Amex shop small

M0ney

Just been informed of this for anyone who uses Amex...

http://www.amexshopsmall.co.uk/hub.html?cid=van1-hub-pcs

planteria

i am a big Amex fan, and i think what they are trying to do is great, but i have not found it to be of any real use:think:

plunt

need to come up with a list of pubs! my only issue is with the map provided on the site, i know they have always rejected my amex card!

reclusive46

plunt wrote: »

need to come up with a list of pubs! my only issue is with the map provided on the site, i know they have always rejected my amex card!

That means the actual place takes Amex and is just choosing not to take it (I.e. the machine takes it just fine, there just too cheapskate to process it). Where I used to a live a store used to do that, you could get away with using an MBNA or Lloyds Amex as they wouldn't notice.

In the end I got sick of it and told them I'd be going down to the other shop just around the corner if they didn't take my American express issued Amex and the owner never said anything again and let me use it. Just be a bit pushy and make it clear you'll go somewhere else unless they take it.

Roger1

Last year, we went to a local Indian restaurant listed in the guide and displaying the AmEx logo. When we tried to pay, they said first that they didn't take AmEx, then that the machine was broken and then that the boss was out.

We ended up signing 3x AmEx paper vouchers for £10 each, so had £15 off our £30 lunch.

reclusive46: the ShopSmall deal is available for ALL AmEx cards, including those issued by AmEx themselves and MBNA, Lloyds, TSB, Barclays ...

DalePie

The merchant fees for Amex are crazy high in comparison with Visa / Mastercard. It's this reason that will stop 99% of smaller businesses ever accepting it - even if their terminal allows it.

This promotion is a total gimmick, if Amex were serious about "Shopping Small" they would lower the fees paid by them. Like Planteria said, it's a nice idea but absolutely no use in reality!

planteria

reclusive...i just put my card in the machine, and don't even discuss it unless it doesn't go through.

DalePie wrote: »

The merchant fees for Amex are crazy high in comparison with Visa / Mastercard. It's this reason that will stop 99% of smaller businesses ever accepting it - even if their terminal allows it.

this just isn't true though. the vast majority of shops and pubs i go in Do take Amex. margins are high for most retailers..they want to turn stock.

DalePie wrote: »

This promotion is a total gimmick, if Amex were serious about "Shopping Small" they would lower the fees paid by them. Like Planteria said, it's a nice idea but absolutely no use in reality!

but in this respect i agree...i think the idea seems good, but i guess (i don't know--as our shop has always accepted Amex anyway) that Amex use it to promote Amex acceptance more widely.

and just to add: American Express customer service remains outstanding in my experience.

zerog

DalePie wrote: »

The merchant fees for Amex are crazy high in comparison with Visa / Mastercard. It's this reason that will stop 99% of smaller businesses ever accepting it - even if their terminal allows it.

This is a myth, certain Mastercards can charge much more than Amex if the shop negotiates with Amex and doesn't negotiate with Mastercard (because they are under the false impression that Mastercard fees are lower)

All this is going to change if the EU's interchange fees cap comes into effect next year

If the terminal accepts it, then you should not bother arguing, just put the card in otherwise walk out

If you eat first then pay (therefore a debt exists which means you need to pay) then you need to check on the shop front first - and you have a case against them for false advertising

keiran

I registered my card, anticipating long days of almost military strategy topping up on my Oyster card and groceries, and suffering a few pub crawls....

But then I had a scoot around the Amex map, listing locations where Shop Small would be valid during this promotion.

It seems that newsagents, grocery stores and pubs ( which were in previous promotions) aren't listed and presumably such purchases from establishments which take Amex but aren't listed would not be eligible for the £5 cash back credit?

I will email Amex, but others' thoughts would be appreciated

Candyapple

keiran wrote: »

It seems that newsagents, grocery stores and pubs (which were in previous promotions) aren't listed and presumably such purchases from establishments which take Amex but aren't listed would not be eligible for the £5 cash back credit?

No, establishments which currently accept Amex but aren't listed, will not be included in the promo.

FWIW, in my local area on the map it shows convenience stores, off licences, supermarkets etc. and I can even use it in a Post Office lol! But no pubs.

keiran

Ahh... panic over.

I see far more establishments listed on the map today.
Perhaps they're added over a period of time..?