CTY Computers - 3% surcharge if using credit card?

[awestruck]

Does anyone know if this store adds on 3% if you use a credit card instead of cash?

[duckdown]

Does anyone know if this store adds on 3% if you use a credit card instead of cash?

Most likely.. All these damn small Computer places do.. :(

[willy]

CC charges 2% ...

"Prices are in Canadian dollars. All prices have been cash/debit discounted, other payments are based on regular price."

[Jon Lai]

I don't know why it's a concern to people, there's really no reason that you need to pay via CC when the prices for these computer stores are so low already.

[ShadowVlican]

I don't know why it's a concern to people, there's really no reason that you need to pay via CC when the prices for these computer stores are so low already.
i know eh... some people just don't understand :|

[Sonbuster]

is it legal for them to do that? isn't that kind of like discrimination against people who use credit cards? not a serious question of course, butthink about it

[Jon Lai]

is it legal for them to do that? isn't that kind of like discrimination against people who use credit cards? not a serious question of course, butthink about it

How is it discrimination? Retailers are charged 2-3% fee for all credit card payments by the CC company, where usually, if you go to retailers like WalMart and Futureshop, they have to literally "suck in" the "loss". They can do that with bigger profit margins, but here, the smaller computer stores can't becuase their prices are low enough already, hense, they're saying that their prices are "cash discounted". In reailty, they're giving you the choice of what type of payment method to use.

[ynchu]

i know eh... some people just don't understand :|

Some people just love to spend the money that they don't have.
Others, they enjoy the extra warranty provided by their card, or collecting points.

There is nothing wrong with the second type of those people.

[gman]

How is it discrimination? Retailers are charged 2-3% fee for all credit card payments by the CC company, where usually, if you go to retailers like WalMart and Futureshop, they have to literally "suck in" the "loss". They can do that with bigger profit margins, but here, the smaller computer stores can't becuase their prices are low enough already, hense, they're saying that their prices are "cash discounted". In reailty, they're giving you the choice of what type of payment method to use.

I believe in their contract with the credit card company, it is written it cannot add surchage to penalize this method of payment. e.g. you are not supposed to charge more if somebody is using visa but the regular price if he uses master.

However, most shop can get away with it by saying it is cash discounted. You are allowed to give discount to certain method payment but you are not allowed to add surcharge to credit card payment (based on the contract).

On the other hand, if you complaint the surcharge to the credit card company, they will do nothing these days. There were more strict before.

[elty]

If you mind to pay the surcharge, go buy from somewhere else. You are the customer and you have the choice.

[Tharyn]

Yeah, they get around it by saying it's a discount if you use one method, but the *actual* price of the item is the price listed +3%.

--Mark

[ShadowVlican]

How is it discrimination? Retailers are charged 2-3% fee for all credit card payments by the CC company, where usually, if you go to retailers like WalMart and Futureshop, they have to literally "suck in" the "loss". They can do that with bigger profit margins, but here, the smaller computer stores can't becuase their prices are low enough already, hense, they're saying that their prices are "cash discounted". In reailty, they're giving you the choice of what type of payment method to use.
exactly.

Some people just love to spend the money that they don't have.
Others, they enjoy the extra warranty provided by their card, or collecting points.

There is nothing wrong with the second type of those people.
but there's something wrong with those people if they complain about this

i have nothing against them collecting points or extra warranty

IHowever, most shop can get away with it by saying it is cash discounted. You are allowed to give discount to certain method payment but you are not allowed to add surcharge to credit card payment (based on the contract).
bingo.

If you mind to pay the surcharge, go buy from somewhere else. You are the customer and you have the choice.
exactly..... go buy ur ***** from futureshop or bestbuy.... but don't go complaining you were ripped off :twisted:

[The Digital Dolphin]

I believe it's technically illegal to put a surcharge on credit card sales... most places get around this by giving a "3% discount" cash/debit payments, which is automatically taken off on their list prices (so you have to put it back on for credit card purchases).

