Originally Posted by
notquiteaff
I worked around it with my CFU, which also earns 3X dining...
I use the CFU as a best practice anyway for domestic dining spend since the 3x started. In addition to the card being less conspicuous than the CSR, you're guaranteed at least a 1.5x earn. Ever since Chase reduced the dining category, there are some establishments that have incorrect MCC codes. There was a particular restaurant here, which has since closed, that coded as a bakery.
Originally Posted by
Miesque
Why should a restaurant, especially a non corporate chain one, be paying a higher transaction rate for your card just so you can ultimately go to Aruba (or wherever) for free? Are you really that much better a customer than one paying cash or using a CC without the bells and whistles?
Using a card should be a frictionless experience. My guess is that customers who have issues with payments will do less business with a particular merchant. Studies have shown that card users have a greater willingness to pay versus cash, including gratuities.
I suspect they will use MasterCard and VISA's own branding tiers, excluding (say) MasterCard World Elite and Legend or VISA Signature and Infinite.
Outside of my debit cards, I don't think I have a single Visa or Mastercard network card that is not at least a Visa Signature or Mastercard World Elite, even among those with no annual fee.