The owners of Shanklin Chine have defended their decision to go card only and decline payments of cash.
When it was announced on their Facebook page Thursday last week (6th July), the decision was met with considerable backlash – with those at the Chine saying they received abuse online and over the phone as a result.
Disgruntled members of the public voiced their concerns to those in charge with some saying they would never come back again.
On Facebook, owners explained that they were ‘slowly being forced into the decision due to the lack of banks and post offices on the Island nowadays.
Management also cited the rising costs of keeping cash on site as well as the increased risk for those manning admissions booths as yet more reasons for the decision.
Jo Porter, Shanklin Chine General Manager said:
“We are sorry this has caused such upset amongst the residents and visitors to the Isle of Wight but it is a decision we have had to make and not made lightly. Businesses, including attractions, across the Island, have gone cashless so we are upset to see such a level of outrage directed at us.”
“We understand some people are unhappy but some of the comments have been a ‘bit much’ and we would certainly not tolerate (and people would not act this way) in person so we cannot accept it digitally or over the phone either.”
Article continues below this advertisement
One of the Island’s traditional and historic attractions, Shanklin Chine has been open to visitors for well over 200 years.
On Facebook, owners explained that they were ‘slowly being forced into the decision due to the lack of banks and post offices on the Island nowadays.
they are just making excuses… companies like loomis do cash collections from businesses around the island daily – they will even install a safe for you.
shanklin post office is open daily.
they are just doing this because they don’t want to pay the cost of cash handling- good bye shanklin chine – never, will I visit again.
If people boycotted the Chine
They would have to take cash
Any business who does not accept Cash will not get my hard earned money.
I no longer go to the Pearl Centre due to them not taking cash
Glad pearl and chine are free of snowflakes like you then 🙂
You will regret it when we go cash free and the amount of groceries etc you
Purchase will be restricted.
You have a lot to learn.
And how often do you go to keep both attractions? Open?
Why don’t you go down there and offer to bank the cash for them into a post office that now closes at 3pm with a queue that’s 30 min long – wake up and realise that the government wants everyone uk go cashless to stamp out the black economy.
No they want it to be cashless to track everybody whether you have been “good or bad” before you waffle simple as is that the democratic so uety you wish to live in?
Absolutely. Why do these people not understand how our freedoms are being eroded stealthily
Don’t complain at the business who are beings forced into cashless trading by banks and governments-you try and run a business these days with astronomical bank charges and unsympathetic dick customers
Why don’t you go down there and off to bank the cash for them into a post office that now closes at 3pm with a queue that’s 30 min long – wake up and realise that the government wants everyone uk go cashless to stamp out the black economy.
Oh dear did your first comment exactly the same not stir up enough vitriol fir you? So you put it up again?
Management also cited the rising costs of keeping cash on site as well as the increased risk for those manning admissions booths as yet more reasons for the decision.
pitiful excuses – they can make more frequent trips to the post office or organise a regular collection which will allow them to reduce the amount held on site in their insurance. This also reduces the premium and putting a little more effort into making more frequent trips to admission booths to remove excess cash held and then put it in a safe reduces that risk
You try it and you’d soon realise that cash these days is dead – no bank wants it and everyone is forced to do everything online
No it isn’t anna – in 2021 The number of cash payments decreased by 1.7 per cent to 6 billion, although it remained the second most commonly used payment method, accounting for 15 per cent of all payments made in the UK last year.
6 billion cash payments made in the uk in 2021 – with a population of 66 million it is hardly dead
One of the Island’s traditional and historic attractions, Shanklin Chine has been open to visitors for well over 200 years.
and has accepted cash for over 200 years, without issue.
Personally I believe it is against the Law to turn away cash
with the Queen or Kings face on.
I promise to pay the bearer obviously counts for nothing.
I will never go to the Chine again.
Let’s hope they go bust.
no – there is no law forcing anyone to accept cash or card payments for that matter – you are only legally obliged to accept cash, if settling a debt.
if a business chooses to alienate its cash paying customers, it risks losing those customers, losing revenue and weakening the business itself. That is their choice and if they see revenue and footfall dropping, they will have to reverse it, or go out of business -but that is risk management and they should have carried that out before deciding this course of action.
Unfortunately that only applies if you have already received the goods or services. The Chine are asking for payment first, so it’s perfectly legal. Even though it is a morally bankrupt policy in my opinion. I certainly won’t use any business that says card only.
Why won’t you use a business that says card only?
Because there a vast number of people in the UK that do not have access to a bank account. Those people are completely excluded by businesses like this one. There are also a large number of people for whom cash is a better way for them to manage their finances. Again these people are penalised by this ‘trend’. Its like parking meters that don’t accept cash. Another exclusionary measure. Cash should always be an option to pay. Businesses should be forced to accept cash and banks should be forced to keep branches open in each area. They make enough money to do so. That’s why I and many others will not give our business to those exclusionary businesses.
Are there really a ‘vast’ number of people that don’t have access to a bank account? There doesn’t seem to be anyone claiming to have no access to a bank account complaining about it. And shanklin chine obviously that ‘vast’ number of people aren’t flocking to shanklin chine trying to get in with cash, otherwise they wouldn’t have made the business decision to go card only
Because they will ruin people’s futures and their own if the world
goes cash free.
