Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/06/10
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Hi Pascal, I have encountered this when I have been getting a really good deal on something at a small dealer. As others have pointed out, taking credit cards may mean a commission of up to 5% which could wipe out most of his profit. But on the other hand, you mention that the item is quite expensive. In that case, I would take my business elsewhere. I do occasionally buy stuff from Brenner Foto, which does not accept credit cards either; I pay them with a Eurocheque. But in the case of Brenner I know I am dealing with a legitimate business. If it is someone you do not know, you should be sceptical. Nathan Pascal wrote: > 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 ??? > > Pascal > NO ARCHIVE > -- > --------- > Visit my Leica photo pages at http://members.nbci.com/cyberplace > --------- > <<< PGP public key available upon request >>> - -- Nathan Wajsman Herrliberg (ZH), Switzerland e-mail: wajsman@webshuttle.ch General photo site: http://belgiangator.tripod.com/ Belgium photo site: http://members.xoom.com/wajsman/ Motorcycle site: http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Downs/1704/