What's up with this "we charge you an extra 3% if you use a credit card" bit?

[OldShooter]

Just about every car shop I’ve been to has the “shop” charge and environmental disposal fees on the bills. To me that’s overhead and should be included in the price. They do it to just pry more money out of us.

Unfortunately that train has long since left the station. I doubt that even us old folks can remember a time when there wasn't a charge like this on auto repair shop tickets.

While I tend to agree with you, I would like to add one thing. There should be some uniformity about how the prices for items are presented so people can easily comparison-shop.

Agreed. We are in fairly new territory here and I expect that things will standardize over time. Biden's "junk fees" initiative will also factor into the determining the price presentations.

 

[Koolau]

Businesses should be able to charge whatever they want. But I think they should be up front about it.

I found out that my doctor charged extra for credit cards when I went to pay after the appointment. If they are going to implement a policy like that, they should alert people when they make an appointment. Or they should contact all those with existing appointments.

I once bought concert tickets that were widely advertised at another $17 per ticket. Once they added in their fees the actual price wad about $31 per ticket.

Just be honest about it. Don't lie to us.

Yeah, like resort fees and local taxes on hotels and cars. They add to about 1/3 more in Hawaii so be advised when you book.

 

[Koolau]

Just about every car shop I’ve been to has the “shop” charge and environmental disposal fees on the bills. To me that’s overhead and should be included in the price. They do it to just pry more money out of us.

Yeah. I'll gladly pay for what it really costs them for those things - but put it in the price of MY repair. AND don't ask me to pay it when there's no real disposal or environmental fee to them. That's lazy and "wrong" IMHO.

 

[Koolau]

Unfortunately that train has long since left the station. I doubt that even us old folks can remember a time when there wasn't a charge like this on auto repair shop tickets.

Maybe I'm older than you, but I remember when there were NO fees for such things. I still recall when you got a CREDIT for the old battery - not a fee for disposal.

Agreed. We are in fairly new territory here and I expect that things will standardize over time. Biden's "junk fees" initiative will also factor into the determining the price presentations.

Not sure I want gummint setting prices, but the "focus" on the issue would be appropriate if it came from someone like, oh, I don't know, maybe an actual "news" exposé or maybe Consumer Reports.

 

[motley]

Unfortunately that train has long since left the station. I doubt that even us old folks can remember a time when there wasn't a charge like this on auto repair shop tickets.

As far as I can recall, I never have.

 

[motley]

Maybe I'm older than you, but I remember when there were NO fees for such things. I still recall when you got a CREDIT for the old battery - not a fee for disposal.

? You still do. At least I did the last two times I bought one.

 

[Music Lover]

I always pay these guys in hard cash and negotiate a discount every time for cash. It only requires a trip to the CU prior to the service. 3 miles each way for us. If one cannot get their hands on $10k relatively easily, I think they have a bigger issue. BTW My tree guy charges about $900 not $10k. But I did have some roofing done and that was $6k. I paid that in cash.

I don't believe in supporting the underground economy.

 

[TheWizard]

I was being a wise ass.

Ultimately, what it comes down to is feature creep.

Credit cards really took storm with the beginning of Master Charge, 60 years ago or so, and it was a way for merchants to get convenience. They gladly paid the small processing fee. It was better than bounced checks or huge tills of cash.

Over time, features creeped and fees rose. Now was once was a convenience for merchants is becoming a burden. We should have seen this coming when Discover added the cash back.

But you know what? When Discover came around sometime in the late 80s or so, it was very common for gas stations to have cash or credit prices. I would always pay cash because of this. Then the automatic pumps came along (no need to go to the clerk), and I started skipping stations that didn't have them. The pressure was on and most stations got rid of the differential, even though Discover was charging them a few basis points more, i.e. it was getting more expensive for merchants.

I guess we're going to start seeing a lot more cash/credit differences at gas stations. Some around town are starting to do it, but their credit prices are still competitive -- for now. Paying cash at a pump is a total PITA if you like to fill up.

Not necessarily. The Cumberland Farms station I normally frequent gives me 10¢ per gallon discount for paying "cash" via their smartphone app that links to my checking account.
And another station I sometimes use is NOT self service, so I just have a handful of 10s and 20s outside my window to get the discount.

Now on long roadtrips, I practically always use CCs right at the pump and that's fine...

 

[gcgang]

Several restaurants in Houston DONT ACCEPT CASH!

So far, none of them are tacking on the 3% CC surcharge, but it won’t surprise me when they do.

 

[athena53]

Also, a foreign cruise operator I'm using levies a surcharge for paying by credit card. They prefer wire transfer.

The US-based tour company I use offers a "Pay now" option with a significant discount. I just checked on my most recent booking, for a year from now; 8% discount if I pay straight from my bank account on a balance that must be paid in full by June 30. Hmm. Maybe I ought to quit ignoring that option.

