bank-only ATM card vs visa/mc logo debit/check card vs credit card

[hellokeith]

Any business owners out there can explain why some retailers like rental cars & hotels only accept credit cards, while other retailers accept credit and visa/mc logo'd debit cards, and still other retailers accept all cards including bank-only PIN-based ATM cards?

 

[TwiceOver]

Havn't met a place that didn't take my banks visa card (labeled Debit, but acts just like a credit card).

 

[rockyct]

I worked in retail and we didn't have a PIN machine, so only visa/mc debit and credit cards. I don't see why a place wouldn't take a visa/mc debit card. It doesn't appear any different as far as I know. The only thing I can think of is the difference in fees, but I thought that credit transactions are higher than PIN transactions.