[duckdown]

Whoa, it's the Dolphin :)

Haven't seen you in a long time, bud :)

[woof]

It is not "illegal" to put a surcharge on credit card sales. It is however almost certainly a violation of their merchant's agreement with the credit card companies. If they get caught their "right" to process cards could get cancelled and you can guess what happens to a business which can't process credit cards.

Cash discounts on the other hand are perfectly acceptable and are not a violation of credit card agreements.

The rule against surcharges is not uncommon - even on eBay sellers are not permitted to surcharge buyers who want to pay with Paypal. If someone complains about a seller surcharging then that seller's Paypal account could get cancelled (they will probably get a warning for a first offense).

[Kasakato]

CTY just starting accepting CCs about 8 months ago.

[akito925]

don't want to pay using cash, debit card.. but want to use your credit card to pay for it. well suck in that surcharge, if you don't like it, then shop somewhere else like bestbuy and futureshop where they have the retail products, but at a much higher prices $50 + or more and that credit card surcharges are included and hidden. lol haha

[felix]

don't want to pay using cash, debit card.. but want to use your credit card to pay for it. well suck in that surcharge, if you don't like it, then shop somewhere else like bestbuy and futureshop where they have the retail products, but at a much higher prices $50 + or more and that credit card surcharges are included and hidden. lol haha
Except we'd be using 20% discount gift cards instead. :lol:

[The Digital Dolphin]

Whoa, it's the Dolphin :)

Haven't seen you in a long time, bud :)

I've been busy... had a vacation somewhere in there as well :cheesygri

[Sonbuster]

yeah so i guess they give you a better deal if you opt to pay by cash. but if i wanted to buy a laptop or anything worth more than $1G, i'd rather use CC, b/c i just dont like carrying that much money in my pocket. another question that i have deals with the return policy. i've never purchased a laptop from these kinds of places before, but what are their return policies like? do they refund? and if so, do they just give you back your cash on the spot?


How is it discrimination? Retailers are charged 2-3% fee for all credit card payments by the CC company, where usually, if you go to retailers like WalMart and Futureshop, they have to literally "suck in" the "loss". They can do that with bigger profit margins, but here, the smaller computer stores can't becuase their prices are low enough already, hense, they're saying that their prices are "cash discounted". In reailty, they're giving you the choice of what type of payment method to use.

[ShadowVlican]

yeah so i guess they give you a better deal if you opt to pay by cash. but if i wanted to buy a laptop or anything worth more than $1G, i'd rather use CC, b/c i just dont like carrying that much money in my pocket. another question that i have deals with the return policy. i've never purchased a laptop from these kinds of places before, but what are their return policies like? do they refund? and if so, do they just give you back your cash on the spot?
most will not refund unless the product was defective

and most will not do cash back, rather store credit

this is to be expected.... their prices are MUCH lower, so of course they cannot offer the same return policy as the big guys whose profit margins are much larger

[Jon Lai]

most will not refund unless the product was defective

and most will not do cash back, rather store credit

this is to be expected.... their prices are MUCH lower, so of course they cannot offer the same return policy as the big guys whose profit margins are much larger

I agree, it's expected.

And I don't find a problem bringing a few grand of cash outfront. All my computers were either built myself or bought from these computer stores, and when I do buy from these stores, I've paid by cash, around $1.5-2K. Only problem is you'll have to get a teller to get the cash at the bank, because the ATM will only give you $500 a day, so you'll have to pay the bank for the teller fees if your account plans don't include it.

[Cafe_333]

but if i wanted to buy a laptop or anything worth more than $1G, i'd rather use CC, b/c i just dont like carrying that much money in my pocket.That's what debit cards are for - if you don't want to carry a large amount of money in your pocket. ;)

[evanx]

I just went to the downtown store today, the guy seemed really nice although I was asking questions and not buying anything (still planning my budget).