“By now, the phrase "cash or credit" is so firmly entrenched in Americans' vernacular that our decision seems almost instinctive. However, the collective answer is worth billions to the world's largest corporations.
On one hand, you have those dependent on credit and debit card transaction fees, including banks and the so-called toll-road operators - Visa, MasterCard) and American Express - strongly preferring that you opt for the latter.
On the other hand, merchants are hoping that cash or cash equivalents - including gift cards, checking accounts, and private-label store cards - are your preferred transaction method. The reason: These payment methods are generally cheaper for them to process. Recently, a consortium of merchants including Target, Wal-Mart, ExxonMobil, and Best Buy have banded together to form the Merchant Customer Exchange, or MCX: a mobile payment system owned and controlled by merchants.”
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