Shops accepting Amex

SteveyJC

Hello,

Is there an app or website to see what shops/retailers that accept Amex? Like to maximise every purchase in terms of Airmiles so would be great to see where accepts it ahead of time.

It seems more and more shops nowadays don't show the logos on their front doors.

Thanks, Stevey

TadleyBaggie

http://www.whoacceptsamex.co.uk

grumbler

SteveyJC wrote: »

Is there an app or website to see what shops/retailers that accept Amex? Like to maximise every purchase in terms of Airmiles so would be great to see where accepts it ahead of time.

I think a list of those that don't accept Amex would be far more useful.
Aldi and Home Bargains are the only one entries in the list of my common shops.

It seems more and more shops nowadays don't show the logos on their front doors.

If I don't know for sure that this particular shop doesn't take Amex I just try paying with it and then use another card if they don't accept Amex. Far easier than checking some enormous list every time.

SteveyJC

Thanks for your help everyone. Definitely seems the smaller shops and non chain restaurants don't accept. There is even a hairdresser near me that does accept it, but one particular girl on the desk won't take it (presumably as it costs them more). Frustrating.

Thanks again

zagfles

Yes a lot of places do take it but pretend not to if you ask, as they get charged more. If you ask, you obviously have another form of payment so they say no!

Just put your card in the machine without asking. If it doesn't work, use another card!

keiran

I have no problem at all with specific retailers not wanting to sign up to Amex. It's a business decision and not a default option.

What does vex me enormously, though, is those retailers who have signed up to Amex and then are reluctant to take it, lie about their machine not taking it or slap on an extra charge

It would be so much easier and less awkward for all parties if they chose a way and stuck to it!!

reclusive46

One thing I say as well is that many retailers take Amex but don't have the logo in the door but do for the other cards.

A local restaurant to me has the Visa, Discover/Diners Club and MasterCard logo in the door but they happily accept Amex and I see this happen a lot all around the world.

zagfles

keiran wrote: »

I have no problem at all with specific retailers not wanting to sign up to Amex. It's a business decision and not a default option.

What does vex me enormously, though, is those retailers who have signed up to Amex and then are reluctant to take it, lie about their machine not taking it or slap on an extra charge

It would be so much easier and less awkward for all parties if they chose a way and stuck to it!!

Yes I found this a lot when they had the fiver off spending at particular retailers. I'd go to those retailers to see what they had for just over a fiver - they were mostly overpriced little shops selling complete tat - and some of them claimed not to take Amex until I told them about the deal, and that I wouldn't be spending anything in their shop if they didn't take it!

slink85

keiran wrote: »

I have no problem at all with specific retailers not wanting to sign up to Amex. It's a business decision and not a default option.

What does vex me enormously, though, is those retailers who have signed up to Amex and then are reluctant to take it, lie about their machine not taking it or slap on an extra charge

It would be so much easier and less awkward for all parties if they chose a way and stuck to it!!

because most don't 'sign up' for accepting amex, its packaged with the payment processor so they can accept the more common (and cheaper to process) visa and mastercard.

why should a retailer be charged extra fees and eat in to their meagre profit margins just so you the consumer can get airmiles, cashback and discounts?

keiran

slink85 wrote: »

because most don't 'sign up' for accepting amex, its packaged with the payment processor so they can accept the more common (and cheaper to process) visa and mastercard.

why should a retailer be charged extra fees and eat in to their meagre profit margins just so you the consumer can get airmiles, cashback and discounts?

I find this hard to understand. Whatever the capabilities of the processing machine, surely the retailer HAS to have an agreement with Amex if it's going to use it for transactions? (or not have an agreement, as the case may be )

lisyloo

why should a retailer be charged extra fees and eat in to their meagre profit margins just so you the consumer can get airmiles, cashback and discounts?

Making any aspect of your service attractive to customers is part of running a business and that includes payment methods.
It's simply a business decision.

In some cases it may be a differentiator and a business could lose custom.
In other cases it doesn't matter.
People have different expectations in high end stores compared to market stalls.