Re: [Leica] Is this normal dealer behavior?

[John Collier <jbcollier@powersurfr.com>]

Yes.

It is not that uncommon for small dealers to prefer cash to credit card. I
have not been in retail for awhile but it used to be that the dealer's
percentage he had to pay to the credit card company was based on volume. It
was 5% for low volume stores and 2% for high volume stores. I am sure that
this has changed with all the increase in competition amongst credit card
providers. If the item is discounted already, I can understand their
reluctance to take a further "hit".

John Collier

> From: Pascal <cyberdog@attglobal.net>
> 
> Hi all,
> 
> I am asking this (maybe trivial) question, but a German dealer with whom I
> want to conduct business refuses to take my credit card for payment since
> the item he sells is "demo" (though still quite expensive). He only takes
> cash (obviously impossible since I am living in Belgium), a cheque or a wire
> transfer *before* he sends the goods to me. Reason he cites: these are not
> new goods, but sales "at a discounted price".
> 
> I am feeling reluctant to do so, but would like to ask for advice on the
> matter. I am still amazed at how some, especially European (and German in
> particular), dealers expect to do business with a Europe-wide audience if
> they don't take credit cards for payment. Even more so while this kind of
> behavior is not allowed under the terms that bind the dealer with the credit
> card companies.
> 
> By contrast, the two largest German Leica dealers (Foto Hobby in Frankfurt
> and Leica bei Meister in Hamburg) take credit cards for *all* sales, even
> second hand items (at prices much lower than "demo")...
> 
> Is this normal behavior in the year 2001 ???
>