They don't take Amex -- What do you do?
#91
Join Date: Feb 2003
Programs: AC SE MM, too many others
Posts: 1,407
This is the one that kills me, because when they say no Amex, my Visa is an Infinite (admittedly forced upon me by my issuer, which got Visa and MC into some hot water) - and so they aren't really coming out ahead. They irritate a customer and end up paying high interchange anyway.
#92
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,797
and dont many reward credit cards have high interchange?
obviously agree re door sign, wallet isnt really advertising
amex advertising getting million(s) to start accepting
amex advertising getting million(s) to start accepting
#94
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
That's what I do!
If they don't take AmEx and it's really inconvenient to walk out and go to another shop that takes Amex:
If they don't take AmEx and it's really inconvenient to walk out and go to another shop that takes Amex:
- Keep my order value to the minimum and lowest margin items (no drinks, no extras, etc..)
- Use the most premium (Mastercard World Elite or Visa Infinite) card in my wallet, handing the card in such a way that the owner/manager can most likely see that it's a premium card.
- Leave a negative comment/review on Yelp/Facebook, noting the fact that they don't accept AmEx
- Report the business to AmEx at http://takeamex.ca so that they can engage the restaurant/shop about its non-acceptance of AmEx cards.
#95
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: GE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,507
That really depends on their processing. A significant number of smaller businesses pay the same regardless of the kind of card they run (for example, every single business that uses Square), so switching to a supposedly "cheaper" card likely won't help them. On the other hand, those types of places generally accept AmEx anyway since it likely came with whatever service they went with.
#96
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 14
That's what I do!
If they don't take AmEx and it's really inconvenient to walk out and go to another shop that takes Amex:
If they don't take AmEx and it's really inconvenient to walk out and go to another shop that takes Amex:
- Keep my order value to the minimum and lowest margin items (no drinks, no extras, etc..)
- Use the most premium (Mastercard World Elite or Visa Infinite) card in my wallet, handing the card in such a way that the owner/manager can most likely see that it's a premium card.
- Leave a negative comment/review on Yelp/Facebook, noting the fact that they don't accept AmEx
- Report the business to AmEx at http://takeamex.ca so that they can engage the restaurant/shop about its non-acceptance of AmEx cards.
#97
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: in the vicinity of SFO
Programs: AA 2MM (LT-PLT, PPro for this year)
Posts: 19,781
Was anyone else reminded of this series if Visa ads from the 1990s:
"At .... they .... but they don't take American Express."
Interesting to see the older thread bumped. I rarely use my Amex anymore (for the prior couple of years it only came out for Costco, and now of course they're off that.)
Interesting to see the older thread bumped. I rarely use my Amex anymore (for the prior couple of years it only came out for Costco, and now of course they're off that.)
#98
Join Date: May 2013
Location: SMF / SFO
Posts: 226
I've never really felt entitled to having shops or restaurants accept American Express. In Europe, it tends to be either fast food, pricey, or tourist oriented places that accept them. But rarely places that locals eat out at regularly.
Even in San Francisco I've run into the same situation many times - acceptance of Visa/MC but not Amex. I guess this will start to change as Square gets more market share. So I've never expected Amex acceptance, except at hotels (I don't think there's ever been a time where that wasn't an option). And many small predominantly Asian run restaurants only accept cash. I'm certainly willing to pay cash for a good, cheap banh mi for $4-5, or Pho for $10, but not for anything over $20.
If a retailer doesn't accept Amex, I pay usually pay using my HSBC Premier MC when overseas as it has contactless, to avoid the embarrassment of signing the receipt ("what, in the US they still don't use a PIN??"). In the US I usually use my Chase Sapphire Preferred card.
Even in San Francisco I've run into the same situation many times - acceptance of Visa/MC but not Amex. I guess this will start to change as Square gets more market share. So I've never expected Amex acceptance, except at hotels (I don't think there's ever been a time where that wasn't an option). And many small predominantly Asian run restaurants only accept cash. I'm certainly willing to pay cash for a good, cheap banh mi for $4-5, or Pho for $10, but not for anything over $20.
If a retailer doesn't accept Amex, I pay usually pay using my HSBC Premier MC when overseas as it has contactless, to avoid the embarrassment of signing the receipt ("what, in the US they still don't use a PIN??"). In the US I usually use my Chase Sapphire Preferred card.
