Community Chat

[shoekitty]

When I was a small business owner visa and Amex both charged me. Amex was the highest. Even the bank cards.  I notice everyone here in California is doing it, now even charities...but charities don't make you ..they ask if you would. The charges are real and add up. I think Amex is more than 6%.  It was 5% back in 1990-1997. I usually pay it, but refuse for larger purchases.  Then I do check, or ach   I have grands ages 19-35 yrs.  Let me tell you , they charge or use debit for 1.50 charges. They never have cash, put everything on card.  This has to be hard on small business.  Large corporations raise prices to,accommodate fees, and can take off taxes, but a small business it hurts the cash you take home.   I don't like it tho, but sigh....

[Tinkrbl44]

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@We rescue cats wrote:

Are you encountering the credit card merchant fees that the card companies charge the merchant being passed on to you as the consumer? Usually 3-5%? Are they being charged in your area and if so what are your thoughts? Seems to be taking our area by storm all of a sudden, even professional offices like doctors are doing it. This week I received a message from the hair and nail salon I have gone to for 15 years that they are going to charge 4% more if I choose to use a debit or credit card.This is coming after a services increase that came about just 2 months ago, and the salon I go to is one of the priciest in town. I'm considering changing, there is a salon just 2 miles from my house that is quite a bit less expensive and they do not charge a 'card' fee, I may try them out in the coming weeks. 

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@We rescue cats 

Or, you could just pay in cash where you currently go.   

Stop using credit cards, except for emergencies.  Not aware of any surcharges for using cash. 

[shoekitty]

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@We rescue cats wrote:

I so seldom have cash though I have been trying to make sure I have it, I forgot about carrying my checkbook....thanks for that reminder! When I had my business we accepted Amex cards, they strictly prohibited charging a fee to accept their card, I don't knoow if that still stands or not. It's getting to be the new thing around here as well, even my chiropractor is doing it. 

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Shoekitty said.  Yes they do charge , they charged way back when.  That's why many stores didn't take Amex for years. I had Amex in my store, and I have used one for years. They used to charge 5% of the receipts we sent in.  Maybe it is different for huge corporations. Out income from shop was small, so we didn't have discount. Back then if you had sales over 25,000@mo, you got discounts.  But that much a month wasn't my little business for sure

[San Antonio Gal]

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@Kachina624 wrote:

Merchants are taking advantage of the inflationary trend to price gouge consumers and most will roll over and accept it.  Maybe revive checks?

I'm fighting with Waste Management, my garbage service.  They announced a "convenience" fee for using credit/debit cards.   So I did a direct online transfer from my bank and now they claim I owe them the fee.  I think not!  It didn't cost them a cent.

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@Kachina624  -  My water and sewer bill are the only 2 bills I write a check for each month due to the online "convenience" fee.   I believe it was around 3.50.  Much cheaper to pay for a stamp - and my checks are free from the bank.   

[Carmie]

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@Meowingkitty wrote:

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@Desertdi wrote:

NOT where I live.    In fact, nobody wants to even touch CASH since Covid.    Even thrift and $ stores now have card readers.

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We have found a couple of restaurants that charge a fee. When we bought our new a/c last year there was a fee if we wanted to use a credit card and when I bought my new bedroom furniture a couple of years ago the Amish store charged a fee. We simply wrote a check for the both items and we always carry cash  for restaurants if when we get there we find out they will charge a fee. They are making a killing on them. The banks only charge 2-2.5% and the stores are charging customers 3-4%. It really ads up on big purchases.

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Business owners also pay a fee to each CC company to use their cards...Mastercard, Visa, Discovery, etc... each charge their own fee.

That is why some places will not accept certain cards....they didn't buy into using them. They are called accessment fees.

Often the fees are higher for online purchases and less in person.

In addition, the cc company gets a % of each transaction.

They are not making a killing.  Most merchants lose money on CC purchases, but they count on CC purchasing in higher amounts more often to make up for it.

It works for bigger busy businesses, but hurts small businesses.

[Carmie]

@Kachina624   We were charged the fee for paying on line with a debit card for storm water service ....once.

Now we send a check. The fee was $3.50 and taken right out of the card.

This is common, I think.

[Caffeina]

If a merchant charges a credit card fee, I'll use my Visa debit card instead. Both Visa and Mastercard don't allow debit card fees.

[Kachina624]

@Carmie.  This is a new thing.  I had been using a debit card and they charged a fee but last time I  just had the billed amount sent from my account with no card involved and they again charged a fee,  they'd like to debit accounts but I don't trust them. 

[Kachina624]

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@Caffeina wrote:

If a merchant charges a credit card fee, I'll use my Visa debit card instead. Both Visa and Mastercard don't allow debit card fees.

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@Caffeina.  Must be a state regulation because they're sure doing it here.

[occasionalrain]

I put everything on the cc that gives me the highest percent of cash back, except for small businesses. I pay them in cash because I want them to survive.

Now at Walmart, I even put a $1 bread on my Chase card that until  March is giving 5% cashback.