>I fully support merchants being able to charge more for card or give a discount for cash. The fact they haven't been able to for 3+ decades
This is false. Merchants in the US have been able to give cash/debit card discounts since Oct 2011. I would be surprised if Europe did not have similar rules even before the US.
The reason many merchants do not is because they want to bet that people are able and willing to spend more when people pay with a credit card, as opposed to cash/debit card.
Note that many larger merchants do give discounts for paying with cash/debit, such as ATT/Target/governments/insurance companies/etc.
This is false. Merchants in the US have been able to give cash/debit card discounts since Oct 2011. I would be surprised if Europe did not have similar rules even before the US.
https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/new-rules-el...
The reason many merchants do not is because they want to bet that people are able and willing to spend more when people pay with a credit card, as opposed to cash/debit card.
Note that many larger merchants do give discounts for paying with cash/debit, such as ATT/Target/governments/insurance companies/etc.