This is actually something I have been facing and wondering for some time already – and even around the world. It all started during that another once past and now back recession time when shop keepers and business owners are counting their cents and pennies more carefully. Or maybe they are just getting cheap? Or maybe it is all about keeping control? Whatever the reason is, I have faced more and more shops and restaurants not accepting American Express as a payment method and I cant help myself getting pretty mad about the whole issue.

Okay, I know the basics behind that silly behavior. Or the ones I keep hearing from the mouth of those business owners every time at least. Amex charges more commission and money comes into the accounts slower than with some other credit card companies – that’s what they say. But honestly, should that be my problem? I don’t think so. I buy your service and pay the price you want for it. 

I have been using Amex pretty much for the last 15+ years for one simple reason; it’s The credit card I trust internationally. I have all the others too but Amex staff have always handled my business well, sent new cards around the world if I managed the break one, they take good care of my travel insurances and even called me personally when my card was swiped in one of those not so trusted countries or cities this globe hosts. As a nice and friendly thank-you-move, I intend to use their card for every purchase I do. Everywhere I can.

I just hate when a restaurant owner asks for another card when I offer Amex. I do understand if they don’t want to give more money to credit card company but if I just left 20% tip, I don’t care whether they pay couple of %s less or more. Or if I just bought something worth of few thousands, I don’t believe the profit margin is really counted so tight that two per cent more isn’t acceptable anymore, right? And if that is really the case, why don’t you just add 5% or whatever and give me to accept that transaction?

Now you, you skeptic you, would argue that I am using Amex only to collect airline miles or Rewards points but you are so wrong. I have so much both of those that I have not used for years! This is much more fundamental issue; I want to do my decision and pay with whatever global credit card I want. And you, you business owner, you are free to charge me more if you wish! Another issue is how often I keep coming back if you do that, I guess. Or maybe it’s more about your own work with your excel worksheets defining your business? Or maybe it’s just because you lost the focus of your own customer service based business and started to act as CFO?

Cheers for Freedom to choose! And yes, cheers for every business owner knowing the math and accepting Amex. I’ll have some red wine happily paid by Amex.

P.S. And FYI, I do not work for or with Amex. I’m just a client who wants to make my own decisions. And who will.