Parks not accepting Amex CC

Why do some parks not accept American Express , which the 5 year old BLUE card version is identical to MC/Visa/Discover, plus applies less interest to pay than MC/VIsa/Discover? SF takes AMEX as it's preferred card, and AMEX (blue) regularly offers balance transfers between 3.9 and 5.9 percent for the life of the transferred amount, well below what the other credit cards charge. Why does Cedar Fair and other properties allow the Discover card, which is widely known to con people into their 'cashback' scheme, which can easily be figured out to be no bargain, meanwhile, the American Express Blue card offers lower interest and transfer fees than most all other cards. On top it all, American Express charges retailers less than all the others to accept their cards!

This also brings to question that why do many parks not accept American Express Travelers Cheque's at the entrance? And why don't parks look into what Splash Lagoon is doing in Erie, PA, where they have their own Splash Cash card, so you don't have to get your money wet or lost, and its simple to add more cash to the card, while being accepted at ALL areas of the park?

Are you asking a question or are you telling us why AMEX rocks! ;)

I'm pretty sure decisions on which credit cards to accept are not made by figuring out which ones are perceived as a better deal to the end customer. Why would any park care what perks or interest rate credit card customers get?

*** Edited 4/26/2004 10:48:13 AM UTC by Gemini***

I'm looking out for myself, and I prefer AMEX myself because it has been a great company to me. I'm just wondering why all major credit cards aren't accepted at all amusement parks...that is bad for business, and I have my own developing business, and all the research that I've done shows that AMEX charges less to retailers, which is why they are great for the parks themselves!

"...con people into their 'cashback' scheme"

What do you mean by con? First off, my discover card has the best interest rates of all my cards including my Blue Amex. Secondly, it's not Discover's fault people charge more than they can pay off in a month, thereby incurring interest charges which could exceed any cashback bonuses that they accrue...If people wouldn't spend more than they can afford, they'd be fine. I get back in excess of $400 annually from the cashback program.

From what I have always heard Amex charges retailers more than the other credit card companies do, that is why you don't see the Amex card accepted everywhere. Hey Visa should pick up on that idea... ;)

As for parks not accepting thraveler's checks? That is the first I have every heard of that...I have been to CP many times and they accepted my traveler's checks everywhere...even at food stalls!

AMEX virtually rapes merchants, that's why many businesses are reluctant to accept it. I've been accepting Visa, MC and Discover for years, and I will not pickup AMEX because the fees are ridiculous. Not only that, but try to contest a chargeback and you'll never win. It's not worth the hassle.

Visa recently started charging huge cash for certain online businesses. That's why you won't find some adult sites accepting Visa.

Jeff beat me to it. The kickback to Amex is ridiculous...thus the commercials "and you better bring your Visa card because they don't take American Express."

From what i was told, Amex won't pay the merchant until the customer pays Amex. Most Amex cards require that you pay them back in full each month, and so I can see where they would expect that the bill will be paid. If this is true then I can see why parks don't want to take Amex and I wouldn't either if I owned a business. *** Edited 4/26/2004 10:19:04 PM UTC by rolacostaking***

I didn't know anyone but old, rich white men had Amex. I've had MC, Visa and Discover since high school but I have never even considered Amex.

Hey, how come I'm not rich?

-brian, a satisfied amex customer.

Like Brian, I'm not rich, but have an AmEx. I use it quite regularly -- while they're a pain for merchants, they're great for consumers.

AmEx also travels well internationally, in my experience.

Are those scenarios you are speaking of for your own American Express Blue card, or that garbage card they used to promote like crazy? American Express Blue is just like MC/Visa/Discover and has been the best C.C. I've ever used in recent years.

I guess I should have asked "Do Amusement park patrons and companies know what the American Express Blue card is?" *** Edited 4/27/2004 6:15:31 AM UTC by midwave***

"On top it all, American Express charges retailers less than all the others to accept their cards!"

You may want to check that again. As Jeff stated earlier, AMEX traditionally mades their money on high merchant fees. MC/Visa may change 2-4%, Amex goes 5-6% depending upon the business. Even though they added a line of revolving cards, that may have lower merchant fees, a merchant cannot say I will take Blue, but nothing else.

If you are finding Amex charging less than the others, check your fine print.

My understanding is that AMEX, as a "charge" card rather than a "credit" card, generates relatively little money from consumer fees. For anyone not familiar with how most "regular" (not "blue") AMEX cards work, you must pay your balance in full every month. This means no usurous interest rates to fill the AMEX coffers. To be competitive with the credit-card world, they make that lost revenue up by merchant fees.

Interestingly, AMEX has recently been trying to entice their regular-card customers to pay off purchases over time, but I believe this hasn't worked---most AMEX customers realize there are about a dozen ways of obtaining money more cheaply than to borrow from a credit card at 15%.

Jeff hit it SQUARELY....when I worked in retail (thank goodness THAT won't ever happen again, LOL).....we got absolutely and completely screwed by AmEx. And they don't apologize OR kiss you first, they just remind you that their customers *are* largely the rich consumers who can come to your store and drop a few bills....;)

Yes, AmEx has done some work to get the "mere mortals" to sign up by expanding their product lines, but the merchants who accept AmEx pay, and pay dearly. MC/Visa/Discover, they're funded by the interest of those who carry ridiculous balances....

Every scenario I'm reading is of the OLD Amex Gold card, not American Express Blue card....Brian, the card I'm speaking of is nothing like that other card they offer. American Express Blue is identical to having MC/Visa/Discover and is a credit card, not a 'charge card' like the garbage gold card they're known for in the distant past.

Does anyone know the American Express Blue card I'm speaking of?

Yes, I have an Amex Blue, midwave. read the posts, bud.

As far as retailers being charged fees, the fee structure is the same no matter if it is Blue or the "classic green" or any other iteration of the Amex card. Besides, even if the fees are less for Blue, the way AMex has it set up, you cannot selectively take only the Blue card, you have to take ALL Amex cards. And that is something that many retailers don't want to do because it cuts into their bottom line.

Ok, Redman...had to clear that up :)

midwave: yes, I see what you're saying. But, I *believe* that the vast majority of AMEX cardholders hold the charge version, not the revolving credit version. This is something that AMEX is trying very hard to change, because usury is a good business to be in, and as opposed to loansharking, it is legal. ;)

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Den said:
I didn't know anyone but old, rich white men had Amex.

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Well "T" is a young, not rich, black woman, yet she almost swears by her AmEx card (I personally could not care less). I remember growing up that my parents, especially my mom, used AmEx more than anything else. I think that's mainly a self-inflicted limit. Because they know that they have to pay it off every month, it encourages you not to over spend.

When I think of "Old Rich White Dummies", I think of "Diner's Club". (dont know a single person with one...)

lata, jeremy

Playette used to have one of those things!
While she's neither Rich, White or a Dummy I guess you could say that about her employers who issued her one.

Their slogan might as well be, "What the hell is THAT?" as it's accepted at about four places that aren't a hotel or restaurant. But it's great for keeping your people from screwing around on the expense account...

-'Playa