Why are the ATM machines still busy, if people can pay with credit card, and debit card just about any store nowadays?

It doesn’t cost me anything to use the ATM at my bank. And sometimes I just want to pay with cash. If I’m out with friends, I pay my share with cash. At strange gas stations away from home I prefer to pay with cash. Buying a quick donut or sandwich, cash.

@canidmajor I can’t think of what they call them, The label on them just says “ATM” So, I don’t mean the machine owned by one’s own bank, but the stand alone ones in a corner store mostly, completely unrelated to any particular bank.

I use them on occasion to get cash, for all the reasons stated above, if I would rather use cash. I imagine that’s why others do as well.

But I don’t think we’re referring to the same machines. Also I don’t mean to ask Why do you need to pay anything by cash.

@flo They’re the same machines. Some are owned by your bank and some aren’t. Some you pay a fee and some you don’t. If you need cash and you’re willing to pay the small fee, you use an ATM. It really is that simple.

Yes, @flo, as @janbb said, we were referring to the same machines. The implication of your words: …if people can pay with credit card, and debit card just about any store…” and_”...and there is cash back too.”_ would be that using cash is somehow the point as well.

They are the same machines. If it isn’t a bank machine that you bank at, they will charge a fee, say 4.00 at the time you are using the machine, and then your bank may charge a fee also to give money to the other bank. But your original question is why are the ATM machines still busy if you can use a debit card anywhere. I like to use cash when I can, especially if it’s an item under 5 bucks.

I like it because it tells me my balance. Cash back doesn’t. I used my ATM this week. Cost $2—$5 for the transaction.

Drugs

I have never used an ATM machine. My husband uses them once in a blue moon. A lot of them have no service fee, as people mentioned above.

I only use a debit card to send Western Union money to subcontractors for the company I work for. WU won’t take credit cards.

Some people can only control their spending if they use cash, I think that’s one reason.

I use only ATMs at my bank’s branches. I avoid the off-brand machines at convenience stores/etc because I assume the incur extra fees.

I still use ATMs because I carry a little money in case of network or power outages where cards will not be useful.

For any Illegal transaction cash will be preferred option.

I too like to keep cash on hand. I have shopped at times when they tell me their system is down and they cannot take a card.
In some cases I am making a purchase or transaction that I don’t feel good about using my card because of who gets access to card information.

I need to pay for the highway with cash.

Patty beat me to it. Drug dealers prefer cash.

I just prefer paying with physical money, and some places, mostly Döner stands, do not accept card payments at all, let alone frozen toddlers.

The only way to know for sure would be to go with the flo up to customers in the middle of ATM transactions, say “hold on” and then ask them.

^Don’t you use ATM?

You stick something inside them, and they give you money?

@ragingloli Yeah – kind of the inverse of prostitutes.

Or a robbery victim, that needed some convincing.

My credit card gives me cash back: 5% on groceries, 3% on gasoline and 1.5% on everything else. But I don’t use it for everything. Why?
I will pay cash if the bill is below $20 and if I like the vendor. If I use a credit card the vendor will pay a percentage plus a transaction fee and I prefer to give all the money to the vendor. Also that greatly minimizes the number of times my card is exposed. Hopefully my chances of being hacked are reduced..
I will always pay cash if I am in one of those sketchy corner stores run by equally sketchy (IMO) owners. Think small, crowded stores run by foreigners that can’t possibly stay in business by selling Nepalese cookies.
I use cash when I give money as gifts.
I use cash when I buy a present and do not want anyone to know about it.
I use cash to buy anything related to firearms, like: ammo, and other supplies.
I use cash for tips. I figure that increases the chances the servers will get it.
If I were buying drugs (I don’t) I would use cash.

Typically I will withdraw $600 (the maximum) from the bank’s cash machine and then I use it until there is about 100 or so left. Then I restock. This can happen in a few weeks or in a few months.
Yes I am “losing” $9 in cash back for each $600 spent but the privacy and security is worth it to me.

I can only speak for myself. An ATM machine is still used because my bank is a credit union. The actual bank is far away from home. A closer, separate credit union doesn’t charge a fee to use their ATM.

Withdrawals, transfers and balance checks can be made easily at the ATM. One would think that this would be simple enough with an electronic set-up, but in my case, it isn’t. I have no idea why, so when it doesn’t work, I go to the local bank’s ATM and sort out what is needed.

I do not accept credit or debit cards. Too much gear to haul around and keep safe or lose. Only checks or cash.

It sounds like you’re wondering more about why someone would use an ATM that has fees. I personally use ATMs often because both of my debit cards reimburse me for ATM fees, so using an ATM is a free, easy way to get cash when I need it without having to plan much in advance. This is especially convenient when I’m on longer trips and don’t want to be carrying hundreds of dollars in cash with me.

I do use my card to pay for a lot more things than I used to, but I still carry a little cash because some stores won’t accept a card if the sale is under a certain amount.

@flo “ATM” means Automatic Teller Machine.

I thought it means “at the moment”

There is a credit union 3 blocks away from my apartment that I can pull from with no fees. So I just pull the max when needed and pay for things with cash. Like LuckyGuy I have a card that gives me 1.5 cash back on everything but I would still rather pay cash.

And I do it for a additional reason. There is a bit of a disconnect when paying with a card. When I make it rain at 7/11 I consider each purchase with a bit more scrutiny. A twix sounds good, but in ten minutes I will not have really gotten anything from that two bucks I spent on the twix. If I pay with a card I will probably buy it. If I use cash I will probably not.

For some people it’s “All / Any Time Money”.

Thanks very interesting.

@Call_Me_Jay ‘s “I avoid the off-brand machines at convenience stores/etc because I assume the incur extra fees.”
@omfgTALIjustIMDu pointed out ”It sounds like you’re wondering more about why someone would use an ATM that has fees. I personally use ATMs often because both of my debit cards reimburse me for ATM fees,”
That’s what I was referring to, not why do you ever need cash?”

…I meant to address *@All, except @Call_Me_Jay and @omfgTALIjustIMDu” who got my question inspite of it not being as specific as possible.

In most places I know about, all lottery sales are required to be cash-only transactions.

Also, cannabis dispensaries require cash transactions because of the banking restrictions they face.

A lot of action in your neighborhood <wink-wink> at the ATM’s
?

Most of them have on-site ATM’s!

@johnpowell Re. cash back, I meant the card shows you the total $x amount of products, and asks if you want cash back as well? (or do you just want to pay for the product?) And then gives you however much you ask for.

ATM wil die, blockchain can improve digital money experience, about 2030 hole world will be changed.
Today is characterized by the transition period as the era of changes

“Whole.” Whole world will change.

Bitcoins are modern tulips.
But unlike tulips, which at least look pretty, bitcoin wastes electricity, and drives up GPU prices.
I can not wait for this crap to die the death it deserves.