Village Kitchen

[wifi]

Originally Posted by brk-lnt

Except that the price is the same cash or credit. So if the prices are going to be higher you might as well use a points card to get something back...

Exactly, since everyone else is financing your points by paying higher prices

[Major]

Originally Posted by wifi

Exactly, since everyone else is financing your points by paying higher prices

This is the definition of pennywise, pound foolish. If you're worried about paying an extra 2-5 percent for the convenience of paying with a credit card, eat at home. I highly doubt VK's prices are cheaper because it doesn't accept credit cards. I've eaten breakfast at VK, George's, Water Street, Deja Vu, etc. and haven't noticed an appreciable difference in price.

[dpg]

Lets not forget the number 1 reason and that is CASH IS KING. Nobody REALLY knows what your making, claiming, etc...We all know it's true.

[SAMIAM]

Originally Posted by dpg

Lets not forget the number 1 reason and that is CASH IS KING. Nobody REALLY knows what your making, claiming, etc...We all know it's true.

Had to chuckle over this one.....wish I could stash a little mad money but,unfortunately we have a POS system......can't get a muffin out of the kitchen that's not recorded on the computer.
It's really not the 3% fee that keeps us from taking plastic.On busy days there is sometimes a line 4 or 5 deep waiting to pay and processing credit cards would slow things down.
I'm sure everyone here can remember a time they were waiting in line for a long transaction and a rejection can cause cause a huge delay.
Most of our customers are not here to linger over the lavish decorations.They want a good meal at a fair price and then want to get on with their day so we choose to keep things moving as fast as possible.BTW,if you need to use the ATM your bank will refund the fee if you save your receipt.
We know that the day will come when we have to make that change but for now it is working.

[brk-lnt]

Originally Posted by SAMIAM

I'm sure everyone here can remember a time they were waiting in line for a long transaction and a rejection can cause cause a huge delay.

I can't remember the last time I've been held up by someones card getting rejected. I can recall 3 times in the last month getting slowed down by check writers and someone claiming they had "exact change" somewhere within the confines a purse that would qualify as an oversize carry-on on some airlines.

Not taking credit cards on the basis of transaction processing times is not something I've heard of before.

[Bigstan]

Apple Pay is off the table ?

[Tired of Waiting]

Originally Posted by SAMIAM

Had to chuckle over this one.....(Snip).

SAMIAM, you do know that all of us here on this site can run your very successful business better than you, Right? After all we all have run a nice like village kitchen eatery that NO one has ever found an issue with!!

I know your policy and carry cash when I drive buy to have a bite to eat. Just saying.


ToW

[tis]

Originally Posted by Tired of Waiting

SAMIAM, you do know that all of us here on this site can run your very successful business better than you, Right? After all we all have run a nice like village kitchen eatery that NO one has ever found an issue with!!

I know your policy and carry cash when I drive buy to have a bite to eat. Just saying.


ToW

I know. You are very patient, Sam! I agree with Tow. People love to give advice don't they? Keep on doing what you have been doing all these years!

[ishoot308]

Why would Sam change anything?... They already have customers lined up out the door waiting to come in! They obviously know the recipe for success and have been a VERY successful business in an area where many fail. Why change a thing?... I know I wouldn't...

Dan

[rsmlp]

After reading X number of responses in this thread I have to say that I am amazed at the silly things people can bitch at. I mean seriously people, is this all you have to do? If you don't like VK's policy of cash only, don't eat there!

[Rusty]

Restaurants that don't take credit cards are saying: "Hey customer, **** you!"

[meredith weekender]

All this talk about the VK makes me want to go have breakfast there this weekend. Guess we are going to the VK on Saturday morning.

[Tired of Waiting]

Originally Posted by Rusty

Restaurants that don't take credit cards are saying: "Hey customer, **** you!"

Last time there I had to stand in a waiting line to get a seat. Sure am glad I didn't have to stand in line waiting for your credit card to clear to get out.


And I never heard any customer standing in line to get in say the place was saying **** You cause they couldn't use their plastic money.


ToW

[HomeWood]

The VK's cash policy? I like the break from technology. How did people ever make it for all those years without cards?

[VitaBene]

Originally Posted by Rusty

Restaurants that don't take credit cards are saying: "Hey customer, **** you!"

That is ridiculous.

[Happy Gourmand]

The line outside the door on weekend mornings says it all. The great food at great prices are worth the minor inconvenience of not accepting credit cards. My only complaint is that we don't get there as often as we used to when we were in Moultonboro. Breakfast as good as any in the area, and better than most....oh boy...now I'm craving the Farmer's Breakfast!!

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by VitaBene

That is ridiculous.

That could be, but any restaurant that refuses credit cards is losing 25-30% in business.
There is no doubt that VK has good food and service, I am not critizing that.

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by Rusty

That could be, but any restaurant that refuses credit cards is losing 25-30% in business.
There is no doubt that VK has good food and service, I am not critizing that.

I think they should accept CCs, too, but VK simply couldn't handle 25% more business, anyway. I don't think I've ever not waited, which is why we don't go there much. And it's not always been because of customers.

