| Sysop: | Amessyroom |
|---|---|
| Location: | Fayetteville, NC |
| Users: | 28 |
| Nodes: | 6 (1 / 5) |
| Uptime: | 59:09:25 |
| Calls: | 424 |
| Calls today: | 2 |
| Files: | 1,025 |
| Messages: | 90,950 |
| Posted today: | 1 |
[...]
Now we come to the 2015 season that starts next month. Will [Alan] show
up or not? You too can find out at https://www.sccbc.net/racers/results/
I'll certainly be tuning in come April 26! Join me and watch the mayhem.
On 3/26/25 12:32, Tom Elam wrote:
[...]
Now we come to the 2015 season that starts next month. Will [Alan]
show up or not? You too can find out at https://www.sccbc.net/racers/
results/
I'll certainly be tuning in come April 26! Join me and watch the mayhem.
If he has time, he has time. If not, he doesn't. My recollection is
that his car got damaged late last year so there is that work to take
care of.
In the meantime, there was a similarly very old thread where Tommy was
trying to suggest that everything's always better with a credit card
because of a few percent regained on "cashbacks".
Well, I just happened to run into this invoice to pay today, and lo and behold, what they're euphemistically calling a "convenience fee" to pay online with a credit card. Here's the screenshot:
<https://huntzinger.com/photo/2025/Invoice_convenience_fee_avoided.pdf>
And yes, you are reading that correctly: the added fee is a mere +10%.
Needless to say, I'll be mailing them a check.Shocking to discover that that the lying ass doesn't have a clue what
On 2025-03-26 12:06, -hh wrote:
On 3/26/25 12:32, Tom Elam wrote:
[...]
Now we come to the 2015 season that starts next month. Will [Alan]
show up or not? You too can find out at https://www.sccbc.net/racers/
results/
I'll certainly be tuning in come April 26! Join me and watch the mayhem.
If he has time, he has time. If not, he doesn't. My recollection is
that his car got damaged late last year so there is that work to take
care of.
OH! Is the lying ass trying to attract my attention? Oh, he was!
And yes, my car was damaged...
And another significant issue for me is that my GP discovered that my
blood pressure was sky-high.
I'm currently taking medication and once my BP has been stabilized at a better level, then he'll sign off on my medical my race license.
I'm still hoping to make the first weekend, but we'll see.
In the meantime, there was a similarly very old thread where Tommy was
trying to suggest that everything's always better with a credit card
because of a few percent regained on "cashbacks".
Well, I just happened to run into this invoice to pay today, and lo
and behold, what they're euphemistically calling a "convenience fee"
to pay online with a credit card. Here's the screenshot:
<https://huntzinger.com/photo/2025/Invoice_convenience_fee_avoided.pdf>
And yes, you are reading that correctly: the added fee is a mere +10%.
Ouch!
Needless to say, I'll be mailing them a check.
Shocking to discover that that the lying ass doesn't have a clue what
he's talking about.
[...]
Hugh, there are bills like income taxes, property taxes and our electric
bill that we pay with direct debit rather than a credit card. Why? The
credit card service fees exceed the 2% cash back on my card. I always
watch for those fees, but have not ever see a 10%.
However, a travel agency we use charges 5%. I send a check.
During 2024 ...
On 3/26/2025 3:49 PM, Alan wrote:
On 2025-03-26 12:06, -hh wrote:
On 3/26/25 12:32, Tom Elam wrote:
[...]
Now we come to the 2015 season that starts next month. Will [Alan]
show up or not? You too can find out at https://www.sccbc.net/
racers/ results/
I'll certainly be tuning in come April 26! Join me and watch the
mayhem.
If he has time, he has time. If not, he doesn't. My recollection is
that his car got damaged late last year so there is that work to take
care of.
OH! Is the lying ass trying to attract my attention? Oh, he was!
And yes, my car was damaged when the car running behind me failed to
see that the car running ahead of me had spun soon enough to get
stopped before running into my right rear tire with enough force to
break every suspension arm on that corner.
Check it out:
<https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vI5lEa_R0NMNuFevwUI3pF80Roegkfcu/
view? usp=share_link>
And another significant issue for me is that my GP discovered that my
blood pressure was sky-high.
I'm currently taking medication and once my BP has been stabilized at
a better level, then he'll sign off on my medical my race license.
I'm still hoping to make the first weekend, but we'll see.
In the meantime, there was a similarly very old thread where Tommy
was trying to suggest that everything's always better with a credit
card because of a few percent regained on "cashbacks".
