Some gas stations have decided to stop accepting credit cards completely, and have switched over to “cash only” at their pumps.  They say that the credit card fees are costing them too much money and they can’t afford to pay them.  I find that hard to believe, my understanding of credit card fees is that they charge a fixed percentage of the sale.  So the more gas costs, the more profits the gas station is making, and that profit should more than cover the credit card fees.

I hate the thought of paying cash at the pump when you have to pump your own gas.  I hate the thought that I’d have to have $100 of cash in my pocket at all times.

I can see the scenario now:  When pumping gas you have to wait in line for ten minutes for the guy in front of you at the pump to pull away.  Then you have to pull into the spot.  Then you have to guess how much you are going to be pumping, go into the station and stand in line for ten minutes waiting your turn to pump the gas.  Then you pay up front and go out to pump the gas.  What should be a ten - fifteen minute process has turned into a thirty minute process.  I get very annoyed already at the people who pay cash before pumping because I wait in line for them for fifteen minutes and when they come out their arms are loaded with soda and candy, so you know that they blocked the pump while they were inside shopping.  Then they stand beside the car for five minutes, drinking their soda and eating their candy and just staring at you before they start pumping gas.  Then they decide to clean all of the trash out of their car before moving away from the pump.  You KNOW that is a passive aggressive act, but you are trapped there so you just sit there, trying to be patient, even though you WANT to ask them to “get a move on!” 

Oh, the thought just makes me cringe!