I commented on a thread like this somewhere else.
I use CCs almost exclusively mainly because being an over 70 female I don't like carrying a lot of cash, no more than $40. I am often by myself and use a cane once in awhile. Prime target for attacks. If you have a lot of cash it is totally gone. CCs can be cancelled and illegal charges reversed. I have dealt with my AmEx, Visa and Discover when my number has been stolen over the course of about 40 years with never a problem.
Yes I have rewards that I get and use. I get Hilton rewards for my AmEx, and cash back for my Visa and Discover. I use the Discover for their quarterly 5% bonus categories plus since it has the lowest limit of the 3 we use it when it is at a place we may not totally trust.or for auto-pay items that we need a CC (save $10 a month on my cable bill). We also have special offers on both the Visa and AmEx that have saved me a lot of money. And my hubby and I just took a 50th anniversary road trip that included 17 nights at Hilton, Marriott and Choice nights at hotels absolutely free. Really helped us make a memorable trip.
I rarely shop or buy anything (or less) if someone charges a CC fee. I have been known to walk out of somewhere when I see the sign. I actually have a very small hobby business (only 1 employee....me). Over the course of the years working craft shows or selling from my house I have discovered that people will buy higher priced and/or more items when they can use a CC. I used to average about $100-150 per show, now that I take CC I consistenly averago $250-300 per show. Keep in mind that being an extremely small business, my fees are the highest (I use Square), so I know for a fact that most of the places that charge the fees are OVERcharging. I went to an antique store in WV several years ago and they wanted 4%, which is over !% of what I am charged. I would never charge my customers a fee as I don't like them. I would much rather have the extra and repeat business than have a few extra pennies per dollar.
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