Retail

NAMA urges Delaware to reconsider mandatory cash acceptance

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March 9, 2022

The convenience services industry is working to prevent the State of Delaware from requiring micro market operators to accept cash.

Nick Steingart, the National Automatic Merchandising Association's director of state affairs, testified Tuesday before the Delaware House of Representatives House Economic Development/Banking/Insurance & Commerce Committee, urging an exemption for micro markets from legislation that would ban cashless retail, according to a press release.

The bill, House Bill 299: Consumer Equal Access Protection Act, would prohibit the seller of consumer goods or services from refusing to accept cash payment, except in limited circumstances. Steingart said the bill would uniquely impact the utilization of micro markets that typically do not accept cash.

"Micro markets often do not accept cash but instead use employee stored value cards, credit and debit cards or biometric payment," Steingart said.

He urged the committee to consider an amendment similar to those passed in other states that would exempt retail sales from unattended locations not open to the public.