AMEX not accepted or surcharge

[slinky123]

I'll look into whether its possible to use this at the post office - Vicroads site only allows for lump sum payment.

Don't believe there are any deals at the moment, could purchase through Cashrewards though? or can WW/Coles vouchers be purchased and then used to by eftpos/VISA/MC gift cards? Might have to read into some of the other gift card threads.

The main reason is to hit my min spend on my explorer card asap.

Vic Roads paid at Aus Post over the counter must be for the amount barcoded. Can't take part payments at all.
Amex card used at Aus Post = no surcharge but only 0.5 of points.

Speaking of Chemists earlier, another Chemist Amex fail down here in Melbourne riceline pharmac_, again another big chain, no amex at all. ( Diamond Creek)

Melbourne Airport Newsagency - Qantas Terminal - no Amex. The counter operated stated that most of Melb Airport will not accept Amex.
Caloundra QLD : Very sparse Amex acceptance at local restaurants/stores.

 

[Nutcase]

Vic Roads paid at Aus Post over the counter must be for the amount barcoded. Can't take part payments at all.
Amex card used at Aus Post = no surcharge but only 0.5 of points.

Speaking of Chemists earlier, another Chemist Amex fail down here in Melbourne riceline pharmac_, again another big chain, no amex at all. ( Diamond Creek)

Melbourne Airport Newsagency - Qantas Terminal - no Amex. The counter operated stated that most of Melb Airport will not accept Amex.
Caloundra QLD : Very sparse Amex acceptance at local restaurants/stores.

This is the new normal with AMEX.

As the cost to accept Visa and MC decreases and usage increases, AMEX acceptance will decline due to the much higher cost to the merchant.

 

[psi999]

This is the new normal with AMEX.

As the cost to accept Visa and MC decreases and usage increases, AMEX acceptance will decline due to the much higher cost to the merchant.

This is the way i see it as well. AMEX acceptance to drop off if the big 4 completely drop companion cards - as most people (outside of AFF) don't want the hassle of dual cards / statement cycles etc.

With noticeably less demand smaller merchants will drop AMEX because the reality is anyone with an AMEX (direct or bank) will also have some form of Visa / MC - which will be cheaper to accept while still extending credit acceptance.

 

[Nutcase]

This is the way i see it as well. AMEX acceptance to drop off if the big 4 completely drop companion cards - as most people (outside of AFF) don't want the hassle of dual cards / statement cycles etc.

With noticeably less demand smaller merchants will drop AMEX because the reality is anyone with an AMEX (direct or bank) will also have some form of Visa / MC - which will be cheaper to accept while still extending credit acceptance.

AMEX's core cards business is Travel and Entertainment and it will remain strong there due to its corporate & Business card programs, enhanced data and other benefits such as rebates to the company using the cards.

The challenge will be to get millennials to take up AMEX cards as they view AMEX as their parents card and not very innovative. Applepay on its own is not enough to do that as Applepay numbers are very disappointing.

 

[foggy]

anyone have a strategy on paying nrma insurance with amex?
I have some visa giftcards but I don't know how to do the split payments with them

 

[Dr Ralph]

anyone have a strategy on paying nrma insurance with amex?
I have some visa giftcards but I don't know how to do the split payments with them

Go to a shop front location.

 

[foggy]

Go to a shop front location.

didnt know you could do split payments in person thanks

 

[DC3]

Go to a shop front location.

Those NRMA shop-fronts are getting harder to find . If in Sydney, Waverley (Bondi Junction) now closed. Eastgardens now closed.

 

[Dr Ralph]

Those NRMA shop-fronts are getting harder to find . If in Sydney, Waverley (Bondi Junction) now closed. Eastgardens now closed.

There are still a large number of stores around:

https://www.nrma.com.au/branches-finder#!/search

When Picton NSW has a store you know that the NRMA really hasn't decided to cut back on shop fronts in any concerted manner.

