Comments for McMullin.ca

Comment on by bill

bill — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 01:03:29 +0000

rtest

Comment on Priceless Merchant Fees by Kent Green

Kent Green — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 16:15:18 +0000

Great article!
There is no free lunch! But in the end, it is the consumer who pays for ALL credit card costs whether hidden or not. These costs are all rolled into a final price tag. If the Merchant is actually paying these hidden fees without passing the cost on to the consumer the merchant will simply go out of business. Does anyone care to argue that point?
Simply take the $4.5 billion Credit card costs and fees each year in Canada, add in the annual fee per year for the card and divide by the number of transactions, and you get a cost to consumer per transaction. Oh, and this doesn’t include a consumer’s hefty interest fee if payment is not made in time.
Hello, is anyone out there? – This is a SIGNIFICANT cost. I wonder how it equates into carbon footprint numbers. We could all quit producing “stuff” a little earier in the day if that kind of money could be saved!
Sorry, I digress!
I am wondering what the difference is between these two statements from your article:
1. “and they (merchants) are also prevented from charging any premium or surcharge to the consumer for using a credit card.”
While the credit card companies say:
2.”they (merchants) can offer a discount for using cash”
Isn’t this essentially the same thing? I have always thought that it was unfair that a consumer who does not own a credit card, or does not want to use one is forced to pay the same price for goods that obviously INCLUDE all the Credit card fees.
It seems to me that this is almost a constitutional issue in that I am penalized and extorted for wanting to use what is after all supposed to be “legal tender” “Coin of the realm” etc. Credit card fees are not the same thing as merchant costs for rent, or shipping etc. Those costs are all part and parcel of being a merchant that is directly related to me actually getting the goods or services I pay for.
Credit cards really should be optional, but the credit card companies have a very clever set up of split fees that in the end amounts to forced fee payment for services that I shouldn’t have to pay for.If it truly was optional, there would be real competiion between credit card companies to lower fees, hidden or otherwise. I
What legal slight of hand makes this situation so? Do I really have to accept this in this in a free democratic nation? Can’t we do something about this? Some sort of class action or lobby for legislation? Am I missing something here?

Comment on Google Street View in Bedford, Nova Scotia by evano

evano — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 17:37:38 +0000

If they are putting Bedford on the map, they must be doing everywhere.

Comment on Passport Canada – Now With Less Online! by UofT Student

UofT Student — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 12:37:54 +0000

I think the entire area of government services from passports to driver’s licenses– it’s all a bunch of bull. I read the article on the Sault Ste. Marie news site and the fragment of the letter that was mentioned was ridiculous. If at all possible I would never both with this apparent more personal touch to the passport process. Those people at government offices are so rude and obnoxious that it pains me to even think of having to renew my passport.

Comment on Meet Agent MLS: The most succcessful realtor in Canada by Short Sale Foreclosure

Short Sale Foreclosure — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 17:59:02 +0000

Short Sale Foreclosure

Comment on Clichés Gone Wild by greg

greg — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 15:10:50 +0000

“if you are considering investing you should always seek the advice of an investment professional” (you mean the ones that do well even when their clients don’t??)

Comment on Clichés Gone Wild by greg

greg — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 11:05:56 +0000

“the American dream has been downgraded to a nightmare”

Comment on Clichés Gone Wild by greg

greg — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 10:04:54 +0000

“if it wasn’t for bad news we would have no news at all — and would that be a bad thing?”

Comment on Clichés Gone Wild by greg

greg — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 18:41:18 +0000

Cramer says “there’s always a bull market somewhere and I promise I’ll find it for you.” (God Bless Cramer – this is why “In Cramer We Trust”)

Comment on Clichés Gone Wild by greg

greg — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 18:33:29 +0000

In the believe it or not category we have — “the bears are firmly in control”