Will that be cash or charge?

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I want to warn you all - if you haven't noticed yourselves..

Do you remember when there were two prices for gas and the attendant would ask, "will that be cash or charge?" Well as a warning it is starting again. I went to fill up and considering I need to take out a small loan at each fill up, I typically do not have enough cash on hand to fill up. I automatically said - Charge, then a stroke of genius - I noticed there were two prices and I stopped the attendant immediately - it was 6 cents different a gallon!

I asked, "so it costs more now for charging?" Of course this is just some poor sap stuck in a mindless job. He was nice enough about it and tried to explain why the owner is now charging more for credit. He also went on and explained how the cigarette deliveries are now charging them an extra fee for delivery because of the increased price of diesel. So I whip out my $20 and got my 2 gallons worth. Note for future - carry $100 cash for gas in the future.

On my ride home, I noticed several gas stations doing the same thing. Have you noticed other nickel and diming as a result of our economy? I wonder if other places will begin charging a fee for credit card use. I know it costs them money, but thought the pros (not having so much cash to make them an easy target for robbery, increased customers, etc) outweighed the costs. Have you noticed any of these "new" types of fees as a result of the economy?

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I haven't noticed that here, Linkat... how was it posted?

But then, we already have the highest gas prices in the nation so I wouldn't be a bit surprised to see an add-on price for credit cards slipping back into the mix.

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Good Morning, Linkat. No, I've not noticed that here, but I don't understand why they're charging extra for charged gas (instead of cash) if the delivery costs are going up - why just the charged? I hope that made sense.

In other countries, there has been a surcharge for using a credit card for years. There shouldn't be, IMO, because their interest rates are exorbitant and will cover the 3% surcharge. So, I use debit or cash. I'm not giving any more money to those credit card companies.

I also dislike that you have to pay to use your bank! Hey, you're using my money - deposits and withdrawals should be free.

If I saw those charges here, I'd shop elsewhere or do the most economical thing, which you did. Disgraceful. We're being gouged everywhere.

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JPB wrote:

I haven't noticed that here, Linkat... how was it posted?

But then, we already have the highest gas prices in the nation so I wouldn't be a bit surprised to see an add-on price for credit cards slipping back into the mix.

Well the have the huge advertisement (which is what attracted me - cheaper gas than many) - then when you pull up to the pumps, the prices above the pumps have two prices, one listed ontop of the other.

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Mame wrote:

Good Morning, Linkat. No, I've not noticed that here, but I don't understand why they're charging extra for charged gas (instead of cash) if the delivery costs are going up - why just the charged? I hope that made sense.

In other countries, there has been a surcharge for using a credit card for years. There shouldn't be, IMO, because their interest rates are exorbitant and will cover the 3% surcharge. So, I use debit or cash. I'm not giving any more money to those credit card companies.

I also dislike that you have to pay to use your bank! Hey, you're using my money - deposits and withdrawals should be free.

If I saw those charges here, I'd shop elsewhere or do the most economical thing, which you did. Disgraceful. We're being gouged everywhere.

The credit card company charges the gas station a fee for every charge. That is why they charge a higher price. For cash - they get cash. But for a charge, they also get a fee from the credit card company.

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Yes, but since the credit card companies have ALWAYS charged a fee to the stores for using their cards, why are they charging NOW?

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Mame wrote:

Yes, but since the credit card companies have ALWAYS charged a fee to the stores for using their cards, why are they charging NOW?

Probably to sneak it in - so they look like they are charging lower prices than the gas station across the street, but in reality if you charge you pay more.

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Not justified. They like credit cards, partly because nobody ever does a stickup for the credit card receipts. They also make it harder for a crooked employee to steal.

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Yeah, it's just that the stores must be getting cheap, charging the customer. I thought nobody wanted cash anymore. What if you used your debit card? Is there a charge for that?

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Linkat
There are stores where I live that if you use a credit card, the merchant adds 3% to the total cost to cover their fees.

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Mame wrote:

Yeah, it's just that the stores must be getting cheap, charging the customer. I thought nobody wanted cash anymore. What if you used your debit card? Is there a charge for that?

They didn't have a debit option. It was an older gas station - not set up with the newest in technology.

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roger wrote:

nobody ever does a stickup for the credit card receipts.

I got a chuckle out of this roger. Then I thought...if you stole the receipts wouldn't you have all those credit card #'s?

or do only part of the # appear on the vendors portion?

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Depends on whether they use a knuckle-buster or not.

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You mean a Ca-Chunker?

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They would have the last 4 digits, and no expiration date. Motels usually capture the whole thing; machines don't make it available. The merchant has a transaction code to refer to if there is an issue.

Oh, watch your cashier when you pay by card. If she/he briefly has a cell phone in hand, she might well be photographing it.

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I read this in today's paper and thought of this thread:

Quote:

On Wednesday, the nation's largest
air carrier, American Airlines, announced
it will charge $15 extra for
what many travelers consider part of
their fare: a single checked bag.
The fee, which begins June 15, is the
latest money-making decision by a
major airline struggling with soaring
jet fuel costs and a slowing economy.

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Thanks boomerang - that is exactly the stuff I'm talking about - how different businesses are trying to slip in extra fees that the average consumer isn't aware of - or becomes aware of much too late.

Why doesn't American simply raise the airfare slightly? No instead so it looks like their fare is a bit lower, they add a fee some where else so they could in a sense actually end up costing the consumer more.

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That's exactly what happened to me, Linkat. I see this huge sign where
it read $ 3.99 for premium gas, and I immediately pull up and there
I noticed that for charge cards/credit cards the price per gallon is $ 4.10 Evil or Very Mad

I should have driven off again, but I needed gas and was too lazy to
drive to another gas station. I learned my lesson though and now I always
look very careful for the cash prices.

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All frugal hausfraus do that Cal. It's not that noteworthy.

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I'm no hausfrau, spendius, and I'm afraid not THAT frugal - although
for the first time in many, many years I have washed my car myself
today with the help of my kid. I'm good!! Cool

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Will that be cash or charge?

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