[Cthulhu_]

That would imply that cash is preferred, but, cash at a gas station - or any shop - is an attractor for robberies. At least with a skimmer the damage is purely financial, with robberies, especially in the US, there's a big risk of gun violence on top of that.

Can't rob someone that doesn't have cash, is all I'm saying.

[mulmen]

You can absolutely rob a person that does not have cash though. Even ignoring the value of personal electronic devices credit cards themselves can be a target. You might be able to eventually unwind the financial impact but that doesn't deter robbery.

[excalibur]

What you're describing sounds more like a mugging. He was talking about armed robbery of a convenience store. Is it possible to hold them up at gunpoint, forcibly take some of their card-processing equipment, and exfiltrate some money or credit card numbers that way? Probably, but that's not exactly the path of least resistance.

[mulmen]

It's possible to steal a box of candy bars, or a case of beer, or the iPad cash register and on and on. Cash is not the only valuable a robber can target. Having large amounts of it on hand may make you a more appealing target but it is only one type of valuable.

[lotsofpulp]

> You might be able to eventually unwind the financial impact but that doesn't deter robbery.

Fewer and fewer people having anything on them to rob will deter robbery over time.

[nkrisc]

Until you find yourself escorted to an ATM at gunpoint.

[majormajor]

This is why I don't carry a debit card tied to my main bank account. Just a "ATM only" account that I keep low.

[glitchc]

This makes you the 0.000001% of the population.

[jsjohnst]

Yay, guess I’m also part of that very rare club.

[reaperducer]

Cash is clearly preferred, as every gas station I can remember in the last 20 years offers a discount for paying cash.