Sent from my XT1528 using Tapatalk

[wifi]

Originally Posted by Rusty

That could be, but any restaurant that refuses credit cards is losing 25-30% in business.
There is no doubt that VK has good food and service, I am not critizing that.

I'd rather they keep it as they are, so the line is 30% shorter

[Rusty]

Customers who pay with a credit card will spend more money on their meal, servers get bigger tips, etc...

[Lakeboater]

Originally Posted by Rusty

Customers who pay with a credit card will spend more money on their meal, servers get bigger tips, etc...

Pretty sure that wait staff and bartenders prefer to be tipped in cash not on a credit card. We always tip good service with cash even if we are paying for our meal with a cc.

[TiltonBB]

Originally Posted by Rusty

That could be, but any restaurant that refuses credit cards is losing 25-30% in business.
There is no doubt that VK has good food and service, I am not critizing that.

Can you please cite the source of the information that the restaurant is losing 25 - 30% of it's business?

Also, please cite the source of the information that "Customers who pay with a credit card will spend more money on their meal, servers get bigger tips, etc"

I am just wondering how you know these things.

[Rusty]

IMO A place that doesn't take cards is not good, but a place that doesn't take cards and has an ATM right outside—that's just straight up evil. It's like "thanks for patronizing our establishment, let me kick you in your soft spot on the way out!"

The 25-30% that I stated could even be higher.

[NonVoting Taxpayer]

I find all of this very amusing. If the owner doesn't want to take credit cards, sorry, but it's his business decision. I'll say what Samiam can't as a business owner. TAKE YOUR PLASTIC SOMEWHERE ELSE as there are many who don't mind payng cash. It doesn't sound like his business is hurting so why would he change and pay money to banks in the form of a 1% - 3% service charge?
I'm sure if he opened up on Saturday and no one showed up he would rethink his business model but it doesn't look like he needs to do that.
Samiam is actually telling all of you who for one reason or another won't carry cash to go to the ATM outside and you pay the service charge out of your pocket. To me that is a great business decision on his part. He doesn't have to raise the price of meals to his cash paying customers and those who like to pay by plastic (and think the prices should be increased to pay bank fees) can pay more as has been mentioned above. So what's the problem?

[SAB1]

Funny stuff here. VK is great food, no doubt. Cant even come close to a breakfast like that in Wolfeboro. I don't mind having to spend cash at all but......I gotta agree with Rusty here. The world runs on credit these days and there are definitely folks that don't eat there because they don't take credit. The younger generation coming along is very different from the one that raised them. I've got 2 kids in their 20's and all credit and debit cards, never cash. They, VK, have plenty of business from what I see when I'm in there and agree it is their decision for sure.

[Major]

Originally Posted by SAB1

The younger generation coming along is very different from the one that raised them. I've got 2 kids in their 20's and all credit and debit cards, never cash.

I work in Boston, and go out to lunch nearly every day. When I buy lunch and offer cash, the clerks, who are usually in their 20s, look at me like I have two heads. Kids (30 and under) NEVER carry cash. So while the model works now for VK, at some point it will have to change. The market will demand it.

[SAMIAM]

Originally Posted by Major

I work in Boston, and go out to lunch nearly every day. When I buy lunch and offer cash, the clerks, who are usually in their 20s, look at me like I have two heads. Kids (30 and under) NEVER carry cash. So while the model works now for VK, at some point it will have to change. The market will demand it.

Hate to admit it but I think you're right.People that know us don't mind at all but people who are traveling expect to use plastic.Believe me,it's been a hot topic of conversation around here.

[SIKSUKR]

My local favorite pizza place is cash only also.I now almost never have cash and use a debit card.Has it stopped me from going there?No but for a while they didn't have ATM at their location and none were close to me.I did get food elsewhere a few times for that reason.Think of the VK as a hot dog cart or the like where most likely you use cash there also.

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by SIKSUKR

.Think of the VK as a hot dog cart or the like where most likely you cash there also.

I'll remember that.

[VitaBene]

Originally Posted by SAMIAM

Hate to admit it but I think you're right.People that know us don't mind at all but people who are traveling expect to use plastic.Believe me,it's been a hot topic of conversation around here.

Yeah it is- I was in for lunch and was partly responsible for winding Rhonda up!

[Crusty]

I occasionally eat at the Waffle House, a regional chain. They are open 24/7, are noted for their friendly atmosphere, good prices, and good food. Although primarily a breakfast place, they also serve non-breakfast fare. They opened their first restaurant in 1955 and grew to 1,500 locations by 2006.

I bring this up because, until 2006, they were a cash-only business.

They were obviously successful when folks had to hit an (offsite) ATM before coming in. I can attest that the locations I've visited were full of well-fed people with change in their pockets. However, when demographics started to affect their bottom line, Waffle House made the decision to accept plastic. They made the necessary price adjustments (to give the banks' their cut) and continued on. I still go there and, strangely, it's the only place where I still pay with cash.

