Op-Ed by Levi Margolin
Ever walk into a Brooklyn store or eatery (or any store for that matter) to purchase a can of soda or a quick sandwich?
You brought your item to the counter, got rung up and the total is $1.39. Or $4.39. Or even $9.39. You pull out your credit card to make your purchase. But wait, the cashier then informs you, “Oh sorry, we have a $10.00 minimum for credit card purchases.” (Or sometimes, you may even find “Oh, there is a $0.50 surcharge for credit card use).
Yes, in the stores I refer to, it happens with all cards, be it an American Express, a Visa card, a Discover card or even MasterCard. You know, we have all experienced this, and most of the time, we actually do drag ourselves around the store collecting a few extra things we don’t need. Or we might possibly add a french fries to that order that we don’t really want, and probably shouldn’t be eating.
Well, after experiencing this in 4 different stores in our very own neighborhood today, I decided to take a look into the issue. You’d be surprised at what I found. Well, actually, the findings aren’t so surprising themselves; it’s the stores in fact that shock me.
Dearest patrons of local stores and eateries, it’s time you knew your rights as the carrier of one of these cards.
After some quick research, it was certainly not hard to find the information I was looking for. Three of the four major credit cards generally accepted around town (American Express and Discover of course being a little less popular) do not allow a merchant to set a minimum purchase for their card to be used. The only slight exception is that of American Express.
Visa: Visa clearly prohibits the establishment of a minimum purchase for a merchant that accepts their card as a form of payment. Quoting from usa.visa.com, “Visa merchants are not permitted to establish minimum transaction amounts, even on sale items. They also are not permitted to charge a surcharge fee when you use your Visa card.” This is actually stated in the guidelines presented each vendor when they first begin to accept Visa.
MasterCard: Merchants accepting MasterCard are required to follow the acceptance rules. At Mastercard.com it states that the MasterCard acceptance rules “prohibits merchants that accept MasterCard cards from establishing any minimum amount below which the merchant won’t accept payment via MasterCard card.” They also specifically prohibit the practice of charging a fee for using the card.
Discover: When pressed by MainStreet.com, as to whether a place accepting Discover can set a purchase minimum, Discover answered briefly and to the point. ““All I can share with you is that this practice is prohibited under our merchant regulations” a Discover representative stated.
American Express: An American Express representative, also in a statement to MainStreet.com, in reference to the same question stated, “We don’t prohibit minimums but discourage it because it’s not consumer-friendly. However, we require parity with other products.” That means a merchant can’t impose a minimum on American Express Cards and not on Visa or MasterCard. That in turn means that there cannot be a minimum on AmEx either, as the other three prohibit it.
It’s time we actually knew that we were in fact being “scammed” by our very own neighbors.
One thing you can always try is to challenge the vendor by stating that you actually know these rules. Sometimes they will cave and accept the “low charge.” Other times, you may need to threaten to report them to the credit card company. Of course, choosing to not make the purchase at all always sends a good message.
This isn’t about cheapness or the idea of outing fellow Crown Heightsers’ little secrets. This is about fairness and the idea of people knowing their rights, and the privileges they deserve. It’s actually quite amazing to think that Lubavitchers would act in such a way towards other Lubavitchers. For them it’s about wanting to make a few extra pennies. For me, it’s about wanting to buy a can of Diet Coke, even when I don’t have cash.
Sorry folks, but according to the rules, my want, wins.
Many CH stores overcharge. So what if they lose a few cents from the overcharge by accepting credit card? Many items have a price printed on the package by the manufacturer. In most places, the price charged by the store is actually 10 to 30 percent lower than the mfg sugg retail price. Many stores paste a labe with the chaeaper price right over the manufacturer’s printed price. Crown Heights is the only place in the world where I have seen items sold in stores, with a sticker over the mfg sugg price that is HIGHER than the printed price.… Read more »
Your logic is basically saying that the busiest grocery store in crown heights, has every right to penalize the credit/debit card user – EVEN THOUGH ITS ILLEGAL!
There’s something wrong with that!
The consumer already has to pay every single tax in the book.
Why doesn’t empire grill or kahans have a minimum?
because THEY grew up and learned to swallow the fees involved with the business.
There is no way that it is right to charge your brother another 30 cents plus make a minimum!
It just doesnt fly!
