I like to use cash, I do see the shop that aligned my car after I knicked a curb charges 3 percent extra if a card is used to pay. I understand why, in this economy they cannot eat that 3 percent.
3 percent being charged ny the card companies is highway robbery anyhow.
Im suprised parts stores around here hagent followed suit.
Yup lots of restaurants are doing that too. No discount for green cash but 2 or 3% for debit or credit. The issue is that they get charged that fee for the processing by visa etc. it only amounts to a couple bucks on a meal but can really affect their bottom line. I was surprised way back at the vacuum cleaner store, the guy preferred a check instead of a debit card. Maybe checks are coming back. They gotta do what they gotta do to stay in business.
It seems like checks would be extra work to take pictures and upload to the bank or take them to the bank during business hours. That’s work that shouldn’t be needed with credit cards. The card purchases are approved electronically and the card fee should be applied at that point. This all occurs in the background and there is no risk of checks bouncing with the card. The card fee could be considered an accounting fee and can be compared to the overhead required by the store to process the checks.
I have no problem with extra fees for credit card usage… as long as that fee is disclosed up front. Several months ago, the company that bought a local dental office suddenly imposed a 3% fee for credit card usage, but they didn’t disclose this fee change until it was time to pay AFTER your dental procedure.
Despite being a long-term patient at that facility, I had to argue with them in order for them to allow me to go home to retrieve my checkbook so that I could avoid having to pay that extra fee. Now, I know enough to bring a check with me when I go to the dentist’s office.
By contrast, the Lexus dealership let me know up front about their new 3% fee for using a credit card, so I was able to bring my debit card with me when I returned to pick up my car.
+1
I have paid for my last 4 cars with personal checks (previously, it was always a cashier’s check), and I’ve always been surprised that they would accept a personal check for those amounts.
Florida DMV charges a percentage fee for credit cards, flat fee for debit, no charge for checks.
The car dealership I use changed owners about two years ago, now they now charge 3% for credit cards including CCs issued by the brand of vehicles they sell, no charge for debit.
That’s old school. Checks now are completely electronic form of EFT that uses the ACH network. Checks can still take longer to process but they can tell if the money is there. This is why you can write a check for $40k at the car dealer and drive off the lot. They already sent the details (routing and account) info to the ACH before you got up from the finance chair. The fees for ACH processing are really low, typically $0.95 per transaction…
Some years ago I wrote a check at Walmart. The clerk took the check and processed it and handed the check back to me. I said well that was a waste of a check. They aren’t cheap anymore, especially with the ncr copy. So I just use the debit card now and by the time I get home, it’s logged on my account.
Yepers, our county clerks office (DMV) as well as my CPA has been doing this for years… Check pay is still free…
But the businesses are charged a processing fee by the CC company so businesses have just started passing the charge along…
BTW MikeinNH, I like that Venmo idea..
I pay our Handyman with Zelle…
I pay with CC (DC) for most things (PayPal for online stuff), as someone that can’t spell for crap, I have to write out the amount very sloppy so no one can see I probably misspelt something on a check…
There’s a liquor store that I used to enjoy going to. Last time I went they had changed policies to charge the 3% fee for using a card. I asked them about it at checkout, and they said there was nothing they could do, even though I was buying over $100 worth of product. So that’s the last time I’ve gone to that particular store. Not to be ugly, but there are other liquor stores in my town that don’t charge the 3%.
I dunno, I usually have several hundred in cash. I use cash for the drive ups. I stopped at the drug store yesterday and bought an item for $6,50. I gave the clerk $7 in cash. She gave me a few coins back and said don’t spend it all in one place. Then I went to Walmart and paid the $12 with my debit card. I like having cash but usually don’t use it for over $20. I live an exciting life.
I’m with you. I’m happy with the discount (some will do the same with a debit card as the fees are much lower) and merchants don’t have to eat the fee.
The credit card companies (there are only really 4 ) have a quad-opoly? and are simply raking it in. This trend might help us all.
Some businesses don’t take cash. The Fedex in Santa Monica wouldn’t; I had to go home and get my checkbook, in the '90s. Chevron’s AMPM stations don’t take credit. It always amused me their HQ in downtown LA had an AMPM (no gas station).
It costs money to handle cash: you have to keep employees from pocketing it, thieves from stealing it, count it, fill out a deposit slip, take it to the bank, pick up the next day’s cash for change at the start of the day.
Back in 1966 all we had was an oil company card and a local department store card. Then the big credit card boys got involved, and it has been the financial ruin for many. I do like their processing debit cards but I despise the blood suckers.