I think you just got a shitty dealership. “Legal tender for all debts public and private” means just that, they aren’t allowed legally to refuse dollars. My cousin also successfully did what you are describing.
Not necessarily a shitty dealership, just one with low margins.
Cars are generally sold by sellers with incredibly low margins (talking like a few hundred dollars, max). They make their money through the financing. They probably didn’t want to sell the car in cash, because some other chud will come along and buy it on credit and get them a higher margin.
Pro tip - always get your own financing when purchasing a car, don’t get it through the dealer. But don’t let them know that, look over their finance package when signing the paperwork, try to negotiate out any origination charges, etc. then simply pay the loan off immediately with your private financing.
They can easily refuse cash. It’s not a debit until you owe them money. If they decide not to sell you a car then there’s no debt. You aren’t obligated to see someone a car if the manner of the sale isn’t to your liking.
Why on earth do you think that’s the case? They’re selling something, they’re not in one of the limited industries where you have limited rights to refuse, and method of payment isn’t one of the reasons you can’t refuse to do business with someone. A handful of places prohibit not accepting cash, but it’s not enough that I would assume that’s where they were, particularly if a business opted to just casually refuse.
That’s not really relevant here yet. GP doesnt have a “debt” before the transaction takes place. Nothing about that statement forces a business to do business with you. They are perfectly within their rights to only agree to do business with you if you pay in chickens.
Is it legal for a business in the United States to refuse cash as a form of payment?
There is no federal statute mandating that a private business, a person, or an organization must accept currency or coins as payment for goods or services. Private businesses are free to develop their own policies on whether to accept cash unless there is a state law that says otherwise.
A few states have introduced bills to require taking cash (Idaho, Mississippi and North Dakota), but as far as I’m aware none have ever actually passed into law.
I think you just got a shitty dealership. “Legal tender for all debts public and private” means just that, they aren’t allowed legally to refuse dollars. My cousin also successfully did what you are describing.
Not necessarily a shitty dealership, just one with low margins.
Cars are generally sold by sellers with incredibly low margins (talking like a few hundred dollars, max). They make their money through the financing. They probably didn’t want to sell the car in cash, because some other chud will come along and buy it on credit and get them a higher margin.
Pro tip - always get your own financing when purchasing a car, don’t get it through the dealer. But don’t let them know that, look over their finance package when signing the paperwork, try to negotiate out any origination charges, etc. then simply pay the loan off immediately with your private financing.
They can easily refuse cash. It’s not a debit until you owe them money. If they decide not to sell you a car then there’s no debt. You aren’t obligated to see someone a car if the manner of the sale isn’t to your liking.
You are correct. What they can’t do though is only allow you to buy the car with one method of payment, which is what is being described here.
Why on earth do you think that’s the case? They’re selling something, they’re not in one of the limited industries where you have limited rights to refuse, and method of payment isn’t one of the reasons you can’t refuse to do business with someone. A handful of places prohibit not accepting cash, but it’s not enough that I would assume that’s where they were, particularly if a business opted to just casually refuse.
That’s not really relevant here yet. GP doesnt have a “debt” before the transaction takes place. Nothing about that statement forces a business to do business with you. They are perfectly within their rights to only agree to do business with you if you pay in chickens.
That isn’t how holding a business license works.
Sure everybody has the right to refuse service, but they can’t offer service only through one means of pay.
https://www.federalreserve.gov/faqs/currency_12772.htm
A few states have introduced bills to require taking cash (Idaho, Mississippi and North Dakota), but as far as I’m aware none have ever actually passed into law.
I think you would be surprised how many states already have laws like that on the books. Mine does.