topic How many see merchants asking not to use Amex? in Credit Cards

How many see merchants asking not to use Amex?

Anonymous — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 00:52:17 GMT

I just received a mailed pre-approval for Amex BCP with $200 welcome offer. I closed an Amex Gold card about 20 years ago because a lot of merchants wouldn't accept or would charge extra if I tried to use Amex. I'm tempted to get this card for the cash back offers but wondering how merchants react to using Amex now days.

Re: How many see merchants asking not to use Amex?

Anonymous — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 00:55:46 GMT

Amex is the official card of small businesses everywhere they even have an endorsed holiday in a November every year "Small Business Saturday".

I would say 95% of merchants accept Amex. You'll run into a few here and there that don't but they cover most businesses.

Re: How many see merchants asking not to use Amex?

mongstradamus — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 01:02:57 GMT

I think it depends where you are i have been to towns where almost nobody accepts amex except the big chain stores.

Re: How many see merchants asking not to use Amex?

Anonymous — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 02:53:30 GMT

If you want to make sure the business will accept your credit card, just ask or use MasterCard or Visa. AMEX is adding more merchants yearly, but acceptance is still less the MC/Visa. Discover is now accepted more than AMEX. I see places the take only MasterCard and Visa, some will take AMEX in addition. Most places take AMEX, the BCE and BCP are nice card for groceries.

Re: How many see merchants asking not to use Amex?

Dalmus — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 03:07:37 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
If you want to make sure the business will accept your credit card, just ask or use MasterCard or Visa. AMEX is adding more merchants yearly, but acceptance is still less the MC/Visa. Discover is now accepted more than AMEX. I see places the take only MasterCard and Visa, some will take AMEX in addition. Most places take AMEX, the BCE and BCP are nice card for groceries.

My company actually takes everything except Discover. They have the highest swipe fees by far and won't bring them down to be competitive. We do a high volume of transactions, too.

I've found that generally any place that has a large number of business travelers and tourists generally has a high rate of Amex acceptance. Areas where most businesses deal primarily with Locals are the ones with spotty acceptance.

A problem easily solved by making sure that you have a Visa and/or MC in your wallet along with the Amex!

Re: How many see merchants asking not to use Amex?

SunriseEarth — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 03:26:57 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I just received a mailed pre-approval for Amex BCP with $200 welcome offer. I closed an Amex Gold card about 20 years ago because a lot of merchants wouldn't accept or would charge extra if I tried to use Amex. I'm tempted to get this card for the cash back offers but wondering how merchants react to using Amex now days.

Acceptance is definitely better now, and I've never been charged more for using AMEX over another payment network. Either they accept it or not.

Re: How many see merchants asking not to use Amex?

DeeBee78 — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 03:35:05 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I just received a mailed pre-approval for Amex BCP with $200 welcome offer. I closed an Amex Gold card about 20 years ago because a lot of merchants wouldn't accept or would charge extra if I tried to use Amex. I'm tempted to get this card for the cash back offers but wondering how merchants react to using Amex now days.

I haven't encountered any yet, but I saw one merchant kind of sigh when I pulled out the PRG for pizza last night.

Re: How many see merchants asking not to use Amex?

HeavenOhio — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 03:35:59 GMT

I've had AMEX for almost a month, and I've only run into one place that didn't accept it. That merchant was Visa/MC only.

I also ran into a bizarre situaiton where AMEX didn't work when I tried to order something online, even though the site purported to take all four cards. When I called and asked, I was told that AMEX sometimes needs a kick in the butt to make it take. I was surprised to run into an AMEX "maybe" vs. a simple yes or no, but I'm guessing that weirdness is specific to that merchant. I simply used my MasterCard rather than asking the merchant to try to kickstart AMEX.

Re: How many see merchants asking not to use Amex?

Anonymous — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 03:37:30 GMT

I've found that AMEX acceptance is much better today than in the past. Before it was very exclusive and only very seldom did small businesses take AMEX. However, now I see the AMEX signs in nearly every store window. I only ever have trouble every now and then when going to small town restuarants or corner stores (non franchise/chain locations). Nearly every big chain store accepts AMEX and many small businesses do as well.

Re: How many see merchants asking not to use Amex?

Red1Blue — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 06:15:15 GMT

I pretty much use amex for every thing every day except for couple of things.

Re: How many see merchants asking not to use Amex?

Anonymous — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 06:24:35 GMT

No problems here. It's 2017 not 1997.

Re: How many see merchants asking not to use Amex?

Turbobuick — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 06:52:07 GMT

Much better than it used to be but there are still many, mostly mom/pop smaller stores, that will say they don't take it. If you press them, like burping up your last mouthful of chinese, while saying, "it's the only card I brought". They will take it. They simply prefer not to.

Re: How many see merchants asking not to use Amex?

sarge12 — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 07:22:03 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I just received a mailed pre-approval for Amex BCP with $200 welcome offer. I closed an Amex Gold card about 20 years ago because a lot of merchants wouldn't accept or would charge extra if I tried to use Amex. I'm tempted to get this card for the cash back offers but wondering how merchants react to using Amex now days.

I've had the Amex BCE for a few years...never had a problem. Same as BCP except only 3% at grocery stores and it has no AF. I use it mostly for groceries because I eat. I have several cards I may wind up closing, but this is not one of them.

Re: How many see merchants asking not to use Amex?

Anonymous — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 07:42:50 GMT

Never had this issue, but I don't really shop at any off beat locations

Re: How many see merchants asking not to use Amex?

Anonymous — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 11:39:22 GMT

I live in a very small town (2,500 people) and only one store doesn't take Amex. I rarely run into a problem using it

Re: How many see merchants asking not to use Amex?

805orbust — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 13:24:27 GMT

Never had a problem using it. Of course I live in the center of the known Universe so there's that. Member since 1987 so its light years better than then.

Re: How many see merchants asking not to use Amex?

Anonymous — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 14:15:27 GMT

Most places take it now. I live in a state where EVERYONE comes to during the winter and it'd be detrimental to the businesses to NOT take it down here. Also I've lived in a big military state too (Virginia) and they took Amex. Like a few posters have said, it's not like it used to be. Now just about everyone takes everything here in the US. Now, overseas in maybe the UK, they probably won't take it. But you should be good unless you live out in the sticks somewhere.

Re: How many see merchants asking not to use Amex?

CreditDunce — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 14:45:21 GMT

Assuming the OP is only going to use the BCP for bonus cat's, I can't see there be any issues. All of the major grocery stores take Amex. Ditto for department stores. Some gas stations may be an issue, but it would be rare. Gas stations are more likely going to want debit cards/cash than not take Amex. Any Amex offers used will also accept Amex.

With so many Visa/MC cards offering more than 1% CB for non-category spend, there isn't much need to use a BCP at mom n pop stores.

Re: How many see merchants asking not to use Amex?

yfan — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 18:06:16 GMT

There are a few restaurants and Asian markets around my neck of the woods (tech center Silicon Valley no less) where they still don't take Amex. But I have seen myself shop in those places less and less frequently, not because I always use my Amex but simply because I have found better, more conveniently located options.

Re: How many see merchants asking not to use Amex?

Anonymous — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 18:08:50 GMT

I haven't run in to any issues with it not being accepted. The only time I did was when I was in Canada a few months ago, which I expected.