#NEC-84 for $395!
11 messages in this thread
David,
I work for a bank and it is not allowable for a merchant to charge extra
for credit card purchases. It is also not allowable for them to set a
minimum purchase limit.
Each merchant signs an agreement with the credit card systems (Visa, MC,
Discover, etc.). All of these have language disallowing the above
practices.
I have found that by demanding that they follow their card agreements
usually gets me positive results.
Denny
Denny,
That's interesting. Maybe I'll call my credit card company and dispute
that portion of the bill.
Steve
Steve–Why dispute the charge? You got the merchandise at the agreed for
price. Do you think the vendor charged too much? His only error might
have been not correctly identifying the original price as "reflecting a
cash discount". All complaints are going to do is force those vendors who
want to sell at rock bottom to stop accepting credit cards.
Lewis,
>> Why dispute the charge? You got the merchandise at the agreed for
price. <<
You're exactly right. After putting up that post I regretted it. Erwin
gave me by far the best price on this CD player.
Steve
That may be, but the simple fact is that this guy has the best damn price
by a mile. He could charge 20% and still be cheaper. He is also honest
and ships as fast as the best of the mail order companies (PC Connection,
etc). I got my "backordered" CDR84 in a great big 3 days after being told
that he thought it would take a week.
I'd be happier if we applied "consumerism" to the policies of the card
issuers and not high value merchants.
–Jay <stepping off of soapbox>
Denny–YOUR MESSAGE IS DECEPTIVE AND MISLEADING. If you work for a bank
YOU KNOW or should know it is ILLEGAL for a bank to prevent a vendor from
GIVING A CASH DISCOUNT. The fine print the ads usually state the "the
listed price includes a cash discount and give a surcharge factor for the
non cash price" """I have found that by demanding…""" Many vendors will
give a customer an addiitional discount (and/or waive the surcharge) to
make a sale. If (as a banker) you don't like the concept of a cash discount
I suggest you limit your choice of vendors to those that charge the same
price and not try to bully a salesman with misinformation. BTW the same
banks that demand a vendor accept a credit card for any size purchase will
also charge the vendor more money if the average purchase price is below a
certain level. David I am sarcastic since YOU KNOW BETTER. –Lewis-
Lewis,
Calm down…
If you reread my original message, I do not mention anything about a cash
discount not being allowed. My message states that a surcharge for a credit
card purchase is not allowed.
There is a big difference here.
A merchant certainly has the right to offer whatever discounts he/she wants
off of the published prices. But again, the credit card agreements state
that they cannot charge extra for credit card purchaese.
I'll stand by my original statement. If you still dispute me, you can call
the customer service number of any of the major credit card issuers.
Have a great day!
Denny
Denny–I didn't mean to be rude, I re-read my message and your original. I
still believe your original message is (intentionally?) misleading. A
vendor has a right to offer a cash discount. A vendor has the right to
publish the net price (including the cash discount). Although I agree the
correct response might be the price in the ad is a cash price the credit
card price is $—. The fact that a CIS user (or a less than carefull
saleperson) expresses the difference as a "surcharge" the result is the
same. In effect the vendor can charge a surcharge he just has to call it
something else. BTW the banks are charging a more realistic rate most of
the vendors are no longer charging the surcharge (EXCUSE ME no longer
offering a cash discount.) Sorry for my sarcaustic tone but your original
message only gave less informed users worthless "legalese".
Lewis,
I'm sorry you consider this information worthless. However, those consumers
who go up to a cashier and whip out a credit card only to be told that they
will have 5% added to their bill because they're using the card will
benefit from this.
I personally have called the credit card companies about several merchants
in my area who continue to do this. Within a few days, the practice has
stopped.
These days, consumers need to be prepared with as much information as they
can. If this offends you, or is worthless information, so be it.
Denny
Denny–You may have a better knowledge of credit card procedures than I
have. We would all benefit if you would clarify the following points: 1)
Is it legal for a merchant to offer a cash discount? 2) Is it legal for a
credit card company to prohibit a merchant from offering a cash discount?
3) Is it legal for a merchant to list prices net of the cash discount? (I
assume the ad,brochure, price list give the appropriate disclosure) Your
message suggest (but are carefully worded) that such "dual pricing"is not
permitted, I was under the impression that they are.
Lewis:
There is also a little known law in Massachusetts that says that if a
merchant sells an item for X dollars to someone utilizing a credit card the
consumer can demand a discount for paying cash since the merchant would
otherwise have pai 3 – 6% to the credit card company.