“The merchants that must pay transaction fees pass those cost on to you with higher prices.”
It’s not purchasing individual it is anyone who purchases from the establishment. AMEX fees are higher and some businesses do not accept AMEX cards.
There is 1 breakfast/lunch joint in town that takes cash only, which is kind of inconvenient since the majority these days would rather not carry a wad around. But business has not suffered.
I always carry cash.
And I always pay cash if at all possible.
I do not want to put one cent more than I must into the Too Big to Fail banks pockets.
I do not want to finance my own destruction for the sake of convenance.