Firstly, It was very respectable of you to put in your name. Although I understand that it’s agains the policy, as a user of cc proccesing myself I can see why the owner of a food establishment would feel the need for such a policy. When you’re paying .25 cents just to swipe plus 2-5% that can be most or all of the profit of a small order and for those kind of stores that have a lot of small ticket items it can add up and eat away their profits. I think of those signs as a request from… Read more »
They do have it!!! Check out the like botton right above the comments!!!!
It has nothing to do with the percentage and everything to do with the swipe charge. Vendors build the 2% fee into their overall margins but a swipe fee of 25 cents on a one dollar item basically wipes out the stores profit on that sale. It’s ridiculous to see people comparing a small mom and pop business to Starbucks. Starbucks doesn’t pay a swipe fee anywhere close to what a small store pays so it’s really not a fair comparison. Don’t hide behind the official rules of the Visa and MC because there are obvious legal ways around it… Read more »
I wish COL had a “like button” like Facebook has, I bet this article would get the most likes!
i’m not sure what you want.. you want the merchants to raise prices to cover this ? and those that pay with EBT (food stamps) should suffer ? seeing as merchants cannot charge more for using a CC ?
Consumers have rights yes.. and these rights are abused.. and it hurts the consumers in the end.. same way the new credit card laws will hurt the consumer.
If you hurt the merchant, they retaliate by raising prices and all lose.
The law is the law. Consumers have rights and we are protected by such laws. We don’t care what the company charges you, like when things are purchased at $5.00 and store owners pay $2.50 per item. Just like with rent increases and residents rights, THE LAW IS THE LAW.
Get off your high horse!!!!
To 83-
“What you can do is, go to vaad hakahol and propose a fair price doctrine ”
That would be price fixing, which is illegal.
well said!!!
I dont own any stores and would never own a retail brick and mortar store even if offered for free, for this reason.. I would love to see what line of work those commenting are in.. what right does a plumber have to charge 75$ for 30 min of work?!? First study the mechanics of business, then study each individual.. #82 is a prime example.. maybe the store owner has kids to feed too? daughters to marry off ? Oh I know it all boils down to everyone being jealous of the owner. I sell items online marked up 500%… Read more »
CH stores charge abnormal prices on groceries; they can’t convince me that swiping a cc on a small purchase charges them they’re entire profit! Most other stores make profit on close to 3/4 or 1/2 the price!
And to fellow commenters, PLEASE insert punctuation!
Do it for yourselves, so that we can understand you and hear your points!
i Recently Got A Chase Debit Card in The
Same Envelope As The Card Comes A Promotion
For A Reward Program. How Does The Rewards
Program Work When You Swipe Your Card it
Says Debit Or Credit You Click Credit And
Then You Get Points.(its Not Even A Good
Program You Get 1 Point For 5 Dollars Spent)
A Merchant Doesn’t Get Charged For Debit Card
Swipe So Chase Makes A Reward Program A Get
People To Charge Credit. There is No Reason
Why You Shed Charge The Merchant Extra Fees
Maybe Then CH Stores Wont Make A Minimum
No Crown Heights shops take manufacturers’ coupons either. (But that’s legal.) It’s challenging to run a small business, but somehow there are many others in the US who manage to run small businesses without nickleing-and-dimeing like this, and without being so hassle-averse with their customers. It’s an attitude that the customers exist solely to support the businesses — not very Torah-dike, IMHO. The businesses exist to serve the community and PS they make their parnassah in the process. One might argue that these same small businesses give a lot of tzedaka, donating prizes for auctions, etc. But if these businesses… Read more »
I dont really know any CH business’s personally so I dont care to defend them.. but your attacks are not logical Many many businesses over the country have a 5-10$ minimum. Many new york stores scam you by not accepting credit cards and your stuck with the 2$ ATM fee. Your sole solution is to shut up and carry cash.. “fighting” the stores will not win you much. Regarding starbux, study their business charts and cost per goods etc.. they can well afford to swipe your cc on a 1$ cup.. the same way they offer free refills, they dump… Read more »
of it the other way.
they will give a reduction if u pay in cash!!!!
its a two way street!!!
our fish store doesn’t take credit cards. then they opened a restaurant so has to take cards, but doesn’t let you put a tip on it, so i had no cash and the waiter got no tip. I look bad, but its the store’s fault.
i was on in MANHATTAN, same 10 minimun in a little corner store grocery. its a survival mechanism for small businesses. nothing personal. you dont like it. dont shop there.
this happens in LA in gentile stores all of the time like boutiques etc. not exclusive to your area, but remember small mom and pop stores who make pennies on your purchase can actually lose money if your purchase is so small and they then pay three percent to visa. you have to have a heart.
