Thread

1. unified101 · 1791017006 · focus · HN ↗

   The actual answer is there's operational cost to handling cash, or payment methods beyond the ones that cover 99.9% people well. You pay more for the extra hassle the whole system has to serve that .1%

   You may not like or disagree with it. But it's the true answer.

   1. bell-cot · 1791018258 · focus · HN ↗

      I don't know Britain, but in my part of America the extra costs of taking credit cards are so high that most gasoline (petrol) stations give a ~3% discount to customers paying with old-fashioned paper cash. And I know little grocery stores with signs by their register, asking customers to please pay with cash - because margins are tight, and the bank takes an X% cut of every credit card payment and a Y% cut of every debit card payment.

      1. graemep · 1791018452 · focus · HN ↗

         That is illegal in the UK.

         1. CGamesPlay · 1791018580 · focus · HN ↗

            I don't' know what "that" you're referring to, but in the USA it is against the payment processor agreement to give a discount for cash. So not illegal, but a contract breach.

            1. bell-cot · 1791018961 · focus · HN ↗

               The gas stations doing it have large, permanent roadside signage displaying the different prices for "Cash" vs. "Credit". So there may be exceptions in the fine print of those payment processor agreements. Or the gas stations all know the laws giving them such rights, which the agreements can't override. Or something.

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