Not sure why everyone is so surprised by this. That sounds perfectly reasonable if the transaction fee is around 2%, which is what a high volume retailer like a filling station is most likely paying.
This is what the Fuel Retailer association should really be pushing. Generally petrol attendants only serve to prolong the refueling process. Self service would save loads of time.
Why shouldn't the consumer pay for the input costs of the retailer? That's generally how business works.
No, not accurate. I pay the same transaction fee whether my customers pay with credit or debit cards.
Why wouldn't they? If you have cash why not pay in cash?
No need for an honour system. In France they use a prepaid system. Before the pump is activated, you need to insert your card, and it pre-authorises an maximum amount you can fill, you then fill up the desired amount, and are charged for that, and the pre-aurhorisation is reversed. Much like uber does. They also have cash payment options at many filling stations. So you deposit the amount you want to max out at into the machine, you fill up, and it either stops when you reach the amount you deposit, or gives you change if you didn't use the full amount.
Cash also costs money. Most business works the transaction fee into their operating margin, whether that's card fees or Cash handling fees. Filling station owners aren't allowed to do this, as the price they charge for petrol is fixed, as is their margin.