What Gives With American Express Card

[lowell holmes]

My card is declined more often than accepted. When i offer the card, they will not take it.

[Dan Friedrichs]

It's because Amex charges higher fees. More expensive for the merchant.

[John K Jordan]

My card is declined more often than accepted. When i offer the card, they will not take it.

Yes, the higher fees scare away some businesses, usually smaller ones. I use mine at nearly all of the bigger retailers, big box stores, wholesalers, tool and equipment suppliers, farm stores, building material places, restaurants, hotels, gas stations, etc.

Almost everyone will take it online especially when linked through PayPal - the vendor doesn't even know. When shopping locally I usually switch my shopping to those who will take it - the local Woodcraft has lost thousands of my business when ownership changed and they quit taking the card. I used to buy all of my building materials at one non-chain supplier until they also quit taking the card.

Those who cater to travelers tend to take it, domestically and overseas. Mine generates frequent flyer miles so we haven't paid for airline tickets to Europe for years.

When out shopping I look at the register or door for the little picture of the cards they accept. If I don't see AMEX I ask and pull out the emergency Visa if necessary.

JKJ

[Greg R Bradley]

It's because Amex charges higher fees. More expensive for the merchant.
It hasn't been that way for me for at least 10 years. WAY back, they charged a higher percentage and paid only once a month.

It is an additional qualification on the merchant to accept Amex. I bet many don't qualify and with the reputation of charging more, they may not try. I think many low end processors don't deal with Amex either so that may be the norm with low end stores that don't qualify with the good processors.

It is very rare around here that a merchant doesn't take Amex. I see maybe 5% tell me "no".

It would be interesting to hear about a vendor that STOPPED taking it without an ownership change.

[lowell holmes]

Well, I have a new Visa card coming and I will retire the American Express.

[Roy Petersen]

It hasn't been that way for me for at least 10 years. WAY back, they charged a higher percentage and paid only once a month.
Rates for us (retail location) are generally at least 1 percent (or more) higher for Amex than others.

[Doug Garson]

It's because Amex charges higher fees. More expensive for the merchant.
Yes and this is not new, I had a corporate AMEX card thirty years ago and had the same experience., Corporations liked the card but merchants, especially in small remote areas did not. Always fun to explain to the company's accounting department that the motel the company's travel group booked for me wouldn't take my corporate credit card and that's why I had to use my personal card and maybe they should cover, at least part of my personal card annual fee.

[Jim Becker]

What clearing house a business uses will affect fees. Both the Quickbooks and ETSY payment systems do not differentiate and the fees are the same regardless of the payment source outside of Quickbooks not charging any fee for ACH. I ask clients for ACH first for direct business for that reason and often find nice ways to reward that that with "some little thing".

I'm a long time AMEX member and I have stopped doing business with a few local businesses that refused to accept it for their own reasons. Yes, I understand that it might cost slightly more, but a half percent or one percent vs no revenue at all is their choice to make. AMEX is my primary choice for general payment...it's my "cash", if you will, because I don't carry more than a few emergency dollars on me at any one time. My VISA gets used more now since Costco switched over from AMEX to VISA, but AMEX is still my primary card and likely will be continually. They have done well by me over the years.

[Roy Petersen]

I'm a long time AMEX member and I have stopped doing business with a few local businesses that refused to accept it for their own reasons.
...
My VISA gets used more now since Costco switched over from AMEX to VISA
Why did you stop doing business with some because of no Amex but keep doing business with the other(s) that also stopped?

[Tom M King]

Not only are the fees sometimes higher, but it takes longer to get paid by them. When I had a boat business, I didn't take it because it took 90 days to get payment. That was back in the '80's, so I don't know what they do now.

[John K Jordan]

Not only are the fees sometimes higher, but it takes longer to get paid by them. When I had a boat business, I didn't take it because it took 90 days to get payment. That was back in the '80's, so I don't know what they do now.

On the consumer side they are fantastic. Any issue at all, they are on it, reversing charges until settled. A hotel in Italy decided to charge us for a room we canceled within the window - bang, AMEX fixed it. A question about car rental fees we didn't sign for, AMEX fixed it. The added warranty for things purchased by AMEX might be useful for some. They have a strong fraud alert system and called me once when they detected possible suspicious activity, already holding payment until resolved. Another time they called to ask if it really was me purchasing something by phone with an Australian company.

I've heard the same thing about getting paid by AMEX, from the seller's side things even now aren't so fantastic. The cash flow timing might certainly be significant to a small business owner.

