Knotts not taking cash anymore?

[merlinjones]

https://www./w/news...farm-cashless/

Knotts switching to cashless transactions with the option of buying cash cards to use? How do you use it up if you can't offer cash to even out the deal/prevent unused leftovers? Guess I won't be going there anymore either.

[DisneyIPresume]

Those cash cards can be used outside of Knott’s
so as long as you use it you aren’t really losing anything.

[Stormy]

"While there are no fees to use these machines to transfer cash to the cards, a $3.95 fee will be applied each month to the remaining card balance after 92 days of no transaction activity. As long as the card is used regularly, no monthly fees will apply."

Well, that's not very nice, is it? Shouldn't be a problem for most 'domestic' visitors to 'use up' any balance but I wonder how that will play out for any guests from outside the US? Do most foreign tourists use their own CC or debit cards or do they tend to be more 'cash customers'?

I wouldn't like this because one of the ways I stick to my budget is by taking my 'daily allotment' with me in cash. I don't have to keep a 'mental tally' of what I've spent because when the cash is gone, I'm done spending for the day.

[Lighthope]

"While there are no fees to use these machines to transfer cash to the cards, a $3.95 fee will be applied each month to the remaining card balance after 92 days of no transaction activity.

Those fees are not legal in the State of Washington. Maybe in other States as well.

This is why gift cards don't charge "inactivity fees" anymore. Illegal.

[Stormy]

Those fees are not legal in the State of Washington. Maybe in other States as well.

This is why gift cards don't charge "inactivity fees" anymore. Illegal.

But it's not a gift card, it's a reloadable 'pre-paid cash card' which is different. Fees are legal, at least under federal law.

https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-types-of-fees-do-prepaid-cards-typically-charge-en-2053/

And California Law allows fees on pre-paid cards, too. Since Knotts is in CA I assume CA law as 'location of issuance' would govern fees.

https://www.dca.ca.gov/publications/legal_guides/s11_chart.pdf

Still sucks, but not illegal.

[Eagleman]

But it's not a gift card, it's a reloadable 'pre-paid cash card' which is different. Fees are legal, at least under federal law.

https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-types-of-fees-do-prepaid-cards-typically-charge-en-2053/

And California Law allows fees on pre-paid cards, too. Since Knotts is in CA I assume CA law as 'location of issuance' would govern fees.

https://www.dca.ca.gov/publications/legal_guides/s11_chart.pdf

Still sucks, but not illegal.

I AGREE........I have to say ...I don't like the concept,
Even tho I use my own CC or debit cards most of time......
and it depends what I'm buying...?....

[Jspider]

"While there are no fees to use these machines to transfer cash to the cards, a $3.95 fee will be applied each month to the remaining card balance after 92 days of no transaction activity. As long as the card is used regularly, no monthly fees will apply."

Well, that's not very nice, is it? Shouldn't be a problem for most 'domestic' visitors to 'use up' any balance but I wonder how that will play out for any guests from outside the US? Do most foreign tourists use their own CC or debit cards or do they tend to be more 'cash customers'?

I wouldn't like this because one of the ways I stick to my budget is by taking my 'daily allotment' with me in cash. I don't have to keep a 'mental tally' of what I've spent because when the cash is gone, I'm done spending for the day.

yeah but the idea with any system is to make the transaction as liquid as possible. You budgeting out responsibly is a hazard for them. Most businesses want you to spend as much as possible then blame you for being irresponsible when you accrue fees. Ironically these systems view you as dead weight if you don't incur fees or end up sending more.

[Eagleman]

I just like one funnel cake and coffee
Now I have to use a card for that !

Like I said ........I don't like the concept ,of cashless transactions
imo

[merlinjones]

Remember "Disney Dollars" with Uncle Scrooge on them? An early post-WDP attempt (1980s-90s?) to get you trade real money for a cash substitute you might not spend.

[Stormy]

Remember "Disney Dollars" with Uncle Scrooge on them? An early post-WDP attempt (1980s-90s?) to get you trade real money for a cash substitute you might not spend.

I still have a few of those lying around. My sons liked them so I always got them a few as 'souvenirs'. But I never got them to 'use' as such. Same with Disney gift cards. Too restrictive, I don't want to buy stuff just to use them up and you can't use them anywhere but Disney, especially now that the Disney Stores are all gone.

[MRaymond]

I wonder about the legality of not taking cash. Bills are clearly marked "This note is legal tender for all debts, public and private."