Mr. Ellinger, I’d like to know which business in CH is yours, so I can stay away from it and your rotten attitude. Since when is it menshlich to carry cash? Wouldn’t it be more menschlich to actually pay your way? Pay your bills? Not be on welfare, etc.? My son’s school allows us to pay tuition with a credit card, but they told us up front, we have to pay a 2% fee for doing so. Let the stores post that in their windows or at the cash register instead of letting a person know at the last minute.… Read more »
You are actually scamming the stores when you buy a water botttle with a credit card. Why should they get hit with the extra $.30 charge. Give them a break. They also have rent and other bills to pay!
not everyone has that rule. sterling electronics takes cards for even $1
With the passing of the CARD act several months ago, the law will change and merchants will be allowed to charge a minimum. I can’t remember the exact start date, but you can read more about it on consumerist.com. In my personal experience when I have told vendors (all over the country and NYC, not just CH) that being charged a minimum is in violation of their merchant agreement and that they must accept the card you will get a variety of reactions. Some will swipe your card, some will say this is their rule, and some will say I… Read more »
If you are really concerned about the issue, you should discuss it with a rav, maybe with the store owners present.
For example a school that has to pay their teachers and certainly do operate on a deficit, must charge a cc fee on cc tuition payments to survive.
Not to mention that every traffic fee that I pay online comes with a $2 ‘cc convenience fee’.
I live in London, England and find some of the Jewish stores have a £10 minimum and IKEA charges a 70 pence surcharge no matter what size the purchase. It’s not just in CH or Miami, but seems to be world wide!
Did anyone ever research the debit card charge minimum allowance I always encounter this issue when using mine and wonder why its not treated like cash. anyone know???
I find they also want a $10 min. purchase for using a debit card which is really annoying cuz I really use my debit card as a cash purcase what r the laws ??? does anyone know????
We’re talking about credit cards here. Have you ever seen a credit card bounce before?
So say you want to make a purchase of $3.45, the fees to the store would be roughly $0.25 + %3 = 0.35 cents. A purchase of $5 would be 0.40 cents in fees, $10 would be 0.55 cents. True that when there is a $5-10 purchase there is more profit because they are selling more merchandise but is it really worth it for the store not to take a credit card when the differences is only 5 cents!? If you don’t make that purchase they will loose more in revenue… I just don’t get it. RE: ‘be a mentch… Read more »
In the crown heights grocery I have needed to threaten them to take it or else I would report them, however I went to a store in Boro park and I went to the cashier and the lady kindly asked if I have a different card (visa, mc – not Amex) if I can use it instead. This is the proper way to approach the issue. STORE OWNERS: Suggesting is legal and friendly…if you show you care for the person and are only asking them for a favor, to save you some money, they are more likely to help you.… Read more »
While we do care about merchants, it is not fair that they are doing this. They should accept any purchase amt, but put up a sign that it costs them when we use cards below a certain amt. Most people would try to have cash for small purchases because we all care about each other, but it is not fair when someone really needs something and is forced to buy extra stuff because they only have a card.
You compare ohio, the cost of business there is lower, the traffic is lower, some merchants can swallow it, new york can’t, if your foot traffic is very high with folks buying 1-2$ on cc clogging your store, if u live in ny, carry 5$ at all times, your loss
theres a cleaners on 13th avenue will not swipe your card unless there is miniimum $20 TRANSACTION
It’s easy to blame the store & business owners isn’t it? Look at it from their side on every transaction they pay app. 3% more or less. for ex. on every$10 is .30 depending upon the percentage add that up it can make a big difference Do you realize that besides wholesalers of their products or ingredients etc. they have to pay almost 9% on every sale they have to pay gas electric water etc. most of them have to pay other personal bills etc.Is anyone giving them a break? I doubt it Before you complain think about that Don’t… Read more »
I can’t believe the insensitivity of the writer. He only thinks of himself and not of the people struggling to make money. The fact is that a lot of people do this. I’ve been to non-Jewish stores who do this too. The only places that make no issue are the massive franchises who don’t have a choice because they are too big.
