'No Lah, No Now, No CDC': Kovan drink stall owner explains quirky cash-only signage

A drink stall in Kovan has made the rounds online for its creative "Cash Only" sign.

Nan Fang Ming Tea House at 209 Hougang Street 21 has put up a sign to emphasise that the stall only accepts cash, which says:

"No Lah, No Now, No CDC" and "Only Mr Yusof Bin Ishak".

While some netizens found the signage funny, others commented that they would not patronise the stall because of the lack of payment options.

Cash-only

Speaking to a Shin Min Daily News reporter, the stall owner, Qiu Shi Ni (transliteration), said she put up a "Cash Only" sign, but many customers did not notice it.

The 85-year-old, who has run the shop for 42 years, shared that customers sometimes scolded her when they realised they did not have cash for a drink, or left after she started brewing the coffee when they found out the shop only accepts cash.

Chiu shared that this could happen three to four times on the same day and she would either throw away the coffee or give it to someone else.

As such, she said she has to explain that she only accepts cash every time before making the coffee, but it is "very troublesome," she told Shin Min Daily News.

Make more people notice

The elderly stall owner told the Chinese media that she is illiterate and asked her younger daughter to help write the sign, hoping more people would notice.

She said that she does not know how to use electronic payments, adding that she never went to school and uses an old-fashioned mobile phone.

However, she still has customers asking her if they can use electronic payments, which left her feeling helpless.

Regular customers who appreciate the quality of their coffee would prepare cash to buy their drinks, Shin Min Daily News wrote.

One patron, Li (transliteration), told the Chinese media that he has patronised the shop for more than 10 years as he lives nearby.

While he mostly uses electronic payments, he always makes sure to have some cash on him when he visits the stall, and he does not find it troublesome.

He urged other customers to be more understanding towards the elderly stall owner.