In the evening of 13 November, 2019 the executives of the Ashgabat-based shopping mall “Gulistan” instructed shop assistants not to accept cash and reported that from now on customers are obliged to pay only with credit cards.
Early in the morning on 14 November Bairamali-produced oil was supplied to “Gulistan”, which was sold at 2,60 manats per liter whereas a 1.5 liter bottle costs 4 manats.
Huge queue was formed in front of the shop to purchase the food product in short supply but almost no customers had bank cards with them.
The residents are used to being asked to make payments in cash and cards are used only when cash withdrawals need to be made at ATMs.
— In principle, this is a good decision.This is better than spending hours in the queues in front of ATMs.
I think in a couple of days residents will get accustomed to the new requirement and will start using cards, — one of the customers said.
In other retail outlets of the aforementioned market cash is also accepted. It appears that the decision to accept bank cards applies to state-run stores only.
In “Nusai” store located on Gorogly street only eggs (7 eggs at 5 manats) and cotton seed oil can be purchased using bank cards. These are sold at the backyard, not in the shop. Sugar, which is sold at 7 manats per kilo, can be purchased only for cash.