Maybe my memory is faulty, but I never remembered having to pay a surcharge to use a credit card. Now everywhere I go there are signs saying that there is a 2.5-3.5% surcharge to use a car (and others that say that there’s a 2.5-3.5% discount for using cash, I assume to get around wording)
I have not yet seen it normalized but I have seen the opposite. 5% discount for cash. I mean effectively its the same thing. EDITED - thought I would mention there was a well known burger place in my area run by some brothers who would only take cash. They had a sign with the location of the nearest cash machine. I think they decided the credit card machines were not worth the hassel and its the kind of place that had a line out the door the whole time they are open.
I’m my experience, most places like that set up their own ATM with absolutely extortionate fees as a way to get extra money.
im pretty sure the brothers did not want to deal with whatever you have to do to get an atm. it was a pretty lean operation with really just enough room for the grill, fryers, blender, prep area and register. Very limited counter seating in side and a few tables outside. still in winter big lines. people just take it to go.
More likely, it’s to fudge the numbers and pay less tax. Credit cards leave a record of income. Cash doesn’t.