I usually pay with Amex and sometimes a business will say "Oh sorry, we don't take Amex". Never once have they ushered me out the door and issued a trespass notice. Instead I just pay another way and we are both happy. That seems pretty optimal.
I've seen that since being a kid. In my experience, businesses that refuse Amex are either great enough to be comfortable rejecting customers and mostly good faith, or mediocre to bad and not worth patronizing.
Really? I only have an AMEX card and unless it's a chain store it's almost never accepted. I often get lectures from small business owners about the higher rates charged by AMEX and why they can't accept it.
Maybe USA-specific, but I've been AMEX-only for around 20 years, and have no regrets. They handle fraud and chargebacks with almost no effort or followup required. Very infrequently, I'll run into a cheap-ass merchant who doesn't take AMEX, and I will either not do business with them or just pay in cash.
I always lead with my Amex, even if I know the place doesn't take it. Merchants need that kind of feedback from their customers. If they won't take Amex, I've got other cards, but I always prefer to use either my Amex or my Discover (another card with spotty acceptance).
Of all the credit/charge cards out there, Amex is the most consumer friendly in large part because they typically side with the complainant (their larger vendor fees are the other).
I've never had Amex side with the business when I disputed a charge.
I'm an Amex user who has a second card in my wallet, but I avoid giving business to stores that don't take Amex. I feel like it's a sign that they don't understand me, and don't want my business.
I almost never ran into a merchant that didn't accept Amex, so I didn't have any particular reason to go to the trouble of getting another card. In fact, I more frequently ran into places that didn't take credit cards at all.
I have been using amex for years now. They have the best customer service. The dispute process is really simple/easy. Whenever, I have to buy something from a place I haven't heard off or looks a little shady I use Amex.
Yep, if you are a company focusing on business buyers, always make sure Amex is an acceptable form of payment. It sucks for fees, but you get a lot of business that way.
In all honesty I keep American Express because I know for a fact they will defend their customers. My dad works as an accountant for a hotel, and he told me and my mother about how people would come to the hotel, and even if they sign if they call up Amex and say they didn't stay there, they will get their refund. I know that sounds crazy, and there's room for abuse, but I am not using Amex to abuse of it, rather to know for a fact that if I purchase something I have genuine protection for my goods, especially if something fishy goes on in the other end.
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