China moves further towards cashless society

[cabron]

Its close to harassment. This kind of news is going to be common in china.

This is one disadvantage in a country that is starting to build a cashless society, they should be starting it in Disney where people visiting does have phones with them where ever they go. Singapore or Hong Kong is a good place to start with, why not there.

[dothebeats]

That's the problem when a society switches over something abruptly and without much of the people's discretion. It might seem that this is just a minor issue but this is what older people face when more and more technology is being embedded on our everyday lives; they can't keep up and tend to not change their ways immediately. That's why I don't believe a fully cashless society is possible as soon as possible, considering that the older age groups wouldn't adapt yet and tend to be adamant in changing what they're already used to.

[PlusOne88]

Well this is an incident that smells business. It is clear that companies offering cashless transaction or payments would always be happy to hear about their payment system was being used. It would certainly give them more revenue or profit. But I would love to hear if they would be applying the use of cryptocurrency like bitcoin because transactions for me can easily be done.

[0t3p0t]

~
A security guard later helped Xie process the payment with cash, the report said.

This is, imo, the most important part of the article. If we want more payments were made without using cash, we have to realize that some people, elderly in particular, probably will never adjust to that. The security guard in question is a hero imo, and we need people like him in every store if we want the transition to be as painless as possible. Also, every place with a sign "We accept Bitcoin" have to be always happy to accept cash as well. Only this way we can avoid unnecessary hostility towards its usage.

I agree and I appreciate what the security guard did to his fellowmen instead of discriminating he helped him process the payment with cash. Such good deed will be rewarded and remembered. It would also be nice if there is another choice to pay for fiat as cashless payment may not be adopted by old or younger people that are not exposed with the so called technology that trigger a cashless society.

[Albert211994]

This is just poor customer service. If they want to switch to cashless, they still should have lanes for cash because not everyone is up to date with technology. The very young ones and the very old ones are not using cellphones yet. If they force it, it is like discrimanation to those who do not how to use the technology and those who can't afford it.

[Impulseboy]

This is great news, although I am curious what they will eventually do with their fiat money should the country start going the cashless route. If this one man had a hard time coping with going cashless, how do you think the rest of their country will react to cryptocurrency? That said, perhaps in a few years time, China will also be the first to implement country-wide use of cryptocurrency. What do you think?

[dmamigo]

A cashless society will create a huge problem, though it has some great positive effects on the society. I guess it is too early and with the sudden movement of the country making their citizen fall into trouble and harassment. Our country reduced the ATM daily transaction limit, in the move of the cashless society. Not all stores accept cards or other online payment methods, thus the government doesn't understand if the citizen needs cash suddenly, what will happen.

[jameswell]

Yes, Chinese people use Alipay or Wechat pay on a daily basis for almost every kind of transactions.
Even people on the street has a QR code for asking donation.
But that said, Chinese government is one of the most hostile Gov in the world against Bitcoin.
A lot of people that I know got their bank account freezed because of  involving crypto trading,or selling crytpo for fiat.

[magneto]

From what I've heard, places in China have increasingly started to even reject cash as this article demonstrates.

Is it really a good thing given that now people are essentially forced into either Wechat or Alipay for their groceries and all that? Even though theoretically, paper money is still legal tender, but in practice, we may see people discriminate against that form of currency increasingly.

It's interesting how fast China has undergone the cashlessness-isation process, though. I think it's because of the cheap and convenient nature of their payment processors that allow this to happen, unlike Western counterparts like paypal with the huge fees and chargeback concerns.

[Betwrong]

~
A security guard later helped Xie process the payment with cash, the report said.

This is, imo, the most important part of the article. If we want more payments were made without using cash, we have to realize that some people, elderly in particular, probably will never adjust to that. The security guard in question is a hero imo, and we need people like him in every store if we want the transition to be as painless as possible. Also, every place with a sign "We accept Bitcoin" have to be always happy to accept cash as well. Only this way we can avoid unnecessary hostility towards its usage.

