XPost: rec.arts.sf.written, rec.arts.books   
   From: gossg@gossg.org   
      
   YourName@YourISP.com (Your Name) wrote:   
      
   >> Most of our shops have signs up stating no card transactions under $10.   
   >> Some even have a $20 limit.   
   >   
   >I never seen a sign like that here in New Zealand. I have seen signs in   
   >some food retailers (fast food, local bakery, etc.) that won't accept   
   >credit cards and/or cheques for payment.   
   >   
   >I did once try to buy something that was "on sale" at something like NZ$2   
   >using my credit card and they said they "coudn't" process the transaction   
   >at the sale price on a credit card, but would  "have to" use the ful price   
   >instead ... probably quasi-illegal, but I was in a hurry and didn't have   
   >time to bother arguing about it with them, so I just put it back (I didn't   
   >have any cash).   
      
   The contract between the retailer and the card company here has all   
   sorts of language abouyt always charging the same price for card   
   purchases.  Of course in the negotiating process, before a price has   
   been established yet, he can ask you if you're gonna use a card.  For   
   a while gas stations had a "discount for cash" but that seems to have   
   disappeared.   
      
   Our debit cards are not visa/mastercard, and allow the merchant more   
   flexibility.  So I often see signs "no Interac purchases under $5",   
   and even occasionally a small surcharge (oin the order of $0.25) for   
   interac use.   
   --   
   We are geeks.  Resistance is voltage over current.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)