And Where Do I Get Hay For My Horse?
Out and about this morning I pulled into a local Mom & Pop gas station to refuel my little car. My card didn’t immediately work in the pump, so after a few choice words I went inside, and spoke to a smug little woman I assume to be the Mom.
We don’t take cards anymore.
I pointed out the numerous signs indicating, even advertising, otherwise, and the presence of the card readers in the pumps, but she was “oh, we’ve ordered new signs” as if that explained it all. I figured discussion was futile, and had other things to do with my morning, but as I drove away questions kept popping into my mind. Do they think paying with cards is a fad who’s time has passed? Are they making some kind of a moral stand against big banks, or against a particular big bank that’s cut them off for some reason? And more to the point I guess, how long until there are a new Mom & Pop on that corner that understand commerce in the 21st Century?
The only thing I can figure is that they’re getting killed by merchant fees and they assume that most of their regulars pay cash. It’s gonna suck to be them.
I agree that’s a possibility, but if so think it’s a horrible decision. I’m guessing, even though I’ll probably never know, that their processor cut them off for whatever reason.