At long last, steps are being taken to allow students to use their CarolinaCards off campus.
After years of pining, USC is finally providing a way for us to spend our CarolinaCash at the places we actually want to spend it. All that money our parents put on our CarolinaCards instead of in our bank account will not be spent in vain now that the university plans to start letting some restaurants, convenience and grocery stores and even dry cleaners to use the program.
Unfortunately, we may be getting a little ahead of ourselves. This is great, long-awaited news, but there is one flaw in USC’s plan that may ground the program before it ever takes off: its rather steep commission charges.
Businesses that do agree to accept CarolinaCards will be charged anywhere from 4 percent to 12 percent commission, plus a 30-cent-per-swipe fee. By comparison, most credit card companies charge merchants anywhere between one and four percent, and even then some businesses don’t accept certain cards, such as American Express.
Undoubtedly, USC’s expected cut of the deal is a bit exorbitant, especially considering the low profit margins that many restaurants — especially with deals that college students frequent — already face.
Another drawback of the program is the unforeseen consequences that may affect campus eateries, namely Horseshoe Deli. Considering the deli’s main appeal is its late-night hours, introducing other late-night restaurants that accept CarolinaCash will lessen Horseshoe Deli’s appeal and likely hurt its sales.
It’s clear how mutually beneficial a program like this could be. Students get an outlet to spend money at the places they want to, and USC can generate additional revenue off the transactions. We get that.
But USC can’t let its steep fees get in the way of giving its students what they want and, in a larger sense, supporting the local economy.
While we appreciate that USC is finally respecting our wishes and broadening the utility of our CarolinaCards, it’d be a shame if it failed to flourish into the successful program it has the potential to be — especially considering how long we’ve been waiting for a program like it.