Neither will I
I now boycott
The Pearl Centre
The Botanical Gardens
and now Shanklin Chine
I blame people who support such businesses
Removing cash is about control, look what happened recently to
Nigel Farage.
Farage had his Coutts bank account closed because he no longer had the wealth to satisfy their requirements to hold his money. I’m amazed people still believe anything the man say’s at this point.
Why would you visit the VBG.? Home of Curtis’s the small opinionated Huntsman? But totally agree with you..
Why will you never go again? Why would you want them to go bust?
I will not support a business who due to their ignorance
will eventually affect everyone’s lives.
Cash is King
Charles is King
NO he works for the WEF
whats wrong with you dinosaurs
Move with the times didn’t hear you lot moaning when covid hit when everywhere was cashless, Surely going to a cash point is more hassle than paying by card. I doe’s not cost you anymore to pay by card.
you don’t get it IOW do you – if society goes cashless, then the government, banks and other authorities will have total control over your ability to access goods and services. If you disagree with a narrative peddled by a government in the future by protesting, they can shut off access to your digital accounts and then no food, no fuel, no rent, no phone, no nothing for you until you comply.
keeping cash, gives you control
Sounds like you’ve got some thing to hide. What is it? I bet you’re a benefit scrounger spending your food stamps on fags and booze
Islandr- I’m guessing ur either drunk or very stupid. Please stop. You’re embarrassingly yourself
You’re not being serious are you?? Please tell me you’re having a laugh or a troll?
im guessing you dont even have the first clue about CBDC, the control it gives governments, the trials in china, the talk of expiring money – that being digital money you must use before it expires, the talk of governments having the ability to prevent your digital currency buying things they don’t want money spent on – eg meat, oil/gas or more plane tickets if you have flown too much – do you get the idea – all this is already being talked about in the CBDC debates
guess you are so far behind you haven’t a clue.
You honestly, genuinely believe that if you disagreed with something the government said, they would shut off access to your accounts? You seriously seriously believe that?
talking – I do think you need to do a little bit of research in the subject before making comments – you are making yourself look stupid
Mission creep.Lots of it about for those with eyes and minds to see.
Sounds like an archetype millenial on zedder who ‘think’ anything that smacks of mere convenience is leading to some sort of sunny uplands of liberation while mostly being the diametric opposite.Stick a fork in them,turn em over.they’re done..
I love that fact that you think you have freedom with cash its so cute
really elliot- guess you aren’t too bright then – with cash you walk into a shop and you can buy food and no one can control that apart from you – if you only have digital money available, a government can close down your account if it wants to – then your card won’t work at the shop – no food for you or travel, or anything else.
do you get the idea, because if you cannot see it, then you aren’t that clever are you
I don’t think this guy will ever understand what you are getting at!
You are 100% right
So many idiots still don’t know what is happening and why the
Planned Plandemic was orchestrated.
Speaking of which…i’ll bet Blackgang-Chine will be monitoring this closely ?
Any cashless idiot businesses should go bust then in my opion.BOYCOTT
Why does being cashless make it an ‘idiot business’? Why would you want it to go bust?
Its being given choice fool! Many cant use card
Where are these people that can’t use card? Why aren’t they complaining about it?
I think maybe we should invoke a legal obligation similar to the French.
All shops, festivals, and events in France must accept payments using cash, the Comité national des moyens de paiement (CNMP) confirmed earlier this week.
“Cash is legal tender in France. It must therefore be accepted by retailers every day, including Sundays, as well as during events.
Why should we invoke that legal obligation? To achieve what?
Get off here with your pointless comments fool
It’s a problem that should have a solution by now. People using cash should be able to convert cash anonymously to some sort of digital payment card, which can then be used as payment anywhere.
ha – retail CBDC (central bank digital currency) is in the works but it is a fair way off – they have to perfect the banking system CBDC first, before letting the retail version out to society.
anyhow – a digital payment card is still a card payment – it is not folding stuff in your pocket
digital is all well and good until someone shuts off the electric and/or shuts of your access because you don’t agree with the government views
You know that all money is digital until you draw it out, right?
If the conspiracy theory you believe is true then they can cut you off as easily as anyone else.
wrong wilbur – it is in paper form in the cash till or ATM of the bank – they merely change the digital record on your account, when you draw it out
Why,cash is good, people assume everyone has a card . Digital payments are ones targeted by scammers and money goes missing or people get into huge debt. When broadband goes down customers get turned away . I draw out cash every time I go into town and pay for as much as can with cash .
Will we be cashless at jumble sale or car boot? Are we going to throw cards at carnival floats or jam them in collection tins?.
Staff should not be threatened and abused though.
I won’t be going anytime !.
I believe this is commonly known as money laundering
This is all prep for the upcoming central bank digital currency (CBDC). After the years of false news and lies about crypto currency the governments will soon launch their own. the only difference is that bitcoin is decentralised and permissionless meaning no own can dictate how you spend your money. The governments coin will be permissioned, they will stop you buying things if they do not want you to have it. Want to donate to an unpopular view that the government does not like, sorry mate, you can not. You will own nothing and be happy. This is NOT a conspiracy, they are open with their plans. Google the world economic forum (WEF) and the bank of international settlements (BIS).
