Non-Cash Adjustment fee 3.5%

[SC Maintenance]

I just got charged 2 bucks for 2 waters(pop was only 1.99 ea).. that was not divulged on the menu.

Ya I had this happen also, I order just water and they bring me a bottle and charge for it. Isn't bottle water different than water? I have seen tap water listed on the menu with a charge, like an ice cup at the gas station - and I have no issue with this whatsoever. They can charge whatever they want, or whatever fees they want, so long as there plainly listed. Then I can choose to not order it, or leave before I order. Its like a bait and switch.

 

[Zee09]

I have never added any cc. fees to any customers in over 40 years. I see it daily and it's bad business.

 

[alarmguy]

11% tax!

Curious, when you went back to the register and couldn’t find it mentioned, did you ask if was posted anywhere?

Yeah that’s the tax in the Myrtle Beach area for prepared food too.

 

[wag123]

Nickel and diming is annoying. They are also competing against establishments that don't have that fee.

What they should do is just raise their prices and advertise a 3.5% discount for paying cash. I have seen places do that.

I can certainly understand why a small business does this. For a struggling business, those credit card fees can really add up.
Charging a surcharge for using a credit card is a violation of the businesses contract with the credit card processor and can result in their termination. Offering a discount for cash is the ONLY way they can do this without violating their contract. This is how many gas stations are now doing it, which leads me to a pet peave, gas stations listing the cash price on their federally mandated sign.

 

[SubieRubyRoo]

There is a local chain of deli's we used to frequent, but stopped when there prices got out of control. We decided to go there a couple days ago nonetheless, Ordered 4 sandwiches and free water - 50 bucks about as expected. They did the "spin the ipad" and suggested 18, 20 or 22% tip - I manually entered 5 bucks - and asked for a printed receipt.

At the table I noticed this 3.5% "non cash adjustment fee." Now I understand what its for and why, and actually don't have a problem - if they had a sign. They didn't. I went back up looking for the sign I missed, no sign.

So I would have been happy to pay cash had I known, I always have it. My guess is they don't want to handle cash, and they don't want to pay the banking fee themselves either, so they simply rip their customers off. Charging a fee without publishing it is fraud in my way of thinking. So now I feel ripped off. I doubt they care, better to collect 3.5% from everyone and irk a few old farts.

What say you?

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Just think of the implications of this as they’re promoting and even forcing a cashless society in some places. Removing options and charging you extra for the “privilege” of not carrying cash.

Not that I want to pay more for anything, but if they were smart, they would raise all their prices by 3.5%, and then offer a cash discount rather than adding more fees, if they so chose. Still, 3.5% is more than what they’re charged by CC companies, so it’s even more BS.

 

[RaymondP]

In some countries in Europe it used to be illegal to charge a different (higher) price for using your credit card versus cash. Not sure if this rule remains, but was a surprise to me, particularly when paying for gas (petrol) when I arrived here in the US. May be wrong but the differential seems more than an adjustment that would compensate for the businesses credit card fees.

 

[PimTac]

I can certainly understand why a small business does this. For a struggling business, those credit card fees can really add up.
Charging a surcharge for using a credit card is a violation of the businesses contract with the credit card processor and can result in their termination. Offering a discount for cash is the ONLY way they can do this without violating their contract. This is how many gas stations are now doing it, which leads me to a pet peave, gas stations listing the cash price on their federally mandated sign.

I remember when ARCO first started the separate cash and credit pricing. I never used them for that reason. Now, everyone is doing it here but most stations clearly say Cash Price on the big signs. The plethora of rewards programs must be having an effect.

 

[Fla]

There is a local chain of deli's we used to frequent, but stopped when there prices got out of control. We decided to go there a couple days ago nonetheless, Ordered 4 sandwiches and free water - 50 bucks about as expected. They did the "spin the ipad" and suggested 18, 20 or 22% tip - I manually entered 5 bucks - and asked for a printed receipt.

At the table I noticed this 3.5% "non cash adjustment fee." Now I understand what its for and why, and actually don't have a problem - if they had a sign. They didn't. I went back up looking for the sign I missed, no sign.

So I would have been happy to pay cash had I known, I always have it. My guess is they don't want to handle cash, and they don't want to pay the banking fee themselves either, so they simply rip their customers off. Charging a fee without publishing it is fraud in my way of thinking. So now I feel ripped off. I doubt they care, better to collect 3.5% from everyone and irk a few old farts.

What say you?

View attachment 163184

My understanding is that by Federal Law, they (everyone in the US) MUST accept US currency for any debt or financial obligation. I would simply offer to pay them in cash and let them deal with it. If they can't or won't, then tell them to remove the charge. End of Story.

When I was going to college one of the campus stores wouldn't take cash. But if you insisted, they would send you over to the main finance department in the main building and you could pay there and then take the reciept back to the store and pick up your merchandise. It was a great inconvenience but it meet the letter of the law.

 

[wag123]

Just think of the implications of this as they’re promoting and even forcing a cashless society in some places. Removing options and charging you extra for the “privilege” of not carrying cash.

