On 2014-10-18 10:47 AM, Janet wrote:

>
> It's still common to shop with cash here... in fact many shops
> discourage card payments for small purchases under £10, because the
> card transaction fee they pay erodes their profit margin.
>

It may erode their profit margin but OTOH, it may be a sale they would
otherwise not have made. I was in a coffee shop one day last week and a
guy paid for a cup of coffee to go with his credit card.

On 10/18/2014 10:55 AM, Dave Smith wrote:
> On 2014-10-18 10:47 AM, Janet wrote:
>
>>
>> It's still common to shop with cash here... in fact many shops
>> discourage card payments for small purchases under £10, because the
>> card transaction fee they pay erodes their profit margin.
>>
>
> It may erode their profit margin but OTOH, it may be a sale they would
> otherwise not have made. I was in a coffee shop one day last week and a
> guy paid for a cup of coffee to go with his credit card.
>
>
I'm with the guy but I have not yet personally paid for one coffee with
a credit card. My lower limit for usage is when I guess the bill is
under $10. However, I use some parking lots where the lowest charge is
$2 (some give 20 minutes for free) and the fact that the machine accepts
credit cards is very convenient. Until recently, physician's offices
would endorse a parking slip for free but they've all become cheapskates.


--
Jim Silverton (Potomac, MD)

Extraneous "not." in Reply To.

On Sat, 18 Oct 2014 10:55:58 -0400, Dave Smith
> wrote:

> On 2014-10-18 10:47 AM, Janet wrote:
>
> >
> > It's still common to shop with cash here... in fact many shops
> > discourage card payments for small purchases under £10, because the
> > card transaction fee they pay erodes their profit margin.
> >
>
> It may erode their profit margin but OTOH, it may be a sale they would
> otherwise not have made. I was in a coffee shop one day last week and a
> guy paid for a cup of coffee to go with his credit card.
>
It was probably a debit card.


--
Avoid cutting yourself when slicing vegetables by getting someone else to hold them.

On 2014-10-18 12:54 PM, sf wrote:

>>> It's still common to shop with cash here... in fact many shops
>>> discourage card payments for small purchases under £10, because the
>>> card transaction fee they pay erodes their profit margin.
>>>
>>
>> It may erode their profit margin but OTOH, it may be a sale they would
>> otherwise not have made. I was in a coffee shop one day last week and a
>> guy paid for a cup of coffee to go with his credit card.
>>
> It was probably a debit card.
>

You are probably wrong. If he had said that he was putting it on his
debit card I would have said that he was putting it on his debit card.
He said he was paying with Visa.

On 10/18/2014 1:55 PM, Dave Smith wrote:
> On 2014-10-18 12:54 PM, sf wrote:
>
>>>> It's still common to shop with cash here... in fact many shops
>>>> discourage card payments for small purchases under £10, because the
>>>> card transaction fee they pay erodes their profit margin.
>>>>
>>>
>>> It may erode their profit margin but OTOH, it may be a sale they would
>>> otherwise not have made. I was in a coffee shop one day last week and a
>>> guy paid for a cup of coffee to go with his credit card.
>>>
>> It was probably a debit card.
>>
>
> You are probably wrong. If he had said that he was putting it on his
> debit card I would have said that he was putting it on his debit card.
> He said he was paying with Visa.
>
>

It may have been a rewards card. Some people use them for everything so
they can get cash back or airline miles, or whatever. I get monthly
notices from my CC company if I spend $x at a store I get 5% back.

"Dave Smith" > wrote in message
...
> On 2014-10-18 12:54 PM, sf wrote:
>
>>>> It's still common to shop with cash here... in fact many shops
>>>> discourage card payments for small purchases under £10, because the
>>>> card transaction fee they pay erodes their profit margin.
>>>>
>>>
>>> It may erode their profit margin but OTOH, it may be a sale they would
>>> otherwise not have made. I was in a coffee shop one day last week and a
>>> guy paid for a cup of coffee to go with his credit card.
>>>
>> It was probably a debit card.
>>
>
> You are probably wrong. If he had said that he was putting it on his debit
> card I would have said that he was putting it on his debit card. He said
> he was paying with Visa.
>

many debit cards are Visa branded.

