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Arco is actually all over the place on card usage.
I was the only dealer who negotiated credit card pay at the pump in my area. I told them that I'd make my new store a 7-eleven if they didn't authorize me. Then Arco brand was sold off, and the new buyer agreed to the pre-exisiting contract. That led to my entire trade area of Central Calfornia being one of two (Las Vegas is the other) that accepts credit card pay at the pump.
Now Heartland Bank ("Heartless Bank") will charge $.35 per transaction for PIN debit and fleet cards. Furthermore, some fleet card users will get the same price per gallon as cash customers.
Dealers are allowed to set their own credit price per gallon. I could see if it was a violation of 1rst Amendment rights if the rate was dictated to the dealer, but it is not. Only the merchant services cost, which at the current street price of $6.11 per gallon for 87 octane, works out to less than $.05 per gallon. I charge $.08 per gallon for credit and subsidize that a bit by charging $.08 per gallon for cash and PIN debit. Believe it or not, it costs a lot to deposit cash. The bank charges around 1% to deposit cash at the counter. An armored car costs even more than that.
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