Customer Purchases Using Credit Cards Are a Significant Source of Revenue

question 199

Essay

Customer purchases using credit cards are a significant source of revenue for many retailers. From the standpoint of a retailer, briefly discuss some advantages and disadvantages of a retail store having its own credit card as opposed to accepting one of the national credit cards (e.g., Visa or MasterCard).

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Definitions:

Market Price

The current price at which an asset or service can be bought or sold in a competitive marketplace.

Consumer Surplus

The difference between the total amount consumers are willing and able to pay for a good or service versus the total amount they actually pay.

Producer Surplus

The difference between what producers are willing to accept for a good versus what they actually receive.

Price Ceiling

A government-imposed limit on how high a price can be charged for a product or service, often intended to protect consumers from excessive prices.