I agree and I appreciate what the security guard did to his fellowmen instead of discriminating he helped him process the payment with cash. Such good deed will be rewarded and remembered. It would also be nice if there is another choice to pay for fiat as cashless payment may not be adopted by old or younger people that are not exposed with the so called technology that trigger a cashless society.

Younger people normally adjust to new technologies quickly and easily, so there's nothing to worry about here. While older people are those who need some help in this case. Although over 50% of the World's Population is under 30 (I was surprised myself, but it’s true) , it would be morally wrong to not take older people into account. If they prefer to deal with cash we have to provide them with this opportunity.

[ichai]

I think that is just a small side of a big city in China. In fact, China has many places where there are poor people. We should not just look at one aspect of the whole country.

[vv181]

This becomes a problem when it comes to the older generation. Honestly, even in this cryptocurrencies age the UX problem still exist and detain the adoption for the mainstream. The UX is too techy its hard for the regular user.

The solution is we really need to socialize to older generation about the cashless society. Or to increase their curiosity to use the digital payment.

[Rath_]

Problems with elderly people are unavoidable; however, we should not leave them alone in the world which becomes more and more advanced. We should help them with understanding modern technology instead. I am not surprised that the Chinese government wants its people to use cashless transactions. It would make it easier for them to track the financial activity of their citizens. I am quite sure that the grey market will move to previous metals if that happens.

[Biscutard]

Why bother buying on that store if they don't accept your money? Come on? It's not the only stores that existed in your place, just go find a store that accept cash. While this story might be true or just made up, they shouldn't push on what they want to do to their customer. Cash is not dead yet so why would they do that?

[Piggy]

Most northern european countries use almost exclusively debit card for payments, few places refuses cash for the main reason they don't have change or don't want to be bothered with large amounts of cash at hands.
I asked few people i know and most of them they actually never have with them cash.
I guess is coming for every country, but is also a right step toward using cryptos.

[Faeton]

South China Morning Post

An argument between staff at a cashless supermarket in northern China and an elderly man who did not know how to use his smartphone to buy a bunch of grapes has revived calls for help for those left behind in the digital economy.

The 67-year-old man, identified only by his surname Xie, tried to use cash to buy the fruit at a supermarket in Jixi, Heilongjiang province, on Sunday, video news site Pear Video reported.

Checkout workers rejected the money and insisted that he use his phone to pay via either WeChat Pay or Alipay, prompting the argument, according to the video.

Alipay is owned by Alibaba, which owns the South China Morning Post.

“I’ll leave if you don’t take the cash,” Xie said in the clip.

“Well, leave if you can,” the cashier replied.

As China goes increasingly cashless, PBOC says cash payment is still alive
Xie took the grapes and approached the door but was stopped by security guards.

“I know it’s not right to leave without paying,” Xie said. “But I have real yuan in my hands. It’s not fake money. Why are you humiliating this old man for not knowing how to use WeChat?”

A security guard later helped Xie process the payment with cash, the report said.

I do not know how on the yuan banknote in China, however, on the banknotes in my country (Ukraine) it is indicated that all institutions and organizations of the country are obliged to accept these banknotes for payment on the territory of the state. If I refuse to accept the bills of my state in a retail outlet of any form of ownership, these persons who allowed it and their leaders should be held accountable. So it should be in any normal state.
A similar incident that occurred in China can occur in any state if citizens are forced to switch to the use of cryptocurrency or even non-cash forms of cash payments. This coercion should not be, otherwise there will be a rejection of non-cash payments by citizens.

[audaciousbeing]

South China Morning Post

An argument between staff at a cashless supermarket in northern China and an elderly man who did not know how to use his smartphone to buy a bunch of grapes has revived calls for help for those left behind in the digital economy.

The 67-year-old man, identified only by his surname Xie, tried to use cash to buy the fruit at a supermarket in Jixi, Heilongjiang province, on Sunday, video news site Pear Video reported.