"Pico Rico" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Dave Smith" > wrote in message
> ...
>> On 2014-10-18 12:54 PM, sf wrote:
>>
>>>>> It's still common to shop with cash here... in fact many shops
>>>>> discourage card payments for small purchases under £10, because the
>>>>> card transaction fee they pay erodes their profit margin.
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> It may erode their profit margin but OTOH, it may be a sale they would
>>>> otherwise not have made. I was in a coffee shop one day last week and
>>>> a
>>>> guy paid for a cup of coffee to go with his credit card.
>>>>
>>> It was probably a debit card.
>>>
>>
>> You are probably wrong. If he had said that he was putting it on his
>> debit card I would have said that he was putting it on his debit card. He
>> said he was paying with Visa.
>>
>
> many debit cards are Visa branded.

As is mine.

--
http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/shop/

"Pico Rico" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Dave Smith" > wrote in message
> ...
>> On 2014-10-18 12:54 PM, sf wrote:
>>
>>>>> It's still common to shop with cash here... in fact many shops
>>>>> discourage card payments for small purchases under £10, because the
>>>>> card transaction fee they pay erodes their profit margin.
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> It may erode their profit margin but OTOH, it may be a sale they would
>>>> otherwise not have made. I was in a coffee shop one day last week and
>>>> a
>>>> guy paid for a cup of coffee to go with his credit card.
>>>>
>>> It was probably a debit card.
>>>
>>
>> You are probably wrong. If he had said that he was putting it on his
>> debit card I would have said that he was putting it on his debit card. He
>> said he was paying with Visa.
>>
>
> many debit cards are Visa branded.

Mine is a Mastercard. It could also have been a gift card. They do have
Mastercard, Visa, Disover, etc.

On Sun, 19 Oct 2014 22:19:55 -0700, "Julie Bove"
> wrote:

>
>"Pico Rico" > wrote in message
...
>>
>> "Dave Smith" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> On 2014-10-18 12:54 PM, sf wrote:
>>>
>>>>>> It's still common to shop with cash here... in fact many shops
>>>>>> discourage card payments for small purchases under £10, because the
>>>>>> card transaction fee they pay erodes their profit margin.
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> It may erode their profit margin but OTOH, it may be a sale they would
>>>>> otherwise not have made. I was in a coffee shop one day last week and
>>>>> a
>>>>> guy paid for a cup of coffee to go with his credit card.
>>>>>
>>>> It was probably a debit card.
>>>>
>>>
>>> You are probably wrong. If he had said that he was putting it on his
>>> debit card I would have said that he was putting it on his debit card. He
>>> said he was paying with Visa.
>>>
>>
>> many debit cards are Visa branded.
>
>Mine is a Mastercard. It could also have been a gift card. They do have
>Mastercard, Visa, Disover, etc.

My debit card isn't branded anything. It's just got the bank name on
it (Scotiabank).

Doris

On 10/20/2014 12:00 PM, Doris Night wrote:

>
> My debit card isn't branded anything. It's just got the bank name on
> it (Scotiabank).
>
> Doris
>

They use Visa but a couple don't show it.
http://www.scotiabank.com/ca/en/0,,8088,00.html

The numbers on the card determine where the charges go, no name needed.

> wrote in message
...
> On Mon, 20 Oct 2014 12:00:07 -0400, Doris Night
> > wrote:
>
>>On Sun, 19 Oct 2014 22:19:55 -0700, "Julie Bove"
> wrote:
>>
>>>Mine is a Mastercard. It could also have been a gift card. They do have
>>>Mastercard, Visa, Disover, etc.
>>
>>My debit card isn't branded anything. It's just got the bank name on
>>it (Scotiabank).
>>
>>Doris
>
> Mine too and my debit card rounds off to the next dollar, putting the
> balance into my savings account. Helps you save quite handily per
> month. My RBC debit card is also just that, a debit card, not married
> to anything.

I've done that since 1977 with every check I write.

Cheri

On 10/20/2014 1:41 PM, wrote:

>
> Mine too and my debit card rounds off to the next dollar, putting the
> balance into my savings account. Helps you save quite handily per
> month. My RBC debit card is also just that, a debit card, not married
> to anything.
>

Sure it is The numbers groups have meanings. First digit is 4 for
VISA, 5 for Mastercard, 6 for Discover/Diners Club, 3 for American
Express/Diners Club (those are shorter than 16).