Levi, what’s up with you? Can you not have a little compassion or understanding? You may be right, but why be so heartless? For you to buy a can of coke, it could cost the establishment up to $0.30 for the transaction, plus 2 or 3%.
And the statement: “according to the rules, my want, wins” isnt very nice.
of 3 grocery stores for this reason… suddenly I realised that I’ll have no place to go. So I just have to swallow it.
Like the rest of CH we are getting screwed. The stores make their own prices and set their own rules, and unless u have a car and time to travel ur just stuck.
And chas veshalom they should follow the law, or you can report them… because that’s just ‘mesira’… and so it goes on.
Most of the stores in CH are like that, I hope that from now on they will think twice because people know the CC law Thanks COLLIVE . I just was in Ohio i walked in a Jewish bake shop i got there cup of coffee, it coast me like $0.85 with out problems the guy took the card and swipe it . i came back again after for a lunch. but here the stores owners complain why people prefer to go out of CH to get there shopping’s. CH wake up when you going to get Ice cream, Bagle,… Read more »
its all over the u.s.a all cleaners…
This issue has been bugging me forever and I’m glad that somebody finally got up and looked into it.
If a store is interested in doing business in the 21st century and they therefore want to accept credit cards, THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO SWALLOW THE FEE, that’s part of the deal. If you’re gonna start penny pinching, your prices better be really, really good in order to justify that, and I don’t need to get started on Crown Heights prices…
THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THIS IS TO STAND UP AGAINST IT – LETS ALL TAKE A STAND OR STOP TALKING ABOUT IT
yes it is true, but i need to tell you what recently just happened to me, i just needed a couple of things, less than 10$ and didnt have cash on me, when the guy said that he doesnt accept cc under 10$ i got upset said a sarcastic “thank you, thats very helpful” and started leaving the store. he gave me the stuff and told me that i should pay a different time…
so let me tell you with all that, you cant say that they are not mentchen!!
http://www.usatoday.com/money/perfi/credit/2009-06-30-credit-card-fees-college-tuition_N.htm
Across the nation, a growing number of universities are making it harder — and costlier — for students to use credit cards.
Starting Wednesday, students at the University of Southern Maine who pay tuition using plastic will face a 2.75% processing fee. Other schools that have adopted, or are adopting, similar policies include George Mason University, Northwestern University, Wichita State and the University of Virginia.
There are many stores in Crown Heights that have good service and do not treat you as if they are doing you a favor. But unfortunately there are others that leave a lot to be desired… I think we should start a blog letting us, the consumer, to rate service, cleanliness, prices and the like in crown height stores. That way the consumer gains and the stores will be forced to improve their business practices. Anyone up for such an idea? (if it kicks off it can also be a money maker thru advertisements…)
Can my University Bill be paid with a credit card? No, the University does not accept payment by credit cards. We realize credit card companies offer various incentive programs to encourage use of their card, however, credit card companies would charge the University a fee of approximately 2% of the amount paid by credit card. This fee can not be passed on to the consumer, thereby reducing net tuition and fees available to cover operating costs. This would lead to increases in tuition and fees simply to cover the cost related to the credit card fee. Currently the University has… Read more »
Why do we have such low self esteem? Why must we make everything a lubavitch or Crown Heights issue? This happens in Lubavitch or Satmar , Jews or non Jews , USA or Australia. it’s a worldwide practice. The non Jewish convenience stores here in Sydne. Do it too. Let’s not blame our brothers specifically.
you are a very interesting person. get a life.
This practices as mentioned for the simple reason of fess associated. And yes stores do not sign up and pay to have CC processing on purchases which have a $.35 profit margin which is then taken by the CC. What amuses me more is that people in this neighborhood will go and Decline those charges.
I have actually seen a $10.00 Check bounce costing the store $30.00
SO START THINKING ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBOR he ALSO NEEDS A PARNASA.
Merchants are allowed to give cash discounts. This means in practice that they can’t charge you more than the labeled price if you pay by credit card, but they can charge you less if you pay cash. Some companies announce (usually in tiny print in the catalog) that all prices “reflect cash discount” of x% so credit-card users must pay x% more than the stated price; this may be legal but it certainly violates the spirit of the law or the regulations. I don’t know about the “service fee” charged credit-card users for things like ordering tickets over the phone,… Read more »
Why don’t all the stores raise their prices to cover the extra cc fee and give a discount if you pay by cash. Then they will conform to the law and everyone will be happy 🙂
There will always be something to complain about. Today is about cc tomorrow will be on taxed items. If it’s all about the LAW, then you should all look into how YOU follow the LAW! From Medicaid to parking, there are rules for everything.
