Re the bar, below, "Merchant costs" -- the fee Visa and MC charge you to process a CC payment, is ~3.5%

Posted on September 24, 2026 at 04:45:26 PM by Alpo

If someone can figure out a way using AI or whatever to disrupt that, every wholesaler and retailer in the country would jump ship in seconds. A ridiculous rent to have to pay. From what I've heard, successful bars and restaurants run at about a 3-4% profit margin. The idea that the payment processers basically charge you your entire margin is just fucking extortionate IMO.

Back to the board

Thread:

Re the bar, below, "Merchant costs" -- the fee Visa and MC charge you to process a CC payment, is ~3.5% - By Alpo September 24, 2026 at 04:45:26 PM
- I HATE crypto, but if stablecoins ever became widespread in theory you could route around the card networks altogether? - By LS&Play September 24, 2026 at 04:59:33 PM
  - A central bank digital currency would theoretically be the good part of digital currency without the scumbag shithead part that thrives in crypto* - By brick September 24, 2026 at 05:02:51 PM
    - Exactly.* - By LS&Play September 24, 2026 at 05:05:09 PM
- I think other countries’ central banks (Brazil? Estonia?) have tried to create a sort of universally accepted digital alternative to CCs - By brick September 24, 2026 at 04:50:20 PM

The Victors

Re the bar, below, "Merchant costs" -- the fee Visa and MC charge you to process a CC payment, is ~3.5%