Ah -- I didn't realize that. I haven't used it as a debit card much. If it's not going to cost me a quarter to use it as a debit card instead of a credit card, my objection to doing so goes away. (I lose the nebulous promotional points or automatic sweepstakes entry or whatever, but I don't expect those to actually amount to anything tangible anyhow.)
Secondary hint: if you need a small amount of cash and there aren't any friendly ATMs around, go to a supermarket and buy something with the debit card. They'll offer you cash from the debit card without a fee.
(Generally they are happy doing this for up to $40 when you make a small purchase, or up to a hundred or so if you are buying a lot of groceries.)
I used to fret that giving cash back was a burden on cashiers. I later found out that the situation is just the opposite. When the cash drawer accumulates too much cash, the cashiers are supposed to "strip" the cash drawer (basically, exchange it with a fresh one containing a small known amount of money for change making and so forth). But to do so, they need to get a floor manager or head cashier, which can be a very slow and frustrating process (accumulating well more than double the "strip" limit is common). So bleeding off excess cash is often actually doing them a favour.
I don't recall the details, but there is a big battle going on between the credit/debit card companies and the merchants over debit cards. The PIN transaction benefits one and the non-PIN benefits the other.
I think there's also some problem with processing dual mode cards, where it's not correctly identified as a debit (or is it credit?) card. My credit union stopped issuing dual mode cards for this reason.
Sorry I'm so fuzzy on the details. I read about this a few months ago and didn't have any reason to pay attention to the specifics.
Yeah. The credit card people (MC, Visa, etc) get a chunk (from the bank) everytime you use your card as a credit card. The bank gets one when you use it as an ATM and pay a fee. It's this big battle over who gets the money. I know some small vendors refuse to take credit cards (or make you buy a minimum dollar amount) because of the fees the cc companies charge for each swipe.
This explains the piece of paper I saw taped to a pump saying "if you want to make a credit card transaction push "no" when you see "Debit Card? Yes/No". Presumably that gas station has changed its default in the POS software at the pump. I find it very amusing to see an instance of corporate warfare emerge right in front of me where I can see it. :3
If anyone cares I believe it was the Exxon near Rips in Bowie MD
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(Generally they are happy doing this for up to $40 when you make a small purchase, or up to a hundred or so if you are buying a lot of groceries.)
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the situation is just the opposite. When the cash drawer accumulates too much cash,
the cashiers are supposed to "strip" the cash drawer (basically, exchange it with a
fresh one containing a small known amount of money for change making and so
forth). But to do so, they need to get a floor manager or head cashier, which can be
a very slow and frustrating process (accumulating well more than double the "strip"
limit is common). So bleeding off excess cash is often actually doing them a favour.
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The Weiss near my home has a limit of $200, the Super Fresh is $100, and the Safeway just asked how much I wanted.
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I think there's also some problem with processing dual mode cards, where it's not correctly identified as a debit (or is it credit?) card. My credit union stopped issuing dual mode cards for this reason.
Sorry I'm so fuzzy on the details. I read about this a few months ago and didn't have any reason to pay attention to the specifics.
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If anyone cares I believe it was the Exxon near Rips in Bowie MD
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