AMEX not accepted or surcharge

[straitman]

Costco in Canada once I went there, you needed a Costco AMEX card or cash. Couldn't use VISA, MasterCard, DiscoverCard, Diners etc. Let's hope for that here!

I went to Costco in the US and Canada about 2 months ago and you could definitely use whatever card you liked there now.

I have found the Costco in MEL to be OK but not nearly as good as the US and Canadian stores. (their food is cheap though)

 

[lovestotravel]

I have found the Costco in MEL to be OK but not nearly as good as the US and Canadian stores. (their food is cheap though)

Do they have petrol powered lawnmowers?

Bunnings seem to be very expensive for them...

 

[drewbles]

Do they have petrol powered lawnmowers?

Bunnings seem to be very expensive for them...

Not that I noticed.

The CostCo here isn't all that wonderful. They have a *lot* of their home brand (Kirkland Signature) and some selected other. A lot of it is not cheap either. Beware things like the cartons of soft drinks. 330ml Cans, and more expensive than you can buy it for at a lot of other places.

Other things such as their baked goods, some pre-packaged meals, milk and things similar are very cheap. It's not worth the hike to Docklands to purchase weekly shopping though.

They do have some reasonably priced alcohol (i'd skip the Kirkland Vodka though :shock. Some good champagne and wines on offer, but a small selection.

They have random other 'large' items, and lawnmowers may well appear from time to time.

As per any shop, buyer beware Know your items and buy accordingly.

 

[SOPOOR]

The Entertainment Book people actually accept Amex for book/shopping voucher orders if you call and ask nicely, but the surcharge is 3%... Either way, you get Amex points and still save 2% on your shopping etc

bummer,
I just tried that, called up VICTORIA one and got told no amex......

so either I have the choice to order on my visa/mc for a 5% discount, or go into the shop and no discount with Amex......BUMMER!

 

[BlueAU]

bummer,
I just tried that, called up VICTORIA one and got told no amex......

so either I have the choice to order on my visa/mc for a 5% discount, or go into the shop and no discount with Amex......BUMMER!

Hmmm, I used to buy them, it was 3% discount on AMEX. and 5% on VISA. It was through the union I was a member of. I will try to find the details, haven't bought them in a LONG time.

Hey there's a thought!!!! Instead of using the self check out lines and having to wait for signature (Since AMEX doesn't do PIN :evil , maybe I could use the gift card and therefore "No Assistance Required" would come up !!! Hmmm

 

[zzyss]

Hey there's a thought!!!! Instead of using the self check out lines and having to wait for signature (Since AMEX doesn't do PIN :evil , maybe I could use the gift card and therefore "No Assistance Required" would come up !!! Hmmm

Are we talking about Coles? They accept PIN on my AMEX (Westpac Altitude). It's Woolies that doesn't. Unless you're talking about your Amex card not having a PIN facility, but that doesn't seem likely.

Most of the time you just have to stop the checkout person from pressing OK, and letting them enter in your PIN. Some of them still don't know and just assume.

 

[Keith009]

No AMEX acceptance for Qatar Immigration's Visa-On-Arrival service. Should I bother dobbing them in?

 

[mannej]

I dont know if this has been discussed before, but First Duty Free Arrivals at Perth slugged me 1% to use my AMEX card. It is definitely the 1st time that I have been slugged a surcharge there, so I was wondering if this is new and how new it is?

 

[Mal]

I dont know if this has been discussed before, but First Duty Free Arrivals at Perth slugged me 1% to use my AMEX card. It is definitely the 1st time that I have been slugged a surcharge there, so I was wondering if this is new and how new it is?

IIRC, F1RST Duty Free (And SYD Duty Free) charged an Amex surcharge for a while, then removed it. Sounds like it is back...

It was discussed here: http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/com...t-accepted-or-surcharge-6391-5.html#post96908 (Downtown Duty Free used to be the brand name used everywhere except Sydney IIRC)

 

[BlueAU]

Was at SYD Duty free on 21 Nov, and no surcharge on AMEX ...

That would seriously suck if they started charging !!!

 

[Flashback]

Was at SYD Duty free on 21 Nov, and no surcharge on AMEX ...

That would seriously suck if they started charging !!!

Was a surcharge in Perth on Sunday, for any credit card IIRC. I paid cash.

 

[drewbles]

Are we talking about Coles? They accept PIN on my AMEX (Westpac Altitude). It's Woolies that doesn't. Unless you're talking about your Amex card not having a PIN facility, but that doesn't seem likely.

Most of the time you just have to stop the checkout person from pressing OK, and letting them enter in your PIN. Some of them still don't know and just assume.