I mentioned PayPal. I've bought many things from a one-person woodturning supplier who doesn't take an AMEX card for the reasons mentioned. However, if I use PayPal I understand she gets the money without delay even though it gets charged to my AMEX. Even with the fee, accepting PayPal might be a useful buffer for a small business .

JKJ

[JERRY BRINKMAN]

I'm a small business owner and we do not accept american express any longer since when we did accept it it cost us almost $50,000 dollars in per transaction fess, interest and monthly fees. I you were a business owner would you accept this card?

[Art Mann]

Does AMEX offer cash back for purchases like the Amazon Visa and several other cards? I get rebates totaling hundreds of dollars per year and I pay no fee. I used to have an AMEX corporate card and ran into businesses all the time that wouldn't accept it. I have yet to encounter a business that won't accept Visa.

Paypal is a good medium of exchange but the former CEO of that business heavily supported political causes with which I don't agree so I gave them up.

[Wade Lippman]

I got a AMEX card about 5 years ago that gave me $1000 in rewards when I spent $5000 in 3 months. I figured that would be easy since I put $4000 on my Visa every month.

I was wrong; I had a heck of time finding places that took it. Managed, but just barely.

Unless something has changed in 5 years, I don't much see the point of AMEX.

[Stan Calow]

Despite the commercials, it is not well accepted abroad. Chain hotels yes and places that draw a lot of Americans, but regular businesses, not that often.

[Wade Lippman]

On the consumer side they are fantastic. Any issue at all, they are on it, reversing charges until settled. A hotel in Italy decided to charge us for a room we canceled within the window - bang, AMEX fixed it. A question about car rental fees we didn't sign for, AMEX fixed it. The added warranty for things purchased by AMEX might be useful for some. They have a strong fraud alert system and called me once when they detected possible suspicious activity, already holding payment until resolved. Another time they called to ask if it really was me purchasing something by phone with an Australian company.



I've successfully stopped all three of my disputed charges with VISA over the years.
Last year they reimbursed me in full for a computer that failed on day 367 of my 1 year warranty.
They have found half a dozen fraudulent charges over the years.

AMEX might be good, but VISA is good also.

[dennis thompson]

Gave up my Amex several years ago, too many places wouldn't accept it. Now use a Visa which has never been turned down.

[Neil Gaskin]

I use Amex as my primary personal card and one my business cards. I’ve not noticed acceptance problems other than a few select places. I’ve found their customer service far better than most other cars.

[Dan Friedrichs]

I'm curious where you guys live (or where you shop) that Amex isn't commonly accepted. I use one for nearly everything, and as Neil said, my (rare) need for customer service is an exceptional experience.

[John K Jordan]

Does AMEX offer cash back for purchases like the Amazon Visa and several other cards? I get rebates totaling hundreds of dollars per year and I pay no fee. ... Paypal is a good medium of exchange but the former CEO of that business heavily supported political causes with which I don't agree so I gave them up.

Don't do cash-back cards. I get thousands of dollars worth of airline tickets through AMEX which My Lovely Bride very much appreciates.

I use banks, cards, accountants, and such for financial reasons. Their personal politics, gender orientation, age, sports affiliation, favorite color, musical taste, and most other things are not my concern.

[Jim Becker]

Why did you stop doing business with some because of no Amex but keep doing business with the other(s) that also stopped?

I somewhat misspoke...It was primarily one local equestrian business and they were really snarky and obnoxious about it...pretty much telling me to take a hike for even asking to use my AMEX. So I did...to the other local shop in the same business cheerfully accepts AMEX and are doing twice the business of the folks who basically told me they didn't need mine. And now I'm working on a plan with them to carry my own products in their line exclusively, too. As to Costco...they did "hear from me", but they are too much of an important part of our purchasing activities. Because of the level of our rebates, our Executive membership ends up being better than free, we save money on a number of things we use a lot of and they have the least expensive gasoline available in the area. Their decision to leave their exclusive arrangement with AMEX for VISA after many, many years was a little different situation than the small businesses who's clearing services cost more for AMEX, too. It's more about private labeling. And...they don't take MasterCard or Discover, either.

[Jim Becker]

Does AMEX offer cash back for purchases like the Amazon Visa and several other cards?

Yes, they have a cash-back card available.

[lowell holmes]

I suspect merchants will take American Express while services like veterinarian clinics will not.

[John K Jordan]

I suspect merchants will take American Express while services like veterinarian clinics will not.

