AMEX not accepted or surcharge

[ChrisFlyer]

Dumpling Republic restaurant in Brisbane's CBD had a sign up six months ago saying "We're unable to accept AMEX cards just yet." Returned recently and the sign is still there. I think after six months the correct word becomes "unwilling" rather than "unable".
(And not worth returning even if they signed on - dumplings were bland and overcooked; odd for a dumpling place!)

 

[coriander]

/Merchant Hat ON
At the moment I'm charged a flat 1.51% by Amex for accepting their cards.

Now, looking at my merchant bank cc statement:

Service Fee: MC and Visa 0.299%.
PLUS
An "interchange fee" which depends on the type of credit card, ranging from
0.33% - standard Visa or Mastercard;
1.023% - standard Platinum Visa or Mastercard;
1.65-1.75% - premium or rewards Visa or Mastercard.
/Merchant Hat OFF

/Consumer Hat ON
So whenever anyone says to me "sorry Amex is 3%", I smile sweetly , put away my Amex and pull out my ANZ Black or NAB Platinum Rewards Visa :evil:.
/Consumer Hat OFF

Paypass is good - I always place my thumb over the Amex logo on the bottom corner of the card and the Paypass almost always goes through, even if they've just said to the previous customer "sorry no Amex". If it doesn't..... "oh sorry, these cards look the same" and switch cards. (As an aside, I notice most merchants seem to think ANZ black is a cheap card: doesn't have fancy gold or silver colours or scream with "Platinum w@nker" logos on it.)

 

[moa999]

Interesting.
I have seen some people negotiating flat Visa/MC rates for to the number of platinum/ premium cards in circulation
(Heck even the free 28degrees card is now Platinum)

 

[edman]

Returned recently and the sign is still there. I think after six months the correct word becomes "unwilling" rather than "unable".

From memory they also have a surcharge of 2% for other CC.

 

[edman]

/Merchant Hat ON
At the moment I'm charged a flat 1.51% by Amex for accepting their cards.

This is why I started taking Amex in my accounting practice about 7 years ago. Most people then who wanted to use Amex would pull out a premium card. Just a legacy of the old days when Amex was so much more expensive and visa/mc was flat rate.

 

[Freq Flier 2013]

Just ask the bank for a blended merchant rate. We pay .80 for all non Amex cards.
We were getting a lot of premium cards so had to call the bank to negotiate and get a one flat rate.

 

[edman]

Yeh I have had that with Suncorp for a few years now, I couldn't get that with others a few years ago

 

[Buzzard]

Watsons Bay Hotel charge 2% for any credit card.

 

[ChrisFlyer]

From memory they also have a surcharge of 2% for other CC.

No surcharge for Visa/MC.

They're also a Qantas Restaurants partner and are in the Entertainment Book - so they're happy to lose up to ~30% of the transaction value in external promotions to get new customers through the door, but are worried about the marginal difference of AMEX when it comes to encouraging customers to return.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Dandelion Restaurant elwood - not a cheap meal and a restaurant I would expect to accept AMEX... however they don't. Then they had the nerve to charge 1.5% for Visa/Mc. Absurd. won't return.

 

[edman]

No surcharge for Visa/MC.

My apologies I think I'm thinking of the sushi place diagonally opposite Dumpling Republic.

Its funny how staff always seem to have an embarrassed look when surcharges come up. I've heard plenty of people get cranky about it, (I don't, just report on Amex website or don't go back if they surcharge unreasonably) so they must nearly expect to be questioned about it.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Not AMEX so OT - BUT - last night tried to use Citi Prestige at a local milk bar only to be refused and told any Visa but Citi as they charge too much! WTF? This is local milk bar which I use regularly and owned by great Chinese couple whom I get on exceptionally well - NFI who they bank with but he was adamant - no Citi cards - go figure!

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Not AMEX so OT - BUT - last night tried to use Citi Prestige at a local milk bar only to be refused and told any Visa but Citi as they charge too much! WTF? This is local milk bar which I use regularly and owned by great Chinese couple whom I get on exceptionally well - NFI who they bank with but he was adamant - no Citi cards - go figure!

Probably because practically every Citi card is a World/Signature/Infinite - better off taking AMEX!

 

[Radio8tiv]

My local townsville Autobarn store takes Amex without surcharge, not sure if they all do though as they are a franchise.

 

[DeKa]

Not AMEX so OT - BUT - last night tried to use Citi Prestige at a local milk bar only to be refused and told any Visa but Citi as they charge too much! WTF? This is local milk bar which I use regularly and owned by great Chinese couple whom I get on exceptionally well - NFI who they bank with but he was adamant - no Citi cards - go figure!

If the merchant is not on a 'blended rate' they pay a premium for Signature and Infinite (Select) cards, so they may have realised this. As ChrisFlyer said, practically every Citi card out there would be a Platinum or above.

 

[Jurahn]

I've been using AMEX at our local Caltex Woolworths for several years with no surcharge. Went there today - hadn't been there for about a month and notice they've now put up signs advising of a 2.25% surcharge for using any card other than a debit card or Visa/MC CCs. Wonder if other Caltex Woolworths are following suit?

 

[andye]

I've been using AMEX at our local Caltex Woolworths for several years with no surcharge. Went there today - hadn't been there for about a month and notice they've now put up signs advising of a 2.25% surcharge for using any card other than a debit card or Visa/MC CCs. Wonder if other Caltex Woolworths are following suit?

My preferred Caltex does this (although it's a Starmart-triple dippable with Myerone, WISH card and EDR) . You can get round the charge by buying a WISH giftcard with your Amex at WW as they should take these

 

[Mr_Orange]

I've been using AMEX at our local Caltex Woolworths for several years with no surcharge. Went there today - hadn't been there for about a month and notice they've now put up signs advising of a 2.25% surcharge for using any card other than a debit card or Visa/MC CCs. Wonder if other Caltex Woolworths are following suit?

This should only appliy to Caltex Woolworths servos with a Star Mart shop. if the shop is a Woolies, then you should be able to use Amex just like any Woolies store.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

If the merchant is not on a 'blended rate' they pay a premium for Signature and Infinite (Select) cards, so they may have realised this. As ChrisFlyer said, practically every Citi card out there would be a Platinum or above.

Yep fully aware of this - I have one business where we pay .76% on MC / .65% on Visa - I have another which with NAB where we are charged a plethora of different rates - from memory 2.2% on Citi - but really the point I was getting at is this is the first time I have ever had a Visa refused - AMEX plenty times due to higher surcharge - but a first for me with Visa. Others?

 

[Jurahn]

This should only appliy to Caltex Woolworths servos with a Star Mart shop. if the shop is a Woolies, then you should be able to use Amex just like any Woolies store.

I've never taken much notice to be honest, as I never buy anything other than fuel there, but yes, it is a Star Mart. It's slightly closer than the other local Caltex (which is a Woolies shop) so that's why I usually go there, but seeing as they've introduced this surcharge for AMEX, I'll just go to the other one now as the fuel prices tend to be the same.