XPost: rec.arts.sf.written, rec.arts.books   
   From: lcraver@home.ca   
      
   On Mon, 12 Aug 2013 10:05:24 +0800, Robert Bannister   
    wrote:   
      
   >> Now a merchant who doesn't cover all his costs is out of business so   
   >> you know where those costs get passed along to.... in grocery stores   
   >> they used to work on a 1-2% margin because they were getting 'the   
   >> turns' but these days it's 7-8% mostly to cover card costs.   
   >>   
   >   
   >I don't know how much shop keepers get ripped off by the banks here, but   
   >I know that if they didn't accept transactions from saving accounts as   
   >well as from cheque accounts and credit, they would soon be out of   
   >business. Customers expect to be able to pay the way they wish and will   
   >quickly go elsewhere.   
      
   Well that's fine BUT again a merchant who doesn't cover their costs is   
   out of business and payment processing is a major element of their   
   costs.   
      
   I'm not contradicting what you're saying - but don't assume the   
   banking system is 'free' as it makes quite a serious impact on the   
   bottom line. This is particularly serious in the grocery business   
   where margins are smaller and their 'turns' are higher.   
      
   My understanding is that debit costs are lower in Canada than the US   
   and VISA/MC charges are lower in the US.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)