> I feel like it would be easy to just mandate stores to have to allow for cash transactions.
While cards have fees, cash has overhead too: you need to go to the bank for deposits, make sure you have enough change, worry about people walking in robbing your till (thus traumatizing staff), keeping a balance (to reduce 'shrinkage' from employees).
Yes, it is "easy" to mandate it, but that is adding a 'regulatory burden' to business owners.
While cards have fees, cash has overhead too: you need to go to the bank for deposits, make sure you have enough change, worry about people walking in robbing your till (thus traumatizing staff), keeping a balance (to reduce 'shrinkage' from employees).
Yes, it is "easy" to mandate it, but that is adding a 'regulatory burden' to business owners.