Why don't some places accept AMEX?

[bearsfan34]

Someone told me it's because it costs more to process the transaction. Is that true? Seems strange to me.

[namvet]

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@bearsfan34 wrote:

Someone told me it's because it costs more to process the transaction. Is that true? Seems strange to me.

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That is true!

[LS2982]

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@bearsfan34 wrote:

Someone told me it's because it costs more to process the transaction. Is that true? Seems strange to me.

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True. AMEX likes to bully their merchants for more money.

[Imhotrodcrazy]

I have had two merchants refuse to take my AMEX card.  When I asked why, both told me because of the higher fees, so I gave them my Visa.  I have only had my card two months and already I know where not to present it around town. 

[Creditaddict]

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@bearsfan34 wrote:

Someone told me it's because it costs more to process the transaction. Is that true? Seems strange to me.

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It kind of irritates me when an employee says they don't accept it because it "costs more" because in my experience when I have ever said something to that person they are like oh really I didn't know, that's just what I heard.....

Yes it's more but to me it's just the cost of business... Last year I think big discussion on this for small business' etc. but I still believe you just pay it.

I had 2.49% with Visa/MC and American Express was 3.25% but I paid no per transaction fees or statement fees, I paid $.10 per transaction plus my fee with Visa/MC and had $15.00 minimum fees to pay each month rather I processed enough to reach $15... I was very small business so average that out and American Express was cheaper!!!

Now you want to talk about fees, Discover was TERRIBLE for me! (like 5%)

[Anonymous]

Yes AMEX does charge higher interchange fees than Visa and Mastercard and that is why AMEX is not accepted in as many places.

AMEX caters, at least historically, to more affluent cardmembers that love to spend money. So that is how they were able to charge higher fees with the promise that if you accept AMEX, you are accepting the business of well to do customers with Gold and Platinum cards that love to spend money and what business owner wouldnt want that?

[bearsfan34]

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@Creditaddict wrote:

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@bearsfan34 wrote:

Someone told me it's because it costs more to process the transaction. Is that true? Seems strange to me.

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It kind of irritates me when an employee says they don't accept it because it "costs more" because in my experience when I have ever said something to that person they are like oh really I didn't know, that's just what I heard.....

Yes it's more but to me it's just the cost of business... Last year I think big discussion on this for small business' etc. but I still believe you just pay it.

I had 2.49% with Visa/MC and American Express was 3.25% but I paid no per transaction fees or statement fees, I paid $.10 per transaction plus my fee with Visa/MC and had $15.00 minimum fees to pay each month rather I processed enough to reach $15... I was very small business so average that out and American Express was cheaper!!!

Now you want to talk about fees, Discover was TERRIBLE for me! (like 5%)

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Hmmm, maybe I will tell my favorite sushi place this! 

[Anonymous]

The funny thing?  Those) who refuse to accept Amex due to 'higher fees' are ignoant and don't realize that it's really less than 1/2 of 1% difference between Amex and Visa.  On top of that, Visa is more expensive than MC, so they're hypocrits if they're worried about 'higher costs', because Visa already costs more than MC.  And even MORE, if they really cared about the percentage that much, they'd accept nothing BUT cash.

There's a reason why the biggest businesses accept all 4, and it's not because they can "eat the costs', but because they realize the difference between the big 4 is so minimal it's idiotic to throw a fit over it.  

My family owns a small business.  We accpet Amex.  They've not once thought about not accepting it because they realize that its difference is minimal.  Either you accept credit cards or you don't.  

[namvet]

You have to spend money to Make Money!  Not all understand this.

[laboi_22]

I was a little flustered with a local bakery recently. I decided to place all of my business expenses on my AMEX to assist me with UTL. It irritates me when I need to make a purchase and they don't accept AMEX. I went to get a wonderful king cake for a client and the bakery doesn't take AMEX. When I asked why not the girl said because the owners decided to stop because someone made a $9 purchase and it costs the company/merchant $15 because of the AMEX fees. Not sure I understood that but that's what she said word for word. I said well most drug reps/sales reps work with companies that issue AMEX cards to their sales people so you are missing out on a large amount of business since they have nice cakes for clients. I think this is crazy. I've known many a drug rep who are/have been my collegues who are provided with corporate AMEX that is all they are allowed to use (not my company they are an exception) but they are missing out on good business. We spend lots of money. I used my Visa but will never use them again. I'll settle for the small bakery that takes AMEX but have sub-par king cakes. Hey you win some/you lose some!