Everyone has a preferred method of payment, be it cash or cashless. Unfortunately, as most will know, not everywhere caters to both. And that can sometimes be more trouble than its worth.
Take this Singaporean man’s recent experience for instance. His plan to treat his friends to a nice meal regretfully ended on an unhappy note when his payment was rejected, all because he was allegedly not allowed to pay in cash.
One of the man’s friends recently shared their story to Shin Min Daily News (新明日报) after the incident at the restaurant left him upset and embarrassed. According to Mr. Yu (48), he and three friends had visited the Crystal Jade Hong Kong Kitchen in One Holland Village on 25th December. Allegedly, their friend had wanted to treat them to a meal, which cost a total of S$200 (~RM698.45).
But, their nice time out was abruptly cut short when it came time to pay. “When we were getting the bill, the cashier said they didn’t accept cash, only credit card,” Mr. Yu recalled. This was a problem from Mr. Yu’s friend as he had hoped to pay for the meal in cash.
As his friend was unable to make a cashless payment, Mr. Yu stepped in to pay for the meal first. “My friend later repaid me in cash, but this (incident) left him very embarrassed. He wanted to treat me, but didn’t expect to have to ask for my help in paying for it,” Mr. Yu said.
However, according to a spokesperson from the Crystal Jade Hong Kong Kitchen, all their restaurants accept both cash and cashless payments. “We encourage customers to pay electronically as it is more efficient, convenient and environmentally friendly. However, those who wish to pay by cash can continue to do so,” they reportedly said.
Additionally, when a reporter visited the site to verify the news, they found a sign at the cashier’s stating: “Cashless payment only“, which was at odds with what the spokesperson said. Yet, the staff there reportedly told the reporter that customers could still pay in cash if they could not pay via cashless payment.
Well, whether it is a misunderstanding or a miscommunication somewhere, we sincerely hope Mr. Yu and his friends did not let the incident mar their time together. And hopefully, his friend will be able to treat them again in the future without any mishaps!
Sources: Shin Min Daily News, China Press