Just listen to yourselves! – Boycott! Hope they become bankrupt!
Honestly – they are a local family business trying to keep their heads above water. What if there are no staff available to take cash the bank / PO (It will take two staff at a time as well) when they is open. If you pay EVERYTHING by cash, then that’s up to you – keep going. But if you do pay by card for goods and services some of the time, this is no different. get over it and enjoy your visit.
flawed argument – are you saying that staff never go to suppliers during opening hours – how do they get things in, if it isn’t delivered – if they can go into town during a working day, they can go to the bank/po
Two comments; How many of you have been to the Chine in the last few years, and how many of you pay cash to book your holidays, theatre and cinema and so on?I thought so.
I resisted as long as I could but ‘lockdown’ nudged me into contactless cards and on-line banking which, I’m absolutely convinced, are not as secure as the traditional money methods but are undeniably very useful and convenient.
Despite all their rather pathetic excuses this is really a storm in a teacup, the only losers will be the Chine when there’s a power cut or their internet goes off-line and they’ll have to close because they’ve done away with the alternative facilities.
They must have considered that and deemed it an acceptable loss but with the attitude that they don’t need to maximise all forms of income for themselves I hope they didn’t accept any state lockdown financial support?
Time for the hard cash Army to rise and so “no” to the forced digital payment being pushed on us. Who do these idiots think we are? None of us are fools and will not accept their poor excuses.
I don’t see why people are making a big deal of it. Most of us do pay by card specially since covid. I think some people just like any excuse to have a moan. With such a bad Attitude this is why nothing gets done.
Because you cannot get your goods/services if:
Turning away the elderly/young or disabled because of form of payment might not be illegal, but it is morally questionable.
If you want to get more purchases by card/phone then add a surcharge for cash, and a discount for the elderly/disabled/under 16s.
Omg you all get over it? They wouldn’t want your custom you petty minded idiots. Lots of places only take card payments I bet you go there? The tourists will still go as they don’t care cash or card. It’s your loss, well done shanklin chine it’s your decision no one else’s.
I’ll still visit, not having to carry cash but a small card on me!!!
Will be boycotting them then. Shocking. Don’t understand these people.
Don’t forget, for every digital card payment a fee is paid to the bank. If I draw out £100 from an atm (fee free) and spend it in 10 shops, each shop gets 10. If I have a debit card and spend £10 at a shop they pay a fee to the bank for that transaction so only receive eg. 9.95.. so they put their prices up to cover the fee. We lose, the shop breaks even and the bank profits. Thats why people prefer cash!
Like a lot of other attractions and places on the Island we should be supportive of our Islands small businesses, not bully them publicly based on your own beliefs. This would have been a business decision to help them maximise their profits at a difficult time, and would include the fact their local bank has likely closed and now it’s only open branch is now in Newport. Time to visit this town is not easy when that time is required to run a business. Also factor in the time it takes to count and balance the cash books, incurring additional payroll costs, going card only is the only way forward. As a manager of a business myself we made this decision ourselves during the pandemic like many others and will continue to do so. Keep it up Chine
If the country goes cash free we are all in trouble.
Look what happened to Nigel Farage recently
It is all about control, hence smart phones, smart meters etc etc
Why do we have to pay at all to walk down a crack in a cliff?
Cash goes – our freedom goes. Those in control will have total control. I really don’t understand why people cannot see this.
Julie so many people are idiots.
They trusted the experimental vaccines and now they still
Trust politicians who partied while families could not visit their
Dying loved ones
The scary thing is that no one is actually in control, which is why we are on a knife edge due to nutters like Putin having the means to destroy the planet on a whim and nobody having the power or the will to stop the catastrophe that is global warming.
Easy enough to boycott.
To all those saying ‘boycott’ the place, tell us honestly how often you’ve been there in, and let’s be generous here, the last 5 years?
Maybe once, but probably for the vast majority of us, never at all in the past 5 years or more.
It’s a tourist destination. Yes, as locals, we’ve probably been once just to see what it is, but regular visits? No, don’t be silly, there’s not enough there for a local to go any more often.
So, yes, complain about a cashless society, that’s your right, but it’s really quite pointless getting worked up about a minor tourist attraction only taking card payments when it simply doesn’t affect you.
Pick your battles. Shanklin Chine only taking card payments is not relevant to 99.99% of us living here.
My advice to people who have been deprived of their banks is to bank with Nationwide as they still value their Customers. Banking hubs have been slow to be rolled out so far. Sandown badly needs one. People should always be given the choice cash or card.
In the present environment you would have thought that any form of payment would be better than no payment?
Okay, a cheque can be awkward, but it is still a legal payment.
Don’t turn business away by making it awkward for payment methods, put yourself out to accommodate any customers than come along.
If someone wants to pay for my services with cash, cheque or direct debit, great. You cannot pay your bills with shirt buttons.
Remember, Southern Vectis used to advertise that they would take euros!