wtf is this?!

[CasioTech]

Originally posted by: KaChow
I filled up the other day at a Sunoco that displayed the credit card price and then discounted $.05 if you paid cash. I'd much rather if the stations display the highest price on their signs and then discount from that point.

exactly, it's not the money it's how big companies like BP in fancy areas pull this shit to get you to pull into their station when the next station charges a little more but they are UP FRONT about it and not trying to scam you.

 

[EGGO]

I hate how it does it for my debit card...

 

[ponyo]

Originally posted by: AgaBoogaBoo

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: joshsquall
AFAIK, this is actually against the ToS for every major credit card.

Visa and Mastercard allow it if it's phrased as a cash discount
American Express allows it as long as it applies to every non-cash form of payment

Doesn't it save them money to use a CC because it saves them from dealing with cash? I read an example about how much cash wal*mart would have to deal with on a national level if everyone used CC's. It was a while ago, but the point made was that it actually saves them money even though it costs a fee.

I guess that gas stations might just not have nearly as much of it to deal with?

No business like to lose 3%. For some, that can be the difference of turning a profit or losing money. Credit card fees are killer for small businesses where margins are razor thin.

 

[xanis]

Originally posted by: EGGO
I hate how it does it for my debit card...

Where are you that you get charged the higher price for using a debit card? Here in PA and most of NJ you get charged the lower cash price when using debit.

 

[CasioTech]

this isn't a 'small' business and if they can't handle the CC fees, then they can stop accepting CC's.

 

[miri]

.

 

[dawp]

Originally posted by: CasioTech
this isn't a 'small' business and if they can't handle the CC fees, then they can stop accepting CC's.

most stations are franchises and not owned by the oil companies that won't allow them to set their own prices. CC fee can mean the difference between earning a profit or closing shop.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: Xanis

Originally posted by: EGGO
I hate how it does it for my debit card...

Where are you that you get charged the higher price for using a debit card? Here in PA and most of NJ you get charged the lower cash price when using debit.

It was that way in NJ until about 3 months ago. Now they either charge 10-20 cents more per gallon or a $3 flat fee.

 

[xanis]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: Xanis

Originally posted by: EGGO
I hate how it does it for my debit card...

Where are you that you get charged the higher price for using a debit card? Here in PA and most of NJ you get charged the lower cash price when using debit.

It was that way in NJ until about 3 months ago. Now they either charge 10-20 cents more per gallon or a $3 flat fee.

Really? I just drove through NJ last week and the stations I saw were still doing the debit as cash thing.

 

[DrPizza]

Simple way to protest it. Lots of signs.
No, not quite what you think...

Signs posted in the inner city which say "hey, the BP gas station at the corner of <location> encourages people to pay with cash. At an average of $50 per car, I'll bet the cashier has a lot of cash on hand."

 

[halik]

Originally posted by: mugs
They did this years ago...
and then they stopped
and now they've started doing it again
because profit margins on gas are pretty thin
and credit card processing fees take a big chunk

i'd imagine you get a lot more volume if you advertise by the cash price... especially w/o mentioning it's for cash only.

 

[Elstupido]

I buy my gas at Goodwill, What is wrong with used.....

errr nevermind

 

[CasioTech]

I'm going to use Citgo from now on.

 

[TallBill]

Have not noticed this trend here.

 

[Injury]

This only happens at the truck stop style stations around here.

If I got charged a higher rate without for using plastic and wasn't informed of this beforehand, I would not only demand a refund for the amount I would report their ass to Mastercard/Visa. That's straight bullshit.

 

[Gunbuster]

We just need everyone to go to the discount for cash station and sit around at the pump for ten minutes a piece before going in to pay.

 

[sobriquet]

There are a number of stations that do this in my area, but I've never seen any being deceptive about it. There are always two sets of prices listed on the signs: cash and credit. As for debit payments, there are a lot of stations that are a bit shady, charging a $.45 fee without any notice before you get to the pump.

 

[EGGO]

Originally posted by: Xanis

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: Xanis

Originally posted by: EGGO
I hate how it does it for my debit card...

Where are you that you get charged the higher price for using a debit card? Here in PA and most of NJ you get charged the lower cash price when using debit.

It was that way in NJ until about 3 months ago. Now they either charge 10-20 cents more per gallon or a $3 flat fee.

Really? I just drove through NJ last week and the stations I saw were still doing the debit as cash thing.

Yeah Shell just did it to me.

 

[AstroManLuca]

I've seen this, but it was in the form of a small discount for using cash. Also, the price advertised on the sign was the CC price, so it wasn't misleading.

Not a big deal IMO, you're already paying tons of money to fill up so what does an extra few cents a gallon add? You can't have everything. Businesses have to charge enough money to stay afloat, and consumers have to pay. That's just how it works. I'm sort of sick of people complaining about having to pay money.

 

[CasioTech]

update, my station just put a sign on top of the prices which now states "CASH PRICES" so I guess they were flammed for what they did. Funny, they're the lowest priced station within 10 miles, by the 6 cents that they mislead you on.

 

[IEC]

Originally posted by: MrChad
This is the first time you've seen this at a gas station?

Interestingly, I believe that it is against the TOS for Visa and Mastercard for retailers to add a "credit surcharge" to purchasers who buy with credit cards. It is not, however, a violation of the TOS to offer a "cash discount". This is the loophole in the TOS that gas stations use to set different prices for cash and credit.

^this.

 

[radioouman]

Originally posted by: gorcorps
If 6 fucking cents per mile is that big a deal then you must have made some wrong turns in life.

I drive 400 miles per tank. $0.06 per mile would cost me an additional $24 per tank.

Now if we are talking $0.06 per GALLON, then it could only cost me an addition $0.72.

 

[Kelemvor]

All you can do is contact Visa or Mastercard or whatever and let them know.
Unless they advertise a price as Cash Only, they are advertising their main price. They can discount that for Cash but can't raise it for a CC otherwise it's a surcharge from the advertised price.

SO either contact the CC company, shop somewhere else, or pay the higher price and keep bitching about it here.

 

[slsmnaz]

Originally posted by: Kelemvor
SO either contact the CC company, shop somewhere else, or pay the higher price and keep bitching about it here.

I'm guessing he keeps doing #3

 

[sourceninja]

What happens if you select pay inside, then go inside after you pump the gas to pay and use a credit card? Do they raise the price on the spot? I would think that would be illegal, you pumped, you got a price, you walk in and it's different with no way for you to go 'no thanks'.

I have to pay inside because I have a card that gives me a 10 cent discount. But it has to be swiped by the attendant.