Well, I just happened to run into this invoice to pay today, and lo
and behold, what they're euphemistically calling a "convenience fee"
to pay online with a credit card. Here's the screenshot:
<https://huntzinger.com/photo/2025/Invoice_convenience_fee_avoided.pdf>
And yes, you are reading that correctly: the added fee is a mere +10%.
Ouch!
Shocking to discover that that the lying ass doesn't have a clue what
Needless to say, I'll be mailing them a check.
he's talking about.
:-)
No wonder Alan has high blood pressure. Having to always worry about all
your lies will do that to you.
And Alan, if high blood pressure is the issue with missing the first
five 2024 race weekends (that was the question, not 2025), then how did
you make the 6th? I'm sure you can make up a lie about that. Why not
just tell the truth about why you missed all those races last year?
On 4/2/2025 3:33 PM, -hh wrote:
On 4/1/25 18:15, Tom Elam wrote:
[...]
Hugh, there are bills like income taxes, property taxes and our
electric bill that we pay with direct debit rather than a credit
card. Why? The credit card service fees exceed the 2% cash back on my
card. I always watch for those fees, but have not ever see a 10%.
I don't believe that I've seen 10% before either, but now I have.
However, a travel agency we use charges 5%. I send a check.
Merely an illustration of attention to detail for each vendor. As
I've mentioned before, a goodly number of my local small merchants do
have "cash discounts" (eg, CC surcharges) and they're greater than 2%.
Of course for travel, there's also a risk trade-off here, as using a
credit card offers some additional protections vs cash.
During 2024 ...
That's really your business.
-hh
I never said that a credit card is ALWAYS the way to go.
There are many
exceptions, and I cited some. However, for day-to-day payments my 2%
card is the way to go, as is my 5%-back Target DEBIT card. Exceptions
include paying taxes. I use direct debit for IRS and Indiana Dept. of
Revenue for estimated taxes. Same for property taxes. No fee for these
using direct debit, 3% or more for a credit card. Same for my utility
bills.
As for our small local businesses I do not think I have ever seen a sign
for cash discount. Certainly not at chain stores.
All that said, last year we earned about $1,500 on our 2% credit (and 5%
at Target) rebate cards. I drove my Accord 15,600 miles on $1,070 of
fuel (I have a Google Drive spreadsheet.) Our total gasoline cost was
$1,660 (Quicken). So the rebates almost paid for our auto fuel.
The $1,500 in rebates is about $30,000 in spending. Total spend was
$185,000 give or take.
There were big chunks that were a credit card was not the best
way to pay, or the vendor required a check. Almost nothing was
cash. Well, the neighborhood cat sitter was about $1,000 because
were were gone so much, was all cash.
Cash for international travel is not advisable in most countries. It
does come in handy for tips, taxi fares, etc. For most expenses I use
credit cards not for the rebate but for fraud protection. If I need cash there is usually a bank ATM available.
On 4/30/2025 3:26 PM, -hh wrote:
On 4/16/25 11:17, Tom Elam wrote:
On 4/2/2025 3:33 PM, -hh wrote:
On 4/1/25 18:15, Tom Elam wrote:
[...]
Hugh, there are bills like income taxes, property taxes and our
electric bill that we pay with direct debit rather than a credit
card. Why? The credit card service fees exceed the 2% cash back on
my card. I always watch for those fees, but have not ever see a 10%.
I don't believe that I've seen 10% before either, but now I have.
However, a travel agency we use charges 5%. I send a check.
Merely an illustration of attention to detail for each vendor. As
I've mentioned before, a goodly number of my local small merchants
do have "cash discounts" (eg, CC surcharges) and they're greater
than 2%.
Of course for travel, there's also a risk trade-off here, as using a
credit card offers some additional protections vs cash.
During 2024 ...
That's really your business.
-hh
I never said that a credit card is ALWAYS the way to go.
Its what you implied when you said that you've never seen merchant
signs for CC surcharges/Cash discounts ... and that's a claim that you
repeat once again below:
There are many exceptions, and I cited some. However, for day-to-day
payments my 2% card is the way to go, as is my 5%-back Target DEBIT
card. Exceptions include paying taxes. I use direct debit for IRS and
Indiana Dept. of Revenue for estimated taxes. Same for property
taxes. No fee for these using direct debit, 3% or more for a credit
card. Same for my utility bills.
As for our small local businesses I do not think I have ever seen a
sign for cash discount. Certainly not at chain stores.
See?
All that said, last year we earned about $1,500 on our 2% credit (and
5% at Target) rebate cards. I drove my Accord 15,600 miles on $1,070
of fuel (I have a Google Drive spreadsheet.) Our total gasoline cost
was $1,660 (Quicken). So the rebates almost paid for our auto fuel.
