topic If someone doesn't accept American Express... in Credit Cards

If someone doesn't accept American Express...

vanillabean — Tue, 10 Nov 2015 23:26:03 GMT

and all you have is an American Express card, is there some sort of service to bridge the gap?

(I don't know why they simply don't get a Square reader!)

Re: If someone doesn't accept American Express...

-Cal- — Tue, 10 Nov 2015 23:37:09 GMT

Square Cash or Paypal

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Re: If someone doesn't accept American Express...

daybreakgonesXe — Tue, 10 Nov 2015 23:45:09 GMT

May be a little off-topic, but I had an instance where a restaurant did not have the AMEX sticker on their door, but the waitress took it anyway and it went through. Then the next night I went with a different waitress made sure to tell me they didn't accept AMEX cards when I tried to pay the bill. I found it a little weird, but I guess whoever their credit card processor is actually takes all four, but the restaurant themselves prefer not to take it due to swipe fees.

Re: If someone doesn't accept American Express...

Mattopotamus — Wed, 11 Nov 2015 00:00:40 GMT

That's the reason I always carry my double cash MasterCard.

Re: If someone doesn't accept American Express...

jsucool76 — Wed, 11 Nov 2015 00:16:47 GMT

This is why you never carry only one network card (especially if that network is amex)

If you go into a restaurant and only have an amex and they dont accept it, you either pay in cash, or you run out on your bill.

I try to keep at least one card on each network in my wallet.

Re: If someone doesn't accept American Express...

PNW_Hunter — Wed, 11 Nov 2015 01:45:18 GMT

Always carry a Visa or MasterCard

Agree with the previous comments.

I have many Visa cards, along with my discover and Amex, but no mastercards.

Can't recall a place that doesn't take Visa besides Costco, until 2016 of course.

Re: If someone doesn't accept American Express...

Anonymous — Wed, 11 Nov 2015 01:50:07 GMT

OP only has amex. The answer is visa or master gift cards.

Re: If someone doesn't accept American Express...

SunriseEarth — Wed, 11 Nov 2015 20:11:15 GMT

@Anonymous-own-fico wrote:
and all you have is an American Express card, is there some sort of service to bridge the gap?

(I don't know why they simply don't get a Square reader!)

In-store, you may not have much of a choice. Online, PayPay is a good option. In my experience, I've found that many online businesses don't accept Discover (haven't had issues with AMEX acceptance online). However, they will accept PayPal, so I can use my Discover to fund the PayPal transaction.

Square seems like a good option for some small businesses. My community choir is a non-profit group and we have Square readers in order to accept donations.

Re: If someone doesn't accept American Express...

Anonymous — Wed, 11 Nov 2015 01:59:07 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
OP only has amex. The answer is visa or master gift cards.

OK, I think we were reading as "have only bought an Amex card to the place" whereas your interpretation could well be correct, and then yes, buying a MC/V gift card is the way to go. If the Amex card is one with supermarket bonuses (such as BCE/BCP/ED/EDP/BC) then buying a gift card with it at a supermarket can be cost effective.

Re: If someone doesn't accept American Express...

Open123 — Wed, 11 Nov 2015 02:05:21 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
OP only has amex. The answer is visa or master gift cards.

Right, some of my Visa/MC spending are made with GCs purchased from the supermarket with my EDP.

Re: If someone doesn't accept American Express...

redpat — Wed, 11 Nov 2015 02:05:34 GMT

~~CASH!!!!!!~~

Re: If someone doesn't accept American Express...

DeeBee78 — Wed, 11 Nov 2015 03:18:18 GMT

@daybreakgonesXe wrote:
May be a little off-topic, but I had an instance where a restaurant did not have the AMEX sticker on their door, but the waitress took it anyway and it went through. Then the next night I went with a different waitress made sure to tell me they didn't accept AMEX cards when I tried to pay the bill. I found it a little weird, but I guess whoever their credit card processor is actually takes all four, but the restaurant themselves prefer not to take it due to swipe fees.

When I was in high school and college, I worked at a local restaurant that only took Visa and Mastercard. One day a new employee swiped a Discover card, and it went through.

However, when the owner got their bill from the payment processor, they had charged them an activation fee for activating Discover card processing on their account. Plus Discover used to have really high swipe/transaction fees, like 8% of the transaction.

Re: If someone doesn't accept American Express...

Anonymous — Wed, 11 Nov 2015 03:27:24 GMT

Yes, discover charges monthly activation fee (~$60), if you swipe a discover card that month. It's a reason why I never use discover nor amex in mom and pop stores.

It sucks because, you will only get maybe 1 or 2 discover cards a month but still pay for that activation fee. The #1 credit card people use is debit card which accounts for 70% of all credit card transactions

Re: If someone doesn't accept American Express...

Anonymous — Wed, 11 Nov 2015 04:01:16 GMT

@daybreakgonesXe wrote:
May be a little off-topic, but I had an instance where a restaurant did not have the AMEX sticker on their door, but the waitress took it anyway and it went through. Then the next night I went with a different waitress made sure to tell me they didn't accept AMEX cards when I tried to pay the bill. I found it a little weird, but I guess whoever their credit card processor is actually takes all four, but the restaurant themselves prefer not to take it due to swipe fees.

you are 100% correct. same for us at the restaurant, we can swipe all 4 but we just don't accept AMEX.

Re: If someone doesn't accept American Express...

vanillabean — Wed, 11 Nov 2015 12:27:33 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@daybreakgonesXe wrote:
May be a little off-topic, but I had an instance where a restaurant did not have the AMEX sticker on their door, but the waitress took it anyway and it went through. Then the next night I went with a different waitress made sure to tell me they didn't accept AMEX cards when I tried to pay the bill. I found it a little weird, but I guess whoever their credit card processor is actually takes all four, but the restaurant themselves prefer not to take it due to swipe fees.
you are 100% correct. same for us at the restaurant, we can swipe all 4 but we just don't accept AMEX.

You just don't? Do you know why you just don't? Isn't much of the difference in commision based on myth?

Re: If someone doesn't accept American Express...

takeshi74 — Wed, 11 Nov 2015 13:43:58 GMT

@Anonymous-own-fico wrote:
and all you have is an American Express card, is there some sort of service to bridge the gap?

(I don't know why they simply don't get a Square reader!)

For both matters above, one size does not fit all. Don't rely solely on AmEx if you need to use a card at merchants that don't accept it. Square isn't a suitable solution for every business.