I can understand the "pay at the pump" thing for gas, it prevents drive-offs. I can also understand the "no big bills" policy, especially for small businesses. But I was handing the exact amount of money to the mall manager in person.

I agree that the mall office should be set up to handle cash. They sell gift cards all year long, and I'm sure they sell thousands of them at Christmas. Buy a safe, and have the manager put the money it in. Seems pretty simple to me. I own a small business, and I manage to keep my money safe.

If I wouldn't have had a credit card handy, they would have lost a lot money, because I would have had to walk out and go somewhere else. We don't have a debit card ... DH is horrible at managing money, and there is no way he could be trusted to handle a debit card. He's not allowed access to the check book, either.