topic Re: Who accepts Discover? in Credit Cards

Who accepts Discover?

creditgambler2018 — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 06:33:39 GMT

Almost every place accepts Visa and Mastercard - stores, online shopping, etc. What about discover? Is discover like a bank or is it like a NETWORK similar to VISA or Mastercard. Is discover accepted almost everywhere too???

Re: Who accepts Discover?

Anonymous — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 06:58:38 GMT

Most companies seem to accept Discover, from what I've noticed.

Re: Who accepts Discover?

Anonymous — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 13:16:45 GMT

@elcocaino2010 wrote:
Almost every place accepts Visa and Mastercard - stores, online shopping, etc. What about discover? Is discover like a bank or is it like a NETWORK similar to VISA or Mastercard. Is discover accepted almost everywhere too???

Discover is a network, and also a bank that issues cards (Amex is also both). In the US, almost as many places accept Discover as accept MasterCard/Visa, with Amex quite a bit behind. But this is based on number of businesses, and you may never shop at one of the small stores that doesn't accept a particular card. But here (MA) I go to places that accept all but Amex, or all but Discover, but most big places will take all 4.

Re: Who accepts Discover?

EW800 — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 14:08:27 GMT

It has been many, many years since I have experienced a business that did not take Discover. The only exception was that I made a purchase from a small kiosk stand at a mall a few months back, finding that they could only take Visa and MasterCard. No Amex or Discover. Outside of that one issue, every place I go accepts Discover.

Re: Who accepts Discover?

baller4life — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 14:08:57 GMT

I very rarely find that places don't accept Discover. It's very widely accepted.

Re: Who accepts Discover?

barthooper — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 14:24:15 GMT

I used to be of the midset that I would steer clear of Discover because of their limited acceptance, but I've read that it has increased dramatically over the years. Because of the double cash promotion and all the buzz about how generous they can be with CLIs and customer service, I decided I couldn't pass them up.

Re: Who accepts Discover?

eddie84 — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 14:26:08 GMT

@baller4life wrote:
I very rarely find that places don't accept Discover. It's very widely accepted.

Yup, same here.

Re: Who accepts Discover?

Anonymous — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 15:17:31 GMT

I have been using Disover almost exclusively since the double cash promotion started in June or July, and the only time I have been unable to use it is at Penn Station subs. Also, my DBF pays his child support via CC to get the cash back, and they don't take Discover. Other than that, all of my bills and spend go on Discover (except for groceries and gas, but that is only because I get more rewards with BCE and has nothing to do with people not accepting Discover).

#TeamDiscover

Re: Who accepts Discover?

happypill — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 15:59:31 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@elcocaino2010 wrote:
Almost every place accepts Visa and Mastercard - stores, online shopping, etc. What about discover? Is discover like a bank or is it like a NETWORK similar to VISA or Mastercard. Is discover accepted almost everywhere too???
Discover is a network, and also a bank that issues cards (Amex is also both). In the US, almost as many places accept Discover as accept MasterCard/Visa, with Amex quite a bit behind. But this is based on number of businesses, and you may never shop at one of the small stores that doesn't accept a particular card. But here (MA) I go to places that accept all but Amex, or all but Discover, but most big places will take all 4.

That's interesting. I always thought Amex was more widely accepted than Discover. I guess i depends on where you are and the type of business you're doing. Amex has its roots in business travel customers so for someone who travels frequently that's a good choice. In my experience, non-chain restaurants are the most likely to not accept either Amex and/or Discover.

Re: Who accepts Discover?

Anonymous — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 16:01:33 GMT

Out of my one year with using my Discover It, I have never had a place refuse my Discover card. That's probably because I rarely shop at mom and pop stores.

Then again, I did have Popeyes inform me that they will not accept my American Express...

Re: Who accepts Discover?