The $1,500 in rebates is about $30,000 in spending. Total spend was
$185,000 give or take.
Whereas the trip we've just returned from had a $954 savings from just
from our accommodations being cash instead of CC, and is this year's
example of the potential from just offering the cash alternative.
There were big chunks that were a credit card was not the best
way to pay, or the vendor required a check. Almost nothing was
cash. Well, the neighborhood cat sitter was about $1,000 because were
were gone so much, was all cash.
Cash for international travel is not advisable in most countries. It
does come in handy for tips, taxi fares, etc. For most expenses I use
credit cards not for the rebate but for fraud protection. If I need
cash there is usually a bank ATM available.
The use of credit has been on a big upswing. We've been doing that
too, although we still like having 'starting cash' in small
denominations (& coins) for international destinations for small
incidentals...plus to use where credit card theft is a concern.
Likewise, there can be ATMs as an option as well - if there is one on
the island (and its not out of service)! These are considerations
which aren't really germane to saving money from CC "cash back" features.
-hh
Wow, $954 for cash instead of credit card? At 3.5% expense to that
provider that's a ~$27,000 expense. I'm guessing that the discount was
a lot more than 3.5%. So why, if that is the case? Where is the
accommodation provider saving more than credit card expense? Taxes? An exchange rate scam? My curious mind wants to know.
We are on the way home from Zygreb tomorrow. It's been 2 weeks in Italy
and Croatia. My travel company is a sold proprietor LLC and takes checks only. So unlike cash there are traceable records. He is reputable, and certainly offers no discount for actual cash.
This trip did not include airfare, and airlines do not offer cash
discounts. About 2/3 of the meal expense, all hotels, bus transport and numerous included attraction admissions were included in the package.
One meal was quite memorable. Eight courses at a Michelin Star
restaurant at the 5 star hotel where we spent 5 nights.
For the rest I took a few hundred Euro out of bank ATMs and put some on
my credit cards. Nobody had a cash discount offered, and I did not ask.
One small purchase on a family farm operation was made with PayPal using
0 fee friends and family terms because I ran low on cash and they did
not take cards.
One meal was at a motorway Croatia McDonald's. New and very modern, it
was VERY different from the U.S. Totally different menu, extensive
coffee/tea bar, and quite a dessert selection.
This is Europe after all. Pretty sophisticated.
Ever been to Croatia? My first trip, and the country is stunning.
On 5/11/2025 7:36 AM, -hh wrote:
On 5/9/25 14:52, Tom Elam wrote:
On 4/30/2025 3:26 PM, -hh wrote:
On 4/16/25 11:17, Tom Elam wrote:
On 4/2/2025 3:33 PM, -hh wrote:
On 4/1/25 18:15, Tom Elam wrote:
[...]
Hugh, there are bills like income taxes, property taxes and our
electric bill that we pay with direct debit rather than a credit >>>>>>> card. Why? The credit card service fees exceed the 2% cash back
on my card. I always watch for those fees, but have not ever see >>>>>>> a 10%.
I don't believe that I've seen 10% before either, but now I have.
However, a travel agency we use charges 5%. I send a check.
Merely an illustration of attention to detail for each vendor. As >>>>>> I've mentioned before, a goodly number of my local small merchants >>>>>> do have "cash discounts" (eg, CC surcharges) and they're greater
than 2%.
Of course for travel, there's also a risk trade-off here, as using >>>>>> a credit card offers some additional protections vs cash.
During 2024 ...
That's really your business.
-hh
I never said that a credit card is ALWAYS the way to go.
Its what you implied when you said that you've never seen merchant
signs for CC surcharges/Cash discounts ... and that's a claim that
you repeat once again below:
There are many exceptions, and I cited some. However, for day-to-
day payments my 2% card is the way to go, as is my 5%-back Target
DEBIT card. Exceptions include paying taxes. I use direct debit for
IRS and Indiana Dept. of Revenue for estimated taxes. Same for
property taxes. No fee for these using direct debit, 3% or more for
a credit card. Same for my utility bills.
As for our small local businesses I do not think I have ever seen a
sign for cash discount. Certainly not at chain stores.
See?
All that said, last year we earned about $1,500 on our 2% credit
(and 5% at Target) rebate cards. I drove my Accord 15,600 miles on
$1,070 of fuel (I have a Google Drive spreadsheet.) Our total
gasoline cost was $1,660 (Quicken). So the rebates almost paid for
our auto fuel.
