# Paying cash instead of CC-is it spreading? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 29, 2023, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paying-cash-instead-of-cc-is-it-spreading/993862 "2023-11-29T16:01:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paying-cash-instead-of-cc-is-it-spreading/993862/21 "2023-11-30T01:02:18Z")
Nope, not in Chicago. Cash is pretty rare in my social circle. A friend of mine will occasionally haggle at street festivals/craft fairs when buying from a merchant as they’re winding down for the day and will offer to pay cash, but that’s been common for quite awhile. It’s quite annoying that my hair salon is card only but the stylists only take cash tips. They won’t use Venmo any longer because Venmo caught on (or got forced) to not be a way to avoid taxes. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paying-cash-instead-of-cc-is-it-spreading/993862/22 "2023-11-30T01:14:25Z")
I know of two restaurants in my part of NY State that tack on an extra charge (3% I think) for using a credit card. In one case it’s a pretty new policy. Not sure about the other. Agree with it being pretty common at gas stations, but they give me the cash discount if I use a debit card as well, so I don’t have to run into the store. I agree with a couple of others that if I had to do that I probably wouldn’t bother to seek out the discount. I rarely carry much cash anyway. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paying-cash-instead-of-cc-is-it-spreading/993862/23 "2023-11-30T01:44:26Z")
There are several takeout places around here that add a surcharge for credit cards, and most gas stations show a discount for cash sales. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paying-cash-instead-of-cc-is-it-spreading/993862/24 "2023-11-30T05:05:41Z")
When I was first in Japan, shortly before or after the Jurassic Period, very establishments took credit cards. I was given an envelope with cash for my monthly pay. Now, our bank has an ATM fee so we pretty much pay everything with CC. There are only a few places that are cash only. Gas stations often are cheaper with cash, and the one I usually uses has prepaid cards, which you can add to, that is the cheapest option. ---
**Author:** ![RickG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rickg/32/5174_2.png) [@RickG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickG)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paying-cash-instead-of-cc-is-it-spreading/993862/25 "2023-11-30T05:20:11Z")
> [@echoreply](#): > > There is a brewpub in Boulder called Mountain Sun that only takes cash. My rule is that I always need to carry enough cash to pay for dinner at Mountain Sun. Do you live in Boulder? The Sun pubs have great beer, good food, and an annoying payment policy. I think they took CCs during the bad days of COVID, and one of their places still does take them, IIRC, but, otherwise, what a pain. ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paying-cash-instead-of-cc-is-it-spreading/993862/26 "2023-11-30T06:09:16Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > I do sometimes encounter gas stations that offer a discount for paying in cash. But that means I have to: > > - walk into the store > - wait in line for the cashier > - hand over cash, and wait for them to authorize the pump > - walk back to the pump > - after pumping, walk back into the store > - wait in line again to see the cashier > - wait for cashier to give me my change > - walk back out to my car > > If I’m buying $50 of gas and there’s a 3% discount for paying in cash, then I could save $1.50. I’d rather save my time by paying with my credit card at the pump. I believe that the only reason gas stations offer a lower cash price is to be able to put the **GIANT LIGHTED NUMBERS** up on their sign with the _itsy bitsy “cash price”_ disclaimer next to it. That way, they can lure people to the pump and be pretty sure the majority will just pay extra for the convenience. And around here, it’s not a percentage, it’s ten cents a gallon, no matter where the prices are. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paying-cash-instead-of-cc-is-it-spreading/993862/27 "2023-11-30T06:11:22Z")
> [@tofor](#): > > Retailers used to be forbidden by their contracts with the Credit Card companies from offering a cash discount. This was changed in 2010. I was unaware of this, and therefore have given out false information. My local Cajun butcher shop has posted that they have a 3% surcharge for debit/credit cards and I advised the owner that they were probably in violation of their CC agreement. Mia Culpa. Ignorance fought. I’m not aware of any local vendors that are CC/cash only, but I only have a few businesses that I’m a loyal customer to. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paying-cash-instead-of-cc-is-it-spreading/993862/28 "2023-11-30T11:17:10Z")
> [@Projammer](#): > > My local Cajun butcher shop has posted that they have a 3% surcharge for debit/credit cards and I advised the owner that they were probably in violation of their CC agreement. Mia Culpa. Ignorance fought. There may be, or may have been, a difference between offering a cash discount and charging a CC fee. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paying-cash-instead-of-cc-is-it-spreading/993862/29 "2023-11-30T12:52:14Z")
