AMEX not accepted or surcharge

[ChrisFlyer]

I just got my QLD rego renewal.
No Amex, surcharge using Visa or MC.

Annoying that - I contacted them a couple of years ago about AMEX (before they had a Visa/MC surcharge) and they said they were considering adding it with a surcharge to cover the difference. Now that they have surcharging set up you'd think they could add it relatively easily, albeit at a higher fee!

Another Queensland one: AGL now openly lists PayPal as a payment method and even touts that you can use AMEX through it. Had been using the PostBillPay method until now but easier to just use PayPal direct.

 

[Mr_Orange]

I just got my QLD rego renewal.
No Amex, surcharge using Visa or MC.

I know, w*ankers, right!

 

[brazen00]

Just booked with Park Regis. 3.5% surcharge vs 1.5% for visa/mc.

 

[ajd]

A few days ago at a convenience store at WLG Arrivals - I asked the shop attendant if they accepted Amex, she looked rather confused. After glancing at my card she said "...I think so?", and obviously, the card didn't work.

It's one thing to not accept Amex, it's another thing to not even know what an Amex card is, especially when you work at a shop inside an international airport terminal... This also wasn't the only time on my trip that someone couldn't tell me whether or not they took Amex, seems to be a New Zealand thing...

 

[andye]

Another Queensland one: AGL now openly lists PayPal as a payment method and even touts that you can use AMEX through it. Had been using the PostBillPay method until now but easier to just use PayPal direct.

Thanks for that. Have recently switched and had resigned myself to MC earn

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Noticed that Thai Airways still doesn't take AMEX on its website, at least ex AU (but does take JCB?)... they're even an AMEX Membership Rewards conversion partner - how could AMEX not have signed them up to also accept the card??

Malindo Air (that new airline flying PER-KUL) also says they take AMEX on their website and shows an AMEX logo but when you try to type the number in it comes up in red that this card type isn't accepted...

 

[prozac]

Thanks for that. Have recently switched and had resigned myself to MC earn

Another for you andye that you may not be aware of is Paypal for Sydney Water.

 

[andye]

Another for you andye that you may not be aware of is Paypal for Sydney Water.

All over that one, thanks

 

[yohy?!]

A few days ago at a convenience store at WLG Arrivals - I asked the shop attendant if they accepted Amex, she looked rather confused. After glancing at my card she said "...I think so?", and obviously, the card didn't work.

It's one thing to not accept Amex, it's another thing to not even know what an Amex card is, especially when you work at a shop inside an international airport terminal... This also wasn't the only time on my trip that someone couldn't tell me whether or not they took Amex, seems to be a New Zealand thing...

Probably - Amex acceptance is even more spotty in NZ (or at least was over the last decade, maybe less so now) than AU. They used to put out a list of merchants in their welcome packs to try and trumpet they had signed up Pack N Save or whomever, it was always a very short list...

 

[lovestotravel]

Mt Buller now not accepting amex for ticket purchases.

Tbis brings them in line with all others. Perisher stopped accepting amex this year before they sold out to Vail resorts

They should start accepting amex again now Vail owns them

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Mt Buller now not accepting amex for ticket purchases.

Tbis brings them in line with all others. Perisher stopped accepting amex this year before they sold out to Vail resorts

They should start accepting amex again now Vail owns them

I don't understand businesses who have the means but cut out Amex transactions.
Just bump the price up by 5%, nobody would even know - AND you'll keep Amex people happy.

Our Westpac merchant recently started accepting diners at 1.99%, which is almost 1% more than the rest. While it can be hard to measure - we may well retain additional clients with this change, but the fees are already built in so we don't exactly care either.

I've walked out of stores with goods at the check out when they don't take Amex.
The most awkward was Baskin Robbins a few years back, but they had a sticker on the door saying they accepted it.

