NOTE:  VISA will not permit surcharges for using the card.  There are 
a lot of low-margin computer stores in town here who used to charge a 
3% premium if you used VISA.  If you show VISA the bill (try to 
get them to include the surcharge on a seperate line) VISA will 
refund you the surcharge and hold it back from the retailer.

brian.

P.S. - The local computer stores now offer a 2% cash 'discount' to 
circumvent the issue.  But for your deal it may be just the 'gotcha' 
you're looking for.  :)

> Date:          Fri, 9 Feb 1996 10:27:56 -0600
> Reply-to:      jmglenn@grove.iup.edu
> From:          jmglenn@grove.iup.edu (James M. Glenn)
> To:            Multiple recipients of list <vanagon@lenti.med.umn.edu>
> Subject:       Parts suppliers ID'd in this list: CAUTION

>     A dismantler/supplier in Vermont who has popped up in a "classified" in
> this list recently sold me a pair of headlights for my '87 Vanagon.
> Initially, the price discussed was $75/side, but when shipping time rolled
> around the price "remembered" was $100/side. Since I had taken extensive
> notes, and mentioned date and time, the negotiation reduced it to $85/side.
> The reason given for the increase over the agreed original price was that
> Visa charges six percent for each transaction.
>     Since Visa makes use of a long-distance supplier attractive to begin
> with, I personally feel that this is a legitimate "cost of business"
> expense and not something that should automatically be passed on to a
> customer. To charge a PROFIT on said cost comes mighty close to dishonesty.
> 6 percent of the original cost is only $4.50 - charging ten extra dollars
> per SIDE on top of shipping and handling is insulting!
>     I don't know how they do things in Vermont, but when I give my word
> here in Pennsylvania, I stand by it. I understand these folks are in
> business to make money, and they sure made it off me THIS time. Repeat
> business for the good folks in Westminster is out of the question, and
> they've given mail-order dismantlers everywhere a bad name by playing this
> little game with me. I suggest you avoid them too - they seem to feel they
> have Van owners over some kind of barrel, but they're wrong. At least I
> would hope so! Or maybe I'm just naive?
> 
> ====>James Glenn
>      '87 GL    '88 Camry All-Trac    '74 BMW 2002
> 
> 
>