Credit Cards now accepted almost anywhere.

I didn't spend a single paper bill this weekend inside the park. Happy Friar accepted my credit card and there are now signs at each refreshment stand with the Visa/American Express/Master Card logo on it. This makes me really happy. I earned almost 200 in points on my American Express this weekend.

Yea.

Because you need a credit card to pay for all the overpriced crappy food in the park.

Almost $14 for a footlong sub....plus you can make it a combo for ONLY $5.35 more.

Or you can get a "make it and mix it yourself" slurpee for ONLY $9.65

Bad prices aside, CP should send a memo to Kennywood about how people buy stuff in the 21st century. It's more plastic than paper these days, especially at a tourist spot.

Wow, thanks for posting this. To me, this is HUGE news.

Except at the dippin' dots stand :(

Chuck Wagon said:
Bad prices aside, CP should send a memo to Kennywood about how people buy stuff in the 21st century. It's more plastic than paper these days, especially at a tourist spot.

Too bad the memo is 8 years old and someone in Cedar Point's tech department found it hiding under their state of the art 486.

I'm noticing smaller stands do not accept cards like dippin dots, the toasted almonds stand in front of Raptor etc.. But to be able to buy a cheese fry with my bank card is a huge help.

I also noticed a new Recess machine in Magnums que has either a card reader or one of those tap-and-go things.

Good. Cash is so 80s, and I can't stand buying things without earning rewards.

Last year I waited like 30 minutes to get my gourmet pretzel. I finally got to the window, and they said "Sorry, the credit card line is over there," pointing to the window next to me. I was like "Can't you just scan my credit card on the machine right next to you?"

"No, sorry sir...you'll have to go wait in the credit card line." I waited another 30 minutes to get my damn pretzels. Complaint to CP was submitted, and their response was "Sorry for the inconvenience; we have documented this case."

^that better have been a damn good pretzel

Chuck Wagon said:
Bad prices aside, CP should send a memo to Kennywood about how people buy stuff in the 21st century. It's more plastic than paper these days, especially at a tourist spot.

I was pretty surprised when I couldn't find a single location that accepted credit cards at Kennywood last year. Although they were happy to direct me to the nearest ATM where I paid a $2.50 fee.

$2.50 believe it or not is an average fee. I stopped at one of the rest stops on 80/90 and checked the fee it was $3.25 and a Comerica in Detroit tried to charge me $3.50 (i'm a 5/3rd member).. I thought CP would go for a $4.00 fee just because they could.

No credit/debit card earns enough points to keep up with the price hike in lockers.

CP loses money by offering credit/debit use in more areas. They now pay a % to credit card companies on more locations. Although CP might figure we spend more money as we have more access to swipe our plastic.

Isn't that $2.50 fee ON TOP of what your bank charges? Total scam. I should know, I work for a bank!

Luckily 5/3rd does not charge a dime for anything. Totally Free Checking is a bonus.

I bank with a locally owned bank. They have totally free checking, too. No service charges what so ever. If I use an ATM that is not theirs, they refund all charges plus I earn interest an top of that.

I'm really glad that more food stands are accepting plastic. I don't have to carry paper money anymore.

Trent

factory81 said:
No credit/debit card earns enough points to keep up with the price hike in lockers.

CP loses money by offering credit/debit use in more areas. They now pay a % to credit card companies on more locations. Although CP might figure we spend more money as we have more access to swipe our plastic.

I agree with you that yes, credit cards do cost CP fees that they wouldn't have to pay with cash. However, I think the price increases with lockers, food, etc., are just their typical yearly increases.

This is a huge benefit to CP, as like you said, people tend to spend more when it's put on a card, and it's harder to physically see your cash evaporating. And it's a benefit to me, as I simply don't deal with cash anymore...money is dirty, and pockets full of change annoy me. I wish every place had fast tap...it feels much more right for our times.

^^ I need to get a new bank. I had Sky Bank, which was bought by Huntington a couple of years ago. Sky never charged ATM fees or fees for making debit transactions. Huntington does, and I'm a little ticked by it. I tried to go to National City last year, but they were incompetent. I suppose it may be time for me to try again.

^Try 5/3rd. They are great, they have it noted that I go by my middle name in the computers, I only pay fees that other banks charge if I use another ATM, free checks, free rewards, free Internet banking, Master Card protection on my bank card (if I pay for something and am not satisfied with my purchase or it breaks under warranty they will charge back) and great customer service.

I was with BOA, but the fees got out of hand and the service was awful. I looked at Chase, but they seemed to be sales people and not bankers.

The Chippery also does not accept cards. Found that out with a bag of chips in one hand and an orange pop in the other.

Sucks.