Vendors – American Express – Accept The Reality Of Life!
OK, this week was last straw!
I’ve been traveling in the Boston area this week and I’ve finally hit my tipping point.
I had it with vendors telling me “we’re sorry, but, we don’t take American Express.” Well, time for vendors to keep adopting that form of arrogance is OVER!
When traveling I used to carry a couple of cards, VISA, MC, Diner’s Club, etc. They all used to offer me bonus programs that I thought were decent, but more and more I was finding that those airline frequent flier miles cards are really a joke when it comes to actually wanting to use them for a flight! IMAGINE! Someone actually wanting to USE their flier points to take a flight! The usually typical response I used to get from Delta, US Air, etc., was that they didn’t have any seats available, BUT if I wanted to pay cash/credit or use 2-3 times the normal miles, they could find me a seat on the same flights I wanted. My calls to redeem my points were a lot like those Capital One commercials that I’m glad are off the air now. I really got tired of what, in my opinion, was nothing less than blatant bait and switch, so I standardized on an American Express program that actually works for me when I want it to.
After doing that, I cleaned out a lot of the superflouse junk from my wallet. Typically I now carry as little as possible with me and I hardly pay with cash. I use my Amex for everything from coffee in the morning to gas, lunch, auto repairs, movie tickets and just about everything I buy in life. Frankly, I’ve standardized on Amex as my card of choice for all transactions. And, most importantly, I’m not alone.
In general, credit card is becoming the preferred form of currency for both private and corporate business transactions. So, Vendors, when you think you can get away with your smug “we don’t take American Express”, it’s time to wake up and realize just who’s doing the buying here and keeping you in business. Vendors need to accept ALL major credit cards, not just VISA and MC! Yes, I’m talking MC, VISA, Discover, AND AMERICAN EXPRESS!
Given the trends of our economy, you need us consumers as much as we need you vendors. Voting with our feet and moving our buying power to other vendors more in tune with our spending habits is something we may treat as an annoyance, but not near as annoying as hearing you say “We don’t take American Express!”.
I’m Don Rima and that’s the way this transaction ends, From Where I stand.
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