Anonymous — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 17:06:46 GMT

@happypill wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
@elcocaino2010 wrote:
Almost every place accepts Visa and Mastercard - stores, online shopping, etc. What about discover? Is discover like a bank or is it like a NETWORK similar to VISA or Mastercard. Is discover accepted almost everywhere too???
Discover is a network, and also a bank that issues cards (Amex is also both). In the US, almost as many places accept Discover as accept MasterCard/Visa, with Amex quite a bit behind. But this is based on number of businesses, and you may never shop at one of the small stores that doesn't accept a particular card. But here (MA) I go to places that accept all but Amex, or all but Discover, but most big places will take all 4.
That's interesting. I always thought Amex was more widely accepted than Discover. I guess i depends on where you are and the type of business you're doing. Amex has its roots in business travel customers so for someone who travels frequently that's a good choice. In my experience, non-chain restaurants are the most likely to not accept either Amex and/or Discover.

I'm basing it on these slightly old figures (be interetsing to see the 2015 ones).

Re: Who accepts Discover?

Anonymous — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 18:25:45 GMT

@baller4life wrote:
I very rarely find that places don't accept Discover. It's very widely accepted.

Same here. I only know of two places that do not take Discover - In-n-Out Burger (Visa/MC/Amex only), and the parking meters in my city (Visa/MC only)

Re: Who accepts Discover?

Anonymous — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 19:39:07 GMT

I did not have any issue in the discover card acceptance except for a indian restaurant nearby which accepts only V/MC/Amex .

Re: Who accepts Discover?

NRB525 — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 19:41:52 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@happypill wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
@elcocaino2010 wrote:
Almost every place accepts Visa and Mastercard - stores, online shopping, etc. What about discover? Is discover like a bank or is it like a NETWORK similar to VISA or Mastercard. Is discover accepted almost everywhere too???
Discover is a network, and also a bank that issues cards (Amex is also both). In the US, almost as many places accept Discover as accept MasterCard/Visa, with Amex quite a bit behind. But this is based on number of businesses, and you may never shop at one of the small stores that doesn't accept a particular card. But here (MA) I go to places that accept all but Amex, or all but Discover, but most big places will take all 4.
That's interesting. I always thought Amex was more widely accepted than Discover. I guess i depends on where you are and the type of business you're doing. Amex has its roots in business travel customers so for someone who travels frequently that's a good choice. In my experience, non-chain restaurants are the most likely to not accept either Amex and/or Discover.
I'm basing it on these slightly old figures (be interetsing to see the 2015 ones).

The graph is fine for listing small business volume, but where AMEX leads is in "Charge Volume Per Card".

AMEX also pushes the marketing, and is used in high-visibility circumstances. So while the number of locations that take AMEX is technically less, and it certainly is not everywhere, particularly penny-pinching small merchants, it's most of the urban places that you'd go in the U.S.

You would not want to rely on AMEX as your only card (unless you also carry enough cash to deal with the refusals) nor Discover, but they can both be used a lot.

Re: Who accepts Discover?

Anonymous — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 19:50:19 GMT

@NRB525 wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
@happypill wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
@elcocaino2010 wrote:
Almost every place accepts Visa and Mastercard - stores, online shopping, etc. What about discover? Is discover like a bank or is it like a NETWORK similar to VISA or Mastercard. Is discover accepted almost everywhere too???
Discover is a network, and also a bank that issues cards (Amex is also both). In the US, almost as many places accept Discover as accept MasterCard/Visa, with Amex quite a bit behind. But this is based on number of businesses, and you may never shop at one of the small stores that doesn't accept a particular card. But here (MA) I go to places that accept all but Amex, or all but Discover, but most big places will take all 4.
That's interesting. I always thought Amex was more widely accepted than Discover. I guess i depends on where you are and the type of business you're doing. Amex has its roots in business travel customers so for someone who travels frequently that's a good choice. In my experience, non-chain restaurants are the most likely to not accept either Amex and/or Discover.
I'm basing it on these slightly old figures (be interetsing to see the 2015 ones).