The $1,500 in rebates is about $30,000 in spending. Total spend was
$185,000 give or take.
Whereas the trip we've just returned from had a $954 savings from
just from our accommodations being cash instead of CC, and is this
year's example of the potential from just offering the cash
alternative.
There were big chunks that were a credit card was not the best
way to pay, or the vendor required a check. Almost nothing was
cash. Well, the neighborhood cat sitter was about $1,000 because
were were gone so much, was all cash.
Cash for international travel is not advisable in most countries.
It does come in handy for tips, taxi fares, etc. For most expenses
I use credit cards not for the rebate but for fraud protection. If
I need cash there is usually a bank ATM available.
The use of credit has been on a big upswing. We've been doing that
too, although we still like having 'starting cash' in small
denominations (& coins) for international destinations for small
incidentals...plus to use where credit card theft is a concern.
Likewise, there can be ATMs as an option as well - if there is one
on the island (and its not out of service)! These are
considerations which aren't really germane to saving money from CC
"cash back" features.
-hh
Wow, $954 for cash instead of credit card? At 3.5% expense to that
provider that's a ~$27,000 expense. I'm guessing that the discount
was a lot more than 3.5%. So why, if that is the case? Where is the
accommodation provider saving more than credit card expense? Taxes?
An exchange rate scam? My curious mind wants to know.
Yes, more than your 3.5% guess. And no, its not any sort of exchange
rate scam/tax evasion/etc: we're just a good repeat customer, so we
got a quite favorable rate.
We are on the way home from Zygreb tomorrow. It's been 2 weeks in
Italy and Croatia. My travel company is a sold proprietor LLC and
takes checks only. So unlike cash there are traceable records. He is
reputable, and certainly offers no discount for actual cash.
Oh, I have a receipts too, so there's traceable records in case I had
to file some sort of travel insurance claim/etc. Checking the rental
car's receipt, it shows a -5% cash discount.
This trip did not include airfare, and airlines do not offer cash
discounts. About 2/3 of the meal expense, all hotels, bus transport
and numerous included attraction admissions were included in the
package. One meal was quite memorable. Eight courses at a Michelin
Star restaurant at the 5 star hotel where we spent 5 nights.
One obtains trip memories in different ways; for this year, it was
that the weather enabled multiple 'green flash' sunsets which we enjoyed.
OTOH, I also had a crew mishandle & drop my UW camera which caused
some fairly significant damage...roughly 10% of its original price
plus a day at home to do the repairs. Could have been worse, but the
WA lens I use is presently on a clearance discount ($400 discount).
Looking forward, a trip later this year requires formal wear. My old
tuxedo is long gone, so I need to check my "good enough for Europe"
black business suit and may need to be replaced for the trip.
For the rest I took a few hundred Euro out of bank ATMs and put some
on my credit cards. Nobody had a cash discount offered, and I did not
ask. One small purchase on a family farm operation was made with
PayPal using 0 fee friends and family terms because I ran low on cash
and they did not take cards.
Its quite easy to overlook cc surcharges at small businesses, such as
for a lunch; locally, I'm finding 3% to be common, although some with
website ordering systems are adding a $1 "convenience fee" now too.
For ATMs, used them twice on the aforementioned trip; US$3 surcharge
isn't bad, considering that it was at the favored exchange rate. Did
come back a bit heavy on that currency, but we know we'll be going
back, so its not a big deal to hold onto it.
One meal was at a motorway Croatia McDonald's. New and very modern,
it was VERY different from the U.S. Totally different menu, extensive
coffee/tea bar, and quite a dessert selection.
This is Europe after all. Pretty sophisticated.
Yes, they've become quite nice and are quite different. I ended my
personal snob 'boycott' of overseas McD's some time ago; most recent
visit was in Tokyo...found eggs on top of many burgers. I think the
time before that was the same café style in a rest stop near Bratislava.
Ever been to Croatia? My first trip, and the country is stunning.
Not yet; heard good things about it from a friend that's been there
several times .. their main complaint had been that its been overrun
with Russians, but that might have been dated by pre-2022 visits, as
they've also commented that there's fewer Russians now in Czechia.
-hh
I was not referring to your side of the $954 cash discount. I was
referring to the merchant side. Why would a rational merchant give up
that much for a 3.5-4% credit card fee?
The only place I see service charges for credit card use here in Carmel
are for tax payments - Federal, State and local Property taxes. I do see
such at some such gas stations, but only 1-2% for fuel only.
We did not hear any Russian speakers in Croatia. The two conferences at
our hotel while we were there were EU based. Siemens management and a
trade group on road paving technology. English was no problem at all.