Travis County property tax service charge fee is insane!

[Trainwreck20]

And that got me thinking......I bet Wal-Mart has the clout to take on Visa/MC. If Visa/MC caved into WM that would open the flood gates for others.

I think all the CC companies base their fee on the volume that you process, so small retailer pay more (~3% last I saw a number) than the larger retailers (down to near 1%). Pacify the big ones, and no one else can challenge you.

And yes, the cost of CCs is included in ALL items when it cannot be broken out. Fortunately, the taxing authorities cannot do that and have to use your actual taxes due amount .

[hoffdano]

I worked for Shell Oil in the early 1980s. That was when Exxon offered a cash discount. Shell analyzed its customer base and realized that its best and amost loyal customers were its credit card users (not just Shell cards, but Visa, etc.). They concluded that offering a cash discount would instead harm its overall business by chasing its best customers away.

That is an example of how a particular business may make decisions concerning credit card transactions.

Those here who don't like the 1-2% charge buried in their purchase even if they pay in cash are probably a minority of customers for most businesses. I bet most people at Best Buy pay with a credit card. And Best Buy wants as many credit card users in its stores as possible.

Specs probably made their own analysis that somehow valued immediate payment (no delay getting paid by the credit card companies) so they are willing to deal with two prices for their products.

Using credit cards requires a lot of infrastructure - many computers, networks, security, card manufacturing, banking fees, cost of "float" etc. so it is perfectly reasonable to charge the merchants a fee, who can bury it in the price of goods. Visa could charge the card holder instead, but it would make the charges too visible.

It is insidious, just like income tax withholding.

[CptnRn]

Originally Posted by buffettjr

I cringe a little now every time I see the icon, because I immediately think it is an eepstein post.

[pjoseph2]

Paid by electronic check. Convenience fee was a bearable $16.

Also noticed how the tax rates from the various entities have crept up this year. Is this their idea of fiscal discipline? (rhetoric question)

Thankfully assessment values are down, for an ~2% tax increase from 2006. Your government at work.