I know, with respect to local (Toronto) computer stores, all the prices they publish are "cash" prices. If you want to pay by C/C then it costs 3% more.
It's been done in the computer business for years.
What kills me is when Ebay whines that it's "not allowed" to ask for 3% more if you're using PayPal... Everyone else seems to think it's ok all around the world... and this was done even before Ebay bought PayPal. Mind you; in all my Ebay transactions, both in sales and in purchasing, I've included the fact that I could/would use PayPal to purchase or the buyer would/could use it to pay me by ensuring the prices are set accordingly.
That said, in dealing with individuals (i.e. non-Ebay) I usually don't ask that they cover the PayPal charges because I figure it's usually equipment that I'm not using and any money I get for it is a bonus :-) There was only one time I asked an individual to cover half the PayPal charges - and that was for a fairly large purchase and they happily agreed to it.
Visa and Mastercard have "regulations" which forbid merchants from charging more for a purchase paid for via credit card than for one paid by cash. If a merchant does that then they are in violation of their agreement with Visa or MC. Of course, the cc companies charge the merchant a fee for every cc sale, ranging up to 7% of the price I think. To cover the extra cost of the cc transaction the merchant charges everyone a higher price.
Penalizing merchants who charge a lower price for a cash transaction used to be illegal in the USA. I don't know what the law is now, but I'm betting it was changed...probably after a major lobbying effort on the part of the credit card issuing banks.
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Steve
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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