[TacAlert]

https://www./w/news...farm-cashless/

Knotts switching to cashless transactions with the option of buying cash cards to use? How do you use it up if you can't offer cash to even out the deal/prevent unused leftovers? Guess I won't be going there anymore either.

The cards given from the machine can be used anywhere. It is clearly written in all articles about this that the leftover can be used anywhere. Just like the machines at Magic Mountain.

[Stormy]

I wonder about the legality of not taking cash. Bills are clearly marked "This note is legal tender for all debts, public and private."

That doesn't mean someone has to take them. You often see "We accept no bills higher than $20.00" or whatever. The statement on the bill just signifies that they are a 'valid' form of payment. I think it harks back to the days when people wanted actual gold or silver as payment. It was meant to show that the bills were 'backed up' by the Govt.

[Starcade]

I believe just as you can get a pre-funded card at the park there is a way to then at the end of the day cash it out. Pretty much 99% of guests will be paying via debit credit or using their debit card to get prior to visiting so as much as I do not like the idea of being forced to use a card. I however do not see it as a real issue for the vast majority of guests unlike policies at other parks which negatively affect huge percentage for the benefit of the few.

Going cashless is often done for multiple reasons:
- Speed of transaction
- Prevention of theft by staff
- Kick backs by credit card companies
- Reduction of accounting staff

Those are just the reasons off the top of my head.

I rarely use cash at all anymore to be honest.

I do think though this thread should be moved the Knott's section.

[merlinjones]

Not so sure about the speed factor. Why does it seem the people paying with cards take twice as long at 7-11 or the supermarket than those paying with cash? Rejected cards, multiple swipes, multiple cards, mis-entered passwords, etc.

[Jspider]

Not so sure about the speed factor. Why does it seem the people paying with cards take twice as long at 7-11 or the supermarket than those paying with cash? Rejected cards, multiple swipes, multiple cards, mis-entered passwords, etc.

I mean those all sound realistic. XD At my old job I was once held up on the phone for an hour being polite to someone who was screaming at me that they had money on a card to setup a Payment Arrangement and yet every card they gave me wouldn't transact and I was stuck trying 5 different cards in an hour.

I've had dozens of bad pins/cards/whatever else. But it's also a lottery other times it's way faster usually determined by market sector. I do wish people had more equal access to actual debit/credit services. Cash cards are kinda crappy and I think most people have trouble remembering amounts on them.

My experience with Supermarkets has mostly been in Washington with people who use self checkout which I think is going to be self selecting. I'm actually kinda curious how much of that self selection gets ignored when they do the studies to make these decisions XD. I'm sure there's some manager somewhere that keeps thinking "well we can force/train this older segment to be like the segment that uses tap to pay...". Then you get some miserable employee who has to take all the customer frustration and venting all day long.

[Mark Twain]

I haven't carried cash in years.

[The Forbidden Eye]

The cards given from the machine can be used anywhere. It is clearly written in all articles about this that the leftover can be used anywhere. Just like the machines at Magic Mountain.

To add to this, the cards that will be dispensed from those machines (From ReadyCard) are VISA.

And unlike SFMM which went 100% cashless, Knotts is only applying this to the theme park (and will likely be at Soak City when it reopens next summer season). Knotts will still take cash at the following:

-Knotts Berry Farm Hotel
-California Marketplace
-Parking Booths
-Christmas Crafters

[Eagleman]

To add to this, the cards that will be dispensed from those machines (From ReadyCard) are VISA.

And unlike SFMM which went 100% cashless, Knotts is only applying this to the theme park (and will likely be at Soak City when it reopens next summer season). Knotts will still take cash at the following:

-Knotts Berry Farm Hotel
-California Marketplace
-Parking Booths
-Christmas Crafters

Good Information.......I wondering about the Christmas Crafters
But still don't like the concept ,of cashless transactions with everything.
imo

[Eagleman]

I believe just as you can get a pre-funded card at the park there is a way to then at the end of the day cash it out. Pretty much 99% of guests will be paying via debit credit or using their debit card to get prior to visiting so as much as I do not like the idea of being forced to use a card. I however do not see it as a real issue for the vast majority of guests unlike policies at other parks which negatively affect huge percentage for the benefit of the few.

Going cashless is often done for multiple reasons:
- Speed of transaction
- Prevention of theft by staff
- Kick backs by credit card companies
- Reduction of accounting staff

Those are just the reasons off the top of my head.

I rarely use cash at all anymore to be honest.

I do think though this thread should be moved the Knott's section.

Glad you share .....try figure why the cards
It does make sense, to a point.

also agree-thread should be moved the Knott's section