Wanted to pay for miles with a 200 note at Migros today. Money was not accepted. Cashier said we are not allowed to accept such large notes. Had to stop shopping and go to a bank branch to change notes. Question to the cooperative: Why are large notes not accepted? So little confidence in the new banknotes or do they want to save the purchase costs for note validators?
Guest
... a consequence of cashless payment transactions! But I still think it's weak if you don't have any change in notes for CHF 200 - even if you were a first-time customer in the morning. The argument of the note validator is a pretext - you can find something like that at the National Bank level. I can still see the kiosk lady in front of me who moaned decades ago because someone paid or wanted to pay for the Sonntagsblick on Sunday morning with a 1000.
I would understand if the cashier refused to accept euro, US dollar or other foreign currency notes, but with Swiss money this is totally incomprehensible and in my opinion not permitted or illegal, as far as I know there is an obligation to accept all Swiss money issued by the National Bank.
The note testing device is a lame excuse; I assume there is no such internal directive, they are not allowed to issue such a directive because it would be illegal and unlawful, apart from that, as a customer I am not interested in internal directives, these only concern the relationship between employees and employers and are their business. The authenticity of large notes is checked in Aldi, for example, using a bill tester felt-tip pen. I have also paid with a 200Fr. note at the checkout at Migros, Lidl, Aldi etc. (because the ATM spit out such a note instead of 2x 100Fr.), the cashier did not say anything and accepted it without any problems. I rather suspect that the cashier did not have enough change in the till, which is why she did not want to accept the 200Fr. note (because presumably many people pay with large notes and then she has the problem with the return money). But that is the problem of the cashier/Migros and not the problem of the customer. This is simply incompetence on the part of the person responsible for equipping the cash registers with the appropriate notes/coins...
I would also find that tedious and can understand why it annoys you. And then going to change money and leaving your shopping in the meantime... I can't understand why Migros doesn't take 200 notes. Personally, I only pay by card. From the smallest amount onwards. I only have cash in my wallet for emergencies. I can't remember the last time I needed cash. Even the farm stores have acquired a taste for Twint. Super practical! Farm stores and flower fields for cutting your own flowers were the last places where you needed cash. Now you can do without it there too. Maybe that would be worth considering?
... a consequence of cashless payment transactions! But I still think it's weak if you don't have any change in notes for CHF 200 - even if you were a first-time customer in the morning. The argument of the note validator is a pretext - you can find something like that at the National Bank level. I can still see the kiosk lady in front of me who moaned decades ago because someone paid or wanted to pay for the Sonntagsblick on Sunday morning with a 1000.
Although the law stipulates that Swiss banknotes and coins must be accepted for payment, there are no sanctions for non-compliance. Each store can decide for itself whether it wants to refuse, for example, thousand-dollar notes or small coins. However, the store must inform customers of this, for example with a sign at the checkout or in the general terms and conditions (GTC). Federal Act on Currency and Payment Instruments (WZG)Never had a CHF 200 note in my hand. Have been paying for everything by card or iPhone for years, except for parking at the Marin Center, where coins are required and the first three hours cost 10 centimes 😌
Guest
I can't imagine that at Migros Meilen - a town of 12,000 souls... At the Migros Meilen factory store (=Midor Lädeli) this would be possible. I would perhaps believe this for a 1000 at 8 a.m. However, a withdrawal problem in the opposite case would be quite possible: I go with my Postfinance debit card and go to the Migros Meilen information desk, want to withdraw 200CHF and only ask for a 200 note - of course you can't ask for this, but I have already withdrawn other denominations at Migros. If the cash stock at Migros were so scarce, the possibility of cash withdrawals through Postfinance would not be offered at all - the offer is of course always subject to availability.
Although the law stipulates that Swiss banknotes and coins must be accepted for payment, there are no sanctions for non-compliance. Each store can decide for itself whether it wants to refuse, for example, thousand-dollar notes or small coins. However, the store must inform customers of this, for example with a sign at the checkout or in the general terms and conditions (GTC). Federal Act on Currency and Payment Instruments (WZG)Never had a CHF 200 note in my hand. Have been paying for everything by card or iPhone for years, except for parking at the Marin Center, where coins are required and the first three hours cost 10 centimes 😌
In not a single Migros branch is it pointed out that no 200 notes are accepted, neither at the entrance nor at the checkout or anywhere else. And it's certainly not in the general terms and conditions. This is illegal behavior. But because there are no sanctions, it's just a dead letter or the stores can afford such behavior... The customer has long since ceased to be king and is being ripped off every which way...
Hello UrsulaHertigUetikon, thank you very much for your message. I understand your anger very well. The Migros Cooperative Zurich has informed me that it was a misunderstanding on the part of the staff. Of course our customers can pay with cash (no matter which note). One exception is the 1000 note - there may not be enough change in the till, resulting in a short waiting time. We apologize for the inconvenience. Kind regards, Richi
