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AmEx is not widely accepted, because the fees are higher and the cardholders usually also have a Visa or an MC card. Saying as a merchant ;)

Johnny555 8y ago
For this reason, I don't understand how Amex keeps attracting customers - you can't count on it being accepted everywhere, so you need to carry a MC/Visa backup card. I used to tell myself that it was superior customer service, but I once disputed a charge at an overseas hotel and was sure it would be a fast/easy process - I paid for the room through Expedia and the merchant charged me for the room after I checked out. I contacted the merchant and they agreed and said they'd refund the charge. They never did. I sent all of the information to Amex including the Expedia booking and the email from the merchant saying they'd refund me. It took them 3 weeks to "investigate" the charge and then they came back and determined that the charge was legitimate and I was not due any refund. I spend an hour on the phone with them and got escalated to a supervisor who said she would re-open the investigation and 20 days later, they decided that I was due a refund and a week later they refunded it. That's when I realized that there's no reason to have an Amex, so I replaced my Amex Gold Card with a Chase Sapphire card - I had to dispute one charge on the Sapphire and I didn't even have to talk to anyone, just did an online dispute and had my money back in less than a week.
- Malician 8y ago
  I think it's as simple as - twenty years ago, there was no CSP/CSR, Amex was just a different experience. People's views/frame gets ingrained deeply. Younger people go Chase, in my experience.
- tyre 8y ago
  Amex is accepted almost everywhere online, anywhere Square/Revel/Clover is used, any large retailer, and most 2+-dollar-signs-on-Yelp restaurants. As you said, users should still carry a backup, but most places accept it. As for customer service etc., their platinum cards are where they shine.
CardFellow 8y ago
Amex lowered their fees in 2015 through their Optblue program. They're still a little bit higher than Visa/MC, but much closer than they were. If you're still getting high Amex (3.5% or more) your processor is pocketing the difference between that and the lower costs.

Johnny555 8y ago

For this reason, I don't understand how Amex keeps attracting customers - you can't count on it being accepted everywhere, so you need to carry a MC/Visa backup card. I used to tell myself that it was superior customer service, but I once disputed a charge at an overseas hotel and was sure it would be a fast/easy process - I paid for the room through Expedia and the merchant charged me for the room after I checked out. I contacted the merchant and they agreed and said they'd refund the charge. They never did. I sent all of the information to Amex including the Expedia booking and the email from the merchant saying they'd refund me. It took them 3 weeks to "investigate" the charge and then they came back and determined that the charge was legitimate and I was not due any refund. I spend an hour on the phone with them and got escalated to a supervisor who said she would re-open the investigation and 20 days later, they decided that I was due a refund and a week later they refunded it. That's when I realized that there's no reason to have an Amex, so I replaced my Amex Gold Card with a Chase Sapphire card - I had to dispute one charge on the Sapphire and I didn't even have to talk to anyone, just did an online dispute and had my money back in less than a week.

Malician 8y ago
I think it's as simple as - twenty years ago, there was no CSP/CSR, Amex was just a different experience. People's views/frame gets ingrained deeply. Younger people go Chase, in my experience.
tyre 8y ago
Amex is accepted almost everywhere online, anywhere Square/Revel/Clover is used, any large retailer, and most 2+-dollar-signs-on-Yelp restaurants. As you said, users should still carry a backup, but most places accept it. As for customer service etc., their platinum cards are where they shine.

CardFellow 8y ago

Amex lowered their fees in 2015 through their Optblue program. They're still a little bit higher than Visa/MC, but much closer than they were. If you're still getting high Amex (3.5% or more) your processor is pocketing the difference between that and the lower costs.