My point is that the Village Kitchen is successful in their current model. I'm sure that they have made a few changes over the years to their menu, procedures, and equipment. If and when it makes sense for them to accept plastic, I'm sure they will make whatever adjustments are required and continue as a successful venture.

Armchair restauranteurs who insist on telling successful restaurant owners what they're doing wrong, well, it seems a bit presumptuous.

[Newbiesaukee]

It's not presumptuous, it's the Internet.

[brk-lnt]

Originally Posted by Crusty

Armchair restauranteurs who insist on telling successful restaurant owners what they're doing wrong, well, it seems a bit presumptuous.

Some of us here have actual business experience...

Obviously what the VK is doing today is working out well for them, but that doesn't mean it will last forever and it's usually advantageous, in any business, to adapt with (or slightly ahead of) your core customer demographic.

I've worked with a lot of small businesses who think that accepting credit cards is going to cut into their bottom line or otherwise have some measurable negative effect. Usually this is not true (exceptions being when your median ticket is less than $10 or for some reason you would be highly prone to false charge-backs).

In most cases accepting payments via credit card speeds the overall payment flow, gets your money in the bank quicker (no waiting for checks to clear) reduces employee risk of having to take cash deposits to the bank, reduces chances of employee theft or cash mis-counts, and increases your average ticket (this varies depending on the business).

I don't work for a credit card company, and I have no vested interest in the VK. But if they have chosen not to accept credit cards for urban-legendish reasons it makes sense to point out the other side of the argument (IMO).

At this point they might as well look past just credit cards and look at NFC/contactless payment options as well (since contactless credit card terminals will be the requirement for credit-card readers next year anyway).

[Shreddy]

I've stated my opinion before that I'll rummage whatever crevices I need to find quarters or any other change if I am short on cash for a farmer's breakfast. No, I won't use the ATM because the surcharge and the ADDITIONAL surcharge by my own bank (haven't done this in years but it used to be like $3).

Regardless, to agree with some others, I am the younger generation and no we don't like cash. In all honesty, you guys think accepting plastic is the issue but lets be honest for a second. I barely even use plastic anymore. Coffee in the morning at Sbux or Dunkin I use my app, that is linked to my card./account with an auto reload from paypal. Out to lunch? Most of the establishments, including my building, accept LevelUp which is an app paying service that is linked to my card. Pickup the dinner tab for me and a friend? No big deal, just Venmo me what you owe. I need a ride? Uber or Lyft are both on my phone and linked directly to my accounts. Not going to try and explain these upgrades in technology but learn about it. If you want change, then make it realistic and get with the times.

With that said, all you people looking for them to accept plastic are far behind the times. Funny how that works huh?

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by NonVoting Taxpayer

I find all of this very amusing. If the owner doesn't want to take credit cards, sorry, but it's his business decision. I'll say what Samiam can't as a business owner. TAKE YOUR PLASTIC SOMEWHERE ELSE as there are many who don't mind payng cash. It doesn't sound like his business is hurting so why would he change and pay money to banks in the form of a 1% - 3% service charge?
I'm sure if he opened up on Saturday and no one showed up he would rethink his business model but it doesn't look like he needs to do that.
Samiam is actually telling all of you who for one reason or another won't carry cash to go to the ATM outside and you pay the service charge out of your pocket. To me that is a great business decision on his part. He doesn't have to raise the price of meals to his cash paying customers and those who like to pay by plastic (and think the prices should be increased to pay bank fees) can pay more as has been mentioned above. So what's the problem?

I agree with all that you have said, I was talking about businesses in general and some businesses like VK seem to be doing a booming business.

With todays technology it's nice to see that some businesses can survive without using what is available.

[Tired of Waiting]

Originally Posted by Rusty

I agree with all that you have said, I was talking about businesses in general and some businesses like VK seem to be doing a booming business.

With todays technology it's nice to see that some businesses can survive without using what is available.

If it's nice to see then why are you complaining about how VK is doing business?

ToW

[dpg]

Originally Posted by SAMIAM

Had to chuckle over this one.....wish I could stash a little mad money but,unfortunately we have a POS system......can't get a muffin out of the kitchen that's not recorded on the computer.
It's really not the 3% fee that keeps us from taking plastic.On busy days there is sometimes a line 4 or 5 deep waiting to pay and processing credit cards would slow things down.
I'm sure everyone here can remember a time they were waiting in line for a long transaction and a rejection can cause cause a huge delay.
Most of our customers are not here to linger over the lavish decorations.They want a good meal at a fair price and then want to get on with their day so we choose to keep things moving as fast as possible.BTW,if you need to use the ATM your bank will refund the fee if you save your receipt.
We know that the day will come when we have to make that change but for now it is working.

Yeah right.....Nuff said.....Bye....

[wifi]

Originally Posted by Major

...I've eaten breakfast at VK, George's, Water Street, Deja Vu, etc. and haven't noticed an appreciable difference in price.

But I like the VK, speaking from the theoretical

Originally Posted by dpg

Lets not forget the number 1 reason and that is CASH IS KING. Nobody REALLY knows what your making, claiming, etc...We all know it's true.

Right on