Holy cow! Yeah, I'd call back and remind them of the sale that they lost.

"Thanks for getting me in trouble!"

Sheesh, poor guy now he might not have long term job security with the company.

Hundreds? Go back for what you want with $20's or $10's! Make them work for what they did.

CompUSA deserves to go under. Years ago I was a Hewlett-Packard demo rep. I was sent to computer stores all over Dallas/Fort Worth, and the only places I regularly had problems were CompUSAs - and it usually involved managers.

HP had just released its first photoprinter and a woman came into the CompUSA I was stationed at - I knew her from another store I'd been at not too far away and I knew she was bought expensive and in bulk. She asked me about the printer (about a $600 item) and she wanted it, but she also wanted to see it work. That's fair, and most stores had a demo set up but the CompUSAs didn't for some stupid reason.

I went to the departmental manager to see if he could get some of the photo paper for me. He told me I had to see the store manager. The store manager demanded I buy the paper to use for the demo because he didn't want to risk losing any money.

I'm trying to help this man sell a $600 printer - plus paper and toner - and he won't rip open a $15 dollar pack of paper? And then when the woman left to go to a store that would demo it, the store manager screamed at me in front of his employees for not buying the paper so I could sell the printer (I made no commissions - I was there to be in-store tech support and help customers buy what they actually needed).

This sort of stuff only ever happened at CompUSAs. Even Best Buy stores had smarter managers (granted, we're talking ten years ago).

Good riddance to CompUSA.

I worked at a place that didn't accept cash. Most of our transactions were for over 50 bucks, and we didn't want to get held up. We did, however, accept money orders for those folks that elected not to use plastic.

"Thanks for getting me in trouble" is always funny when someone actually means "I fucked up got caught."

Douché.

(not a typo).

Farewell CompUSA! After all, they were the 7-Eleven of the computer world. Now Best Buy is taking over CompUSA's shoes with ridiculous mark-ups on electronic accessories. All hail NewEgg!

I will take all the cash anyone wants to give me; I will in turn yell at you (insult of your choice) and give you some junk that will be useless by time you get home, and if you are nice I will give you 5% back if you send me the original UPC, original receipt, detailed explanation of the periodic chart, and an original petition signed by 4000 people that will certify that you are really the person you say you are.

Lesson here, if you want a Mac, go to an Apple Store or order at www.apple.com

Customer service in america is dead. It was KIA by large corporations fighting for Liberty, Freedom and the Bottom Line. It was survived by its wife Lower Prices and children crappy merchandise and minimum wage.

If that was me I wouldn't even have minded being told no cash, it was just the fact they automatically called a rent a cop to scene that would have pissed me off.
I got pissed off once because I pumped 60 something in gas and went into pay and then seen the sign that said something like no cash over 50. It was not posted outside and the guy was ultra pissed. I just told him I've all ready pumped it, either take it or don't because I'm not putting it on a credit card.

Sounds like you won. You got them in trouble and pissed.

@sleepydumbdude: Hmm, interesting. Once you pump the gas into your tank, does that automatically turn into a debt you owe? Then, they are required to accept cash.

All the gas stations around here have taken down the "no bills bigger than a $20" signs. I suppose with all the oversized SUVs and trucks most purchases are close to $100 anyway. They have not started the policy of having to break up your transactions into $50 increments on a card either. I ran into that in Indiana last summer. I could not figure that one out at first.

I hope refusing cash in not the next retailer fad. I'm leaning more towards cash with all the ID theft and retailers selling your transaction data.

@DallasDMD: I'd say it is... unless they want to siphon it back out of the tank.

@smarty:I would have brought $100.00 of loose, assorted change in a paint bucket.

Why does that manager care if he got in trouble? He's going to be out of a job as soon as his location closes up anyway.

@sleepydumbdude: Wow, where in the U.S. do they still let you pump first and pay later? I want to go see it before they become extinct.

Why would any store refuse cash?

Each time someone pays debit/credit card, store pays to the bank for the transaction. Plus, if a credit card is fraudulent, store is left with nothing.

So can anyone explain me why?

@weave: Same thing in Canada. However, between 11pm and 6am, you have to pay upfront.

