Credit and debit card fees, and sales taxes

In reply to SV reX :

I'm curious to know why this bothers you so much. It seems a strange hill to make a stand on. South Carolina governments also charge a processing fee for cards. That includes the DMV and both county tax offices I deal with. 

If you don't like the way a business does business, don't buy from them. If enough people agree with you, and shop elsewhere, then businesses will change. 

SV reX said:

In reply to GameboyRMH :

Credit card transaction fees in 1981 were from 3-5%.  I remember 6%.  No one added fees for their use.

I distinctly recall gas stations having separate per gallon prices for cash or credit.  In fact there are still some older stations around here that still have signage with CASH and CREDIT columns for the pricing.

Duke said:

SV reX said:

In reply to GameboyRMH :

Credit card transaction fees in 1981 were from 3-5%.  I remember 6%.  No one added fees for their use.

I distinctly recall gas stations having separate per gallon prices for cash or credit.  In fact there are still some older stations around here that still have signage with CASH and CREDIT columns for the pricing.

 

I haven't seen that in a while, but when I did it was typically only at truck stops. 

z31maniac said:

Duke said:

SV reX said:

In reply to GameboyRMH :

Credit card transaction fees in 1981 were from 3-5%.  I remember 6%.  No one added fees for their use.

I distinctly recall gas stations having separate per gallon prices for cash or credit.  In fact there are still some older stations around here that still have signage with CASH and CREDIT columns for the pricing.

 

I haven't seen that in a while, but when I did it was typically only at truck stops. 

They are everywhere in south Florida.

Brandonsmash, not sure what you do, but if I ever need your services and you offer me a 3% discount to pay cash, I would go for it. The last thing that would go through my mind is that you are trying to evade taxes ... my brain doesnt work like that.

Slippery said:

z31maniac said:

Duke said:

SV reX said:

In reply to GameboyRMH :

Credit card transaction fees in 1981 were from 3-5%.  I remember 6%.  No one added fees for their use.

I distinctly recall gas stations having separate per gallon prices for cash or credit.  In fact there are still some older stations around here that still have signage with CASH and CREDIT columns for the pricing.

 

I haven't seen that in a while, but when I did it was typically only at truck stops. 

They are everywhere in south Florida.
 

Most of the independently owned stations around here do so. Most of the bigger chain stations don't. I generally shop with the smaller locally owned station. 

SV reX said:

You're making this far more difficult than it needs to be. Signs started showing up in businesses several years ago adding a charge for using credit cards. This was always included in overhead prior to that. 
 

It's really pretty simple. 

Overhead went up. Instead of raising prices on everyone they only raised the price on the thing that made that overhead go up. Would you rather the price go up for everyone?

There is a huge appliance parts depot nearby.  All of the online pricing includes free shipping. If I walk into the counter, I get a lower price because I am not using the shipping "overhead" that is built in to the pricing. This does not make me question the business as it seems logical if I am not causing the expense, I do not pay it.

Most gas stations near me in PA have cash and credit prices.

Station owners in the past might have been more willing to eat the CC charges back when using a CC was a bit more involved rather than pay-at-the pump.  When I worked as a full-service station attendant back in the 80's, the majority of customers paid in cash. To use a CC, I would have to take the card, go back to the office, run the card through the  old-school manual imprinter, then take the slip back to the customer for their signature.  It was a lot more involved than it is today, so few people used them. I'd close out my shift with only a small handful of CC transaction slips.  So while fees may ahve been high, they weren't a large percentage of sales.

Today is different... With pay-at-the-pump CC swipers, now paying with cash is more involved (I have to go see a real person? Eww...). I think the last time I paid cash for gas was over a decade ago. 

Gas stations are kind of a special case.  The station itself doesn't usually make a big margin on fuel sales, but the margins on coffee, snacks, etc are much higher.  Pay at the pump means a lot of credit card customers don't go inside and buy anything else. 

I noticed gas stations won't charge extra if you have the specific credit card, but in Florida a lot of the Shell stations turned into Circle K making that option more of a pain lately. Been thinking of getting another card though as I prefer to get gas on a gas specific credit card with a low credit limit (mine has a limit of  600 dollars) in case of credit card skimmers.