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Magazine Editor: use the Mason
Jessica Vosgerchian Hall elevator if
Editor in Chief: you're only going
Andrew Grossman up one floor. rule
Managing Editor: 143: If a course
Gabe Nelson doesn't allow any
Photo Editor: absences, it's all
Chanel Von Habsburg- right to try to con-
Lothringen taminate the pro-
Junk Drawer: fessor with your
Brian Tengel cold. rule 144:
Center spread design: "Debate watch-
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The Statement is The Michigan a n t h . C
Daily's news magazine, distrib- debate.,
uted every Wednesday during the - E-mail rule submissions to
academic year TheStatement@umich.edu
THE EDITOR'S NOTEBOOK with JESSICA VOSGERCHIAN
A look at the big news events this week and how important they really are. Conveniently rated from one to 10.
OBAMA'S CELEBRITY
Who says Barack Obama has nothinggoing for him but celebrity? In the days before Michi-
gan's fall voter registration deadline, the Illinois senator dispatched Jay-Z, Bruce Spring-
steen and Michigan Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard for a final push to nab
new voters. Jay-Z exhorted a packed Cobo Hall to pick Obama in what he called "the most
2 important election in your lifetime." No word yet on whether McCain's camp will respond
with a rally by one of its high-wattage supporters. You know, like ... er ... Jon Voigt?
Minimum injustice
Ever buy a muffin when all you wanted was coffee just
so you'd meet the minimum for a credit card purchase?
You didn't have to.
TrevorCalero I Daily Staff Writer
3
AN UNDIGNIFIED LONG LIFE
Tiger Stadium will live to see yet another day as of Tuesday when the
Detroit City Council again voted against full demolition of the downtown
landmark. Yet, if Tiger Stadium itself had a say, it might envy the fate of
Yankee Stadium. A swift and dignified demise complete with celebrity
tributes certainly beats the eight years Tiger Stadium has had of weeds
growing up through its seats. Maybe there is hope yet, though, Jack Kev-
orkian is running for Congress in Oakland County.
All School of Architecture
junior Allison Grimmwanted
last Friday wag a Very Berry
Smoothie from Stucchi's - a
simple request, only $4.79
with tax.
But as she strolled into
the State Street ice cream
shop with only plastic in her
pocket, Grimmended up pay-
ing $0.21 more to reach the
store's $5 minimum for credit
and debit card purchases.
It's not uncommon for
stores like Stucchi's to
require customers to spend a
certain amount when paying
with a credit card. But such
rules are explicitly against
the contract agreement stor-
eowners sign with companies
like Visa, MasterCard and
American Express to be able
to accept those credit cards.
According to the Mas-
terCard Rules, presented to
all businesses that wish to
accept MasterCard as a form
ofpayment, "amerchantmust
not require, or indicate that it
requires, a minimum or max-
imum transaction amount to
accept a valid and properly
presented card." Every major
credit card company stipu-
lates similar rules.
Tristan Jordan, a spokes-
man for MasterCard, said the
rules are laid out in the con-
tract agreement that every
merchant signs.
"Our rules are designed for
merchants to follow," he said.
"They are communicated to
the merchants. It's part of
their choice to do business."
Jordan said MasterCard
implemented the rule over 40
years ago when the company
was created, to ensure that
customers have freedom of
choice in how they pay.
"Merchants don't need to
accept cards, they are invited
to do so if it's the right deci-
sion for business," he said.
"Part of that decision is to
play by the rules that are
established by MasterCard."
But even though it's clear-
ly a violation of the contract
agreement, many Ann Arbor
businesses don't play by the
rules, unknowingly or inten-
tionally breaking the agree-
ment.
Like most liquor stores charged per transaction var-
in Ann Arbor, Blue Front on ies.Buthesaid the advantages
Packard Street and Sgt. Pep- of accepting cards outweigh
per's on East University both the cost of transaction fees
have $5 minimums. Middle for most merchants.
Kingdom and Kai Garden, "My ' position is that
both Chinese restaurants accepting cards is a choice,"
located on Main Street, Jordan said. "The fees are
have $10 and $5 minimums, small in comparison to the
respectively. Many other enormous value merchants
cafes and convenience stores get for accepting them."
have varying credit card But Grimm, 21 cents short
minimums, as well. of that $5 minimum and still
Butwhenasked abouttheir cravinganice-coldberrybev-
erage, had noideathatsetting
a credit card minimum was a
breech of contract.
"I'm aware that So how did she overcome
it's against the this obvious dilemma?
