Anyone else have consistent problems with Amex?

[tiecollector]

Love my Amex Blue, I get $100 gift certificates to BR every couple months, that is better than the actual BR credit card rewards program.

As I have found, they are quick to resolve any issue and I have heard from friends that they will even reimburse you for things lost in shipment and stuff like that, it is up to $2k/year or something like that. I have never had to use it.

They do charge an arm and a leg though, many ma & pa places stopped accepting them, they charge something ridiculous like 7% commission whereas it is 1% for Visa/MC.

If you want a good MC go for the Citibank Dividend Platinum card, gotten outstanding service them them as well. Every few months I get $100 bucks cash back from them. Lower interest rate on this card too. They also offer one time use numbers I think.

Now that I think about it, I pretty much just use my Amex because it's flashy (it really does make my outfits pop more). I do, however, use my MC for personal businesses because I know that the owners get charged less. I reserve my Amex for restaurants and big chains.

 

[drizzt3117]

Originally Posted by tiecollector

They do charge an arm and a leg though, many ma & pa places stopped accepting them, they charge something ridiculous like 7% commission whereas it is 1% for Visa/MC.

Do you enjoy just making up numbers? Do you really think anyone would accept Amex if they charged 7% commission? Visa/MC at high volume typically has a transaction fee and ~2% if you are a fairly high volume retailer. American Express is higher, but not incredibly so, perhaps 3.5-4% or so depending on your volume, but I bet a retailer like NM is probably paying the same as Visa/MC.

Now that I think about it, I pretty much just use my Amex because it's flashy (it really does make my outfits pop more). I do, however, use my MC for personal businesses because I know that the owners get charged less. I reserve my Amex for restaurants and big chains.

Amex Blue = flashy? yeah ok.

 

[tiecollector]

Originally Posted by drizzt3117

Do you enjoy just making up numbers?
Yes.

Actually I am just taking the numbers from what people have told me at small businesses and the reasons that they wanted to drop their Amex association. Maybe they were exaggerating, but there is no doubt that the increase in comission is why I find it less and less these days. I shop at what us less elite folk call "shops" and maybe even "stores". In any case, I am quite happy with their service and Citibank's.

Originally Posted by drizzt3117

Amex Blue = flashy? yeah ok.
You blind? It's got a hologram on it. It is literally flashy. I haven't upgraded to the black because it looks too much like an old man.

(ps I pay my balance off every month)

 

[tgfny]

3% versus 1.4%

 

[tiecollector]

I just called them since I had to anyways. They said on average it is 3%. I have heard so many complaints about Amex from small business owners this past year. Not sure what is going on with hidden costs or whatever because 3% doesn't seem that bad to me.

On a side note, I am actually disappointed that they redirected me to India just now, I couldn't understand the guy on the phone (and vice versa) so he had to redirect me to someone who spoke better English. First problem of any kind that I have had with Amex.

 

[JBZ]

Why is everyone on this forum cooler, richer, more in the know, and, presumably, better looking than me?

 

[rssmsvc]

Love Amex, from Tile and Wood to nice suits and ties the card always works, whereas my Visa is a pain and always requires them to stop and check if I authorized it.

The one time Amex called for fraud, they were dead right.

 

[Toiletduck]

Originally Posted by tiecollector

(ps I pay my balance off every month)
whats w/ people not paying off their balance every month?...

 

[ATM]

Originally Posted by JBZ

Why is everyone on this forum cooler, richer, more in the know, and, presumably, better looking than me?
Maybe you're the most honest member.

 

[RJman]

Originally Posted by JBZ

Why is everyone on this forum cooler, richer, more in the know, and, presumably, better looking than me?
I'm not

And what is tiecollector's problem with Indians?

 

[Shirtmaven]

I pay over 1% more and it is a day or two slower in hitting my bank account.

I will take amex, but if the customer asks, I will always take mc/visa

I really like cash!

Carl

 

[lawyerdad]

Originally Posted by drizzt3117

Do you enjoy just making up numbers? Do you really think anyone would accept Amex if they charged 7% commission? Visa/MC at high volume typically has a transaction fee and ~2% if you are a fairly high volume retailer. American Express is higher, but not incredibly so, perhaps 3.5-4% or so depending on your volume, but I bet a retailer like NM is probably paying the same as Visa/MC.



Amex Blue = flashy? yeah ok.
Maybe he means that literally? Aren't they kind of a shiny space-agey blue?

 

[tgfny]

Originally Posted by Shirtmaven

I pay over 1% more and it is a day or two slower in hitting my bank account. I will take amex, but if the customer asks, I will always take mc/visa I really like cash! Carl
Anyways at all to get it down? They kill me on keyed transactions, which a lot of my big tickets are (phone sales.) Cash and wire transfers rule!

 

[tiecollector]

Originally Posted by RJman

I'm not

And what is tiecollector's problem with Indians?

No problem with Indians, but with so much outsourcing I have a HUGE problem when I call customer service (most likely it will be in India) and I spend several minutes just trying to figure out what the hell they are saying. I'm also very good at understanding people's accents, this guy was unintelligible. Guess that makes me whatever you are trying to implicate.

 

[acidboy]

Originally Posted by tiecollector

No problem with Indians, but with so much outsourcing I have a HUGE problem when I call customer service (most likely it will be in India) and I spend several minutes just trying to figure out what the hell they are saying. I'm also very good at understanding people's accents, this guy was unintelligible. Guess that makes me whatever you are trying to implicate.

the rep could be calling from manila...