businesses do not generally* offer discounts to customers that pay in cash so consumers use the high return cards that also cost businesses the most in fees. A

businesses do not generally* offer discounts to customers that pay in cash so consumers use the high return cards that also cost businesses the most in fees. Aka, it's the current inefficient market standard. *business that have lots of small transactions often charge extra for credit card purchases below a certain amount and big purchases will also charge extra since the marginal/absolute cost is a lot.