Paying for one bagel with a card: is my baker right to sigh?
Editors' DilemmaOctober 28, 2026· Be the first to vote
A story made up by our editors to get the debate going, not a real account.
My side
I never carry cash. No coins, no bills. I pay for everything by card, including my morning bagel at $1.75. My baker, a really nice guy otherwise, sighs every time. One morning, he finally said, kindly but in front of the whole line: “You know, cards are more for five dollars and up.” There’s no sign on the counter, though. I said I didn’t have any cash, and that I wasn’t going to buy four muffins to hit a minimum. He took the card, but he looked annoyed. I can’t decide if I should switch bakeries or start hitting the ATM.
Their side
The baker explains that every card payment costs him a fee, even for a single bagel. On a $1.75 item, that eats up a good chunk of what he makes. He never refuses cards, but he’d like regulars to keep a little cash on hand for small amounts, like plenty of customers do. He admits he should have put up a sign with his preference.
So, who's wrong?
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