A WTF eye opener

[vonsmog]

CASH IS KING!!!! I use it as much as I can. And sometimes if you ask you will get a "cash deal" that is not advertised!

[A930Rocket]

There's a BP station sign that matches the Kangaroo station across the street, but in black it says "cash". It's small and hard to see and probably suckers a lot of people.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Cash sucks. While there are certain obvious benefits (anonynimity, no questions asked, etc.) I find it to be a huge PITA. Currency is just nasty when you think about how many people's grubby mitts have been on it, how many filthy floors it's fallen onto, etc. Just gross. Not to mention I hate the fact that you always seem to end up getting more bills back than you manage to get rid of (e.g. you pay for something $5.XX with a single $10 and end up with four (virtually worthless) $1 bills and pocket change, which is even more worthless and more inconvenient to carry around. If you pay with a $20, you end up with five bills minimum (a $10 and four $1s) to schlep around, etc. You get my drift. I just find the whole thing extremely inconvenient and outdated, not to mention I find the notion of handling other peoples' used currency a lot like handling their used underwear - gross.

Maybe I'm weird, but I hate stuff in my pockets and I think the less stuff of other people that I come into contact with the better off I am, generally speaking. I like carrying a phone and a small wallet/card-carrier that holds a DL, one debit and one credit card. That's it. I don't want big wad of filthy wadded up bills in there. YMMV, but as a customer, I expect to be able to pay with a card without being unduly penalized for it. Merchants are dime a dozen. I feel your pain that you're being screwed by the banks, but that's part of the cost of doing business. Honestly if I had no other choice, I'd willingly pay a slightly higher price to compensate the merchant for the fee rather than deal with cash but generally speaking, I don't need to - merchants are dime-a-dozen and particularly for gas stations, there's one on every damn street corner in America. If I don't like the policy at one (different prices cash/card), I go across the street where it's different. Thems the breaks.

[widgeon13]

I'm pretty certain that is illegal. I would get in touch with Schumer's office and see what they say. Send them the picture as well.

[Z-man]

Originally Posted by porsche4life

Processing is generally a %/$ not a flat fee....

Why is it then that 99% of all other places where credit cards are accepted have the same price for cash or credit? The only exception I've seen is that sometimes a credit card purchase requires a minimum - typically $10.00 or so.

If other retailers can absorb the CC fee without issue, as well as many gas stations, why are some gas stations charging more? Sounds like a scam to me!

-Z

[GH85Carrera]

I hate having to go inside the store and standing in line to pay with cash. I can use my debit card right at the pump. I never even see the clerk. I have not seen any stores around here charging a premium for using credit cards.

There is one famous restaurant in Ocarche OK that sells fried chicken. They do not take reservations or even have a seating waiting list. You just wander around waiting for someone to get up and grab the table. The place only takes cash. Fortunately they have a bank with an ATM right next door.

The place is so busy all the time they don't care if someone is upset because of a long wait. They have great food and it is always busy.

[WolfeMacleod]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

Do they expect you to pay in cash? I don't recall ever seeing that in WA. Perhaps its illegal here?

Plenty of places here. Some near Ballard by the Zoo, and up around Costco @ Edmonds... I've only seen a .10cent difference though, not to this extreme.

[T77911S]

BP really pissed me off a long time ago, and i still try not to get gas there, becuase we had a BP gas card and we would get charged extra for using the BP card at BP stations!!! if anything, they should give a discount.

BTW, i dont get gas at ANY station that does that, even though i use a debit card and dont get charged the extra price. after all, if you go to a regular store, they dont charge you more for using a credit card, the charge may already be added, but there are not 2 prices.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by Z-man

Why is it then that 99% of all other places where credit cards are accepted have the same price for cash or credit? The only exception I've seen is that sometimes a credit card purchase requires a minimum - typically $10.00 or so.

If other retailers can absorb the CC fee without issue, as well as many gas stations, why are some gas stations charging more? Sounds like a scam to me!