#99
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London & Sonoma CA
Programs: UA 1K, MM *G for life, BAEC Gold
Posts: 10,224
Not surprisingly, no establishment on my recent visit to Cornwall took Amex. What amused me most was the shop where I bought my lunches. Clearly they were catering to the London crowd but still marvelled whenever anyone used contactless (ie everyone), as if it were some new invention.
#100
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Kan@da
Programs: Anything with sweet spots
Posts: 1,790
They don't take take AMEX ? Give your valuable business to places that welcome AMEX cardholders!
Canada: https://maps.americanexpress.com/ca/cards-welcome
Australia: https://maps.americanexpress.com/AUShopSmall
UK: https://maps.americanexpress.com/gb/shop-small/
USA: https://map.americanexpress.com/us/s...hop-small/maps
Canada: https://maps.americanexpress.com/ca/cards-welcome
Australia: https://maps.americanexpress.com/AUShopSmall
UK: https://maps.americanexpress.com/gb/shop-small/
USA: https://map.americanexpress.com/us/s...hop-small/maps
#101
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: GIG - YYC - SVO
Programs: Lost it all and don't care
Posts: 945
If they don't take AMEX I simply go somewhere else, unless I am socially obligated to dine there (group function, etc).
If you're dealing with an owner or manager you can politely explain that AMEX cardholders spend about 30% more per ticket and that your dinner of $500 could have covered XXXXX of interchange fees quite easily.
A lot of business owners are plain stupid.
If you're dealing with an owner or manager you can politely explain that AMEX cardholders spend about 30% more per ticket and that your dinner of $500 could have covered XXXXX of interchange fees quite easily.
A lot of business owners are plain stupid.
#102
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: DFW
Posts: 8,036
If they don't take AMEX I simply go somewhere else, unless I am socially obligated to dine there (group function, etc).
If you're dealing with an owner or manager you can politely explain that AMEX cardholders spend about 30% more per ticket and that your dinner of $500 could have covered XXXXX of interchange fees quite easily.
A lot of business owners are plain stupid.
If you're dealing with an owner or manager you can politely explain that AMEX cardholders spend about 30% more per ticket and that your dinner of $500 could have covered XXXXX of interchange fees quite easily.
A lot of business owners are plain stupid.
#104
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: GE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,507
If a business cares that much about swipe fees, even Square would be too expensive for them. Not to mention that Square isn't too great of a solution for table service restaurants in general (which is why you see restaurant-specific POSes more often than not).
#105
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: GIG - YYC - SVO
Programs: Lost it all and don't care
Posts: 945
Ever heard the term......."too busy tripping over dollar bills while trying to pick up nickels" ?
It explains the position of this kind of business owner perfectly. As a former succesfull small business owner I would not turn down profitable transactions because of a 1-2% difference in CC interchange fees. That is just plain stupid. Let's alienate a client base over 1-2% when the transaction is profitable.
AMEX is a great product and I've been a member since 1985. Annual spend $120K all personal.
If any business owner has issues with $10 or $20K of fees they should look at the amount of profit generated by those fees and think again about how much they are willing to lose.
I am in Rio de Janeiro right now where everyone takes AMEX........even the roving popsicle/beer vendors walking the beach.
Sorry you find the truth obnoxious........It was not my intent to personally offend anyone. This entire website is about changing habits to maximize benefits.
It explains the position of this kind of business owner perfectly. As a former succesfull small business owner I would not turn down profitable transactions because of a 1-2% difference in CC interchange fees. That is just plain stupid. Let's alienate a client base over 1-2% when the transaction is profitable.
AMEX is a great product and I've been a member since 1985. Annual spend $120K all personal.
If any business owner has issues with $10 or $20K of fees they should look at the amount of profit generated by those fees and think again about how much they are willing to lose.
I am in Rio de Janeiro right now where everyone takes AMEX........even the roving popsicle/beer vendors walking the beach.
Sorry you find the truth obnoxious........It was not my intent to personally offend anyone. This entire website is about changing habits to maximize benefits.
Last edited by KDS777; Sep 30, 2017 at 8:13 pm