@chouchou: Plus, some stores (here in Canada), give you 2% off if you pay with cash.

go back and pay in pennies

How Ironic. . . . CompUSA has stopped paying rebates by check. The only way they pay rebates is by CompUSA visa debit card.

Good riddance CompUSA, welcome to the distance memory of super bad retailing. It would help if you would mention which branch this is.

I know this is legal, but it shouldn't be. Cash should be accepted no matter what.

For the record even some creditors don't accept cash... there's been stories of that for years. Despite being written on the bills, it seems to pretty much be a blue law.

" My district manager & corporate called me and read me the riot act over this. Thanks for getting me in trouble!"'

The words of a man with NOTHING to lose. What are they going to do? Fire him???

@thedude2u: That description is dead-on.

I only occasionally frequented my local CompUSA, but when I did there was always a weird vibe about the place. Too many salespeople, and almost never any customers. Screwy kiosked PC's, and never any of the models you might actually want in stock and an ever increasing blend of toys, giant plasma TV's, and nerf-herder food. I've noticed MicroCenter is starting to drift this direction too... with a mark down section that seems to grow with every visit.

"Goodbye CompUSA, I hardly knew thee..."

Thank God for Fry's Electronics.

@chouchou: The US 100 dollar bill is one of the MOST counterfeited bills in the world - that's why.

Don't want cash/large bills? Fine by me - just post an easy to see sign.

Years ago my brother-in-law returned an item at a store, then went to buy something else. Paid with $20 bill he got from return desk. This was shortly after they re-designed US bills.

The clerk at the counter goes ape-shit because - I kid you not - "The bill does not have a BAR CODE on it!!"

Yelling at them, called security, they were taken in back to be questioned! When manager heard the problem he apologized FAST.

Yeah, the microcenter markdown area is pretty sad, it just warehouses a ton of crap nobody wants to buy. They should also put a bullet in the books area, too. They'd probally do better with putting in more electronics stuff (ie: project materials) ala radio shack that you can't find anymore there. Get some crazy deal with sparkfun and stock their stuff too or something. That would make them super-relevant then. I'd totally love something like a menards for electronics projects.

@weave: Just about any gas station in Missouri lets you pump first. But most of them require the attendant to turn on the pump once you hit the "pay inside" button, probably so they can make sure they have your license plate on the security camera just in case....

Or maybe I'm wrong, I'm almost always using plastic at the pump.

If you don't want to accept large amounts of cash, you shouldn't sell anything that costs more than you want to accept in cash. This is a brick and mortar store. They have cash drawers and safes and security guards. They have counterfeit detection pens. To make up for the large amounts of cash they won't accept, it seems they have a lot of stupidity in stock.

@weave: Here in the Dallas area, many gas stations still allow you to pump before you pay (not at night, though).

@digitalgimpus: [en.wikipedia.org]

@HalOfBorg: Might be a counterfeit bill? That is MY problem HOW? Prove to me it's counterfeit or STFU and put it in your little cash drawer, beeyotch.

@homerjay: You beat me to it. I would have went back down there and got all up in his face about "where you going to work next so I can avoid it" and that.

@socalrob: Well said!

I loved the CompUSA in Syracuse, NY but they closed it down a few years ago. They were courteous and very helpful. I have never shopped at a CompUSA again because there were none near me, except for a 2 hour drive.

Customer Service in the USA HAS definitely gone down in the US! It is the last priority in business due to cut backs, etc. It really should be their first priority. That and quality of their goods.

Don't they make more if they receive the payment in cash, circumventing the hefty credit card usage fees? I use Paypal when I sell on ebay and I lose about 5-6% total, and that's supposed to be competitive.

WOW! He shoulda tape recorded the manager being a dick (after he got in trouble) & hung up on him. Posted it online & then sent it to Comp. USA corporate ...... so that the dick manager got in even MORE trouble. LOL!

Not accepting cash is just wrong. Not everyone has a credit card. Especially a lot of older people & low-income people (who often deal exclusively in cash)

didn't read the posts, but any idiot who walks around with that kinda cash is well, an idiot. or a drug dealer. or a stripper. :::::patiently waits for cashless society:::::

time to call back corp. and tell them you're not interested in the purchase and let them know about the idiot that said "I know who you are, your the guy that wanted to pay cash. My district manager & corporate called me and read me the riot act over this. Thanks for getting me in trouble!"

also, i'm guessing the store didn't have a "no cash over for purchases over $____"

@HalOfBorg: Yeah, I call bullshit on that story.

