Visa Credit Card shops - is it just me?

So one company is offering the visa credit card shops for $15 plus a $5 reimbursement for a purchase. Basically you go in and buy something under $10 and see if you are charged a surcharge. If they don't have anything under $10 you have a discussion about the surcharge.

But here's the thing. The one they are offering locally is at a funeral home. What does one find in a funeral home that they just have to go in and purchase for under $10.00. AND assuming there is nothing how does one bring up the topic of a surcharge on their credit card at a funeral home? Seems a little tacky........"about burying Aunt Myrtle.. will I be charged a surcharge on my visa credit card? I'm very concerned about that."
'

Create an Account or Log In

Membership is free. Simply choose your username, type in your email address, and choose a password. You immediately get full access to the forum.

I know almost every type of business is shopped, but this one .. takes the cake!

You are right. Tacky tacky!

Who cares about a surcharge when someone has died? Geez! Get real, MSC.

I guess, I would ask them if there's any discount available if you paid in cash, instead of using a credit card. If they don't mention the surcharge, I would request a printed price quote, including tax and any other fees, if you paid with a credit card, explaining that you don't want any surprises.

(heart)

I intend to live forever. So far, so good.

maybe you could get wood samples of caskets for under $10.00

I wasn't talking abut actually purchasing something, although as someone suggested on another thread, the wood samples might make good coasters.

(heart)

I intend to live forever. So far, so good.

"It's going to be awhile until we get the insurance proceeds. If I put this casket on a credit card, is there any surcharge?"

Time to build a bigger bridge.

I did one. It was a small-ish funeral home and the owner was very nice. I straight out and asked if he accepted (when I did it, it was for Amex) Amex and he said yes. I asked, if they had a surcharge. He very nicely explained that he did not, but the fees they charged him was not as high as it used to be, etc. You do no have to buy anything with that type of shop. I also did ones for auto repair shop. I asked what they charge to fix a flat tire, if they accept Amex and if there is a surcharge. These are not difficult shops and takes no more than 15 minutes each.

Not my circus - Not my monkeys @(*.*)@

~Polish Proverb~

If the location provides a service for which you do not qualify, that is reported. As such, no purchase is required. I have shopped collection agencies and doctors' offices which fall into this category. Methods of payment still must be determined, as well as the amount of surcharge, if any. A requirement is to take a photo of signage. Some locations have no signage regarding accepted methods of payment or surcharges. Irrespective, a photo is required. I take a pic of the entrance, showing what is not there. So far, so good.

Easy shops!

I did a funeral home surcharge shop in August. I bought fake flowers. I guess they're the ones that people "plant" around graves so that it looks like they're in bloom all the time. They were $7 and it was actually a pretty thick bunch of them for that price.

------------------------------------------------
Plan the work. Work the plan.

Mert a photo was not required for this round. They wanted you
to take it if possible, but if you couldn't they were okay with it.
I did quite a few where I could select any place I wanted as long
as it wasn't a national chain.

= + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = +
There are no stupid questions, but there are a lot of inquisitive idiots
==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==
When you try to please everybody, you end up pleasing nobody

I only got one of the "anywhere but a national chain" shops. I chose a local hardware store and bought something which I needed. I have done the "assigned" locations varieties in the past, and have never encountered a surcharge for anything in DE or PA.

So, I am curious if people have found places which surcharge. NJ has cash and credit prices posted (DE and PA do not) for gasoline, but I have never encountered a surcharge in NJ for anything else. I paid a surcharge a year ago when buying gas in California. Have I been leading a relatively charmed existence?

Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008

Myst... the cash and credit prices for gas are not surcharges. They offer a "discount" for paying in cash, no discount for paying by card.

It's a sneaky way to sneak in a surcharge, but legit.

One of my assigned locations had a .95 surcharge for credit cards. Debit cards too, since they run them as credit. (No PIN pad.)

------------------------------------------------
Plan the work. Work the plan.

I did four of these shops this summer, and two had surcharges posted. I am in the Great State of California.

*****************************************************
The harder I work, the luckier I get.

Bird - agreed, cash and credit prices are a form of surcharge, but I have only seen them for gasoline in NJ and CA.

I was really wondering if there are surcharges (or cash discounts) for other items which people have encountered.

Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008

Myst, mine was a pizza joint. I got charged an extra .95 for paying with a card.

------------------------------------------------
Plan the work. Work the plan.

The reason they are doing these shops is because it is a violation of the Merchant Agreement these businesses signed. It forbids adding a surcharge or having a minimum purchase for CCard purchases. Places do it anyway though.

I'm in NJ and was charged a $.50 surcharge on a gas station in-store purchase. It was not on a surcharge shop and I didn't see the sign until I had paid, but the sign was there. The guy told me it was legal to do so??? I was annoyed by it and put it in the report for that company.

*****************************************************************************
The more I learn about people...the more I like my dog..

Mark Twain

One of the last that I did had a flat $7 surcharge, regardless if credit or debit were used.

techman01 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Mert a photo was not required for this round. They
> wanted you
> to take it if possible, but if you couldn't they
> were okay with it.
--------------------------------------------------------

I was able to take a photo, but so much the better if not required!

Seven dollars?? Holey Moley, were the products high ticket items?

(heart)

I intend to live forever. So far, so good.

That was the collection agency. Regardless if the balance is $50 or $5000.

That figures. What customer would even think they are in a position to object or to complain? Yet another reason for me to love these shops!

(heart)

I intend to live forever. So far, so good.

Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.

Click here to login

Visa Credit Card shops - is it just me?

Create an Account or Log In

Official List of Mystery Shopping Companies

Mystery Shopper Magazine