BS”D
Yes you are in your rights, but:
A) informing on friends which will certainly cause them heartache!? if you don’t like it, walk out
B) yes, those are the rules, but they may not be worth it in a small item store like we are talking about. in such stores, the choice will most likely be that they can ‘t take the card. keep in mind, this bending of the rules may be to add the convenience of having cc’s accepted for >$10, not a way to farneigel a few extra cents for <$10
What’s with CH report it? I don’t care if its right or wrong to tell on another jew? Never heard of such things and I’m surprised anyone would publish these ideas/thought…
I had this experience in a CH store 3 years ago. I didn’t add extra food to my cart. I just walked out…. and have never returned since. They may have saved 50 cents, but lost 3 years of my business. It’s an embarrassment you don’t want to put yourself through. Cash is sooo 1995. CH has gotta get with the times.
If you pay with a credit card for a certain well known and well attended camp, they charge you the extra 3% (in addition to the tuition).
Credit Cards at Gas Stations VS Cash
They are giving you a discount for paying cash however their regular price is the credit card price.
Its time that we reverse this bad business practice of enforcing a minimum amount on credit-card purchases…….my starwood account will be so happy!
This is why I choose to shop at the non-Jewish owned stores as much as possible. Things like this don’t happen there.
That merchant lost more money on staff that could care less, and lets business walk out the door, than to the credit card processing fee your $9 charge would have been!
So dont accept Credit Crds at all. if u want to accept them then follow their rules…the law is the law
yes you may complaint, but you buy a dollar soda , the merchand pay 25 cent per transaction and then 1.7 porcent of the total and in adition you pay sale tax,. well you are welcome to take bussiness elseweares. bussines is profit not for charities.
It is against the law for a merchant to charge a customer any amount because the choice of payment is a credit card.
and the same applies regarding a minimum, there is no minimum that needs to be purchased, please report the merchant at once. this has to stop. “IT IS THE LAW”
i wanted to buy stuff for $9 and change, there was a $10 minimum so the clerk said dont ou want something else? i was about to but then said no actually I dont to which she replied that she couldnt take my card. So I left the stuff on the counter and walked out… and she watched me. i went to another store down the road and bought the same things there- no problem!
#27 you obviously do not know what and how you are being charged by your credit card processor if you think you have no per transaction fees, and are paying overall way less then 2%.
Clearly you have been scammed by a good credit card processing salesman, and do not understand how the surcharging works.
Take you statement to someone who knows how to use a calculator and you will find what your really paying.
It’s time to revolt against this $5 or $10 minimum disgrace.
The next time you are asked to to go shopping for more items, just leave your items and walk out, it wont take long for them to learn enough is enough.
As someone who operates a cc machine I know that these rules are correct.
To Elchonon Hellinger – you should not be charged a per transaction fee, if you are – you are being ripped off and you should switch carriers. I have a fairly small operation and I pay way less than 2% whether it is a large or small transaction.
Yes credit card processing costs 15-25 cents per swipe and then 2.5 to 3% on the charge, but that is the cost of doing business and when accepting credit cards, you need to (and you do) build those fees into your sell price so that it averages out, the $5 minimum is greed and business savvy to increase sales amounts and thus profits over the year. It is the utmost chutzpah in todays day and age where credit cards are much more common as a currency then loose change and cash, to force your customer to go shopping for more… Read more »
So don’t accept Credit Cards at all. You cant accept and then charge minimum fee – it’s illegal. Do you know that Florida DMV does not take Visa Credit Cards for this reason – because they have a credit card fee.
and I guess that refutes point 3 as well
Who didn’t know this?
everybodu agrees unless u have a store!
stores make 100% profit here in CH, so now only 97% and -25c! AHHHHHHH
About time someone posted an article on this. I find it frustating when shopping in ch to always make sure I purchase more than $ 10 worth of products. Go to starbucks, duane reade, they are more than happy to swipe your card for a $ 2 purchase. That’s frum people for you.
I sell online, I build the cc costs into the sale cost, just as I build the paypal and ebay fee’s into the sale cost.
Btw merchants also have to pay rewards points, costco requires you to pin type your debit card and doesn’t let you use it as credit card.
