Dealers charging a fee for using a credit card

Payment with credit cards that offer cash-back and other percentage-based incentives charge those incentives to the vendors, so it hits their bottom lines. Use of the cards has exploded because of these card features, and those are in addition to typical interchange fees that were about 2%. I have watched my own credit card exchange charges to my business triple over the last five years, to levels I find unreasonable because I cannot just raise prices to compensate. So I charge 4% for credit cards and, not surprisingly, people have returned to writing checks.

The major card companies have over a 50% profit margin (56% recently with Visa or Mastercard). Buyers eventually can expect higher prices or convenience/technology fees.

@chenry wrote:

So I charge 4% for credit cards and, not surprisingly, people have returned to writing checks.

... or walked away. 

Credit cards (and BNPL) bring to your business something nothing else can: customers who want what you’re selling but can’t afford it.

I think you’ll agree that that has a price too.

I have noticed this happening more and more. Someone started it and spread like wildfire. As far as I'm concerned that is their cost of doing business like it's always been and the debit card fee to them is less than c.c. Also have run into some places like the Verizon store that don't take cash.

Here in the UK retailers are no longer allowed to make additional charges for their card fees. That’s generally the case in the EU too.

Since the rules changed a few years ago, I’ve paid for pretty much everything by credit card. I hardly ever use a debit card or cash these days. That’s apart from things like utilities and subscriptions by direct debit or direct bank payment.

Illegal in Massachusetts....   can not charge more for credit vs cash.   Can offer cash discount.