A Lover of Woo & A Lover of cash
For those of you that don’t know, Alyssa has a particular fondness of crystals, healing, reiki, and all things woo. She is always on the lookout for her next unique crystal, book, or spiritually related nick-nack at any market or show to expand her spiritual development and awareness
This Easter we had the opportunity to visit the National Gem and Mineral Show Gemboree 2024.
Although not my thing (Andrew), Alyssa dragged me along and said we would have a lot of fun. Begrudgingly as a ‘good husband’ I complied.
Arriving at 9am to the first event in South Australia in 7 years as the event is rotated throughout each state of Australia each year, Alyssa’s excitement was enormous. As we walk in the door of the Willunga Recreation Park venue we saw wall to wall vendors showing their wares, competition winners, crystals, tools, gemstones, fossils – everything a lover of these items could dream of.
Alyssa had been especially saving money leading up to the event and couldn’t wait to see what she could find that was unique and special to her. It was kind of special like a kid in a candy store just looking for that one special item to lift spirits and feel good, to be placed somewhere at home to be cherished – a special memory, a special day, all for a special woman, Alyssa.
As we walked in the door she found it.
The special trinket.
The ‘one-of.’
It was amazing. A unique carving set in crystal unlike anything she had seen before, Alyssa knew it was hers.
She spoke to the vendor and asked how much the item was, it was $590 (not a small cost for something so unique). Upon asking the vendor if they took cash, they said NO, card only.
Alyssa said ‘sorry, I only spend in cash – not card.’
Vendor replied ‘sorry, I don’t accept cash – only card.’
The vendor then preceded to tell Alyssa that if she didn’t want that item she could have something else, but what the vendor didn’t realise is that they had already shot themselves in the foot by not accepting cash payments.
How would Alyssa purchase something different if the vendor still would not accept cash?
Alyssa’s response to the vendor were these words: ‘No thanks – what’s meant for me will not pass me by,’ as she turned around and walked away.
The vendor stood there, stunned and gob smacked.
They lost the $590 sale.
They scurried to offer Alyssa other items but the damage had already been done.
This was the first vendor we went to as we entered the building – our first experience of the event. Following this experience we looked around and noticed all the ‘square payments,’ ‘apple pay,’ ‘google pay’ signs and pro card payments. I asked many other vendors where there signs were for cash and they all looked at me puzzled…
A perplexing experience and so many disconnected business owners. It made us wonder if the vendors were forced to accept card only, not cash… or if they had been guided this way due to ‘market trends.’
Seemed weird they would accept cash at the door (most people paid cash at the door), but not accept it at individual vendors. There was even an ATM hired for the event for people to take out cash, which come to think of it made absolutely no sense if all vendors were not accepting cash.
Weird.
The moral of the story?
Moral 1 – As a ‘business owner’ – If you are a business owner and want to INCREASE your sales and keep all your customers happy you must always ACCEPT CASH in a face-to-face environment.
Moral 2 – As a ‘consumer’ – If you want the freedom over your spending decisions then you must utilise CASH for your spending decisions and have it in your purse and wallet to do so. You must never be afraid to walk away from businesses (no matter how much you want what they offer) if they do not accept cash.
Stand firm in your choices and decisions that you make today for they create the future world you get to experience and do not lose the lesson. What did you learn from this experience?