Some pizza shops I know don’t accept cc and I don’t order delivery from them
I was I. Nosh world , got my two kids ice cream as a treat after school and when I pulled out my wallet I realized I had no cash. He told me 10 min and the kids already had the ice cream! What could I do?! Not right. I will not go there again.
Im sorry guys but what if i DONT have cash? give me a break! In starbucks they let you charge 1.00 on a cc! thats normal! Go Apple Drugs- they dont have a min.
IT COSTS THE STORE 2%OR SOMETIMES MORE WHEN YOU USE YOUR CREDIT CARD
2]YOU SAID TO THRETEN THEM THATS MESSIRA
3]LIKE YOU SEE BY GAS STATION THEY ARE ALLOWED TO CHARGE EXRTA AS LONG AS THE BUYER IS INFORMED
i am sorry you incur these fees but thats life if you want to get a major influx in business by accepting credit cards, don’t accept credit cards and then charge …you are so blinded b/c you own the business. Guess what you make tons more money for by accepting credit cards and if you didn’t you wouldn’t accept them so keep to the rules!!!!!!!!!
if a non-jew comes into the store they don’t make a minimum…how sad
this is totally amazing! crown heights stores exploit their customers to the fullest. where ever they can get you they do…its sad to see that people do these things, and let only when competition rolls into town do they shape up/ ITS TIME ALL OF YOUSTOREOWNERS BEGIN TO APPRECIATE YOURCUSTOMERS, WE GIVE YOU YOURBREADAND BUTTER THROUGHOUR BUSINESS GIVEUS THE RESPECT AND APPRECIATION WE DESERVE!!!
However these same merchants get charged a percentage and a minimum on every transaction. For some this alone will wipe away the profit on your little meal. You keep this up and I would altogether stop accepting credit cards in the first place. Be a mentch pay cash, only use credit card on larger orders.
you are absolutely right, but don’t make us Lubavitchers look bad. It’s done in boro park, flatbush and williamsburg too.
I once tried to make a purchase of approx. $9!! The store told me $10 min. So i spent several minutes walking round the store looking for something else! It so happened at the time we were going thru challenging financial times, which is why I was using the cc in the first place (I didn’t have any cash) and I was trying NOT to buy things unless absolutely necessary! This was going thru my mind all the while I was browsing for the “extra” item.
Eventually, I said thanks and headed to the door……………he took my card!!!!!
I 100% agree. I am always baffled at this, why they are allowed to do this to loyal customers and why I am stuck purchasing extra things I don’t want so they could save the 3%. If they cant abide by the Credit Cards rules then don;t accept CCs (we”ll see how many customers they”ll have then)
Nice little piece. I always find it funny when I shop my local fruit store and the clerk tells me, sorry, minimum of $5. So she very nicely charges me $5, gives me the change to my purchase, and away I go. This vendor is losing out on every purchase made like this – it seems like does this often. Not only is he paying the 3% on my purchase – now he is even paying 3% on the change that his clerk is giving me. Yes, courtesy in this neighborhood is certainly not the mode!
Couldn’t have written it better myself.
I think i will print the blurb on each CC company and carry in my wallet for necessary situations!
Sorry but your op-ed is absolutely ridiculous. Why dont you research what it cost vendors to accept credit cards ? No its not about cheapness, its about your arrogant style.
I know this from my own business, each swipe is 25 cents + fee’s.
So, why dont you be a mentch and carry cash
kol hakavod to you and I really hope CH residents start standing up to the store owners.
it’s about time you put a stop to it…..
its about time people knew this and refused to pay the minimum charge. Walk out of the store and don’t buy your purchases until the vendor learns.
I am a out of town from North Miami and I come to town and it is soo upsetting to be thirsty and u cant even buy a water bottle because you have only credit cards on you…. so i should walk from kol tuv to the bank to buy a water bottle…….. BUT not all stores are like this, I give credit to 2 store who have made shopping so nice, I was in Judaica World and in Gombos and payed with a card for 6$ purchases, they both rather I pay with cash, but they treated me as… Read more »
Just had this experience on Friday. The response that I got from a fellow shopper and the cashier: Welcome to Crown Heights”!!!
the stores like: hamafits, sterlingelectronics and the like do not have this “scam” of a min. purchase
I agree, why do we have to spend even that extra 50cents to make a purchase. We work just as hard as they do to make a dollar