The credit card minimum really bothers me most at the neighborhood pub, where drinks are $4 from 5-7 pm and you are forced to pony up at least $25-$30 in order to use your card. Possible outcomes are below.
1. "Damn it. Minimum is $25. Everyone just put your drinks on my tab and give me cash." 2 hours later: Not only your friends, but friends of friends, and friends of friends of friends have used your visa. You are now stuck with a $75 tab that no one seems to think they participated in. "Who took the 5 shots of Jager? Anyone? Is the entire BAR just putting their drinks under my name??" !
2. "Let's see. If the minimum is $25, then I am going to have to drink 6 glasses of Shiraz in order to make this worth it. Must finish said drinks within 2 hours before we head to dinner." 2 hours later: You are passed out on your couch, missed dinner, and forgot your credit card at the bar.
3. "Can I have my check please?" Bartender: "Yes - but your total is $12 and the minimum is $30." "OK - um...I'll have another vodka soda then." Bartender: "OK - total is now $16." "OK - throw on 2 shots for my friends over there." Bartender: "OK. Shots are $2 - there's a shot and beer special. You still have ten dollars left." OH MAN. THIS IS ABSURD. Maybe I should just take my card and run. No, don't do that. "OK, can I possibly just owe you for next time? Are you SURE you charged me for BOTH of my drinks? Can you charge me MORE? How much is that nasty old shirt up there hanging on the wall? Would that bring me to $30?"
4. "I don't feel like bothering with this. Here is your $15 tip for serving me 2 drinks. And, yeah - next time, please let me know what the minimum is during happy hour. I'll remember to leave my card at home and just bring my coin collection."
Posts
The thing that TOOOOTALLY drives me nuts about this is that it's against the credit card companies' agreement for places to have minimums. It's not against the law (unfortunately); it's just that when a business decides to allow credit cards, that's part of the contract they sign with the CC company. I understand that it's hard for small businesses, because they get charged every time someone uses a card, but it's infuriating when you're at a bodega and they silently point to the Fisher-Price ATM by the door... you know, the one where you can only get $20 out and you get charged a $5 service fee?! I've gotten in arguments at stores because they act like I'm a spoiled brat for not carrying cash. Uh, sorry, it's because I don't have $20 in my account to TAKE OUT OF CHECKING.
ReplyDelete