In article >,
says...
>
> On 2014-10-18 12:54 PM, sf wrote:
>
> >>> It's still common to shop with cash here... in fact many shops
> >>> discourage card payments for small purchases under £10, because the
> >>> card transaction fee they pay erodes their profit margin.
> >>>
> >>
> >> It may erode their profit margin but OTOH, it may be a sale they would
> >> otherwise not have made. I was in a coffee shop one day last week and a
> >> guy paid for a cup of coffee to go with his credit card.
> >>
> > It was probably a debit card.
> >
>
> You are probably wrong. If he had said that he was putting it on his
> debit card I would have said that he was putting it on his debit card.
> He said he was paying with Visa.

Visa issues debit cards.

Janet UK

Janet wrote:
>
> Visa issues debit cards.

My debit card is Visa. They get their money immediately. I can charge
something with my debit and 5 minutes later get home and check bank
balance...that money is already gone. The bank wastes no time and
takes no prisoners.

G.

On Sat, 18 Oct 2014 13:55:25 -0400, Dave Smith
> wrote:

>On 2014-10-18 12:54 PM, sf wrote:
>
>>>> It's still common to shop with cash here... in fact many shops
>>>> discourage card payments for small purchases under £10, because the
>>>> card transaction fee they pay erodes their profit margin.
>>>>
>>>
>>> It may erode their profit margin but OTOH, it may be a sale they would
>>> otherwise not have made. I was in a coffee shop one day last week and a
>>> guy paid for a cup of coffee to go with his credit card.
>>>
>> It was probably a debit card.
>>
>
>You are probably wrong. If he had said that he was putting it on his
>debit card I would have said that he was putting it on his debit card.
>He said he was paying with Visa.

Visa has both credit and debit cards... I've had a Visa debit card for
many years but I've never used it, I'm sure I'd need to revalidate it,
more likely need to have a new one issued. Using debit cards is a
great way for people to nickle and dime themselves into debt. I have
an ATM card too, I've never used it. Just looked, my Visa ATM card
says good thru 05/04.

On 2014-10-18 4:24 PM, Brooklyn1 wrote:

>>> It was probably a debit card.
>>>
>>
>> You are probably wrong. If he had said that he was putting it on his
>> debit card I would have said that he was putting it on his debit card.
>> He said he was paying with Visa.
>
> Visa has both credit and debit cards... I've had a Visa debit card for
> many years but I've never used it, I'm sure I'd need to revalidate it,
> more likely need to have a new one issued. Using debit cards is a
> great way for people to nickle and dime themselves into debt. I have
> an ATM card too, I've never used it. Just looked, my Visa ATM card
> says good thru 05/04.
>

In which case we would likely have said that he was paying with debit
rather than saying he was putting it on his Visa.

On Sat, 18 Oct 2014 16:35:34 -0400, Dave Smith
> wrote:

>On 2014-10-18 4:24 PM, Brooklyn1 wrote:
>
>>>> It was probably a debit card.
>>>>
>>>
>>> You are probably wrong. If he had said that he was putting it on his
>>> debit card I would have said that he was putting it on his debit card.
>>> He said he was paying with Visa.
>>
>> Visa has both credit and debit cards... I've had a Visa debit card for
>> many years but I've never used it, I'm sure I'd need to revalidate it,
>> more likely need to have a new one issued. Using debit cards is a
>> great way for people to nickle and dime themselves into debt. I have
>> an ATM card too, I've never used it. Just looked, my Visa ATM card
>> says good thru 05/04.
>>
>
>In which case we would likely have said that he was paying with debit
>rather than saying he was putting it on his Visa.

It's never made a difference with mine, which I've had for about 15
years now. VISA debit or credit... makes no practical difference to
the merchant. They still get their money, one way or the other.

