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While I have a Visa just in case (AMEX isn't accepted everywhere), I nonetheless have disdain for Visa and Mastercard (I don't have the latter). AMEX doesn't c

While I have a Visa just in case (AMEX isn't accepted everywhere), I nonetheless have disdain for Visa and Mastercard (I don't have the latter). AMEX doesn't care what I'm spending on so long as it's legal (obviously) and it's actually me doing the spending. Visa/Mastercard care far too much about how I spend money, which is frankly none of their business so long as I properly pay the bills (which I do). AMEX is in the business of moving money between customer and merchant and performs their job exceptionally, so I'll always use them over Visa/Mastercard when possible.

rconti 2y ago
I had weird issues in South America where (say) Visa was accepted, but MasterCard wasn't. As a(n) (North-)American, i've always considered the 2 as precisely equal because the processors that handle one always seem to handle the other. The only question is only ever whether Amex or Discover is accepted.
nottorp 2y ago
You mean pornhub can still take Amex? I thought Visa and MC banned it.
- Dalewyn 2y ago
  No clue about Pornhub, but as someone who frequently shops at Japanese online stores I know places like DMM stopped taking Visa/Mastercard (because of their nanny bullshittery) while they still take AMEX like they always did. That whole fiasco vindicated my loyalty to AMEX: So long as the transaction is legal and authorized and ultimately paid for, they really do not care how an AMEX cardholder spends because it's none of their business.
- lmm 2y ago
  A number of Japanese sellers have been blocked from Visa/MC but still take Amex and Discover/JCB. DLSite changed a bunch of category names, which would suggest that those were the things Visa/MC were blocking, although given that they still ended up cut off, who knows.
  - Dalewyn 2y ago
    To be clear about who is cutting off who, it's the Japanese merchants cutting Visa/Mastercard off as far as I can tell. They got so sick and tired of being nanny'd by Visa/Mastercard that they judged the loss of those cardholders is worth the reduction in obnoxious overhead, and I don't blame them. Meanwhile, AMEX (and Discover/JCB/Diners Club) cards are still accepted because they just do their job of conveying money.
    - lmm 2y ago
      > To be clear about who is cutting off who, it's the Japanese merchants cutting Visa/Mastercard off as far as I can tell. I don't think so. Particularly given that DLSite made the changes to their keywords that Visa/MC had presumably objected to, it looks like they were trying to play ball but Visa/MC still cut them off.
tbyehl 2y ago
Amex absolutely does care what you're spending on and will slap an insulting low limit on your previously NPSL card if you run afoul of their judgement.
- lmm 2y ago
  What is it that makes a National Premier Soccer League card better?

rconti 2y ago

I had weird issues in South America where (say) Visa was accepted, but MasterCard wasn't. As a(n) (North-)American, i've always considered the 2 as precisely equal because the processors that handle one always seem to handle the other. The only question is only ever whether Amex or Discover is accepted.

nottorp 2y ago

You mean pornhub can still take Amex? I thought Visa and MC banned it.

Dalewyn 2y ago
No clue about Pornhub, but as someone who frequently shops at Japanese online stores I know places like DMM stopped taking Visa/Mastercard (because of their nanny bullshittery) while they still take AMEX like they always did. That whole fiasco vindicated my loyalty to AMEX: So long as the transaction is legal and authorized and ultimately paid for, they really do not care how an AMEX cardholder spends because it's none of their business.
lmm 2y ago
A number of Japanese sellers have been blocked from Visa/MC but still take Amex and Discover/JCB. DLSite changed a bunch of category names, which would suggest that those were the things Visa/MC were blocking, although given that they still ended up cut off, who knows.
- Dalewyn 2y ago
  To be clear about who is cutting off who, it's the Japanese merchants cutting Visa/Mastercard off as far as I can tell. They got so sick and tired of being nanny'd by Visa/Mastercard that they judged the loss of those cardholders is worth the reduction in obnoxious overhead, and I don't blame them. Meanwhile, AMEX (and Discover/JCB/Diners Club) cards are still accepted because they just do their job of conveying money.
  - lmm 2y ago
    > To be clear about who is cutting off who, it's the Japanese merchants cutting Visa/Mastercard off as far as I can tell. I don't think so. Particularly given that DLSite made the changes to their keywords that Visa/MC had presumably objected to, it looks like they were trying to play ball but Visa/MC still cut them off.

tbyehl 2y ago

Amex absolutely does care what you're spending on and will slap an insulting low limit on your previously NPSL card if you run afoul of their judgement.

lmm 2y ago
What is it that makes a National Premier Soccer League card better?