Not that I want to pay more for anything, but if they were smart, they would raise all their prices by 3.5%, and then offer a cash discount rather than adding more fees, if they so chose. Still, 3.5% is more than what they’re charged by CC companies, so it’s even more BS.

Not necessarily. The fee that the credit card processors charge is based on the average transaction amount. 3.5% is the typical highest fee that they charge and is tied to a low average transaction amount, like for a fast food restaurant's transactions. That fee goes down to about 1.25% if the business has a high enough average transaction amount, like for a furniture store.

 

[thastinger]

They make 2% on every transaction with that because point-of-sale swipes/chips are 1.5% transaction fee tops

 

[Fla]

Your lucky it’s only 3.5%
Nearly all restaurants, bars and small businesses charge a credit card fee or give a cash discount in this area.
I always ask now because if they announce it it’s in the women’s rest room or in small print somewhere.

And this isn’t new, 2008 era multiple restaurants went back to cash or local check only, no cards.

$50 bills are the new $10’s which is irritating but I’m back to having to carry cash since I refuse to pay up to 6% for plastic and it’s a good way of avoiding the 35% recommended tip that you have to manually override



I end up paying a tip on takeout and fast food because it takes longer to remove (pay cash and :0 easy no tip)

Usually 10% is the minimum with some places wanting a buck.

The one that got me was being on a trip going inside to pay at a gas station and being asked for a tip on the screen.

I think that today a LOT of businesses are just asking everyone for a tip. And then standing back and seeing how many gullible people give them one for basically just doing their job.

No, I am paying a tip the counter-boy at McDonalds for handing me a sandwich in a paper bag that he didn't have to make and that all he had to do was to pick up out of a rack and put into a bag!

I noticed that several of the local DYI auto parts stores also have signs up "suggesting" what I would call "overly generous" tips.

 

[thastinger]

They should have a sign, but on the flip side most places just bump the price up by their average transaction fee and at most offer a cash discount. At worst, none at all.

They are bumping the prices AND charging the fee.
I'm betting they didn't lower all their prices by 3.5% when the law changed so that retailers could charge the customer more for CC transactions, so the CC fee was already baked into their final price...then they also added the fee.

 

[thastinger]

For a long time I would never take a water eating in a mall or at any “faster” Asian restaurant because I got burned several times getting charged for tap water.

It was not posted as tap water $1, other places will automatically give you bottled and charged.

I usually have my own drinks in my car so I take nothing because I don’t want to argue over $1 tap water.

The Asian places at fault were always surprised when I said I don’t want any drink.

I always had to remind my folks not to take a water either at those places.

The overwhelming majority of bottled water IS tap water.

 

[wag123]

They are bumping the prices AND charging the fee.
I'm betting they didn't lower all their prices by 3.5% when the law changed so that retailers could charge the customer more for CC transactions, so the CC fee was already baked into their final price...then they also added the fee.

Negative. There was never a law that prohibited businesses from charging more for credit card transactions. This is something that the credit card processors prohibited.

 

[GON]

Pic? What sandwich costs $10.50 each? I mean I picked up a hot porchetta sub for lunch at an Italian shop for $9 today. And I ain't paying a tip on carry out.

 

[SC Maintenance]

I think that today a LOT of businesses are just asking everyone for a tip. And then standing back and seeing how many gullible people give them one for basically just doing their job.

I grew up dirt poor and my mother would work as a waitress at times to make ends meet. Since I can afford to I find it exceptionally difficult to not tip for food service.

They have almost convinced me otherwise. I blame it on the world changing, not me.

 

[Rand]

s

Ya I had this happen also, I order just water and they bring me a bottle and charge for it. Isn't bottle water different than water?

Mine was tap water.

 

[SevenBizzos]

Yes, the surcharge is becoming common. I don't like the practice. I just don't go back to those places.

 

[Fla]

I grew up dirt poor and my mother would work as a waitress at times to make ends meet. Since I can afford to I find it exceptionally difficult to not tip for food service.

Same here. I started worked in restaurants in my early teens (15 or so) so I do empathize with the waiters and waitresses and I do tip them well but I'm not going to tip some bloke behind the counter that merely hands me something. I worked in McDonalds for part of one shool year and I NEVER saw anyone in there get a tip. This tip-everybody attitude is a recent phenomenon.

They have almost convinced me otherwise. I blame it on the world changing, not me.

 

[Quantico]

There is a local chain of deli's we used to frequent, but stopped when there prices got out of control. We decided to go there a couple days ago nonetheless, Ordered 4 sandwiches and free water - 50 bucks about as expected. They did the "spin the ipad" and suggested 18, 20 or 22% tip - I manually entered 5 bucks - and asked for a printed receipt.

At the table I noticed this 3.5% "non cash adjustment fee." Now I understand what its for and why, and actually don't have a problem - if they had a sign. They didn't. I went back up looking for the sign I missed, no sign.

So I would have been happy to pay cash had I known, I always have it. My guess is they don't want to handle cash, and they don't want to pay the banking fee themselves either, so they simply rip their customers off. Charging a fee without publishing it is fraud in my way of thinking. So now I feel ripped off. I doubt they care, better to collect 3.5% from everyone and irk a few old farts.

What say you?

View attachment 163184