Hello all, I'm new here and I have not searched the forum so I have little doubt that the 'subject' above has been discussed already. Having retired 2.5 years ago I knew my wife and I would be on a tight budget. No problems with that and I have been surprised at some of the support we oldies do get.
However, I had to 'toughen up' and I began asking, where appropriate, for a better price. I have also toughened up when someone wants to charge me EXTRA for using plastic. Now, I didn't invent the cashless society, but I have assimilated, but my assimilation comes at a price. I live in a country town in WA and I am finding that small business owners want to charge me extra because I am making a small purchase. The banks have been backpedaling on this practice but the business owners haven't.
My inclination (being a person more suited to being on the front foot) is to name and shame.
Would be interested in grey nomads views on this issue.
I am not sure what the answer is, just greed on the part of some businesses I think.
I have a debit card with Bendigo Bank but haven't found too many that do charge me, except one caravan park at Port Denison even thought they knew it was a debit card. I contacted Top Tourist as they were a member of that group, but I was told they had no control over it.
I've probably said too much already but we have to be careful about naming and shaming out of respect to the forum owner in case it has legal repercussions. There are a couple of forums where you can name and shame but I won't name them here.
Have you seen our GTG near Seabird on 6th September? You are most welcome to attend if you wish, see this thread or details;
It does cost the business to accept your card, so calling it extortion is 'a bit rich'. Their obligation is to make you aware of any charge and give you the choice.
There is no obligation to use it. They will still accept cash. They may even give a cash discount.
We can each make the choice.
Cheers,
Peter
sandsmere said
06:11 AM Aug 28, 2014
The answer is easy. Just carry some cash with you.
Allany said
07:44 AM Aug 28, 2014
You don't see too much discounting for cash these days
Allan
Phil C said
10:10 AM Aug 28, 2014
Welcome Sully
I carry the SA seniors card, pension card and DVA gold card. When I make a purchase I always ask for a better price and put my cards on the counter and tell then surely one of these gets me a cheaper price? I they say no I go to the next shop in the next town.
I am the same as Sully and will not pay the card surcharge!
When I was in business I was better off making a deal instead of leaving the item on the shelf, I hope the same thinking applies today.
BTW name and shame works for me, if we avoid the bludgers perhaps they will change their attitude, after all "the customer is always right"
Safe travels
-- Edited by Phil C on Thursday 28th of August 2014 10:12:13 AM
D and D said
10:21 AM Aug 28, 2014
We've stopped using our credit cards and EFTPOS other than for emergencies or really large purchases. We withdraw sufficient cash to meet our budget demands for the next week or fortnight or whatever and pay cash where ever we go - sometimes we have to pay a transaction fee if we can't find an ATM on our credit union's network but that's a one off. Haven't come across a business that's knocked back cash yet.
Golddetectornomad said
11:11 AM Aug 28, 2014
The customer may not always be right....but the customer always remains the customer....no customer no business.....I was involved years ago in setting up Bankcard in Business's when it was a new fangled device....we sold the concept to Business's on the basis that they would obtain extra business in addition to their cash business if they accepted Bankcard....and no bad debts from accepting cheques <remember when we used to write cheques?>....they built the price and the fact they had no bad debts plus the extra business gained into their final pricings....Business's were happy to set up on that basis...
Years later business's now believe they would get the business anyway so really are starting to overstep by charging THEIR fees by accepting a card....if they see they LOSE business once again by attempting to charge then it would force a business attitude change once again...
I agree with Phil C and walk out...if they are true business people they will not allow business to walk out the door.....unless they are in a Monopoly situation or the only business in Town that provides what you want.....
I have never paid an additional fee anywhere and not likely to start.....IMO..my naming and shaming starts as I walk out and let whoever is standing there waiting that their 'practice' is not condoned by the Banks and they don't deserve my business if they charge 'extra'......Hoo Roo
Sully said
11:34 AM Aug 28, 2014
Agree with every word. (I should clarify that in naming and shaming it should be taken for granted that I did NOT mean that it should be done on this forum, although it happens on Twitter and Facebook) I had a small number of careers in my working life, but one was Retail Management. I had a saying which I used inwardly.... "You NEVER lose ONE customer" I think I am a reasonable decent person, but if I am charged EXTRA then I usually make an audible comment that they should NOT be charging extra. If the Banks are saying that there is no justification ---- then there is no justification.
