Tulsa Area Business's charging a Minimum to use credit/debit cards

[zstyles]

Dude.. Mellow out man.  Support local business by not jacking them on $2 charges for 50 cents of transaction fees.  Yes, they made a contract but you can still not try destroy them.

So your saying..that you as a consumer would rather be inconvenienced rather than have someone who signed a contract stick up to their end of that contract.

[Cats Cats Cats]

I would rather be inconvenienced than make a local business lose money on sales because of a third party fee.  I don't want people to lose money on me as a business.  I don't want people to make a lot of money off on me either.

[mocboy]

Trogdor,
             once again your not understanding the bottom line here.  the merchant chose to sign that contract and therefore is obligated to honor it.  if they lose money on sales because of THEIR decision to sign and agree to the contract, that has nothing to do with me or you as a consumer!

[Hawkins]

So your saying..that you as a consumer would rather be inconvenienced rather than have someone who signed a contract stick up to their end of that contract.

In all cases, no.

In the case of spending less than $5 on a credit card, it does not inconvenience me to be told I need to spend a minimum. I understand that stores that don't do mega-volumes of business can be hurt by such transactions.

I'll bet you are also the type that leaves a small tip when dining out.

[Cats Cats Cats]

Trogdor,
             once again your not understanding the bottom line here.  the merchant chose to sign that contract and therefore is obligated to honor it.  if they lose money on sales because of THEIR decision to sign and agree to the contract, that has nothing to do with me or you as a consumer!

You are putting some business who starts business with 50k against a multi billion dollar credit card industry.  The business has no hope at all of succeeding without accepting credit cards.  Which means they have to accept ANY terms that the cc companies decide, I wouldn't be surprised if the first born clause wasn't in there as well.They can raise their prices and compensate.  But I would rather have prices low and use cash on small purchases and save even more when I bought more.  But yes, they signed a contract with somebody else.  But i can see how somebody might be put into the situation to try to at least stay even on their sales or close.

[zstyles]

In all cases, no.

In the case of spending less than $5 on a credit card, it does not inconvenience me to be told I need to spend a minimum. I understand that stores that don't do mega-volumes of business can be hurt by such transactions.

I'll bet you are also the type that leaves a small tip when dining out.

**Ignored your small person comment and takes away your karma**

[nathanm]

I'll bet you are also the type that leaves a small tip when dining out.

The tip I leave when I get take out far exceeds what any business owner is charged for accepting a card.

[DolfanBob]

Standing behind a person(most of the time a kid)using a credit/debit card for a fountain drink and a candy bar just blows my mind. I don't get it, if it is a debit card you know they are not going to write down $1.85 and soon enough they are going to jack up their account and get that wonderful $25.00 NSF charge and start that whole snowball effect.
The ATM installed was a wonderful idea for the merchant as long as it does not carry the $1.50 or $2.00 charge to use it. I usually will drive to a QT because their ATM cost me nothing to use.

[custosnox]

Standing behind a person(most of the time a kid)using a credit/debit card for a fountain drink and a candy bar just blows my mind. I don't get it, if it is a debit card you know they are not going to write down $1.85 and soon enough they are going to jack up their account and get that wonderful $25.00 NSF charge and start that whole snowball effect.
The ATM installed was a wonderful idea for the merchant as long as it does not carry the $1.50 or $2.00 charge to use it. I usually will drive to a QT because their ATM cost me nothing to use.

I constantly use my debit card for just about anything.  I seldomly even carry cash.  This is in large part due to the fact that almost all of my fincances are done electronically.  I don't even see a check, it goes straight to my bank.  And no, I'm not a kid.  As far as jacking up my account, doesn't happen... okay, happens on occassion, but not from the small charges, but from something else that slips past me (and fyi, I don't write down any of it, I know how much I have and keep a running tally of it in my head, found I have less errors that way).    About the only time I use the ATM is when I decide that the lottery has gotten high enough to warrent me buying a ticket, which I have to pay for in cash lol.

And there is one alternative that the small businesses can do to keep zstyles from reporting them to the CC companies.... just make it where you have a minimum of $5.00 purchase period, cash or cc. 

[nathanm]

Standing behind a person(most of the time a kid)using a credit/debit card for a fountain drink and a candy bar just blows my mind. I don't get it, if it is a debit card you know they are not going to write down $1.85 and soon enough they are going to jack up their account and get that wonderful $25.00 NSF charge and start that whole snowball effect.

