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If a place doesn't accept amex

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brokevagrant
New Member

If a place doesn't accept amex

Do you go elsewhere or use a backup card? Curious how many choose their favorite cards over the merchant or vice versa 

Message 1 of 19
18 REPLIES 18
USMCOne
Contributor

Re: If a place doesn't accept amex


@brokevagrant wrote:

Do you go elsewhere or use a backup card? Curious how many choose their favorite cards over the merchant or vice versa 


The only place I have chosen the merchant so I can use a Amex is switching over from Costco to Sams. Its not that I did not want to stay with Costco but out of the 20 credit cards I got only one stinking Visa and it infuriates me lol. 

Message 2 of 19
creditrizz
Frequent Contributor

Re: If a place doesn't accept amex

My Amex's haven't remained the most competitive anymore when it comes to either points or cash back in most categories, so I don't really care if they don't take it.  I definitely won't return to any business that charges a credit card fee, though.




Equifax:822, TransUnion:825, Experian: 820
Message 3 of 19
Gunnerboy
Established Contributor

Re: If a place doesn't accept amex


@brokevagrant wrote:

Do you go elsewhere or use a backup card? Curious how many choose their favorite cards over the merchant or vice versa 


One of my favorite Asian markets stopped accepting AMEX last year.  I still shop there with Visa.  I'm more particular about the merchant than which card I use.



"Not everyone who helps you is a friend, and not everyone who challenges you is an enemy."
Message 4 of 19
ElvisCaprice
Frequent Contributor

Re: If a place doesn't accept amex

Should read:  If consumers don't accept amex


ACTIVE: BofA: Citi:U.S. Bank:Aven:

BACKUPS:

CB Debit Cards:


For Aven Rewards Visa ref www qsv.com
Message 5 of 19
MrDisco99
Valued Contributor

Re: If a place doesn't accept amex

My cards are there to serve me, not the other way around.  If the merchant I want to buy from doesn't accept my card, I use a different one.

Message 6 of 19
MarkintheHV
Frequent Contributor

Re: If a place doesn't accept amex


@Gunnerboy wrote:
One of my favorite Asian markets stopped accepting AMEX last year.  I still shop there with Visa.  I'm more particular about the merchant than which card I use.

I have two local resteraunts that "said" they stopped taking AmEx.  Since I patronize these two places quite a bit, I never stopped using my AmEx and to this day, even though their signs say no AmEx, they still take mine Smiley Happy

Active Cards In My Wallet: AmEx BCP - 70k | NFCU Flagship Visa - 80k | Citi CCR - 44k | AmEx Delta Reserve Biz - 13k
Inactive Cards: Citi AA World MC - 21k | Discover IT - 10k
Message 7 of 19
zerofire
Valued Contributor

Re: If a place doesn't accept amex

In the case of not taking AmEx I would be fine with it. The reason being that I only have a single AmEx card and it was a Bluebird account(now Closed). Now on the other hand I did one time go into my local chinese resteraunt and on their door it said MasterCard and Visa only. I wanted to pay with my Discover card. When they tried to refuse it at first I encouraged them to at least try to swipe it at the register. If it still did not work I would use a diffrent card. In the end they swiped it and it went right through to Discover because their processor was set up for it. Considering that Discover fees are similar to MasterCard and Visa if not slightly better I never heard them complain again.

TU:816 12/19/24 Bank of America--EX: 809 01/03/25 Experian--EQ:836 01/06/25 myFICO--Gardening since N/A
Active:
Bank of America (Customized Cash Rewards VSC, Unlimited Cash Rewards WMC{PT}), Capital One (Discover It DC, Savor WEMC), Chase (Amazon Prime VSC, Freedom Flex WEMC [x2]), Citi (Custom Cash WEMC, Dividend MC), Citizens GreenSense WMC, Curve WEMC{S}, FNBO Ducks Unlimited VSC, GBank VSC, Imprint Rakuten AC,PenFed Pathfinder Rewards VSC, Santander Ultimate Cash Back WMC, Synchrony PayPal Cashback WMC, UMB Simply Rewards VSC[Milford Federal], US Bank (Cash+ VSC [x2], Kroger Rewards WEMC, Pick n Save/Metro Market Rewards WEMC, Shield VC)
Wishlist: AAA Daily Advantage, AOD Signature, Aven, Bellco Colorado Rewards, Nusenda Platinum Cash Rewards, PCMCU Platinum Rewards, Redstone FCU Signature
Message 8 of 19
Jnbmom
Credit Mentor

Re: If a place doesn't accept amex

That is why I always carry a Visa card as well . I only had this happen to me twice , both were small local restaurants that didn't accept Amex .

 

i remember many years ago (showing my age) Discover cards were not widely accepted .

EXP 780 EQ 796 TU 810
Message 9 of 19
alocksley
Regular Contributor

Re: If a place doesn't accept amex

Backup card. The only reason I use my Visa card is the situations where a merchant does not take American Express. I found this situation to be very rare. I also run a monthly membership fee through that Visa card as a heartbeat just to keep it active.

On the other hand, if a merchant says cash only then I walk away.



...and debt free.
Message 10 of 19
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