"Just charge me five dol-
rules, but I have lars," she said without miss-
. ing a beat.
to do somethig Stucchi's manager Kate
to survive." Budden said more than one-
third of the store's transac-
tions are made with credit
cards.
And because Stucchi's
minimums, most business only has two items on its
owners refused to be inter- menu that cost over five dol-
viewed, while others seemed lars - $5.29 for a banana split
to change their minds about and $5.18 for a large, home-
the firmness of their credit made waffle cone with three
card policies. scoops - Budden has suggest-
"I don't know, they don't ed many ways for costumers
have cash I still take the to reach that minimum.
credit card," Kai Garden "Sometimes I'll say 'OK,
Manager Tina Yen said ner- well do you just want to
vously when informed about charge it for five dollars,'
the violation. "First time, I even though it's not five dol-
give it to you." lars," Budden said. "Or what
Eddie Galyana, owner of I always say is buy your
Strickland's Market on Ged- friend's and have them pay
des Avenue, said he is com- you cash."
pletely aware of the contract Stucchi's owner Kevin
agreement that restricts set- Phelps strictly enforces his
ting a minimum for credit $5 credit card minimum.
card transactions, but he still With two laminated signs
has had a $5 minimum for that read, "Credit Card
the past four years. Minimum $5.00," in large,
"I'm aware that it's against black letters, a small, hand-
the rules, but I have to do written reminder of the
something to survive," he rule taped above the credit
said. "Credit card companies card machine and a lengthy,
are not giving us any choice detailed message about the
at all." minimum titled, "Everyone
Galyana said he is forced Read," posted on the employ-
to set the minimum because ee bulletin board, employees
the transaction fees he is like Budden never forget the
required to pay, totaling over store's policy.
$800 a month, negate the The notice on the bulletin
benefit of sales less than $5. board located in the back of
Jordan said merchants the ice-cream parlor explains
individually negotiate trans- Phelps' reasoning behind set-
action fees with their banks, ting the minimum, even giv-
so the amount they are ing employees tips for getting
Shop.
Donate.
Volunteer.
Offering reusable
household items,
appliances, furniture,
sporting goods,
electronics and
building supplies at
affordable prices.
Stucchi's on State Street strictly enforces a $5 minimum for credit and debit card purchases
MCCAIN, EXIT STAGE RIGHT
For months, we've been hearing about
how Michigan is the crucial swing
state in this election, a de-industri-
alized bastion of Reagan Democrats
where Obama and McCain would fight
down to the wire for the presidency.
But with polls looking increasingly
hopeless, McCain's camp announced
last week it was effectively throwing
in the towel here, moving its Michigan
staff to other states. Without the cam-
paign's help getting out the vote Elec-
tion Day could be a bloodbath for the
state GOP. Kinda makes you wonder
why you're still plugging away on that
phone bank for Obama, doesn't it?
more money out of custom-
ers who need to meet the
requirement.
"For every credit or debit
card swiped on the machine,
I am charged on average
($0.40). This is why there is
a $5 minimum charge," the
note reads. "If you have a
shake ($4.87) and they want
to charge it, ask if it is OK
to make the total $5 or offer
something else like a bottled
water, etc."
"I just think it's really stu-
pid cause he's forcing people
to buy stuff that they don't
really want," Budden said.
"It's so inconvenient for the
majority of people trying to
charge."
But with more and more
people dropping cash for
credit cards in this growing
paperless society, Budden
said setting a minimum at an
ice cream parlor has become
an everyday annoyance.
"It happens at least ten
times a day," she said. "They
try to charge it and they give
you this indignant look like,
how dare you not take dad-
dy's credit card."
But if a business does,
indeed, refuse to accept
daddy's credit card, you can
report it.
If notified of a business
that sets a credit card mini-
mum, MasterCard works
with the merchant's bank to
force them back into compli-
ance, first by sending a letter
reportingthe rule violation.
"I think that the vast
majority of cases just takes a
letter," said Jordan, the Mas-
terCard spokesman. "But
there are other things that
we can do."
Ultimately, they can ter-
minate a merchant's abil-
ity to accept MasterCard, but
Jordan said it "rarely comes
to that."
After solving her cred-
it card issues, and finally
acquiring what she had been
desperately craving, Grimm
flirted with the possibility
of reporting Stucchi's to the
credit card companies.
"I was twenty-one cents
short of five dollars," Grimm
said in disgust. "Yeah that's
kind of ridiculous."
But at least she got her
smoothie.
Phone (734) 222-7880
2420 S. Industrial Hwy, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
www.recycleannarbororg
HOURS: Men-Sat 9-5Sun 10-2
Donation pick-up available. Call for detals.