 

[Dr Bob]

Booked a Mantra apartment today after looking at Wotif and ended up ringing Mantra booking to inquire about car parking and decided to book with them while I was there ( same price) but they wanted 3.25% for Amex. I said that Wotif don't surcharge Amex and I'll try them. She just said thank you & have a nice day. She also told me that MC was 1.1% & Visa 1.25%

 

[Spongbob]

Booked a Mantra apartment today after looking at Wotif and ended up ringing Mantra booking to inquire about car parking and decided to book with them while I was there ( same price) but they wanted 3.25% for Amex. I said that Wotif don't surcharge Amex and I'll try them. She just said thank you & have a nice day. She also told me that MC was 1.1% & Visa 1.25%

Maybe just repeating the various CC surcharges is why the organisation is branded "Mantra"?

 

[cove]

Careful there folks we are shareholders of Mantra. However I think 3.25% for Amex is too high.

 

[unfunkable]

anyone have a strategy on paying nrma insurance with amex?
I have some visa giftcards but I don't know how to do the split payments with them

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i *think* i paid my nrma over paypal? I logged into my account and the option was there from memory.

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Maybe just repeating the various CC surcharges is why the organisation is branded "Mantra"?

And yet they'd have lost 10-15% in commissions paid on the online travel agent booking rather than having the customer book direct and taking a ~3% hit on not charging an AMEX fee. Dumb business practice, that - send the customer elsewhere so that the business can pay up to 5x as much in fees on the same booking.

 

[Nutcase]

Booked a Mantra apartment today after looking at Wotif and ended up ringing Mantra booking to inquire about car parking and decided to book with them while I was there ( same price) but they wanted 3.25% for Amex. I said that Wotif don't surcharge Amex and I'll try them. She just said thank you & have a nice day. She also told me that MC was 1.1% & Visa 1.25%

It sounds like it wasn't her decision to make so there wasn't anything she could do.

 

[Nutcase]

And yet they'd have lost 10-15% in commissions paid on the online travel agent booking rather than having the customer book direct and taking a ~3% hit on not charging an AMEX fee. Dumb business practice, that - send the customer elsewhere so that the business can pay up to 5x as much in fees on the same booking.

Not necessarily. It could be a volume issue in that they need to pump through a certain amount. There are also "non compete" clauses with some online booking engines.

Also, they probably get a higher paying customer when selling directly (late notice bookings/affair with the secretary) who will gladly pay the fee especially corporates.

They wont lose sleep.

 

[prozac]

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i *think* i paid my nrma over paypal? I logged into my account and the option was there from memory.

I and others have explained this previously on this thread. As you mentioned it is necessary to be logged-in to see the paypal option.

 

[docjames]

And yet they'd have lost 10-15% in commissions paid on the online travel agent booking rather than having the customer book direct and taking a ~3% hit on not charging an AMEX fee. Dumb business practice, that - send the customer elsewhere so that the business can pay up to 5x as much in fees on the same booking.

Id suggest the booking clerk you spoke to is unlikely to have had any authority to waive the fee.

Speak to the manager when you arrive as they are usually pretty receptive to guests discussing them. The manager will probably have a sensible discussion of revenue forgone versus commission paid to Wotif.

You may also find there is variation between Mantras.

 

[BettyB]

I and others have explained this previously on this thread. As you mentioned it is necessary to be logged-in to see the paypal option.

So you can do part payment via this option?

 

[eastwest101]

Id suggest the booking clerk you spoke to is unlikely to have had any authority to waive the fee.

Speak to the manager when you arrive as they are usually pretty receptive to guests discussing them. The manager will probably have a sensible discussion of revenue forgone versus commission paid to Wotif.

You may also find there is variation between Mantras.

Not really an Amex story but an interesting Mantra story seeing as we are here, was looking for one night at a Mantra property nearby and used on online aggregator and saw the availability and price, then thought to myself - why not book through the hotel to see if I get the same price booking directly with the hotel? When I called Mantra I got the "Because its a long weekend there is a minimum of two nights stay" story from the Mantra customer rep on the phone, after I mentioned I really can only do one night they said that they would call someone and see if that restriction could be lifted/waived, came back and said that the hotel were sticking to their guns and wanted 2 nights stay or nothing. I very politely said thank you very much and hung up and then booked it online.

Nice hotel, no problem with the room or the bill but did notice that Amex was surcharged at 3% so may vary throughout the group a little? I paid by Visa (Surcharge 1.25% I think - will have to check).