At Qore Performance, transparency is our baseline. We’ve spent years perfecting the ICEAGE ECOSYSTEM® to optimize your physical performance, but "Living in Truth" requires us to look at the fiscal environment as well.
When you click "Checkout," a complex, invisible machine begins to move. And that machine is expensive. Most consumers believe that a $100 purchase costs the merchant $0 to process. The reality is far different—and it’s a reality that credit card companies and processors fight to keep hidden. Unfortunately, there are not many options to work around this. Since payment processors charge this as soon as the initial payment is processed, we do not ever even have 100% of the funds in our account. For us it looks something like this:
| ACTION |
|
CUSTOMER | QORE PERFORMANCE® | PAYMENT PROCESSOR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Order Placed | John Doe placed this order on Online Store (checkout #2323xxxxxxxx). |
|
|
|
| New Order Paid | A $952.78 USD payment was processed using a Mastercard ending in xxxx. | -952.78 |
|
|
| Payment Processed | $918.18 USD will be added to your Mar 25, 2022 payout. |
|
+918.18 | +34.6 |
| Order Canceled | John Doe canceled this order |
|
|
|
| Refund Paid | Refund Paid You refunded this order using a Mastercard ending in xxxx. | +918.18 |
|
|
| Refund Processed | $918.18 USD refund was deducted from your Mar 28, 2022 payout. |
|
-918.18 |
|
| Aggregate | Total | -34.6 | 0 | +34.6 |
1. The "Interchange" Toll Booth
Every time you swipe, tap, or click, the banks and processors take a "toll." This is known as the Interchange Fee. Depending on the card type and the processor, this can range from 2.5% to 4% or more. In a world of tightening margins, this "transaction tax" is often the difference between a small business growing or stagnating. While giants like Amazon negotiate "Godzilla-sized" discounts, the "Human-Scale" retailers—the ones building innovative tech in America—are often left footing the bill for the entire ecosystem.
2. The Illusion of "Free" Rewards
We all love credit card points, "cash back," and travel rewards. But here is the truth: The merchant pays for your "free" flight. High-reward cards (like "Infinite" or "Black" tier cards) carry significantly higher processing fees for the retailer. When you use those cards at a small business, you are essentially asking that business to subsidize your next vacation. At QPI, we absorb these costs because we value your convenience, but the economic reality is that "rewards" are a wealth transfer from small businesses to large financial institutions.
3. The Platform Tax: PayPal, ShopPay, and Apple Pay
Digital wallets have revolutionized convenience, but they’ve also added new layers of "Middleman Fees."
* The Convenience Trap: Platforms like PayPal often hold merchant funds for extended periods or charge premium rates for the "trust" they provide.
* The Data Mine: These processors aren't just taking a cut of the money; they are taking a cut of the data.
4. How to Support "Human-Scale" Innovation
If you want to ensure more of your money goes toward Building A Superhuman Future® and less into the pockets of a processor in a glass tower, here is how you can help the retailers you love:
* Use Debit or ACH: These carry the lowest fees and ensure the maximum amount of your purchase goes toward R&D and American manufacturing.
* Avoid "Buy Now, Pay Later" (BNPL) unless necessary: These services often charge merchants 5-7%, significantly cutting into the ability to innovate.
* Shop Direct: Third-party marketplaces (the Godzillas of the world) take a massive "referral fee" on top of the credit card fee. Buying directly from QorePerformance.com ensures your support stays with the creators.
Why We Tell You This
Most companies think that talking about processing fees is "unprofessional." We think that keeping you in the dark is a disservice. A "Superhuman Future" requires an informed, empowered community. By understanding the plumbing of online shopping, you can make choices that support American Security and American Prosperity.
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