Union accepting credit cards

Those with large appetites but a low supply of cash can now purchase food in the IMU with credit and debit cards.\nSugar & Spice, Burger King, Kiva and The Market began accepting plastic at the end of last semester to meet the demand of credit card carrying customers.\nSophomore Jorge Tirado said he was not surprised by the change. \n"Taking credit cards must be better for their business, because I know a lot of times I've stepped into restaurants and only had a credit card," Tirado said as he ate a Burger King meal. "I don't see any cons to it."\nBurger King began offering this feature in response to the customers who asked whether the restaurant accepted credit cards, manager Mark Wagner said. The number of people inquiring about the service increased last summer and during the fall semester, he said. \nThe Market also added this payment option to satisfy customers, manager John Shay said.\nSuzette May, manager of Sugar & Spice, said the store has always wanted to accept credit cards, but the cost of the equipment was an obstacle. Last year was the time to install the machines because fewer people carry cash with them but they do carry debit cards, she said. \nThe response to the acceptance of credit cards has been "phenomenal," May said, noting that there has been a definite increase in sales. The only con to accepting credit cards is that the machines slow the line, she said.\nBefore the credit card machines were installed, May said some customers had difficulty paying for larger orders, such as boxes of cookies, because most people don't carry $50 bills in their wallets. \n"We had to turn away a lot of customers when we didn't accept (them)," she said. Although credit card sales are increasing business for Sugar & Spice, other stores are not necessarily reaping direct benefits.\nBurger King's credit card use has grown substantially, but it hasn't necessarily increased sales because most customers who pay with plastic are regular customers who paid with cash because they had to, Wagner said.\nThe Market, which includes Pizza Hut, Sub Connection and Charleston Market, has experienced a gradual increase in sales after accepting credit cards, Shay said. However, he said other factors, such as the new grab-and-go place and new combo meals, could have contributed to the profit gain.