Yeah, if he says Cash Only, that's a clue
I can't count the number of times I've been quoted a cash-only price for something. Upgrades, whole goods, services, you name it. Happens all the time. I've also had people attempt, very, erm, passionately, to NOT take my cash and insist on a card instead. I bought a hat in Barcelona and they REALLY didn't want to take my 50 euro note because it was crumpled and had a small (half inch) tear with nothing missing, but this was enough for a hand-waving conference behind the till and multiple attempts to hand the note back to me.
Here in the US, there are lots of businesses I know that operate on a strictly cash-only basis. The taco truck down the street, for example, only takes cash. Could the employees be bilking the owners out of money by skimming some off the top? Could the owners BE GUILTY OF TAX EVASION?!? Why yes, both those things could be true. I don't even get a receipt for my carnitas. Should I not go there because of this?
even if they have no info on the requested bribe.
You know, I never, until this thread, considered this a bribe. It didn't feel like one. It felt like this "I have much more expensive cars in the lot that aren't going to get rented this week. You have money and you want a better car. Let's talk."
From where I sit: If someone has legitimate and legal control of a privately held asset, and their job is the regulation and monetization of access to that asset, and they are not a public official, when he/she asks you for money for access to that asset, it's not "bribery".
Wikipedia seems to support this.
Yet I still think I'd be an accomplice to theft from employer - and pass. If a waiter offered me a treat for Cash Only, I'd have the same view.
Have you ever heard the following from someone? "I'm SO SORRY but our credit card system isn't working! The tech guys say it might not be back up until tomorrow! Do you have cash?"
It's not exactly the same, but if you are willing to consider the worst under similar circumstances, I assume if this has happened to you then you at least considered that this could be someone attempting to bilk someone else (mgr, owner, taxman, credit-card company).
If this has ever happened to you, what did you do? Did ask to speak to the owner? Refuse to pay cash? Where do you draw the line?