Bryan said
12:30 PM Aug 28, 2014
The banks that initiate and charge the credit card fee and make millions of dollars profit every year are the REAL RIP OFFS.
sandsmere said
01:11 PM Aug 28, 2014
Well said Bryan !The banks are where the anger stick should be pointer.
Golddetectornomad said
01:43 PM Aug 28, 2014
The Banks' set up the whole process which we now supposedly find convenient....<read essential>.they charge the business for allowing them to access the MasterCard/Visa etc process and thereby make sales they may never have otherwise made...it's a' user pays' system...however the user is not the customer..the user is the Business....and should be charged by the Bank's accordingly, and are......how many Business's now would be prepared to forgo using the system?..none I expect....
It's only when places like Aldi etc see that they have a captive audience in that their "likely" customers are "likely" to use credit cards that they see another opportunity to increase income....
Why do you think when interest rates generally go down that MasterCard/Visa never do..because the Banks know they have a captive debtor base that make minimum payments rather than clear the debt total...because they are not able to...so they give no quarter...same as Aldi etc.....
Aldi of course would justify by saying they are attempting to keep prices down for everyone and if you choose to pay by Card then you will be slugged knowing full well the majority of 'their' clients are very likely to have to use cards...
The real extortion is when you see your Bank offering an unreal deal for say 12 months for a non client to switch over their existing card debts to their card...and give a very low rate for say 12 months as inducement...and their existing ""loyal"" clients get to continue to pay full tote odds and even subsidise those that have not been clients...how obscene is that?...
They do it because they can......so will like business's UNTIL folk vote with their feet and walk..IMO..
My late Mum always said ..'don't expect fairness in an unfair world son'....she was right but at least I was hardened to questionable business practices at a tender age....for which I now thank her...Hoo Roo
Cloak said
04:22 PM Aug 28, 2014
Debit cards here we got rid of credit cards years ago.
To be fair I haven't noticed any additional charges to use a debit but having once run a business I can say there are merchant and rental charges
to set up with EFT / POS for the merchant. In my case they were simply absorbed into the cost of business so no matter how the customer paid
it was the same amount, that's right NO cash discounts... but the flexibility is there for the trader to do either.
I haven't been real remote in years so it wouldn't surprise me if there were some traders charging for EFT / POS in the sticks.
Last time I went to Tassie as it happens I got gouged everywhere I went from accommodation to fuel to pub meals cash or credit card.
Not sure what caused that maybe they were sick of mainlanders that month. Would I go back... hell yeah, wouldn't dream of shaming them.
I think there are too many small businesses in Australia that don't give a warm fuzzy feeling. Customer service, courtesy and manners will
soften a price issue every time. These operators just don't invest in staff training. What hope do they have if they kill off clients at their front office.
Anyway rant over.... too many years in sales and marketing and I go off when easy to fix matters like this continue to crop up in this day and age.
Cheers
Big Gorilla said
06:48 PM Aug 28, 2014
Book a flight online with Qantas, Jetstar, Virgin or Tiger and see how you go !!!!The highest charge I recall for use of a credit card is $8.50 per person per flight... I believe there are numerous complaints about this rip off lodged with ACCC...
Hello all, I'm new here and I have not searched the forum so I have little doubt that the 'subject' above has been discussed already. Having retired 2.5 years ago I knew my wife and I would be on a tight budget. No problems with that and I have been surprised at some of the support we oldies do get.
However, I had to 'toughen up' and I began asking, where appropriate, for a better price. I have also toughened up when someone wants to charge me EXTRA for using plastic. Now, I didn't invent the cashless society, but I have assimilated, but my assimilation comes at a price. I live in a country town in WA and I am finding that small business owners want to charge me extra because I am making a small purchase. The banks have been backpedaling on this practice but the business owners haven't.
My inclination (being a person more suited to being on the front foot) is to name and shame.
Would be interested in grey nomads views on this issue.
Bill
SEE ATTACHED
Welcome to the forum Sully, hope you enjoy it.
I am not sure what the answer is, just greed on the part of some businesses I think.