 

[TomVexille]

I've walked out of stores with goods at the check out when they don't take Amex.
The most awkward was Baskin Robbins a few years back, but they had a sticker on the door saying they accepted it.

Good on ya for sticking to principles

 

[Moopere]

I don't understand businesses who have the means but cut out Amex transactions.
Just bump the price up by 5%, nobody would even know - AND you'll keep Amex people happy.

Yes, I agree and have been banging on about it for years. The thing is, these days with the prevalence of premium and super premium credit cards out there, chances are high that merchants are actually paying more per transaction for accepting a _lot_ of VISA/MC. The last time I saw a gold coloured card for example was a friend of mine who had an industry card - practically everyone has a 'platinum' of some type or another - geez, even the WoW card is a Plat!!

Its all a marketing construct and VISA/MC are both playing the game pretty well it seems as they have (obviously) got mind share with merchants. I remember back in the day when we all had silver cards (not platinum!) and gold was aspirational - Plats were what the current crop of black cards are. I still remember probably 20 years ago or so a friend of mine pulling a platinum Amex and it was a real 'whoa' moment hehehehe.

 

[Spacetravel]

I've found most the time the card being declined/ surcharged is manually done by the person completing the transaction. I put a sticker over the amex logo on my card so its less obvious its amex. Most the time the terminal just processes the transaction anyway even if the business say they don't accept it.

I've had cases where places that have refused it prior to me using the sticker have taken it after. I also had to take the sticker off the for the amex lounge, during the time I had it off those same business refused/ surcharged me again.

Its not fool proof but you should find the acceptance rate gets much higher

Edit: I also have ditched many purchases when they don't take amex. Ranging from being refused at a bar after the drink is poured, icecream shops and leaving goods at the checkout.

I had a taxi driver who said he doesn't take it when I got in so I got back out and got an uber.

 

[blackcat20]

I don't understand businesses who have the means but cut out Amex transactions.
Just bump the price up by 5%, nobody would even know - AND you'll keep Amex people happy.

Our Westpac merchant recently started accepting diners at 1.99%, which is almost 1% more than the rest. While it can be hard to measure - we may well retain additional clients with this change, but the fees are already built in so we don't exactly care either.

I've walked out of stores with goods at the check out when they don't take Amex.
The most awkward was Baskin Robbins a few years back, but they had a sticker on the door saying they accepted it.

Bailed on the purchase of a computer at JB, because they were happy to price match but not waive the Amex fee.

 

[whatmeworry]

Bailed on the purchase of a computer at JB, because they were happy to price match but not waive the Amex fee.

JB Giftcards?

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Bailed on the purchase of a computer at JB, because they were happy to price match but not waive the Amex fee.

They didn't really match the price then... Good on you for walking away.

What if Amex were to increase rates of merchants who surcharge as a method for the business to drop the BS pennypinching?
Then at the same time, offer the business a deal where they will receive a %rebate% if the business puts more than $CurrentVolume + 20% through their Amex account?

Win win!?

 

[marki]

Purchased a Bottle of water last week at a cafe in Sydney, they charged me a CC surcharge of 50cents for a $3 bottle of water.. which equates to 16.5% in my calculations. Surely that is illegal to charge that high? To top it off they had a AMEX shop small sticker and sign on their counter!

Come on that's terrible how can they do that !!
Next they will come up with a charge for charging you a surcharge :erm:

 

[ajd]

Purchased a Bottle of water last week at a cafe in Sydney, they charged me a CC surcharge of 50cents for a $3 bottle of water.. which equates to 16.5% in my calculations. Surely that is illegal to charge that high? To top it off they had a AMEX shop small sticker and sign on their counter!

I don't think it's illegal, but I'm pretty sure it's a condition of the Amex Shop Small promotional campaign that they're not allowed to surcharge? (see page 3 of https://shopsmallaustralia.com/faqs)

 

[Buzzard]

Amex surcharge of 3.5% at Terra Rossa where we had our AFF Christmas get together last night.