Cash, Debit, or Credit?

[GDTRFB]

If the price doesn''t change for the different payment options, what would you do?

 

[Lula]

Do you get rewards for using your credit card, and do you pay the card off every month? If so, I''d use credit if there''s no price penalty for doing so.

 

[sonnyjane]

If you had the cash to pay for it, I''d purchase on the credit card for the points and the protection, but then pay it off fairly quickly so as not to accrue interest.

 

[tyty333]

Credit and pay it off at the end of the month...we get money back on our card (I think most cards give some bene - does
yours?). This also gives you some added protection in case anything goes wrong the CC company can go to bat for you.

 

[Bliss]

All things equal, I think it depends on your relationship with the vendor.
Sure, I get a lot of points and rewards for my big purchases -
but I always pay cash for my diamonds as a courtesy to the vendor.

It''s easier for them and they don''t take the hit for the CC purchase.
That''s if I really like them and I''ve never worked with a vendor I didn''t truly like!

 

[kenny]

If price doesn't change with payment method negotiate 3% off for cash since the vendor won't have to pay that 3% to the CC company.

 

[GDTRFB]

My credit card doesn''t have points, but my debit card does, which is a Visa Debit Card - I am surprised I don''t know this, but does the Visa debit card offer the same protections a purely Visa credit card does?

 

[Lula]

Call the bank that issued you your debit card and ask. You might want to give them the heads up, too, that you will be using the card for a substantial purchase. Sometimes their fraud protection kicks in...that has happened to me a few times with one of my cards. They decline the sale until you call them up and verify that it''s you making the purchase. Kind of irritating, to say the least, but necessary, I guess, in today''s world where identify theft is such a problem.

 

[nissan]

You should be able to negotiate some sort of cash discount when you don''t use CC b/c they''d be getting 2.5-3% less anyway due to the CC fees. If they don''t and you want the protection & points, just use a CC. If, as someone mentioned here, you want convenience while still doing a "courtesy" to the vendor, pay w/a debit card as the fee to process debit is generally less than a CC.