On Saturday, October 18, 2014 5:15:11 PM UTC-4, Je�us wrote:
> On Sat, 18 Oct 2014 16:35:34 -0400, Dave Smith
>
> > wrote:
>
>
>
> >On 2014-10-18 4:24 PM, Brooklyn1 wrote:
>
> >
>
> >>>> It was probably a debit card.
>
> >>>>
>
> >>>
>
> >>> You are probably wrong. If he had said that he was putting it on his
>
> >>> debit card I would have said that he was putting it on his debit card..
>
> >>> He said he was paying with Visa.
>
> >>
>
> >> Visa has both credit and debit cards... I've had a Visa debit card for
>
> >> many years but I've never used it, I'm sure I'd need to revalidate it,
>
> >> more likely need to have a new one issued. Using debit cards is a
>
> >> great way for people to nickle and dime themselves into debt. I have
>
> >> an ATM card too, I've never used it. Just looked, my Visa ATM card
>
> >> says good thru 05/04.
>
> >>
>
> >
>
> >In which case we would likely have said that he was paying with debit
>
> >rather than saying he was putting it on his Visa.
>
>
>
> It's never made a difference with mine, which I've had for about 15
>
> years now. VISA debit or credit... makes no practical difference to
>
> the merchant. They still get their money, one way or the other.

Your lack of knowledge of how the First World works never ceases to amaze me. Isn't it time for you to go feed the dingos, sally?

On 2014-10-18 5:15 PM, Jeßus wrote:
>
>>
>> In which case we would likely have said that he was paying with debit
>> rather than saying he was putting it on his Visa.
>
> It's never made a difference with mine, which I've had for about 15
> years now. VISA debit or credit... makes no practical difference to
> the merchant. They still get their money, one way or the other.
>

yeah but,... I was there when they guy said he was putting it (his cup
of coffee ) on Visa but sf was the one who said it was probably a debit
card. I guess she knows better because I was the one who was there.
?

Jeßus > wrote in
:

>>In which case we would likely have said that he was paying
>>with debit rather than saying he was putting it on his Visa.
>
> It's never made a difference with mine, which I've had for
> about 15 years now. VISA debit or credit... makes no practical
> difference to the merchant. They still get their money, one
> way or the other.

At the risk of probably repeating something that has already been
said, the difference is both to the consumer and the merchant.
Debit cards (mine is affiliated with my credit union) rarely if
ever charge the buyer for a transaction. If you use it to
withdraw cash at another bank's ABM, then yes you will be charged
an amount, usually stated before you complete the transaction so
you can choose to cancel. Amounts vary between 1,50$CDN and
2,25$CDN in Canada, more (gougier) in the US with fees of 3,00$US
or more. However, payment is immediate and withdrawal is
immediate so no lingering interest fees come to disturb the
repose of the weary shopper.

A credit card transaction, on the other hand, is fraught with
pitfalls, interest accruing, etc. Furthermore, the charges for
processing a transaction are a percentage of the overall
transaction. So if you buy a packet of chewing gum, it won't
kill you, but if you buy a brand new car, that amount will be
considerably higher than if you bought the same car and paid with
a debit card at 0$ fee for buyer transactions. The merchant may
have to pay something with a debit card but noth the buyer and
merchant will undoubtedly have to pay something when a credit
card is used.

Of course, this is in Canada. In the US, YMMV.

--

Socialism never took root in America because the
poor there see themselves not as an exploited
proletariat but as temporarily embarassed
millionaires. - John Steinbeck

Dave Smith wrote:
>
> On 2014-10-18 12:54 PM, sf wrote:
>
> >>> It's still common to shop with cash here... in fact many shops
> >>> discourage card payments for small purchases under £10, because the
> >>> card transaction fee they pay erodes their profit margin.
> >>>
> >>
> >> It may erode their profit margin but OTOH, it may be a sale they would
> >> otherwise not have made. I was in a coffee shop one day last week and a
> >> guy paid for a cup of coffee to go with his credit card.
> >>
> > It was probably a debit card.
> >
>
> You are probably wrong. If he had said that he was putting it on his
> debit card I would have said that he was putting it on his debit card.
> He said he was paying with Visa.

Well... I go to a small 7-11 type store often and know the owner. He
told me that customers using debit cards cost him nothing. Customers
using a credit card lands him a .50 charge for each transaction. For
this reason, he set a $5.00 minimum to use a credit card. No minimum
for using a debit...same as cash for him.

G.

G.

