Report: Payments Interchange: The Tenuous Balance - Merchant, Issuer and Network Uncertainty Calls for Policy Changes and the Elimination of Rhetoric TOC

Overview
Primary Questions
Findings And Analysis
Only Small Merchants Are Positioned To Make Interchange A Consumer Issue
Surcharging And Other Penalties At The Point Of Sale Reflect Only On The Merchant
Merchants Cite Both The Benefits And Costs Of All Methods Of Payments
Specific Issuer And Card Network Practices Could Crumble The Foundation
Despite Consumer Willingness To Accept Cash Or Check Discounts, Merchants View
Selective Surcharging As A More Viable Option For Driving Payment Behavior
Surcharging Gives Merchants More Freedom At The Risk Of Alienating Customers
How These Interchange Practices Affect Products, Applications, And Vendors
Potential Scenario: Pseudo-Alternative Networks
Appendix: Middle-Aged Consumers Least Aware Of Interchange
Appendix: The Higher The Income Level, The Greater The Awareness Of Interchange
Appendix: Youthful Idealism?
Appendix: Males Are Significantly More Aware Of Interchange

Figure 1: Interchange Knowledge Effect on Consumer Payment Choice
Figure 2: Consumer Beliefs in Merchant Reaction to Interchange Reduction
Figure 3: Payment Methods that Drive Revenue or meet other Business Goals
Figure 4: Specific Industry Practices: Their Cost vs. the Value and Control Provided to Merchants
Figure 5: Likelihood of Using Cash or Check when Offered a Discount
Figure 6: Middle Aged Consumers Least Aware of Interchange
Figure 7: The Higher the Income Level, the Greater the Awareness of Interchange
Figure 8: Youthful Idealism? Consumer Beliefs on Merchant Reaction to Interchange Reductions (by Age)
Figure 9: Males are Significantly More Aware of Interchange

Payments Interchange: The Tenuous Balance - Merchant, Issuer and Network Uncertainty Calls for Policy Changes and the Elimination of Rhetoric