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A recent commenter requested that someone start a new post to discuss the apparent increase in credit card usage fees. I wrote about this almost exactly a year ago, so I thought I’d get it started. In the year since I wrote about how my wife and I were encountering more cash discounts, or credit card usage fees, it seems to have become a bigger topic. One thing I’ve noticed is not every merchant follows the rules and makes the fees clear. I’ve had a few occasions where there was nothing posted about a CC fee, and the cashier didn’t say anything. Checking later I noticed a 3% fee. What’s your experience?
Here is an article that talks about the 3 percent standoff.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/why-paper-checks-refuse-die-113713138.html
Although I usually use a rewards card for 100% of my purchases, when possible, I have been asking for cash discounts for years. I also regularly ask merchants if they have hidden extra CC fees in their prices. I just call them out, since I can pay cash if necessary.
I recently bought some jewelry for my spouse. I asked if there as a cash discount and I received 3.5% off the purchase. Two months ago my wife had dental implant surgery due. Since I retired in January and no longer have dental insurance, I asked if I would get a cash discount for paying cash and received a 5% discount on $6,500, $325.00.
I am a gun collector and when I buy online, I only buy from dealers with 0% CC Fees. I also look for dealers offering “Free Shipping”. One online retailer actually lists two separate prices…one for cash or check and the other for CC or financing. If I buy from a local shop or at a gun show, the same thing applies.
The fees being added by sellers are simply the newest “rip off” customers are being subjected too, along with all the increases in prices while simultaneously providing smaller quantities (“shrinkflation”) as you see in grocery stores everyday. One of my most irritating examples is Bacon, which now comes in 12 oz vs. 16 oz packages. One that infuriates my wife is cake mixes. They no longer have the ounces required for the recipes in most cook books, so you have to buy extra, and thereby have more than you need.
Bottomline…if you don’t ask, you don’t get. And whoever said you have to pay retail? It never hurts to ask for “their best and final price.”
What gets me annoyed is that ice cream no longer comes in pints… they’re 14oz containers that cost the same as pints used to.
Outrageous, I know! I will accept a lot of pain, but don’t mess with my ice cream.