Haven't had that happen yet. Last time I had an NSF was when I forgot I had written someone a $200 check and they took 6 months to deposit it and just happened to hit my bank the day before I got paid. That was when I was 18.

I've never been over limit on a credit card.

These days, now that most merchants don't require you to sign for purchases less than $25, it's usually faster to use the card than it is to use cash. And rewards points (or cash back) I get 5% back at gas stations and grocery stores on one card. Needless to say that's the only one I use at QT and Reasor's.

[zstyles]

Standing behind a person(most of the time a kid)using a credit/debit card for a fountain drink and a candy bar just blows my mind. I don't get it, if it is a debit card you know they are not going to write down $1.85 and soon enough they are going to jack up their account and get that wonderful $25.00 NSF charge and start that whole snowball effect.
The ATM installed was a wonderful idea for the merchant as long as it does not carry the $1.50 or $2.00 charge to use it. I usually will drive to a QT because their ATM cost me nothing to use.

I bought a piece of candy today at QT for .35 cents and used my debit card...why? I paid for the gas at the pump and went inside..didn't want to pay 1.50 to use the ATM...they took it no problem..didn't say a word..i think the only people that have voiced their concern are baby boomers who are turning into elmer fuds on this issue...this is 2009...yes you can in real time see your account balance from your Iphone, your money isn't in cash form and I haven't seen my paycheck in 3 years since direct deposit....so yes I will continue to use plastic for everything I buy...

[DolfanBob]

I constantly use my debit card for just about anything.  I seldomly even carry cash.  This is in large part due to the fact that almost all of my fincances are done electronically.  I don't even see a check, it goes straight to my bank.  And no, I'm not a kid.  As far as jacking up my account, doesn't happen... okay, happens on occassion, but not from the small charges, but from something else that slips past me (and fyi, I don't write down any of it, I know how much I have and keep a running tally of it in my head, found I have less errors that way).    About the only time I use the ATM is when I decide that the lottery has gotten high enough to warrent me buying a ticket, which I have to pay for in cash lol.

And there is one alternative that the small businesses can do to keep zstyles from reporting them to the CC companies.... just make it where you have a minimum of $5.00 purchase period, cash or cc. 

Does anybody other than me write checks anymore ? Not at the store mind you but for bills and use a stamp. The looks you get at the store are enough to keep me from doing that, so I save that for the women who dont even start writing it until they get the total.
Crazy but I run a bank balance in my head also. Have not bounced anything in over 5 years. I check my on-line bank balance daily to see what has cleared and I also have duplicate checks so the registry is there only for the calendar.

[nathanm]

Does anybody other than me write checks anymore ? Not at the store mind you but for bills and use a stamp.

I write checks when I absolutely have to. Like when I have to pay the copay on work under my home warranty or when I renew my car tags.

Otherwise, any checks that need to be sent get written for me by my bank through their billpay service. Everything else is either paid by credit card, or in the case of the credit cards drafted from my account without a paper check.

[custosnox]

Just came across this so thought I would revive it

http://finance.yahoo.com/banking-budgeting/article/106525/Don%27t-Believe-These-7-Credit-Card-Myths

Myth No. 6: Retailers can set a minimum amount you can charge on a credit card when you buy something from them.

The Logic: In a small store or restaurant, it's not uncommon to find a sign that says, "$5 minimum for credit card purchases." If this wasn't allowed by the credit card companies, surely they'd crack down on it.

The Reality: Retailers who set minimum charges are breaking their agreements with the card companies. Because retailers pay interchange fees -- which vary, but average about 2 percent of the sale -- plus possible transaction fees on each credit card purchase, it's easy to see why a store owner would want to discourage lots of small credit card sales. But when they do so, they risk losing their ability to accept cards. "You're allowed to charge any amount on your card, even a penny," says Zeichner. "The problem is that the retailer wants you to charge enough to make it worth his while."

If you need to use a card for a small transaction that's against store policy, you can object, although you may be invited to take your business elsewhere. The other thing to do is contact the credit card company. "We want to know about retailers who do this," says Matt Towson, a spokesman for Discover Financial Services. "It violates our contract with them."

[zstyles]

Just went into a place that was doing this, I called visa complained the restaurant is no longer charging a minimum charge any longer.