On Sunday, October 19, 2014 10:41:36 AM UTC-5, Gary wrote:
> Dave Smith wrote:
>
> >
>
> > On 2014-10-18 12:54 PM, sf wrote:
>
> >
>
> > >>> It's still common to shop with cash here... in fact many shops
>
> > >>> discourage card payments for small purchases under £10, because the
>
> > >>> card transaction fee they pay erodes their profit margin.
>
> > >>>
>
> > >>
>
> > >> It may erode their profit margin but OTOH, it may be a sale they would
>
> > >> otherwise not have made. I was in a coffee shop one day last week and a
>
> > >> guy paid for a cup of coffee to go with his credit card.
>
> > >>
>
> > > It was probably a debit card.
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > You are probably wrong. If he had said that he was putting it on his
>
> > debit card I would have said that he was putting it on his debit card.
>
> > He said he was paying with Visa.
>
>
>
> Well... I go to a small 7-11 type store often and know the owner. He
>
> told me that customers using debit cards cost him nothing. Customers
>
> using a credit card lands him a .50 charge for each transaction. For
>
> this reason, he set a $5.00 minimum to use a credit card. No minimum
>
> for using a debit...same as cash for him.
>
>
>
> G.
>
He is violating his agreement with the credit card companies if he
refuses to accept the card. It's fine to have a sign with the word
"please" on it, but if someone insists on paying for a $2 item with
the card, by agreement with Visa or Mastercard, he must let them.

Back when I worked at the church, there were 2 gas stations very nearby,
both of them with fairly high gas prices. If I was very low on gas, I'd
buy just a tiny bit, always less than $1, which would get me back home
and to cheap gas. One of the stations was an Amoco. I never bought gas
there, though I did have car repairs done there, and availed myself of
their free air. No, I bought the gas at the Phillip's 66 station across
the street because they put out campaign signs for nasty candidates at
election time--think Todd "legitimate rape" Akin. I knew that buying 95
cents of gas with my credit card was actually losing them money.

--Bryan

On Sunday, October 19, 2014 7:02:46 AM UTC-10, Bryan-TGWWW wrote:
> On Sunday, October 19, 2014 10:41:36 AM UTC-5, Gary wrote:
>
> > Dave Smith wrote:
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > On 2014-10-18 12:54 PM, sf wrote:
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > >>> It's still common to shop with cash here... in fact many shops
>
> >
>
> > > >>> discourage card payments for small purchases under £10, because the
>
> >
>
> > > >>> card transaction fee they pay erodes their profit margin.
>
> >
>
> > > >>>
>
> >
>
> > > >>
>
> >
>
> > > >> It may erode their profit margin but OTOH, it may be a sale they would
>
> >
>
> > > >> otherwise not have made. I was in a coffee shop one day last week and a
>
> >
>
> > > >> guy paid for a cup of coffee to go with his credit card.
>
> >
>
> > > >>
>
> >
>
> > > > It was probably a debit card.
>
> >
>
> > > >
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > You are probably wrong. If he had said that he was putting it on his
>
> >
>
> > > debit card I would have said that he was putting it on his debit card..
>
> >
>
> > > He said he was paying with Visa.
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > Well... I go to a small 7-11 type store often and know the owner. He
>
> >
>
> > told me that customers using debit cards cost him nothing. Customers
>
> >
>
> > using a credit card lands him a .50 charge for each transaction. For
>
> >
>
> > this reason, he set a $5.00 minimum to use a credit card. No minimum
>
> >
>
> > for using a debit...same as cash for him.
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > G.
>
> >
>
> He is violating his agreement with the credit card companies if he
>
> refuses to accept the card. It's fine to have a sign with the word
>
> "please" on it, but if someone insists on paying for a $2 item with
>
> the card, by agreement with Visa or Mastercard, he must let them.
>

Merchants can get away with minimum charges because most folks won't insist on it. I personally don't care for accepting charges because I get screwed from both ends from my bank and card processor. I also paid a hundred bucks or so for some PCI compliance BS. I like to take checks or cash - who the hell wouldn't?

OTOH, the merchant has little choice in the matter of people preferring to charge. After all, this ain't New York City.

>
>
> Back when I worked at the church, there were 2 gas stations very nearby,
>
> both of them with fairly high gas prices. If I was very low on gas, I'd
>
> buy just a tiny bit, always less than $1, which would get me back home
>
> and to cheap gas. One of the stations was an Amoco. I never bought gas
>
> there, though I did have car repairs done there, and availed myself of
>
> their free air. No, I bought the gas at the Phillip's 66 station across
>
> the street because they put out campaign signs for nasty candidates at
>
> election time--think Todd "legitimate rape" Akin. I knew that buying 95
>
> cents of gas with my credit card was actually losing them money.
>
>
>
> --Bryan