Quote:
It'd really cut into the bottom line of a lot of mini marts and gas stations if they couldn't take credit cards.

Stores actually have to pay for credit card transactions, so in reality, accepting credit cards is one of those things that cuts into their bottom line. Is a store's acceptance (or not) of credit cards really a factor in John Q Public's decision to shop there? I know it isn't for me -- especially with the prevalence of ATM/debit cards (and POS debit card transactions don't cost the merchant anything).

One of the busiest grocery stores in my neck of the woods doesn't accept credit cards at all, and it doesn't seem to be hurting their bottom line -- on the contrary, it seems to be improving it. Whether or not a small store would see similar result, I don't know. Arco (a west-coast gas station, a subsidiary of BP, I think) seems to do fine without taking credit cards, too.