The graph is fine for listing small business volume, but where AMEX leads is in "Charge Volume Per Card".
AMEX also pushes the marketing, and is used in high-visibility circumstances. So while the number of locations that take AMEX is technically less, and it certainly is not everywhere, particularly penny-pinching small merchants, it's most of the urban places that you'd go in the U.S.

You would not want to rely on AMEX as your only card (unless you also carry enough cash to deal with the refusals) nor Discover, but they can both be used a lot.

Right, and I sort of referred to that in my original comment (just counting businesses). But, that said, the usual real-world question is "Does store X take Amex?" rather than purchase volume view/

Re: Who accepts Discover?

someone379 — Sun, 18 Oct 2015 00:02:19 GMT

I occasionally run into a place that won't take Discover, but I have found those places are far and few between... I can and do use my Discover card most of the time... It's usually my best cash back option with the double cash back promotion.

Re: Who accepts Discover?

takeshi74 — Sun, 18 Oct 2015 00:10:50 GMT

@elcocaino2010 wrote:
Is discover accepted almost everywhere too???

If you're worried about acceptance you'll just have to pay attention as you go to places that you frequent. I sometimes run into a place where Discover isn't accepted but I rarely find it to be an issue. YMMV.

Re: Who accepts Discover?

Anonymous — Sun, 18 Oct 2015 02:13:41 GMT

My discover has been my daily driver for many months now and I have had two places not accept it. Papa Murphys pizza and and small one off Itialian restaurant that is semi high end. Other than those two I've never had an issue and I'm at say 80 to 100 uses a month.

Now my work provided card is an AmEx and I have way more issues getting it accepted. Sevaral major places will not take it that I need to, and more than once I've been purchasing online only to get to the end and not have the, take AmEx. It is actually a roayl pain in the rump at times lol but overall it is a great card. I just need more people to take it, though it is better lately as a few years ago I was always borrowing someone's else's Visa card at work. (Only a few of us are issued the AmEx cards) Me borrowing is getting rarer it seems.

Re: Who accepts Discover?

Sharingan — Sun, 18 Oct 2015 02:41:16 GMT

I live between two tourist heavy cities; and although most places are expected to take all four networks, I have noticed that Discover is the one missing if a particular business doesn't accept all of them. Even the podunks in the rural outskirts will usually take AmEx while choosing not to accept Discover for whatever reason. Typically, it's small restaurants and stores that one wouldn't frequent very often that have this problem.

I will say that I believe it's always a bad idea to put up hindrances when people decide to spend money at your business. I am likely to not be a repeat customer if I can't use the card that I want at that moment. I remember reading a post about a business refusing Visa Signature and World (Elite) Mastercards, which I thought was absolutely... incredible.

Re: Who accepts Discover?

Anonymous — Sun, 18 Oct 2015 03:03:11 GMT

@Sharingan wrote:
I live between two tourist heavy cities; and although most places are expected to take all four networks, I have noticed that Discover is the one missing if a particular business doesn't accept all of them. Even the podunks in the rural outskirts will usually take AmEx while choosing not to accept Discover for whatever reason. Typically, it's small restaurants and stores that one wouldn't frequent very often that have this problem.

I will say that I believe it's always a bad idea to put up hindrances when people decide to spend money at your business. I am likely to not be a repeat customer if I can't use the card that I want at that moment. I remember reading a post about a business refusing Visa Signature and World (Elite) Mastercards, which I thought was absolutely... incredible.

Don't see why that is so surprising, merchants have to pay higher fees on Signatures and W(E)MC. And with recent agreements they are allowed to try to "steer" the customer to a lower cost choice. Now for many of us here, we will be using a particular card because it gets good rewards in that category, or we need the (potentially) higher CL, or we are meeting minimum spend etc, and would be unhappy at being even asked to consider using another card. But the vast majority of the public may not know or care, and might be quite willing to help out a small business by switching to a lower cost card.