Tried skipping card fees at a farmers market in Austin and got called out hard

Last Saturday I hit up the farmers market on South Congress with nothing but a wad of twenties cause I'm hardcore cash only. This stall had handmade soap that looked nice so I grabbed a bar and handed over a twenty for a $8 item. The seller looked at me and said "you got exact change?" with this real annoyed tone. I said no and she just stared at my cash like I was holding a dead fish. She made me wait while she dug through her apron for change and I could feel everyone in line judging me. Learned that some small vendors actually hate cash cause they don't carry coin rolls or small bills. Anybody else run into sellers who act like you're the inconvenience for using legal tender?

2 comments

2 Comments

noahpark9d ago

Used cash at a taco stand downtown once and the guy literally sighed when I handed him a fifty. He had to ask another vendor to break it and the whole line stared at me like I kicked a puppy. Some of these places just want you to tap a card and move on, I get it. But isn't cash supposed to be king? Seems like farmers markets are turning into fancy boutiques where your twenties are an inconvenience.

rowan5939d ago

Ugh, man, that really stings. I feel your pain on that one. It's like you're trying to do the right thing by supporting a local vendor with actual money, and you get treated like a hassle. I get that breaking a fifty is annoying for a taco stand, but the sigh and the stares are just rude. It kind of makes you feel like your business isn't worth their time if you're not using their preferred payment method. It's not like you walked up with a hundred dollar bill, you used a fifty which is still pretty standard. Sorry that happened, it honestly just makes the whole experience feel bad.