Originally Posted by
gooselee
Going to a competitor is a hassle if you're ready to purchase. My guess would be that the typical AMEX user (who isn't on FT and obsessed with miles/points) simply pulls out their Visa/MC to complete the transaction and the carries on with their day.
That's what I do. The best grocery store around here doesn't take Amex, but I still shop there. The smaller store down the road does take Amex but they don't carry everything I need. Same for restaurants. I'd prefer to use Amex where possible (especially if I'm trying to meet a $5000 minimum spend on a new card), but my favorite restaurant doesn't take Amex and I'm not going to stop going there because of it. All things being equal, I'll choose a merchant who accepts Amex, but those of us who don't live in major cities often have limited choices and I'm not going to compromise the product I'm buying just to earn a few more credit card points.