Checkout workers rejected the money and insisted that he use his phone to pay via either WeChat Pay or Alipay, prompting the argument, according to the video.

Alipay is owned by Alibaba, which owns the South China Morning Post.

“I’ll leave if you don’t take the cash,” Xie said in the clip.

“Well, leave if you can,” the cashier replied.

As China goes increasingly cashless, PBOC says cash payment is still alive
Xie took the grapes and approached the door but was stopped by security guards.

“I know it’s not right to leave without paying,” Xie said. “But I have real yuan in my hands. It’s not fake money. Why are you humiliating this old man for not knowing how to use WeChat?”

A security guard later helped Xie process the payment with cash, the report said.

This problem will continue until overbearing cashiers are not trained on the right way to do things. I don't expect that a policy on cash would be that total and would receive blanket application without considering the payment of something so small as fruits. Government at times in the process of trying to do the right thing end up causing more problem for the citizens they promise to serve and if the country should have been practicing a transparent democratic government, the voice of the people would have been heard. The youth are the ones that would be more convenient using electronic money to meet their payment but for the elders  who have served the country and built it to the extent it is not granted some slack to get basic things with their cash, then such policy is nothing short of inhumane and that is why government needs to as a matter of urgency review the policy and mandate everyone in charge of collection of payment to ensure that the Yuan has never ceased to be a legal tender.

[naidray]

Very interesting news and incidence that have happened in the china. I never thought someone can be so stubborn upon the decision of not accepting the cash as mode of payment. This is truly intriguing to me as it is unusual to see within the country where you cant even pay with the real money. So this is like forceful dragging towards the digitisation I guess. However it could be either good to see them approaching like that, initially it may sound very irritating but when there will be complete digitalisation of the country then it may just develop very very fast than the before time. So its either good or bad and depends mostly upon the various factors within the country.

That is just a start as there is so much more to come. Now, a time will come when PayPal will beg for usage, but of course, since the owner have always been clamoring on blockchain technology being the future, I am sure they may as well just integrate blockchain in their system in the long run and maybe turn to an exchange. Just thinking!

A lot is changing, disruptions with blockchain technology, digital age kicking in and trying to eliminate the usage of physical cash and really, some section of the world will always find it hard to be able to cope and adapt to these new changes and most especially the old ones, so this to me was like a punishment for trying to force that old man to use We Chat Pay or Alipay by all means.

[gentlemand]

The man's got a point. Why the hell should WeChat be a prerequisite for buying fruit at the market?

You shouldn't need a smartphone and a bank account to pay for a bundle of grapes.

I'm glad I live in a place where people actually want cash, more than any of the alternatives.

So the Chinese government can control every possible aspect of the lives of their citizens.

Look up social credit in China. Link that to payments and you are well and truly fucked from every angle. If you fall out of favour with government edicts your life will be an order magnitude worse than some communist party robot.

Cashlessness is a vital element in enforcing it. I hope that ever increasing nightmarishness of Chinese society is taken on board by all the morons running towards cashlessness elsewhere. Once it's gone cash won't be coming back and it hands limitless power to those running it.

[bitcoinrays]

Very interesting news and incidence that have happened in the china. I never thought someone can be so stubborn upon the decision of not accepting the cash as mode of payment. This is truly intriguing to me as it is unusual to see within the country where you cant even pay with the real money. So this is like forceful dragging towards the digitisation I guess. However it could be either good to see them approaching like that, initially it may sound very irritating but when there will be complete digitalisation of the country then it may just develop very very fast than the before time. So its either good or bad and depends mostly upon the various factors within the country.

PayPal will use more when people use their coins in the market instead putting in exchange. The world is turning towards digital currency and I hope in the near future we will see people using their cryptocurrency even in their local markets. I will really enjoy cashless society and am waiting anxiously for that time. I am sure after few years the number of crypto users will increase.