Camelot
 

Just wanted to let you all know that even though it is a violation of their contract with mastercard, visa and AMEX, the Camelot forces you to purchase a minimum amount to be able to use a credit card.

I understand that they have to pay a % of the total and a per transaction charge, but they should figure that into the prices that they have marked on their products.

I went in to purchase a game while were were at the cottage, and tried to pay with a debit card (I didn't have the cash with me, and did not want to pay an ATM fee). He would not sell it to me because it was not $15.00.

I pointed the violation out to the person working there, and he said that he knows he is violating the policy, but he is enforcing it anyway.

I just think it is wrong, and people should know about it.

Edit:
See the article on msnbc.com today.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13806200/

if this is the bookstore in Wolfboro..
 

I bought 2 books for my kids there last week (less than $11) and charged it to my visa. i talked to the clerk about it (older gentlemen - owner?) and he put it through without a problem:

07/06/2006 07/07/2006 Sale CAMELOT BOOK AND G(Other) $10.90

Ummm.....no, thanks. That'd mean higher prices for those who do pay cash. Perhaps a pricing model like many gas stations used to do - one price for cash, another (higher) for credit.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris Exley
I understand that they have to pay a % of the total and a per transaction charge, but they should figure that into the prices that they have marked on their products.





Actually, you will probably find that most businesses will establish their gross margin based on the profit they hope to achieve on the sale of their product or service less overhead costs (rent, utilities, phones, advertising, financial costs of doing business, etc.) If an item retails for $20, and it costs you $9.50 to buy it to sell, the remaining $10.50 is where you pay all those expenditures. Hopefully, there is something left over and that is what we call profit:rolleye1: , and if none left over, that is called negative gain by marketing experts (we would call it a #$#%^ loss :( ).

To have a dual price scale for cash and credit sales would be an accounting nightmare.

I was talking to a couple fo friends about this the other day. In both cases they let the small ones go through even though they pay more because of the per transaction fee but it's just good customer service. whether it's a violation or not I've seen lots of signs setting a minimum charge amount.