[oasisbob]

Until Dodd-Frank, the rules for discounts on cash transactions imposed by Visa and Mastercard by merchants were much more stringent.

Many retailers had their hands tied, whether or not they wanted to provide a cash discount or credit card surcharge.

[lotsofpulp]

Sure, but that was 13 years ago. Retailers also always had the option of simply not accepting credit cards, and only accepting debit cards.

[mikepurvis]

I presume smaller retailers are hit the hardest with fees, as they face the most payment processing middlemen and have zero leverage in terms of volume from which to negotiate that stuff. So maybe Starbucks doesn't care how you pay, but Joe's Joe down the street has a hardwritten sign up by the till asking you to consider paying with debit or cash because it saves them a few percent on each transaction when you do.