AMEX not accepted or surcharge

[WA flyer]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

I recently renewed insurance with SGIO.
If you pay online the only option is Visa/mc.
Pay by phone and Amex goes through

 

[zzyss]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

Wow. Way to rub salt into the wound... my friend just rang NRMA because he was thinking for switching, since AAMI quoted a better price. Well the sales person not only matched the quote, but he was also able to pay by Amex.

wtf!?

 

[lovestotravel]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

Rang up a local spa shop today to purchase some spa chemicals.

They are listed on the Amex website as taking Amex.

When I asked if they accept American Express the answer was "Ummmmm..not really, but we do accept VI/MC"

I said "so that means you do accept Amex but you would prefer other payment methods due to the merchant fees?"

He said "Ummmm.... yeh you can pay with Amex but there is a surcharge"

I asked "How much"

He said "Ummmm 3%"

So I went and purchased a few hundred $ of chemicals. He was very curious as to why I would pay the 3%, I simply said I needed to use the card as it was the only one I had. I couldn't be bothered explaining that with the SQ Amex card at the moment I basically get 20% back in J flights on FF

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

Hm...

Well I went to a restaurant tonight listed in the Amex directory, and their menus had no mention of any surcharge, nor was there a notice at the door or near the till, so our group of four ordered, and were surprised to notice in the Amex-branded bill folder at the end of the night, a little note that a 4% surcharge applied for Amex & Diners...

To avoid making a scene, I paid by MC, but have sent a complaint to the restaurant via their website explaining how failing to properly notify of a surcharge before goods are consumed is both against the law and against Amex merchant policy, and have also told Amex via their online form. While we won't be going back there (I haven't ever seen such a high surcharge, with the exception of some rental cars & taxis), hopefully this will prevent Amex & Diners users that visit this place from getting a nasty surprise at the end of the night...

Meanwhile, the comprehensive car rego was recently due, and I was pleasantly surprised that Suncorp both openly accepts Amex and did not surcharge I hadn't noticed this in the past... perhaps I wasn't looking very hard!

 

[farstar]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

I stayed at the Hobart Airport Quality Hotel at check in also told 4% on Amex but nothing on Visa/MC.

Is there really a 4% difference in the cost to them or are they profiteering?

 

[lovestotravel]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

4% is a shocking merchant fee, and I highly doubt anyone is paying that anymore.

They probably get charged now about 2% but the other 2% is for "admin" fees that it can cost the business to process/account for the Amex transaction in the books.

 

[farstar]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

4% is a shocking merchant fee, and I highly doubt anyone is paying that anymore.

They probably get charged now about 2% but the other 2% is for "admin" fees that it can cost the business to process/account for the Amex transaction in the books.

At the Hobart Airport Quality Hotel the fact that Visa/MC have no surcharge at all seems strange then, do they have less "admin" related to processing them.

 

[Flashback]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

At the Hobart Airport Quality Hotel the fact that Visa/MC have no surcharge at all seems strange then, do they have less "admin" related to processing them.

For most businesses that charge 3 or 4% for AMEX it seems to be the case that Visa/MC is no surcharge; as the bulk of their customers are using those cards and not AMEX.

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

I agree that a 4% Amex surcharge is ridiculous, and is most likely profiteering. I have a merchant facility (not a terminal, but rather a facility where I can enter the details into a gateway website), and I pay 2.4% for Visa & MasterCard, and 2.9% for Amex, Diners & JCB.

Keeping in mind that I only use this very occasionally (mostly just for eBay when I clean up my house!), and the only Amex charge I've put through was $1 on my own card to test that it was working... The fact that I can get less than 3% with such a low volume and average transaction amount (and all for CARD NOT PRESENT transactions, where the merchant rate is usually higher) shames any business that has a 4% surcharge, particularly a restaurant (as their merchant Amex discount rate is typically lower than that of retail - depends on business sizes etc, as Coles would still be paying lower anyway).

Also, when there is no Visa/MC surcharge, but a 4% Amex surcharge, it just seems as though they are trying to steer customers to the cheaper payment methods... It was a shame that this restaurant decided to do that, as they kind of similar to Max Brenner (as we don't have one in Brisbane)... but oh well - their loss!

 

[lovestotravel]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

Most fruit/veg stores, cafes, butchers and fish shops do not accept Amex.

There is a new part of a shopping center I went to this week which has 2 butchers, a fish shop, fruit and veg shop and 2 large brand name coffee shops.

Not one of these places accept Amex, after speaking with 2 of the owners, as they were serving me, they cannot justify accepting Amex as the "surcharge is too high for them" etc etc and they simply say that people will always pay with another method such as Visa or cash. While I did pay on Visa in this instance I let them know that I will NEVER be back as their shops until they accept Amex. They were a bit shocking at my reaction and said they had never heard that from a customer before.

THAT is the problem
While people will happily pay via another means, what incentive does a small business owner have to accept Amex and lose $$$.

I see why they do it, but I will NEVER shop there until they accept Amex

I have reported them all on the website.

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

THAT is the problem
While people will happily pay via another means, what incentive does a small business owner have to accept Amex and lose $$$.

I see why they do it, but I will NEVER shop there until they accept Amex

I have reported them all on the website.

