American Express Membership Rewards - Convenience checks?

Has anyone here every used something similar to a convenience check from AMEX? I've got a *wood card and would like to charge a car to it but the dealer won't take a credit card for the full amount. The salesman suggested that when he last bought a car he got a "convenience check", paid the balance in advance the day he used the check to avoid all but a few bucks of interest, and got all his miles.

The AMEX CSR advised me, however, that they do not do this unless I have a special offer on my account.

Any experiences here?

As a general rule:

A: Convenience checks are treated as cash advances by Amex.

B: Convenience checks do not earn points.

As a general rule:

A: Convenience checks are treated as cash advances by Amex.

B: Convenience checks do not earn points.

C: I experienced a similar situation. Tell the salesperson its the card or nothing and watch how quickly the no cc policy changes.

...but the dealer won't take a credit card for the full amount.

Does the dealership accept American Express for charges? I ask because if they advertise acceptance of the card, they generally have to accept the card as form of payment.

C: I experienced a similar situation. Tell the salesperson its the card or nothing and watch how quickly the no cc policy changes.

Hmm, thing is that it's a Scion... where the prices are fixed by the manufactuer... i.e. it's not a negotiated price. And the cars demand exceeds the supply right now so I'm not sure he won't say he can't sell it to me if I insist on that. I can't call other dealers to beat his price (because of the flat pricing structure) but I wonder if another Scion dealer would take a card for the whole thing just to get the sale.......

I have heard that the margins are fairly low on these cars, though, so I can appreciate that 3% out of that is a big cut off their dealer profit.

C: I experienced a similar situation. Tell the salesperson its the card or nothing and watch how quickly the no cc policy changes.

D: When they do agree to accept the credit card, ask them how much discount for cash. They should offer at least 2% off which is worth much more than the reward points that Amex would give you.

Does the dealership accept American Express for charges? I ask because if they advertise acceptance of the card, they generally have to accept the card as form of payment.

Only up to a predefined limit though, you will probably find that their agreement with Amex/VISA/MasterCard won't allow them to take a card for the full price of the car.

Imagine that someone uses a stolen card to buy a 30,000 car, charges it to an Amex (who authorise the charge), takes the car and the card turns out to be stolen.

Does the dealership accept American Express for charges? I ask because if they advertise acceptance of the card, they generally have to accept the card as form of payment.

delray is right....to an extent.....when a biz states they accept plastic (visa/mc/amex etc) they have to take it for all purchases.....they cannot require a minimium order for using plastic over cash etc....

now delray states a good point...he clearly states [b]generally[/]......if u go to a spirits/liquor store there is a cash or credit price....many business have a cash discount policy....car dealers (all that I know of) do practise this....u can go up & say I am going to charge this....they say no prob...its agreed car purchase price plus % for credit card fees....totally normal.....car dealerships, do a LOT of business on plastic, do they get really good rates....like 1.5% (so I am told, I have not facts on this) soooo.......lets assume the following...

total cost of your car, assuming is $20,000 (everything, tax tag etc.)
2% surcharge on $20,000 = $400

20,400 miles have a value of $0.02 each, that means that will have a value of $408.

Basically, if you charge the purchase of 20K & they let you pay a surcharge of 2%, you will buy your own miles for $0.02 each.

As for convenience checks....I have yet to see one that yeilds miles.....secondly they are always considered cash advances.....so I have always seen....

Hope this helps....

Ric