of the month after I'm sure everything is OK.

 

[MacManTexas56]

I don't buy it unless I can pay cash. Selling my old iPad to help pay for this one made it easier but still, I have no credit cards, only my banks MC debit card.

you don't understand the concept of a credit card then. It's not free money that people just want to rack up the charges on. If you're responsible, it's a great tool to organize your transactions and protect yourself on purchases.

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A debit card gives someone access to my checking account. I do not like that.

I agree living credit debt free is great. But having a credit card and paying it in full at the end of the month is my preferred strategy.

If something needs to be disputed, having not paid for it cash makes it easier. I use my credit card for all manner of online purchases, and in more than one occasion my number has been stolen. My CC company has not held me liable, cancelled my card, and issued a new one. If someone got access to my checking account and deducted money, I could perhaps get it back, but in the meantime would have to do without. I don't like that.

A CC has its uses. You just need to use it responsibly. If you cannot afford something by paying for it cash, don't buy it with a CC. That would be my suggestion. But in this online world we live in, a CC is a BIG convenience to have.

Just my own opinion, of course. My hats off to those who don't have a CC by choice.

bc most don't understand the purpose of a credit card and aren't responsible with it when they have them.

All I use is credit cards....

Most of my bills I pay with a CC as well if it's allowed. Just bc I use a CC doesn't mean I am poor and don't have the money to pay for it. That's the problem with how people view credit cards. Chances are they've had a bad experience in the past and now act like anyone that uses a create card is irresponsible.

Good post man

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Check out the warning at target.com. Credit card #s were stolen from Black Friday on. They got names, card #s and that includes the CVV on the back of the card.

Another reason to use cash.

you can get mugged on the street and get your cash stolen. another reason to not carry any currency?

 

[deeddawg]

bc most don't understand the purpose of a credit card and aren't responsible with it when they have them. ... All I use is credit cards....

We who use them responsibly should thank those who rack up the fees and interest charges that pay for our cash-back percentages, extended warranties, etc.

While just a little per transaction, 1-2% here, 3% there, 5% somewhere else seriously adds up over the course of the year. But so do interest charges if you're not disciplined enough to keep up with your spending and ensure you don't over spend.

That said, you're also giving away purchase history data by using any form of card, so do consider if that's an issue.

 

[pocketpenguin]

You get the same protections with your Debit card as you do with your credit card, when you run your transaction as credit and not debit (not using your pin). ...

I don't believe this is true. The legal protections on debit and credit cards differ significantly, or they did last I looked. You might want to check with your bank.

That said, my bank explicitly states in their fine print that their debit card does have the same protections as a credit card transaction. But this is not mandatory, and I've seen debit card agreements where this was not the case. We got pitched a scheme where employes at my work would get pay put in a debit card account. One of the banks promised credit card rules, the other did not. That was several years ago, so my info could be outdated, but it was the case at one time that the rules were different unless the bank explicitly agreed to apply credit card rules to debit cards.

 

[SusanK]

Check out the warning at target.com. Credit card #s were stolen from Black Friday on. They got names, card #s and that includes the CVV on the back of the card.

Another reason to use cash.

Yes. I was at Target in that time frame. Bought some five and dime item. Wish I used cash or shopped elsewhere. Not looking forward to this.

 

[MacManTexas56]

We who use them responsibly should thank those who rack up the fees and interest charges that pay for our cash-back percentages, extended warranties, etc.

While just a little per transaction, 1-2% here, 3% there, 5% somewhere else seriously adds up over the course of the year. But so do interest charges if you're not disciplined enough to keep up with your spending and ensure you don't over spend.

That said, you're also giving away purchase history data by using any form of card, so do consider if that's an issue.

even if you don't use a credit card or debit card and use reward card to get discounts at grocery stores...they track your purchase history....

also, i quit shopping at places that add a credit card surcharge. Safeway started doing this with their gas stations. charging 10 cents/gallon if you use a CC.