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View Full Version : why don't someplaces take American Express?


King Crimson
6/16/2009, 04:20 PM
just curious. that's the credit card i use most for this and that and i know/expect that there are joints who don't take it (i'm looking at you Liquormart in Boulder), but i always have a debit card backup.

just curious.
NYC Poke
6/16/2009, 04:20 PM
just curious. that's the credit card i use most for this and that and i know/expect that there are joints who don't take it (i'm looking at you Liquormart in Boulder), but i always have a debit card backup.

just curious.


They charge merchants a higher percentage than Visa/MC.
JohnnyMack
6/16/2009, 04:22 PM
Like 5% vs. 3% or at least it used to be.
King Crimson
6/16/2009, 04:23 PM
They charge merchants a higher percentage than Visa/MC.

i figured it was something like that.
NYC Poke
6/16/2009, 04:35 PM
A lot of places here require a minimum purchase for them to even take a credit card because of the fees. It's totally against their agreement with Visa, etc., but they do it anyway.

A lot of bars, for example, require a $15 or $20 minimum on a CC tab. I usually have no trouble meeting that requirement. :O
soonerscuba
6/16/2009, 04:48 PM
Weird, my AMEX black seems to work at most places.
tigepilot
6/16/2009, 04:50 PM
My company card is AE and I do run into problems from time to time. It's very annoying and wish I had a different company card but I'm not the one that gets to choose that.

I've yet to run into a situation where I needed a minimum purchase at a restaurant but I have at a convenience store... how convenient eh?

Anyway, I've had merchants outright tell me they don't want to take AE because of the higher rate and ask me if I had another card. Just last weekend I was checking into a hotel on the company card when they told me it wasn't accepted and asked me to use another card (said they tried it three times). I called American Express and they told me that it would be accepted if they'd just run it. They did and what do yeah know, it worked.
OklahomaTuba
6/17/2009, 11:42 AM
Whats your number, security code and expiry data? I will give it a try down here for ya.
My Opinion Matters
6/17/2009, 12:11 PM
Weird, my AMEX black seems to work at most places.

You were just using this thread as an excuse to "casually" mention you have an AMEX black card. Don't lie.
soonerscuba
6/17/2009, 12:20 PM
You were just using this thread as an excuse to "casually" mention you have an AMEX black card. Don't lie.Personally, I don't actually carry one, I hear from my personal shoppers that they don't run into problems, just for clarification. Now, if you will excuse me I am off to play some golf with Bruce and Peter Pace.
NYC Poke
6/17/2009, 12:21 PM
Whats your number, security code and expiry data? I will give it a try down here for ya.


SOCIALIST!! :eek:
Collier11
6/17/2009, 12:27 PM
One thing that is kind of related, when you go to a store and they tell you that any purchases under $3 or whatever it may be that are placed on your CC will get a charge, that is illegal. They can either refuse to accept it or accept it, they cant charge you extra
NYC Poke
6/17/2009, 12:31 PM
One thing that is kind of related, when you go to a store and they tell you that any purchases under $3 or whatever it may be that are placed on your CC will get a charge, that is illegal. They can either refuse to accept it or accept it, they cant charge you extra


I don't think it's illegal, it just violates the merchant's contract with the credit card company.
My Opinion Matters
6/17/2009, 12:34 PM
I don't think it's illegal, it just violates the merchant's contract with the credit card company.

That's garbage! [hairGel]
Howzit
6/17/2009, 12:42 PM
Doesn't AE also approach disputes differently from other cards? I haven't used AE in years, but I seem to remember that having something to do with why some merchants preferred other cards to AE.
Sooner_Havok
6/17/2009, 02:17 PM
The credit card companies don't like it when they find out people aren't taking their cards for all purchases either. I went into a sunshine mart in Norman once to grab a pack of smokes and the guy told me there was a $5 minimum purchase for charge cards. I told him that was fine, and that I would be contacting Visa to let them know he wouldn't accept my card as payment. He wound up selling me the smokes. :D
JohnnyMack
6/17/2009, 02:30 PM
Doesn't AE also approach disputes differently from other cards? I haven't used AE in years, but I seem to remember that having something to do with why some merchants preferred other cards to AE.

Yes. They prefer the, "Battle Gorlock to the death inside the ring of fire" method of resolution that most other credit card companies have done away with.
AggieTool
6/17/2009, 03:03 PM
I don't think it's illegal, it just violates the merchant's contract with the credit card company.
This^^^

You have to report them if you want anything done.

A smart merchant would just include the cost of Visa transactions in their regular pricing.
OklahomaTuba
6/17/2009, 04:21 PM
Weird, my AMEX black seems to work at most places.
RACISTS!!!!!
Crucifax Autumn
6/17/2009, 09:09 PM
Cash is king!
KC//CRIMSON
6/17/2009, 09:15 PM
Carrying around your paycheck cash and running to the ATM every other day, not king!
StoopTroup
6/18/2009, 11:59 AM
AMEX is just a credit snob. :D
Howzit
6/18/2009, 12:58 PM
Yes. They prefer the, "Battle Gorlock to the death inside the ring of fire" method of resolution that most other credit card companies have done away with.

Thanks for the clarification. I thought they used the "throw them into water and if they sink it's a valid dispute" approach.