All these fucking gas stations have started advertising a "cash" rate and a "credit" rate, with usually a ten cent disparity, or one gas station advertises the "cash" rate as "ez pay," etc shit like that

like hahah what the fuck is this shit, this rent seeking ass bullshit, just naked greed but I guess that's the rest of American society, right?

and when I keep thinking about it, like, my fucking debit card isn't "credit," I'm getting charged the "credit" rate, like, what, if I fucking go inside and use the ATM and withdraw cash and pay these fuckers I get the cheaper option but if I stay outside like a person who doesn't want to be fucked with any of that I have to pay more? jesus fucking christ fucking kill me, what else is fucking next? I honestly don't even want to know

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] came_apart_at_Kmart@hexbear.net 7 points 6 days ago (1 children)

it seems like merchant account "innovationists" have been increasingly fiddling with their service rates for different sectors or something, because i am definitely seeing more "discount" options for cash/check and occasionally debit instead of credit.

2+ contractors and two auto mechanics near me offer cash/check discounts over credit, though some aren't advertised. its gotten to the point where if i am dealing with a big purchase, ill just ask if i can get a discount for writing a check because 3% of $1000 is $30.

[–] stink@lemmygrad.ml 2 points 6 days ago

Visa / MasterCard have pretty big monopoly on the market.

Big retailers like target have the opportunity to negotiate the transaction fees since they have such a high volume of transactions.

Mom and Pop shops? They have no real negotiating power and can get shafted by Visa increasing their fees with no ability to fight back.

Pay with cash as much as you can to local shops. That 3% is a significant amount of money with how slim the margins have to be for them to stay afloat.