Do you take American Express?

sfax

reclusive46 wrote: »

Amex pays the £5 in the UK. Not the merchant. So shouldn't matter.

I know but that's not the point. They don't want you using Amex for little transactions in these places because it costs them more to process Amex transactions (which is why a lot of places accept other credit cards but not Amex)

molar

"It's the only one we don't", says the shop keeper. How many times have I heard that!

It happened twice last weekend, both in places listed on the Amex Shop Small website.

reclusive46

molar wrote: »

"It's the only one we don't", says the shop keeper. How many times have I heard that!

It happened twice last weekend, both in places listed on the Amex Shop Small website.

I think Amex seems to be based on the area and where the particular shops.

I find it very rare for somewhere I shop or eat at to not take Amex.

Thats in Norwich for me.

A bit poor in places like Spain but I have come across a place or two in France in the past that only took a French debit card (Card Bleu or something) and Amex before. Same in Asia really.

sfax

molar wrote: »

"It's the only one we don't", says the shop keeper. How many times have I heard that!

It happened twice last weekend, both in places listed on the Amex Shop Small website.

Exactly. So don't ask unless you're sitting down for a meal or something. Say "credit card", keep that evil Amex card hidden from sight and then get hold of their CC machine and whip it out and in the machine before the shopkeeper can say "extortionate transaction charge"

reclusive46

sfax wrote: »

Exactly. So don't ask unless you're sitting down for a meal or something. Say "credit card", keep that evil Amex card hidden from sight and then get hold of their CC machine and whip it out and in the machine before the shopkeeper can say "extortionate transaction charge"

In some cases this is not a bad idea. Like my local indian apprently doesn't take it but when I say I forgot all my other cards, it 'magically' works just fine :P

In all honesty with most shops the cost really isn't that much more these days though. Merchants over exaggerate with it. Most merchants I know just get annoyed about the payment delay. But to be fair to Amex, they actually pay it in 4 days.

It can actually take Visa and MasterCard upto to 6 months to actually pay the credit card company processing company.

sfax

I had a shopkeeper trying to tell me it would cost him £5 to take Amex for a £50 bag at the weekend. Something to do with his registration and he'd have to pay more. There was a big blue Amex sticker behind him and I was thinking well if that's true (and surely it isn't) then I would removing that sticker!

sfax

reclusive46 wrote: »

In some cases this is not a bad idea. Like my local indian apprently doesn't take it but when I say I forgot all my other cards, it 'magically' works just fine :P

You could also say that you only tip on Amex and if you use your other card, there will be no tip. See if they still want to switch

InsideInsurance

molar wrote: »

"It's the only one we don't", says the shop keeper

Try giving them a Diners Club card after they say that