Credit Cards

Just a thought for the holiday shopping season. Spread the love this season, and let a little thoughtfulness guide your buying habits.

I know that a lot of you love the convenience of credit card shopping, but please think twice when you whip out your card in small, locally owned businesses. BTW, bank/debit cards are credit cards!
Did you know :
That credit card machines cost at least $900, and must be replaced every 2-4 years?
The business is charged at least $35/month to run the machine?
Each credit card transaction you make, costs the business at least 10% of your bill?
Corporate cards have an additional $1/transaction fee, in addition to the 10%?

AND my all time favorite. Do you know why we don't get new credit cards every year anymore? Because the magnetic strips wear out on your card, forcing cashiers to manually type in your credit card number. The devious credit card companies charge the business $1 every time a number is typed in. Please request a new card from your credit card company when your card will no longer scan.

Mom and Pop operations can't afford these charges. Most small businesses only accept credit cards because they have a few corporate customers, who shop big and can only pay by card. Credit card companies have become insidious in their quest to get people to use their cards. They offer thousands of different perks such as airline miles and cash back bonuses. Perks are paid for by the businesses, not the credit card companies. Thank the businesses, who accept your card, for your next trip to Aruba, or the down payment on your GM or Ford product! Feel free to screw over big businesses like Walmart by using your card, but think about these charges the next time you whip out your card in a locally owned small business.

Credit card companies won't allow businesses to add a surchage to credit card purchases, but I have come up with a plan for my boss to almost break even on her credit card transactions. I suggested that she raise all her menu prices by 10%. Then offer a 10% discount for cash transactions. All this would require is to program one of the extra buttons on our cash register as a -10% key. This would also defray the costs my boss incurs on all the checks she accepts. Our local banks charge business accounts a $1/check fee on all the checks she deposits in her account. I don't understand this policy. Why can I deposit unlimited checks into my personal account, but she gets charged $1/check? We have customers that write checks for $2.29 for a roll and coffee. After the check fee, my boss gets $1.29. Anyone can see that we just lost money on that customer!

My boss agrees that my plan would solve her problem. She even said that if we advertised a 10% discount for cash, we'd probably attract some new customers. BUT...she refuses to implement my plan. She says that the 2 afternoon waittresses won't be able to figure out this system. Whatever!

While I'm on the subject, I have one more axe to grind. PLEASE, don't insult your waiter/waittress by asking for your credit card receipt back, so you can put a zero in the tip column! We don't mind if you do this when you sign your receipt. But if you forget, just let it slide. I realize that you've heard horror stories about servers filling in outrageous tip amounts, but most people are honest and would NEVER risk losing their jobs over a few extra bucks in tips. Every credit card machine that we've had won't allow a tip to be entered that's larger than the bill. Keep track of your receipts; if there's a discrepancy, report it to your credit card company.

Feel free to follow these suggestions YEAR 'ROUND! Small businesses everywhere will thank you.