> [@echoreply](#): > > With service providers I always ask if there is a cash (check) discount. Service providers often offer me a cash-only discount… on the condition that I don’t ask for a receipt, if you know what I mean. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paying-cash-instead-of-cc-is-it-spreading/993862/30 "2023-11-30T13:03:13Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Still, I know of a couple places (restaurants) that will ONLY take cash even now. ([Charlie Beinlich’s](https://www.charliebeinlichsfoodandtap.com/) in Northbrook, IL and [Big Chicks / Tweet](https://bigchicks.squarespace.com/) in Chicago). There’s a few more I can think of off the top of my head: 35th Street Red Hots, Vito & Nick’s Pizza, Freddy’s Pizza in Cicero, Johnnie’s Beef in Elmwood Park (Arlington Heights takes CC). I do see some smaller convenience stores have a sign that says a surcharge will be added if you pay by card, or if you don’t order at least $10/$20 worth of stuff and pay by card, a surcharge will be added. And all the gas stations seem to have cash prices, as well, but that’s been around forever. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paying-cash-instead-of-cc-is-it-spreading/993862/31 "2023-11-30T13:03:34Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Service providers often offer me a cash-only discount… on the condition that I don’t ask for a receipt, At place where I buy gravel, sand, mulch, etc I always get their “best price” because the owner’s wife knows I pay cash and don’t need a receipt. My gf pays with a credit card and is always pouty about being charged significantly more. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paying-cash-instead-of-cc-is-it-spreading/993862/32 "2023-11-30T13:07:59Z")
> [@InternetLegend](#): > > I believe that the only reason gas stations offer a lower cash price is to be able to put the **GIANT LIGHTED NUMBERS** up on their sign with the _itsy bitsy “cash price”_ disclaimer next to it. This. The other similar trick is to have the **GIANT LIGHTED NUMBERS** be for regular gas. I can recall premium being 10 cents more per gallon when gasoline first spiked to about $2 (OMG11!!!1!) when I was in driver’s ed in high school. Talk about timing. Before I was driving and gasoline as 25 cents per gallon, the increment for premium was usually 2 cents. Right now, with regular gasoline around here maybe $3.50 to $4.00 depending on brand and neighborhood, the premium increment is pretty reliably 60-70 cents per gallon, but is sometimes a full dollar. And of course the first time you can tell the actual price of premium is after you’ve parked the car and gotten out to go stand close enough to the pump to read all the price displays. Probably half the cars on the road, and more in upper-middle class areas ~~require~~ prefer premium gasoline. Absent regulations, it’ll be a long time before any station is putting their premium prices up in **GIANT LIGHTED NUMBERS**. Oh, wait, this isn’t the mini-rant thread? Never Miiiiind! 😁 ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paying-cash-instead-of-cc-is-it-spreading/993862/33 "2023-11-30T13:17:34Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Probably half the cars on the road, and more in upper-middle class areas ~~require~~ prefer premium gasoline. Really? I thought most cars took regular. ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paying-cash-instead-of-cc-is-it-spreading/993862/34 "2023-11-30T13:58:50Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Service providers often offer me a cash-only discount… on the condition that I don’t ask for a receipt, if you know what I mean. Pretty common in Canada too, except that Canada Revenue Agency has gotten wise to this. When they audit a trade, say a roofer, they go to all the large building centers like Home Depot in the area and subpoena the invoices. Then they can go through the roofer’s taxes to find out why they used 25% more shingles than expected for the revenue reported. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paying-cash-instead-of-cc-is-it-spreading/993862/35 "2023-11-30T14:20:56Z")
It used to make a difference - it’s really only a framing/semantic difference but prior to around 2010 credit card companies allowed cash discounts but generally \* not a fee for credit cards . Which just means that stores, restaurants , catalogs etc would have statements saying that there was a X% discount for cash or list separate cash and credit prices as gas stations have done for as long as I can remember. Now the store etc can list the cash prices and have a notice that there is a 3% charge for credit cards. \* They did sometimes allow an additional fee for credit cards - for government agencies that legally could not absorb the fees the processors charged and for convenience. Ticketron could charge me a fee for buying tickets over the phone with a credit card but that was technically for the convenience of being able to avoid going to the box office in person. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paying-cash-instead-of-cc-is-it-spreading/993862/36 "2023-11-30T14:37:20Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > I do sometimes encounter gas stations that offer a discount for paying in cash. But that means I have to: > > - walk into the store > - wait in line for the cashier > - hand over cash, and wait for them to authorize the pump > - walk back to the pump > - after pumping, walk back into the store > - wait in line again to see the cashier > - wait for cashier to give me my change > - walk back out to my car > > If I’m buying $50 of gas and there’s a 3% discount for paying in cash, then I could save $1.50. I’d rather save my time by paying with my credit card at the pump. They hope, of course, that you buy other, more profitable stuff when you come in to pay cash. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paying-cash-instead-of-cc-is-it-spreading/993862/37 "2023-11-30T14:43:41Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > They hope, of course, that you buy other, more profitable stuff when you come in to pay cash. I wonder how that all shakes out in the end. If ten visitors pay cash for the $50 worth of gas each of them buys at a 3% discount , the owner has given up $15 in revenue. So now the owner needs those ten visitors to buy enough stuff to account for $15 in margin. I know the margin on gasoline sales is razor-thin, but I don’t have a sense of what the average margin is for all the other stuff they try to sell you in the store. If it’s 10%, then the owner needs those ten visitors to buy a total of $150 worth of merchandise to offset the cash discount they received on their gasoline purchase. Seems like a lot ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paying-cash-instead-of-cc-is-it-spreading/993862/38 "2023-11-30T14:47:27Z")
Of course some of those who insist on paying cash are too frugal to buy stuff at convenience store prices so what percentage of cash buyers get other stuff? ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paying-cash-instead-of-cc-is-it-spreading/993862/39 "2023-11-30T14:53:54Z")
There was a fascinating opinion piece in the NY Times recently about this, specifically as it relates to credit cards that have rewards, e.g. miles/cash back/experiences/etc. Let me see if I can gift link it… Here it is: [https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/04/opinion/credit-card-rewards-points-poor-interchange-fees.html?unlocked\_article\_code=1.CU0.\_QQl.ObDMhotJ9nBF&smid=url-share](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/04/opinion/credit-card-rewards-points-poor-interchange-fees.html?unlocked_article_code=1.CU0._QQl.ObDMhotJ9nBF&smid=url-share) Some quotes: > Credit card perks for educated, usually urban professionals are being subsidized by people who have less. In other words, when you book a hotel room or enjoy entry to an airport lounge at no cost, poor consumers are ultimately footing the bill. > In 2022, the Federal Reserve published data showing that the cost of rewards, as a share of total transaction volume on credit cards, increased 25 percent from 2015 through 2021. And here’s a key section: > But these high-income travelers are also less likely to carry balances that incur interest charges and late fees, which traditionally increase profits for card issuers. So, to offset the cost of paying lavish rewards to these consumers, banks have sought to maximize other usage-based revenues. > > Enter interchange fees, or the money it costs merchants to accept noncash payments. A recent study at [Stanford](https://luluywang.github.io/PaperRepository/payment_jmp.pdf) found that when credit card rewards increase, so do these fees. > > The United States now has some of the highest credit card processing costs in the world, typically at 2 percent to 2.25 percent of every purchase. This is eight to nine times as much as the prevailing swipe fee in the European Union. The vast majority of merchants [pass](https://www.kansascityfed.org/Research%20Working%20Papers/documents/7595/rwp20-18.pdf) these costs on to consumers by charging more for their products — regardless of how one pays. Some small retailers will try to offset these credit card fees by offering the cash discounts that others in the thread have been seeing. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paying-cash-instead-of-cc-is-it-spreading/993862/40 "2023-11-30T15:01:04Z")
Just based on profits, you might be surprised. It depends on what people are buying - if they are buying fountain sodas or bottled water, those are very profitable. McDonald’s can sell any size for dollar because their cost is between a nickel and a quarter for each cup. Coffee and brewed iced tea is even cheaper. If i go into the convenience store and pay $2 for a fountain soda, they’re making plenty. Not so much profit if people are buying diapers in an emergency. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paying-cash-instead-of-cc-is-it-spreading/993862.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paying-cash-instead-of-cc-is-it-spreading/993862.md?page=3)