Is cash on the way out?

This morning, looking for a coffee, the first two places would not take cash so I went elsewhere.
Last week I went to a coffee shop at 1.50pm on a Friday. The person behind the counter informed me they close at 2pm. I went elsewhere. That place also does not accept cash. I told this to my friend's wife and she said there are many senior people who no longer go there because they do not take cash.
One place I went to would not serve me a coffee unless I bought a meal.
How can businesses complain when they do not take the money people want to part with?

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FreddieUK · 70-79, M

I think cash is mainly an issue for people above a certain age (check mine) and those who want to do business without declaring income. I always have cash in my wallet just in case the bank computers go down, which they do from time to time. However, I rarely use it. My window cleaner insists on it because he believes that 'they' 🤷‍♀ are watching him and everyone else.

I asked one trader about whether they would prefer me to use my phone for a small amount or cash and the response was it costs them as much to spend time counting and bagging the cash and getting it to a bank as it does to pay the small surcharge. For that business he felt it didn't make that much difference.

Depending on your customer base, I imagine you will decide whether you can afford to lose one or other of the groups that don't want to go along with your decision. I have to remember to keep the right amount of cash for the window cleaner. I could say, I'll change and go with one who will take my card, but I choose not to.