The 7-Eleven in Mitchell Hall no longer accepts Colonial Cash because of high costs associated with using the GWorld system, the store’s manager said Sunday.
The manager, who declined to be identified, said GW takes four times as much from each sale than the most expensive credit card system, American Express. The percentage of each sale that goes to GW and Blackboard, an outside company that operates GWorld, depends on a store’s revenues, University officials have said in previous articles.
“The kids, we see them disappointed. That’s the most bothersome thing,” the manager said.
A sign posted Sunday near the cash register informed students about the change in policy. Matt Lindsay, a GW spokesman, said he did not know about the decision.
“I was in shock when I handed them my GWorld,” said freshman Matt Hirsch after exiting the store Sunday. “They’re going to lose a lot of business.”
Other students said the store offered foods they couldn’t buy elsewhere on Colonial Cash.
“There’s not that many places you can go to buy food and make later, except District Market,” freshman Valerie Vilott said. “I guess (GW) now has a pretty captive audience.”
-Ryan Holeywell and Sam Sherraden