Quote:
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.


With very few exceptions, only short sighted business owners don't take credit cards. Yes, they cost money to accept, but the vast majority of the population spends more when paying by credit card. I don't know how many times I've limited what I've ordered at a place that only takes cash because I only had six bucks on me. Items that aren't impulse purchases (like gas, utilities, rent, mortgages...) don't quite have the same effect, but they get the benefits of eliminating their accounts receivable, which any place that sends out bills will tell you is valuable.

Quote:
Either way, they always have the cheapest gas by a LONG shot.

Eh, about five to ten cents usually. I buy 12 gallons of gas usually, so I pay a fifty cent premium (approximately 1.5% of my gas costs) to use my credit card vs my debit card, and go to the gas station across the street that's empty instead of packed. Usually well worth it to me, though when traveling where I don't know the gas stations I'll frequently use arco.

Matthew