ETA: Never mind. If I put it into a CD at 5% (may be lower by now) I'll make enough interest to offset the discount and get 3% cash back on my credit card, too!

 

[aja8888]

? You still do. At least I did the last two times I bought one.

Same here, for the lead content. I think WM still gives a $10 credit.

 

[djsander]

Checking through our auto pays our internet bill went from $65 to $68. Logged into our account and found out they started charge $3 if using credit or debit and nothing if you give them the bank account number. Looking around they said we could manually pay each month which we decided to do. Went to the auto pay section and no way to cancel. So, got on the chat and find out we are pre-paid so we have to have auto pay. Then they started to try and sell a faster service. Didn’t want that just want to manually pay. They said we have to go to post paid. So prepay they know they have your money for the upcoming month and has to be autopay. Post paid you can manually pay at the end of the month. So, the one where you could skip out on after using you can manually pay. That is bizarre.

 

[MrEd]

evertyime i see a credit charge like that i just adjust the tip accordingly

 

[Texas Proud]

Checking through our auto pays our internet bill went from $65 to $68. Logged into our account and found out they started charge $3 if using credit or debit and nothing if you give them the bank account number. Looking around they said we could manually pay each month which we decided to do. Went to the auto pay section and no way to cancel. So, got on the chat and find out we are pre-paid so we have to have auto pay. Then they started to try and sell a faster service. Didn’t want that just want to manually pay. They said we have to go to post paid. So prepay they know they have your money for the upcoming month and has to be autopay. Post paid you can manually pay at the end of the month. So, the one where you could skip out on after using you can manually pay. That is bizarre.

I find it strange they want to charge a fee on a CC because they are able to make sure (as best they can) to get paid...

I have a few payments on CC and usually I get a discount for signing up for them to auto charge my account...

I would get off when I see a charge... and as you say, pay manually...

 

[frank05]

Not necessarily. The Cumberland Farms station I normally frequent gives me 10¢ per gallon discount for paying "cash" via their smartphone app that links to my checking account.
And another station I sometimes use is NOT self service, so I just have a handful of 10s and 20s outside my window to get the discount.

Now on long roadtrips, I practically always use CCs right at the pump and that's fine...

This is a decision for me, anything over 3.35 a gallon it is better to use my cash back cc which gives me 3% on gas.

 

[foxcreek9]

This is a decision for me, anything over 3.35 a gallon it is better to use my cash back cc which gives me 3% on gas.

I buy station GC at grocery stores when on sale, that plus cc points gives me 10% off most gas purchases.

 

[motley]

Checking through our auto pays our internet bill went from $65 to $68. Logged into our account and found out they started charge $3 if using credit or debit and nothing if you give them the bank account number. Looking around they said we could manually pay each month which we decided to do. Went to the auto pay section and no way to cancel. So, got on the chat and find out we are pre-paid so we have to have auto pay. Then they started to try and sell a faster service. Didn’t want that just want to manually pay. They said we have to go to post paid. So prepay they know they have your money for the upcoming month and has to be autopay. Post paid you can manually pay at the end of the month. So, the one where you could skip out on after using you can manually pay. That is bizarre.

How lame. I think I would have said OK we're quitting your service, then re-joined w/o auto pay.

 

[djsander]

How lame. I think I would have said OK we're quitting your service, then re-joined w/o auto pay.

We were considering that or changing providers, however we have a permanent cost with no increases. We have 60 meg service which gets us everything we need. We watch some 4 k movies and have never had issues. Most everybody is offering teaser rates for faster service, but go up more than we are paying after a year. Even our kids when they come over never to have problems with the speed when they are gaming. I’ll probably bypass the customer service chat and do my favorite contact the company on Facebook with my disappointment in them soaking us for $3. Sometimes that works.

 

[motley]

We were considering that or changing providers, however we have a permanent cost with no increases.

 

[Texas Proud]

I buy station GC at grocery stores when on sale, that plus cc points gives me 10% off most gas purchases.

Hmmm, never thought of that....

I buy food cards at Sam's when the 5% cash back on a couple of my cards offer it... usually Sam's has a 20% to 30% off the card value plus the 5% make it a great deal... but will look for gas cards next time..

 

[Koolau]

I find it strange they want to charge a fee on a CC because they are able to make sure (as best they can) to get paid...

I have a few payments on CC and usually I get a discount for signing up for them to auto charge my account...

I would get off when I see a charge... and as you say, pay manually...

That's the way mine w*rks. I get $10 off the total to have my CC auto-pay.

 

[Koolau]

Hmmm, never thought of that....

I buy food cards at Sam's when the 5% cash back on a couple of my cards offer it... usually Sam's has a 20% to 30% off the card value plus the 5% make it a great deal... but will look for gas cards next time..

I'll be looking for a GC at Sam's. I've never seen them. Thanks all for the tip.