-Z

Friend of mine owns a station and he says his profit is pennies per gallon. He used to fill up at a competitors station in the next town because it was cheaper than buying his own gas.

I can understand a minimum for a CC charge. Along with the transaction %age there is also a fixed per transaction fee, $0.10-0.25. If you bought a single packet of Ramen noodles on a CC they may as well give it to you, they'd lose less money.

Amex is the worst, IIRC their take is 10% on the transaction.

[porsche4life]

Quote de porsche4life

Processing is generally a %/$ not a flat fee....

Why is it then that 99% of all other places where credit cards are accepted have the same price for cash or credit? The only exception I've seen is that sometimes a credit card purchase requires a minimum - typically $10.00 or so.



If other retailers can absorb the CC fee without issue, as well as many gas stations, why are some gas stations charging more? Sounds like a scam to me!



-Z

Depends on the volume that store is running whether or not their rate is low enough to absorb. One small store, will be paying a much higher rate.

[RWebb]

ARCO does this all the time

[David McLaughlin]

What I hate most about these gas stations is thatbthe huge sign out front only lists the cash price. They don't even say its cash only. It's only once you pull up to the pump that you realize that you got taken.

[rattlsnak]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

I was in Fl, GA, and the Carolinas a couple weeks ago and a 10 cent/gallon cash discount was common. .

This whole thread has me shocked. I have never heard of this before. Certainly not in Georgia.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by Z-man

Why is it then that 99% of all other places where credit cards are accepted have the same price for cash or credit? The only exception I've seen is that sometimes a credit card purchase requires a minimum - typically $10.00 or so.

If other retailers can absorb the CC fee without issue, as well as many gas stations, why are some gas stations charging more? Sounds like a scam to me!

-Z

I wonder if there are laws in some states that prohibit cc companies from forbidding offering a cash discount, since it appears to be a regional thing. In those states the retailer would have to balance the burden of irate card customers vs happy cash customers and do what's best for business.
Our current contract doesn't say we can't have a minimum, though we had a contract once that did. Rates and rules can be very different depending on the cc card company you're dealing with, the nature of your business, and I suspect the laws in your area.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by David McLaughlin

What I hate most about these gas stations is thatbthe huge sign out front only lists the cash price. They don't even say its cash only. It's only once you pull up to the pump that you realize that you got taken.

IIRC in the places I stopped the listed price was always the highest price. The cash discount offer was always in fine print on the pump. It usually said something like, "Cash pricing in effect. 10 cent discount for cash." I don't recall ever seeing a big sign with two prices for the same gas. But this strictly anecdotal information from a 10 day trip and I didn't stop at all that many gas stations.

[svandamme]

A debit card here is like cash, different from a credit card, no charges whatsoever.
Merchants prefer it cause you can't rob a store if the store does most. Transactions electronically...

I rarely have cash on me

[widgeon13]

Originally Posted by svandamme

A debit card here is like cash, different from a credit card, no charges whatsoever.
Merchants prefer it cause you can't rob a store if the store does most. Transactions electronically...

I rarely have cash on me

I never realized that was the case, thought when they asked for cash you had to pay with bills. I'm going to check that out next time I'm in that situation. Thanks. I hate to carry much cash but never considered using a debit card, especially for gas payments.

[island911]

Is it a cash discount . . . or a CC additional expense? --perspective.

For resellers, there is not only the percentage of sale taken by the CC/bank, but a whole lot of expense in maintaining the CC equipment.

But CC users really shouldn't have to pay for any of that.

[island911]

I'll also note the 3% (or whatever) that the card holder get 'refunded' /bonused back on their card for say. . .gas purchases. ( 3% - that's 12˘/gal on $4gas right there)

I mean, c'mon, where does anyone think those $'s come from?

[Gretch]

thievery is maddening, but one can vote with their $$$$$$ or feet. Righteous indignation is mildly humorous if not pitiful.