topic Re: AMEX, all for nothing, Disappointed !!! in Credit Cards

AMEX, all for nothing, Disappointed !!!

danisgods — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 05:34:58 GMT

Well, just wanted to share that like most of us i've always wanted to be part of the AMEX family, well, i am now since february, and to be honest with you that card is i'd say 85% useless , NO ONE takes Amex, i mean , i have gotten to the point that i already ask first before picking the card, because it happens SO often ...

I also have Discover and it is accepted in my opinion around 75% in more places than AMEX is , it is very sad, i still gonna keep the card, but.... what a dissapointment, i fell like i cant leave the house with the amex only, i have to bring an extra card , just in case...

Re: AMEX, all for nothing, Disappointed !!!

Anonymous — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 05:52:07 GMT

Hmmm, I haven't found a place yet that I shop at that doesn't take it.

Perhaps it a regional thing, or a size of community thing.

I use mine at gas stations, grocery stores (including Walmart), restaurants of all kinds, retailers like Best Buy, hotels when traveling, pet supply stores, and to buy tickets for various events.

I honestly haven't run into a place yet where I wanted to use it and couldn't.

That said, I do always have my USAA World MC with me just in case.

Re: AMEX, all for nothing, Disappointed !!!

Anonymous — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 05:58:26 GMT

@Icewave76 wrote:
Hmmm, I haven't found a place yet that I shop at that doesn't take it.
Perhaps it a regional thing, or a size of community thing.
I use mine at gas stations, grocery stores (including Walmart), restaurants of all kinds, retailers like Best Buy, hotels when traveling, pet supply stores, and to buy tickets for various events.
I honestly haven't run into a place yet where I wanted to use it and couldn't.
That said, I do always have my USAA World MC with me just in case.

I'm with you on this one. There are only about 3 places I go of hundreds that won't take it. I'm wondering if it is a regional thing depending on where you are, but I think the acceptance thing is certainly overblown sometimes. I guess everyones experience is different.

Re: AMEX, all for nothing, Disappointed !!!

Lel — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 06:05:49 GMT

I have not had too many problems with using my Amex at various places. However, there are clearly some places that won't take it, so I always carry a Visa or MC for those places (Five Guys Burgers and Fries, for example) which I frequent but that don't take Amex.

Re: AMEX, all for nothing, Disappointed !!!

jaysdad2k — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 06:15:43 GMT

I use my Premier Rewards Gold at Five Guys all the time.

Re: AMEX, all for nothing, Disappointed !!!

CHARGE_IT — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 06:18:43 GMT

Well..............I am stumped. I have used my Amex cards for twenty five years and have not been able to use them in one little latin American restaurant, which I left immediately. I have used them all over the states and Europe including Russia and Ukrainia and Poland. All through Latin America and Hawaii. I could go on but you get the pic.

I use it at every business that I find a need for and all the stores I would be interested in. I use the green for all internet purchase to make sure I have them on my side if some sleeze-ball trys something. I have it on file for Netflix and such.

I guess I am just wondering where you live and where you go that we have had such different experiences. I can't think of a national business that doesn't take them. Or maybe they are just doing me a specific favor.........

I am going to make a point to find a place within a hundred miles of home this week that doesn't take it and report back.

Oh , I did have a doctor who didn't take them, but they do now. And oh yes, my cable company doesn't, but I pay that online anyway. Although I would like the points from an ongoing bill that large.

Again, I would really like you to list some places that don't take it. They must be very localized.

Sorry that you are disaapointedd. Btw, I do like my discover just did a great purchase on them just to keep the card healthy. I have to say that I do ask about Discover because they are still quite limited in my world, especially traveling. Now that they are taken on the Diner Club circuit I see a little more of them in better places.

Also, I have used my Amex cards in about every national drive-thru that you could name; which leaves me still wondering...........................

Good luck.

Re: AMEX, all for nothing, Disappointed !!!

CHARGE_IT — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 06:20:59 GMT

Five guys gets my cards also. Then I get my goods.

Re: AMEX, all for nothing, Disappointed !!!

Lel — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 06:40:41 GMT

@jaysdad2k wrote:
I use my Premier Rewards Gold at Five Guys all the time.

I guess this highlights the "regional differences" thing. Actually, this probably represents a decision by the franchisee.

Re: AMEX, all for nothing, Disappointed !!!

Smerri1029 — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 14:06:36 GMT

In MA I use my AmEx everywhere and for everything. The only places I can think that wouldn't take it near my house are a gas statio which I don't go to, my dentist or doctors office, and a gun store. Other than that I use it everywhere. Also,I am on vacation in Florida this week so in the bathing suit had credit, cash, and ID. I took my AmEx with the Visa just in case and haven't had to use the Visa yet. AmEx is accepted everywhere we've been in Florida too.