I have a debit card with Bendigo Bank but haven't found too many that do charge me, except one caravan park at Port Denison even thought they knew it was a debit card. I contacted Top Tourist as they were a member of that group, but I was told they had no control over it.
I've probably said too much already but we have to be careful about naming and shaming out of respect to the forum owner in case it has legal repercussions. There are a couple of forums where you can name and shame but I won't name them here.
Have you seen our GTG near Seabird on 6th September? You are most welcome to attend if you wish, see this thread or details;
http://thegreynomads.activeboard.com/t58190784/get-together-up-near-seabird-70kms-north-of-perth-67-septemb/?page=1#lastPostAnchor
There is no obligation to use it. They will still accept cash. They may even give a cash discount.
We can each make the choice.
Cheers,
Peter
The answer is easy. Just carry some cash with you.
Allan
Welcome Sully
I carry the SA seniors card, pension card and DVA gold card. When I make a purchase I always ask for a better price and put my cards on the counter and tell then surely one of these gets me a cheaper price? I they say no I go to the next shop in the next town.
I am the same as Sully and will not pay the card surcharge!
When I was in business I was better off making a deal instead of leaving the item on the shelf, I hope the same thinking applies today.
BTW name and shame works for me, if we avoid the bludgers perhaps they will change their attitude, after all "the customer is always right"
Safe travels
-- Edited by Phil C on Thursday 28th of August 2014 10:12:13 AM
Years later business's now believe they would get the business anyway so really are starting to overstep by charging THEIR fees by accepting a card....if they see they LOSE business once again by attempting to charge then it would force a business attitude change once again...
I agree with Phil C and walk out...if they are true business people they will not allow business to walk out the door.....unless they are in a Monopoly situation or the only business in Town that provides what you want.....
I have never paid an additional fee anywhere and not likely to start.....IMO..my naming and shaming starts as I walk out and let whoever is standing there waiting that their 'practice' is not condoned by the Banks and they don't deserve my business if they charge 'extra'......Hoo Roo
Well said Bryan !The banks are where the anger stick should be pointer.
It's only when places like Aldi etc see that they have a captive audience in that their "likely" customers are "likely" to use credit cards that they see another opportunity to increase income....
Why do you think when interest rates generally go down that MasterCard/Visa never do..because the Banks know they have a captive debtor base that make minimum payments rather than clear the debt total...because they are not able to...so they give no quarter...same as Aldi etc.....
Aldi of course would justify by saying they are attempting to keep prices down for everyone and if you choose to pay by Card then you will be slugged knowing full well the majority of 'their' clients are very likely to have to use cards...
The real extortion is when you see your Bank offering an unreal deal for say 12 months for a non client to switch over their existing card debts to their card...and give a very low rate for say 12 months as inducement...and their existing ""loyal"" clients get to continue to pay full tote odds and even subsidise those that have not been clients...how obscene is that?...
They do it because they can......so will like business's UNTIL folk vote with their feet and walk..IMO..
My late Mum always said ..'don't expect fairness in an unfair world son'....she was right but at least I was hardened to questionable business practices at a tender age....for which I now thank her...Hoo Roo
To be fair I haven't noticed any additional charges to use a debit but having once run a business I can say there are merchant and rental charges
to set up with EFT / POS for the merchant. In my case they were simply absorbed into the cost of business so no matter how the customer paid
it was the same amount, that's right NO cash discounts... but the flexibility is there for the trader to do either.
I haven't been real remote in years so it wouldn't surprise me if there were some traders charging for EFT / POS in the sticks.
Last time I went to Tassie as it happens I got gouged everywhere I went from accommodation to fuel to pub meals cash or credit card.
Not sure what caused that maybe they were sick of mainlanders that month. Would I go back... hell yeah, wouldn't dream of shaming them.
I think there are too many small businesses in Australia that don't give a warm fuzzy feeling. Customer service, courtesy and manners will
soften a price issue every time. These operators just don't invest in staff training. What hope do they have if they kill off clients at their front office.
Anyway rant over.... too many years in sales and marketing and I go off when easy to fix matters like this continue to crop up in this day and age.
Cheers
Book a flight online with Qantas, Jetstar, Virgin or Tiger and see how you go !!!!The highest charge I recall for use of a credit card is $8.50 per person per flight... I believe there are numerous complaints about this rip off lodged with ACCC...