Good on you - if I can't be bothered going somewhere else for a small transaction after already deciding what I want (and then finding out they don't accept Amex), I let them know that while I'll pay MasterCard this time, I will not return until Amex is accepted, and then report them on the Amex site. Luckily, this has worked a few times in getting the merchant signed up.

The only major places that I can't use it are McDonald's (if I'm trying to decide between them and Hungry Jack's (who do accept the card), it's always HJ's now), and with the Translink Go Card in Queensland (public transport smart card - like the Oyster card in London).

While I'm on that subject, does anyone know of shops/newsagents that can top up Go Card that let you do so with Amex (surcharge-free)? I know the translink website has a list of the stores that can top up, but only mention "credit card", not specifically Amex... lol

 

[farstar]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

If it happens to me I go somewhere next time and I will tell them.

What really upsets me where a hotel says on its website they accept Amex with no mention of surcharge and the website even takes your Amex as guarantee but then when you got to check in they say "oh and by the way there is a 4% surcharge on Amex". If it is 9pm and you are now committed to pay for the room by their terms and conditions you either find some other way to pay or pay the extra 4%, and it goes without saying never go back.

 

[SnowYeti]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

Have you checked your bill very carefully?

I am an Optus Corporate customer, no surcharges for credit cards on my bill! Maybe it's only for retail?

 

[drron]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

Can I just say how much I love KL! It's SO much more AMEX-friendly compared to Melbourne.

I was on a shopping spree the past 2 days, and EVERY shop accepted AMEX happily. Some like Hugo Boss and Versace even had a further 10% discount for paying with AMEX. And these were shops that already were doing deep discounts of up to 50%!

AMEX signs are prominently displayed everywhere - boutiques, restaurants, bars etc, even the small little corner coffeeshop I went to for brunch took AMEX but it looked a bit iffy so I paid cash at that place.

drron - I hope mrs drron isn't reading this but I imagine she'd be in heaven in KL like me. HUGE discounts at every boutique I went to (save for Marc Jacobs) as it's sale season. Plus the AUD is doing rather well against the MYR, making everything bargain basement cheap.

Now the fun begins trying to fit it all into my suitcase. And here I was thinking that I'd be like simongr and do carry-on only for a 4 day trip.

Boy are you trying to get me in trouble or what:shock:.We were trying to tie in KL to our end of year Asia trip(the one we have to take to get mrsdrron over the line for plat which came about because of one of your posts) but I just couldnt work it into my award.
However mrsdrron has just reminded me that she is having 2 days by herself in NYC in august and will have the CC white hot!:shock:

 

[Keith009]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

However mrsdrron has just reminded me that she is having 2 days by herself in NYC in august and will have the CC white hot!:shock:

Pity she ain't there in July or we could be shopping buddies and cheer each other on.
And don't feel so bad - just think of it all as long term investments. I mean, for instance i could save money by making my own coffee at home - so I'd need that shiny new Alessi kettle. And that black Prada top will come in handy at a critical job interview, i mean - I might NEED that job and so MUST look my best right. And then I'd NEED that smart new pair of Versace shoes and dunhill wallet to go along with it.

 

[drron]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

Pity she ain't there in July or we could be shopping buddies and cheer each other on.
And don't feel so bad - just think of it all as long term investments. I mean, for instance i could save money by making my own coffee at home - so I'd need that shiny new Alessi kettle. And that black Prada top will come in handy at a critical job interview, i mean - I might NEED that job and so MUST look my best right. And then I'd NEED that smart new pair of Versace shoes and dunhill wallet to go along with it.

Scary.You are sounding just like mrsdrron.Usually though Armani,versace etc

 

[Flashback]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

Pity she ain't there in July or we could be shopping buddies and cheer each other on.
And don't feel so bad - just think of it all as long term investments. I mean, for instance i could save money by making my own coffee at home - so I'd need that shiny new Alessi kettle. And that black Prada top will come in handy at a critical job interview, i mean - I might NEED that job and so MUST look my best right. And then I'd NEED that smart new pair of Versace shoes and dunhill wallet to go along with it.

This is the same rabble QF009 tried to justify to me last night :mrgreen:

 

[NYCguy]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

This is the same rabble QF009 tried to justify to me last night :mrgreen:

Come now, we all know that life is far too short to wear bad shoes.

When you are in KL next month, QF009, I suggest that you pop into the Lanvin boutique and get yourself a pair of Richelieu shoes. They are so divine, I literally moaned with pleasure when I saw them.

Oh, and yes, they accept Amex.

 

[Evan]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

BA have no surcharge for Amex

U2 tickets & plane tickets + hotel for BCN booked ! (Hope the hotel is ok, reviews say it is and its new, but it was one of the combo deals on the BA website... hey 200 pounds cheaper than booking the holiday-inn or similar separately)

 

[notzac]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

When you are in KL next month, QF009, I suggest that you pop into the Lanvin boutique and get yourself a pair of Richelieu shoes. They are so divine, I literally moaned with pleasure when I saw them.

Call me weird - I just can't get excited about clothes shopping.

I think the one that annoys me the most in terms of surcharges are the shops that have an existing surcharge for VI/MC payments, but then don't accept AX at all. I can't bring myself to believe that dealing with AmEx (from a Merchant perspective) can be so hard, especially when you're already dealing with other CC providers *and* surcharging them.