"Dick" wrote in message ...

That is unfortunate, but did you really "lose" money? The card companies
make the money from the card holders, not the vendors.

You couldn't be more wrong. Credit card companies charge the 'vendors'
a fee for each and every transaction. I fought with VISA for four months
over a disputed charge where they gave credit to the card user and refused
to refund the transaction fee they charged me.
The so-called customer used a credit card to sign up two people for a
conference. I paid the conference center based on a head count that included
him and his wife. I showed VISA the signed contract that put a date limit on
refunds. The customer did not provide any proof that they had ever
cancelled, much less on or before the cancellation date. VISA refused to
honor the charge and left me holding the bag. We no longer accept credit
cards for conference registration. I put most of the blame on the scumbag
deadhead.
Have you never noticed signs near cash registers that deny the use of a
credit card for sales below a minimum purchase? Have you never noticed some
'vendors' will offer a discount to customers that pay cash?