topic Re: Naive question: why bother with MasterCard and Discover? in Credit Cards

Naive question: why bother with MasterCard and Discover?

Anonymous — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 23:10:01 GMT

They seem (at least to me) to be the least-accepted amongst the four majors, although I could be wrong. Why do you have them in your wallet?

Re: Naive question: why bother with MasterCard and Discover?

Anonymous — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 23:12:48 GMT

Mastercard should be just as accepted as VISA. Haven't noticed any real places that accept VISA and not MC. As for Discover, I find it accepted about the same as AMEX. AMEX has some unique coverage, but I find places have Visa/MC/Discover before Visa/MC/Amex.

Re: Naive question: why bother with MasterCard and Discover?

Anonymous — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 23:21:06 GMT

Actually, there have been a few times recently where Visa, specifically, was NOT accepted; such as my online payment for tag registration...

Re: Naive question: why bother with MasterCard and Discover?

laboi_22 — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 23:28:48 GMT

I have never not been able to use Visa anywhere yet. I agree though. I have a MasterCard but I never use it and I find it just as accepted as Visa.

My experience with Discover in my area is that it's less accepted than AMEX. I was shocked when several local merchants didn't take my Discover but I asked about AMEX and they said yes. Can you imagine AMEX as a back up. I was actually thinking about posting about this since I tried to use my Discover more but now I'm back to all Visa and AMEX. When I asked these local merchants they said it was more expensive to accept Discover than AMEX. I highly doubt it.

Re: Naive question: why bother with MasterCard and Discover?

TNTransplant — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 23:47:06 GMT

Yep, same thing here. Visa/MC seem pretty much universally accepted, with Amex next, and Discover bringing up the rear.

I was surprised at how many places took Amex, though - have already been able to hit my "spend $1000 in the first three months and get $150 statement credit" on my BCP, and I've only had it for 2 weeks.

Interestingly enough, I made vacation arrangements for later this year, and planned to also charge that to AMEX - nothing doing, as they only accepted Visa/MC/Discover. Oh well, I finally got to use my Discover card for the first time.

Re: Naive question: why bother with MasterCard and Discover?

Datx — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 23:53:29 GMT

My Discover More card has been my primary card the last month or so, and I only found one restaurant that did not take Discover cards. My backup is a Visa card which they gladly accepted.

Re: Naive question: why bother with MasterCard and Discover?

BrokaToe — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 23:58:32 GMT

I was in Sams Club store the other evening, and they were unable to accept Visa. They could accept a Visa logo on a debit card, but not credit card. They do accept MC though. Just thought that was strange.

Re: Naive question: why bother with MasterCard and Discover?

laboi_22 — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 00:02:54 GMT

Yep Sams is strange. They only accept Discover, MasterCard and Visa (debit cards only). Strange situation.

Re: Naive question: why bother with MasterCard and Discover?

Anonymous — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 01:25:40 GMT

I use discover and Amex most, and I've been to 2 diff places that didn't accept one or the other. Both are pretty much accepted at 99% of the places I go

Re: Naive question: why bother with MasterCard and Discover?

Anonymous — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 01:30:49 GMT

@BrokaToe wrote:
I was in Sams Club store the other evening, and they were unable to accept Visa. They could accept a Visa logo on a debit card, but not credit card. They do accept MC though. Just thought that was strange.

http://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Cards/Sam-s-Club-doesn-t-accept-Visa-credit-cards/m-p/1163753/highlight/true#M325242

Re: Naive question: why bother with MasterCard and Discover?

Anonymous — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 01:32:27 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I use discover and Amex most, and I've been to 2 diff places that didn't accept one or the other. Both are pretty much accepted at 99% of the places I go

My daily spender is my Amex, Followed by my discover... If they are not accepted I have a decision to make between cash and debit card (my CU visa has been in the SD for some time now).

Re: Naive question: why bother with MasterCard and Discover?

2NE1 — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 01:46:45 GMT

It's funny how (for credit cards) Sam's Club only accepts Discover and Costco only accepts AMEX.

Does anyone know which cards BJ's accept? (never been there nor Sam's Club).

Re: Naive question: why bother with MasterCard and Discover?

android01 — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 02:21:14 GMT

The reason that I have a Discover card, Amex card, Mastercard, or Visa card is because I can. No other reason. if someone doesn't accept one or the other, it's no big deal because I have them all, and will use whatever is appropriate.

Re: Naive question: why bother with MasterCard and Discover?

Anonymous — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 02:42:22 GMT

I guess you also have to factor in the fact that Discover cards warrant excellent customer service. There is a bit more to the story of choosing a CC besides availability to merchants like BT, CL, intro rates, rewards programs, cash back, customer service, etc...

Re: Naive question: why bother with MasterCard and Discover?

Anonymous — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 02:56:08 GMT

@android01 wrote:
The reason that I have a Discover card, Amex card, Mastercard, or Visa card is because I can. No other reason. if someone doesn't accept one or the other, it's no big deal because I have them all, and will use whatever is appropriate.

I agree. It was our goal to get at least one card from each network. And, I have yet to experience someone telling me "we don't accept ________ (whatever)" anywhere that we've frequented. The restaurants, gas stations, movies, grocery stores, clothing and travel merchants where we've shopped ALL take everything.

Re: Naive question: why bother with MasterCard and Discover?

Anonymous — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 04:53:06 GMT

I've heard Visa charged higher fees (sales %) to the merchant so some merchants don't take it as much (as least what I heard about Sam's)

Re: Naive question: why bother with MasterCard and Discover?

Anonymous — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 06:30:03 GMT

Heaven forbid I shop someplace that does not take any CC.

"Cash only? What is that?"

Re: Naive question: why bother with MasterCard and Discover?

GST2008 — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 13:15:59 GMT

I do 99% of my purchases with my AMEX, but usually carry an MC or Visa as back up, as well as my DC. Although all regular places I frequent accept all of the above, I occasionally run into restaurants that do not accept AMEX and even less frequently, the "cash only." These places are usually smaller and new, and in the city (NY) though, generally restaurants. Just this Saturday, we were at a new Thai restaurant and when I went to pay the check, I was informed that they didn't accept AMEX, but were able to take MC or Visa.

Re: Naive question: why bother with MasterCard and Discover?

Anonymous — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 14:09:03 GMT

@2NE1 wrote:
It's funny how (for credit cards) Sam's Club only accepts Discover and Costco only accepts AMEX.

Does anyone know which cards BJ's accept? (never been there nor Sam's Club).

My understanding is that BJ's takes all four.

Re: Naive question: why bother with MasterCard and Discover?

SwiftTone — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 14:22:38 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Heaven forbid I shop someplace that does not take any CC.

"Cash only? What is that?"

My favourite restaraunt for the past 11 years will finally start accepting credit cards. People who know me know that I'm notorious for not carrying cash. Honestly, the major reason is that I just hate carrying change/coins.

Around my area, most places will accept AMEX over Discover. Shame because my main card right now is Discover.