Dealers charging a fee for using a credit card


I’m wondering if this is the new trend of dealers charging customers anywhere between 3 and 4% fee on the total sale if paying by credit card?   I was going to buy a brand new item online for 5K, but stopped dead in my tracks when I found I was going to have to pay a 3.9% fee for using my Mastercard!  The fee would have been almost $200.00!   Since this dealer has mostly online sales, it sounds like a big money grab to me. Between the 5K price, add $275.00 for shipping and 200 for paying by CC plus sales tax of $300.00, it would have cost me $5775.00.  I cancelled before I clicked send.  I called the dealer and was told that is the cost of doing business on the internet, so I basically told them to pound sand. 
 

Two weeks ago, I had all new brakes and rotors replaced on my 2020 Tucson with only 22K miles on it.  The bill was $1375 and I paid with my card.  When I got the statement, there was a CC fee of $37.00 added to the bill.  I went back to the Hyundai dealer and was told all businesses do this and he pointed to the sign.  I told them I saw the sign but paid with my DEBIT CARD, not a CC.  I was told it didn’t matter.  When I asked how many transactions were in cash, the service writer told me one out of fifteen pay in cash.  This makes me sick to my stomach.  
 

I would like to hear from others who have dealt with this. 

stereo5

For the youngsters on this forum, Yogiboy’s attestation aligns with my grey headed experience. For example, I’ve had this merchant surcharge added using AmEx since the ‘90s.

This is now common practice, including restaurants and government agencies. Some restaurants list two prices on their menus - one for cash and another for credit card payments. Similarly, in California, government entities such as those handling property taxes and DMV transactions charge credit card processing fees when payments are not made via ACH transfer. 

My dealer gives me from 15 - 20% off MSRP and will charge me 3.5% if using a cc but if I pay by check or Venmo no fee. Very reasonable IMO. 

@newton_john - I've got a friend from England, and every time he comes over for a visit, he gets very annoyed by sales tax being added at the counter. He says whatever the price is that the item is labeled as being, should be what it sells for!