Anyway, I could see them getting upset with some jerkoff using a $100 to pay for a $3.99 item, that's just using a store to break your hundred that you asked the bank to give you because you're a jerkoff who wants to look cool. I've told people no to that sort of stuff before, because our store only kept $200 in the register to start the day and that would have killed our drawer until someone got the chance to run to the bank, meaning we would lose sales from people that actually need the change for legit purchases that don't require $95 back in change.

As for their closing store policy, it should be posted several places throughout the store (you know, the ones that no one ever pays attention to and gets pissed off at the cashiers about when they get shot down for being retards), and it probably was. From this report we're only hearing the "poor customer who can do no wrong" side of the story. Honestly, the cashier could care less what you bought, or how you pay for it as long as a) they get the sale b) they're not going to get in trouble for how they sell it.

Here's a tip for asshole customers; cashiers get paid shit and treated likewise by their employers. Don't stockpile more shit onto them because you're a piece of shit and want to think you're some tough guy.

@doctor_cos: It's your problem if you accept a counterfeit bill. As far as the Secret Service and banks are concerned, you are REQUIRED to turn over counterfeit bills but are NOT reimbursed for them. So sorry CompUSA, if you accepted this wad of fake Hundies, that's your bad, now turn 'em over or face the penalty.

THAT is how it's your problem.

A major top-shelf electronics retailer here in town called Ultimate Electronics gave me a huge runaround the one time I went there when I tried to pay with cash. The huge line of credit application kiosks near the checkout area matched the number of checkout registers, which was kind of a red flag to me.

After I was rang up, I took out my cash and offered it to the clerk. He asked if I had a credit card I'd like to pay with and I told him I didn't want to pay with credit. He looked nervously at his manager who was seated nearby going over a credit application with another customer, then asked me again, "Are you sure you don't want to pay with credit?" I asked if they didn't accept cash and he said they do, but then gave another glance at his manager and asked if I'd like to sign up for a store credit card.

Screw that. I ended up walking out without buying anything. Stores that either won't take cash or give you such a big runaround over it don't get my business. They want you to pay on credit in hopes they can rake in big fees (which is why they love store-branded credit cards) when all I want to do is pay for the item in full at the point of sale.

@BugMeNot2: I couldn't disagree more. I really get creeped out by the "big brother" factor of the credit card companies. I'm grateful for the Visa/MasterCard/Amex gift cards that can be purchased at the grocery store for cash (although the $5 activation fee sucks), as they make my online purchases far more anonymous. In real life, I'm all cash, and I don't answer profiling questions (ZIP code, phone number, whatever). Oh, and who still shops at CompUSA, and why?

@BugMeNot2: you know how bad of the idea of a cashless society is ?

basically, someone could control your life. pissed off some bank manager ? poof, life savings gone!

@sexyj: And what about the cash(ed?) society? Piss off your neighbor? Poof, life savings gone!

"No cash". Reminds me of when I was a kid (too many years ago), saved up my money and went to what was then Skaggs Albertson's to buy candy ($5.00 worth). Told by clerk at candy counter he would not accept my pennies. I was soooo upset (I was only 5). I got the attention of many customers who were angry and voicing their outrage. My mom just wanted to leave and never return. The store manager came over and attempted to make it right but I was sooooo upset and confused. I will always remember that and have avoided shopping Albertson's and other associated store names.

In my business, I prefer cash (I get more return as opposed to fees for other forms of payment) and isn't
nice that to accept a credit card agreement you aren't suppose to offer a "if you pay cash, I'll give you discount..."

This was brought up earlier about Apple refusing cash for an iPhone.

[www.treas.gov]

Summary of above website.

"There is, however, no Federal statute mandating that a private business, a person or an organization must accept currency or coins as for payment for goods and/or services. Private businesses are free to develop their own policies on whether or not to accept cash unless there is a State law which says otherwise."