Merchant Swipe Fees

[ramblin_wreck08]

I always wonder what the merchant gets charged when I hand over a certain card. I've heard that AMEX is the most expensive, and that higher tier Visas or MasterCards charge more than their lower tiered counterparts (ex. Visa Signature vs. plain old Visa).

Do any of you know the general swipe fees for these?

[cottoncrown]

Each merchant has their own contract for the percentages they pay so each store will be different. Generally though, Amex and discover charge more than visa or MasterCard.

[cottoncrown]

Each visa is treated the same regardless of the type as it is just a fee to use the visa network.

[Anonymous]

"Each visa is treated the same regardless of the type as it is just a fee to use the visa network."

No. Different tier Visa cards (Platinum, Signature, etc.) charge different merchant fees. Same for MasterCard.

[cottoncrown]

No they don't. I work for a major grocery chain, they all get lumped together. There is no difference. Why do you think that?

[cottoncrown]

There are hundreds of different tier cards, you think there is a price guide for each one?

[b_seeker]

---

@cottoncrown wrote:
No they don't. I work for a major grocery chain, they all get lumped together. There is no difference. Why do you think that?

---

http://usa.visa.com/download/merchants/visa-usa-interchange-reimbursement-fees-april2013.pdf

I would imagine because this document from Visa has different fee tiers. A major chain store like has deals in place with Visa for a flat rate % as well.

[cottoncrown]

I didn't realize this, perhaps smaller merchants get these breakdowns more. It still looks like the majority of their products get charged the same though under "all other products". Interesting

[HiLine]

Thanks for the informative document! Do you know what a Visa Signature Preferred is?

[Anonymous]

---

@b_seeker wrote:

---

@cottoncrown wrote:
No they don't. I work for a major grocery chain, they all get lumped together. There is no difference. Why do you think that?

---

http://usa.visa.com/download/merchants/visa-usa-interchange-reimbursement-fees-april2013.pdf

I would imagine because this document from Visa has different fee tiers. A major chain store like has deals in place with Visa for a flat rate % as well.

---

This is also why a number of issuers are pushing Visa Signature/MC World cards to almost everyone.   They get higher swipe fees, presumably more than offsetting the increased cost of the benefits.