Re: AMEX, all for nothing, Disappointed !!!

vish1 — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 14:08:47 GMT

I am also in MA and Amex works for me almost everywhere. There are a few small places which don't take it but mostly everyone does. That said, I have also found a place which won't take master but will take amex, this place is the dollar store in marlborough.

Re: AMEX, all for nothing, Disappointed !!!

ficonightmare — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 14:34:31 GMT

CHARGE_IT- That has not been my experience in Poland. Aside from the hotels, and name brand stores, Amex was not accepted anywhere in Krakow and Poznan.

By the time I got to Warsaw, my husband didn't even bother trying so can't say. Croatia as well. Not accepted except for the hotel and some restaurants.

This was last August/September.

I'm in nyc and don't really have a problem except for the mom and pop stores. While most do accept AMEX, I've had a few places ask me to use VISA/MC as the fees are less. So like others have said, it must be regional.

Re: AMEX, all for nothing, Disappointed !!!

jefftca925 — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 16:13:47 GMT

I work for 2 medical practices and neither accept Amex. The reasons being our customer demographic and the amount of volume we'd have. Depending on a business's CC clearinghouse contract, the fees alone for different card types can make one or the other very costly. Amex typically has a higher merchant fee rate and for some businesses it's not worth it to them to accept it particularly if they are in a highly competitive market. Some businesses can "pad the cost" of accepting ALL credit card types into their prices because their product is unique or lack of competition in their specific market. A lot of good restaurants can do this because the reputation for food quality is exceptional, therefore their customers are not as price-sensitive. For example, there is a restaurant down the street from my house that is packed EVERY night. They sell a hamburger there for $11 that is "off the charts" good...one of their best sellers. ELEVEN BUCKS!! And yes, they take Amex....

Re: AMEX, all for nothing, Disappointed !!!

Open123 — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 16:43:50 GMT

I've experienced a few less than scrupulous restaurants who will not run the card and just say it's declined to try and force you to use another card.

Re: AMEX, all for nothing, Disappointed !!!

jefftca925 — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 17:27:25 GMT

@Open123 wrote:
I've experienced a few less than scrupulous restaurants who will not run the card and just say it's declined to try and force you to use another card.

Now THAT is tacky!!

Re: AMEX, all for nothing, Disappointed !!!

Open123 — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 17:42:54 GMT

@jefftca925 wrote:

@Open123 wrote:
I've experienced a few less than scrupulous restaurants who will not run the card and just say it's declined to try and force you to use another card.
Now THAT is tacky!!

It is pretty darn tacky. However, when I request they print out the slip showing my card was declined, the manager returned and said the card worked when trying it a second time, suggesting they were having "issues" with their machine with Amex cards.

Re: AMEX, all for nothing, Disappointed !!!

jefftca925 — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 18:08:55 GMT

@Open123 wrote:

@jefftca925 wrote:

@Open123 wrote:
I've experienced a few less than scrupulous restaurants who will not run the card and just say it's declined to try and force you to use another card.
Now THAT is tacky!!

It is pretty darn tacky. However, when I request they print out the slip showing my card was declined, the manager returned and said the card worked when trying it a second time, suggesting they were having "issues" with their machine with Amex cards.

Ummm... it ain't the machine... it's the operator

Re: AMEX, all for nothing, Disappointed !!!

CHARGE_IT — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 19:13:11 GMT

I've been through the same thing. It worked the first time we ate there, The next two times it did not work. I knew they were doing this. The restaurant is no longer there. My point is; that if a restaurants financial health is affected by a couple of percentage points using a credit company, and they start playing this game................what corners are they cutting in the kitchen.

How one runs their business can send messages the owner never considered.

I support struggling businesses ..............unless they serve food. (squeamish)

Re: AMEX, all for nothing, Disappointed !!!

mross1080 — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 06:53:41 GMT

I use my Amex for EVERYTHING! Day to day purchases, gas, cable bill, cell phone bill, online shopping, rent, car insurance the only thing I dont use it for is car payments and electric bill. The only time I have been told they dont take amex was at a TCBY at a mall and I used a visa otherwise my other cards have been quite lonely.

Re: AMEX, all for nothing, Disappointed !!!

Anonymous — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 15:22:45 GMT

I like to support local places, so I spend a lot of time in "mom & pop" places, and I've found a good number of those places don't take AmEx. Its rarely a problem at a chain like Home Depot or McDonalds but it often is at the local hardware store or the local taco place. It really just depends where you are trying to use it. I dont know how much of it is a regional thing, I moved to Birmingham, AL six months ago and before that lived in Auburn, AL for seven years.

Re: AMEX, all for nothing, Disappointed !!!

trumpet-205 — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 15:56:10 GMT

I know how you feel. I would like to be part of AMEX family as well. Problem is two of the local grocery stores and some restaurants which I frequently visit does not take them. They all accept Discover but not AMEX.

Strangely, one of the local grocery store only accepts MasterCard and Discover. Not even Visa.