So there’s a locally owned chain of gas stations here in Yuma who offer a cash discount. Overall this seems to be a very popular offering based on the comments I hear around town and see in the letters to the editor of the local paper.
Conversely we also have AM/PM stations who charge a “credit/debit” surcharge. Which is almost universally despised and complained about at any opportunity by anyone who stopped at one for gas without knowing about it.
Essentially they’re both the same – you get charged more for using a card and pay less if you pay cash. Yet one marketed as a discount is loved by consumers while the other portrayed as a penalty is hated. Many times by the same people.
It never ceases to amaze me how easily some people let themselves be misled into lousy deals.
Totally agree. With the amount it takes to fill up a vehicle these days, carrying around $50 to $60 is like asking to be robbed. Another way to look at it is would you rather pay the 3 cent per gallon surcharge or pay the $4 ATM fee to get cash to save at the pump? Isn’t that a no-brainer! Paying 3 cents a gallon to use your debit card seems a lot cheaper to me. And I wouldn’t diss am/pm or ARCO if they had a sign posted somewhere that said, we will charge 75 cents if you use a card. Problem was that I used AM/PM and learned of the stupid fee after I was already done filling up. Tell me ahead of time about the hidden fees, then I might sign your praises…