I'm aware of the skimmers existence, thank you. I just prefer not to make it any easier for the bad guys if I can help it. It's one reason I can't wait for the 3rd generation of credit card systems (mag stripe = G1; chip set = G2; Applepay and similar near-field systems = G3) to come into widespread use. I already use Applepay whenever I can. But the service station industry has fought ANY changes tooth and nail.
EDIT: BTW, discounts for cash are rare in my area. Nearly all stations take CC same as cash.
Cash discounts used to be rare here, but they're gaining in popularity. Some stations only offer cash discounts on diesel, but not unleaded. Dunno why, since they're often close to the same price here in the southeast. If a station does offer discounts on all fuels, it's always a bigger discount (6¢) for diesel than unleaded (2-3¢). It's not a deal, though, since competing stations just charge the cash price for credit diesel, so there's no point in the extra hassle.
For what it's worth, you're totally right about the service industry resisting change. They won an exemption to the rule that required chip+pin readers to be in use by a certain date (October 2015?) or the liability would fall to the merchant. They are exempt for at least another year if I remember correctly.
Tap to pay (Apple Pay or Android Pay) are not widespread in my area yet, but it's telling that I have to swipe a card at the Circle K to get fuel, or I can go across the street and be all 21st Century and tap to pay with my Android phone to buy a bag of ice at the little automated ice house. When your industry has been left behind by a shady fly by night ice machine, you're really living in the wrong decade
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