It almost certainly doesn't, and there is a way to report merchant who do this to Amex, but I generally can't be bothered. The 5% discount usually more than balances out any gain I'd have gotten from the card.

The really great offers do seem to be dwindling now, but I'm more than happy that I managed to get at least my Platinum Card annual fee back in useful gift cards.

MAN-FF

That's not good, although I'm not surprised. I used to spend a fair amount of time travelling back and forth between GB and NI/Republic of Ireland; I always found it much more difficult to use an AmEx card over there.

MAN-FF

I spend a fair bit of time in West Wales, and the shops I go to are almost all independent and therefore don't take Amex. I was in a fish and chip shop in Aberporth a couple of weeks ago, however, and I saw an Amex sticker on the wall. I figured it was a mistake, but put my card in anyway and it went through. Completely bizarrely, they weren't part of the shop small promo.

Wozza2404 - I have a fair bit of time on my hands... How do I report these merchants?

Those wanting to take advantage of the D&D offer may be interested in the Evening Standard promotion 'Dine at 25 leading London restaurants from only £10' - set price lunch or dinner for £10, £15, £20, £25, £30 or £35 per person.
http://www.standard.co.uk/staticpage/dine/

Disclaimer: the Evening Standard is a London newspaper.

:D