May be different elsewhere, but all the veterinarians I've dealt with take Amex, both the farm/large animal vets and the cat&dog vets. In fact, it is kind of unusual to find a place that doesn't take it - as mentioned, it seem mostly small specialty merchants without much volume. I mentioned I carry a Visa card for those cases but I rarely have to use it, whether online, local, domestic, or abroad.

[Wade Lippman]

Don't do cash-back cards. I get thousands of dollars worth of airline tickets through AMEX which My Lovely Bride very much appreciates.


That's a curious attitude. What do you have against getting 2% back?

[Tony Pisano]

I've liked my visa card. I always pay balance off when I get the bill.

[Myk Rian]

Well, I have a new Visa card coming and I will retire the American Express.

We did that a few years ago when Costco dumped Amex for Visa.

[John K Jordan]

That's a curious attitude. What do you have against getting 2% back?

I have nothing against a cash-back card. I don't need one since I'm happy with the Amex, and even better, my wife is happy! (for example: she likes to learn genuine Italian cooking in Italy) The card comes with good benefits, especially for overseas travel.

I haven't checked but I'm guessing use the amex for 98% of our purchases. Carry another card for 2% of the other 2%?

[roger wiegand]

I've used an Amex cash back card as our primary card for many years now, including for extensive travel abroad. Never had a problem with getting it accepted anywhere in the US and Europe. It has also mostly been fine in the big cities in Asia and Africa. with some issues as you get out to the villages. More often than not paces that don't take Amex don't take any other credit card either.

I also have an airline miles card, but have given up on it as the rules and availability of frequent flyer flights have made the miles darn near impossible to use. The cashback used to purchase tickets offers a lot more flexibility and sometimes a better deal. Flying on American out of Boston for example, they will add "fees" of about $650 to your "free" ticket to London, while at the same time selling the same out of season ticket for $500 if you just pay cash. I check every trip to see whether I can use my airline miles to buy my ticket and almost always fail to find anything other than the 22 hour, three leg flight to get from Boston to Chicago. I'm to the point of strongly preferring cash.

Amex customer service is fantastic. I lost my card in San Francisco once and they made me a new one on the spot. When I needed a replacement in rural Germany it was there the next morning by overnight express. They are fantastic with disputes and fraudulent charges. Zero hassles, all handled in one call.

[Rich Engelhardt]

The Lowes business card is an Amex card.
Lowes gives a 5% discount on everything put on that card, offers a flat $20 delivery charge for any delivery, has email promotions and a couple other perks that escape me right now.

I/we on;y use that card at Lowes though.

Another really nice feature of that card is that when you check out at the register, they ask for a PO number. With 6 rental properties to take care of, that feature is very appreciated.

[John K Jordan]

Zounds, if I had a card like that I'd give it up too. We've never experienced availability problems or fees like that. We always get the flights we want on Delta, easier if booking in advance. Maybe it helps that my wife is a wizard at travel planning.


...I also have an airline miles card, but have given up on it as the rules and availability of frequent flyer flights have made the miles darn near impossible to use. ... they will add "fees" of about $650 to your "free" ticket to London, while at the same time selling the same out of season ticket for $500 if you just pay cash. ...

[lowell holmes]

I now have a bank card issued by my bank. I have not experienced any difficulties with it. They provided me with a debit card to retrieve funds from their cash machine if I need it. The credit card works the same except it is a credit card requiring repayment. he debit card funds draws down the account balance.

[Chris Parks]

It hasn't been that way for me for at least 10 years. WAY back, they charged a higher percentage and paid only once a month.

I had Amex try a convince me to accept their card over 30 years ago but they refused to lower their charges so we refused to accept their card from customers.

[Brian Elfert]

For merchants that use Square or Paypal the rate for Amex is the same as for any other card. Paypal offers a service to take cards in person and not just online.

I have a very small side gig where I use Square to take credit cards and I can take pretty much any form of credit card including Apple Pay and other phone payments.

[Jim Becker]

Brian, same for the payments with QuickBooks...same fee across the board except for ACH which is free.

[lowell holmes]

My vet refused my American Express card. I still have the card, but it is retired.

[Ronald Blue]

Food for thought.

nerdwallet.com/blog/credit-cards/retailers-accept-american-express/

[John K Jordan]

My vet refused my American Express card. I still have the card, but it is retired.

People are different. My eye surgeon signed up to accept Amex when I said I'd like to use it to pay for Lasik.