What happens if a machine only takes cards?
Some businesses proudly hang a “card only” sign. No coins, no notes, no exceptions. For customers, that can feel either like modern convenience or like being shut out entirely. For laundromats especially, the question looms: what actually happens if a machine only takes cards? The short answer: it streamlines payments, reduces theft, and matches how most Aussies already pay. But it can also alienate segments of the community who still rely on cash. The balance between efficiency and accessibility is what makes this debate so interesting. Why are laundromats going cashless? Australia is one of the fastest adopters of cashless payments. More than 80% of everyday transactions are now made with a card or digital wallet, according to the RBA. For a laundromat owner, switching to card-only payments means: Less time spent collecting, counting, and banking coins Reduced theft risk (no bulky coin hoppers to target) Faster transactions and fewer machine jams Cleaner faciliti...