Coles near me does and doesn't ask for a PIN with my Earth Amex. Some of their terminals ask, others just say 'press ok'. I'm guessing it's firmware dependant. Safeway just across the road does indeed work, so i'm guessing it really depends who's had their EFTPOS machines updated

 

[WA flyer]

I called SGIO to renew some insurance premiums today and was told by the person I dealt with, that "they are now part of NRMA and that there was now a fee for using Amex, so did I have Visa/MC". They weren't sure what the fee was as it was only implemented from 11.30 EST this morning.

I said "in that case forget it and i'll shop around", I have 7 policies with them. After confering with her supervisor she told me that they would waive it this time as "it is only 9.30 in WA at the moment".

I would advise anyone with policies with SGIO/NRMA to call and ask if they will be charged next time they renew with their Amex!

 

[lovestotravel]

That is sad news.

Seems that too many companies are jumping on board the "surcharge" route and hinting that they don't want to accept Amex.

I purchased some outdoor furniture the other day and went to a shop that was listed on the Merchant Map for accepting Amex.

After spending around 1 hour with the sales rep, we went to the counter and I pulled out my Amex and they said they don't accept it.

As this was a large purcahase I said I had no other way to pay.

They insisted that I could use Visa or Mastercard or EFTPOS and that they cannot accept Amex.

I said I don't have a Visa or Mastercard and I only have $100 in my EFTPOS so I will have to go to another shop that accepts Amex.

Suddenly the Manager speaks up and grumbles that he can accept Amex but there will be a surcharge and that I should pay via Visa/Mastercard/EFTPOS.

I asked what the surcharge was and they said 3% after calling someone in the office I think.

Eventually the transaction went though on Amex.

:evil:

 

[wxxnxs]

That is sad news.

Seems that too many companies are jumping on board the "surcharge" route and hinting that they don't want to accept Amex.

I purchased some outdoor furniture the other day and went to a shop that was listed on the Merchant Map for accepting Amex.

After spending around 1 hour with the sales rep, we went to the counter and I pulled out my Amex and they said they don't accept it.

As this was a large purcahase I said I had no other way to pay.

They insisted that I could use Visa or Mastercard or EFTPOS and that they cannot accept Amex.

I said I don't have a Visa or Mastercard and I only have $100 in my EFTPOS so I will have to go to another shop that accepts Amex.

Suddenly the Manager speaks up and grumbles that he can accept Amex but there will be a surcharge and that I should pay via Visa/Mastercard/EFTPOS.

I asked what the surcharge was and they said 3% after calling someone in the office I think.

Eventually the transaction went though on Amex.

:evil:

So are you gonna shop with them again? Well, if the deal is that shop still provides cheaper price than any other after 3% surcharge, are you going to abandon that shop:?:

 

[BlueAU]

Coles near me does and doesn't ask for a PIN with my Earth Amex. Some of their terminals ask, others just say 'press ok'. I'm guessing it's firmware dependant. Safeway just across the road does indeed work, so i'm guessing it really depends who's had their EFTPOS machines updated

Got around the issue, since AMEX AMEX cards don't have PINs.

I bought a WISH gift card that works at all woolies, will buy them in $200 lots ....

Saves the hassle of waiting for someone to sign my thingo at self serve.

Also, using your everyday reward card does NOT accrue points when buying the gift card, as suspected! I knew it didn't, but someone mentioned it did. It only accrues when you purchase goods with it !

 

[zzyss]

I would advise anyone with policies with SGIO/NRMA to call and ask if they will be charged next time they renew with their Amex!

I haven't heard anything about an Amex surcharge with NRMA and I can't verify my recent transactions (documentation is at home), but I do know that if you use their phone bill payment system, it will give you dire warnings about only accepting Visa and Mastercard, but it won't complain if you put in an Amex number, even going so far as to say "You are paying by American Express" in the confirmation message.

 

[Curious]

Even AMEX will not take AMEX!

I tried to buy AMEX foreign exchange from the AMEX site and from my local Post Office, neither will accept AMEX.

Travelex will accept Visa and Master Card and award QFF points.

:shock:

 

[lovestotravel]

Even AMEX will not take AMEX!

I tried to buy AMEX foreign exchange from the AMEX site and from my local Post Office, neither will accept AMEX.

Travelex will accept Visa and Master Card and award QFF points.

:shock:

Travelex will treat this as a cash advance from memory, I have emailed them several times to clarify this as their wording on the website is not quite clear and now they don't reply to me.......

 

[Curious]

Travelex will treat this as a cash advance from memory, I have emailed them several times to clarify this as their wording on the website is not quite clear and now they don't reply to me.......

Thanks, will be careful.........