Talk:American Express

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To-do list for American Express: edit · history · watch · refresh
  • Add section on products offered
  • Add section on operating divisions (Citigroup is a good example for this)

This article seems to be a bit-one sided, and even bordering on "glowing in it's praise" for an organisation that really isn't a very nice company. There's no mention of the way that it carefully structures its operations so as to escape banking and financial oversight in many countries, nor is their reputation for charging merchant fees that are typically double that of other card issuers (so contrary to American Express advertising, the most common phrase that cardholders hear at point of sale is "Oh... Do you have Mastercard or Visa?") mentioned. They also run a "report a noncompliant merchant" scheme, where cardholders are asked to "dob in" (Australian slang for report with malice) or "report" merchants that don't accept american express so that the company can turn the marketing heavies on to the "offending" retailer. These are just a few examples from my own direct experience, I'm sure there's plenty more 'dirt'. A section in this entry that tells the dark side and balances out the 'wholesome goodness' that is currently reported would be, in my view, more than appropriate. GB 24June2006

American Express is able to charge a premium on merchant fees because they provide a) higher-value customers and b) information from their closed-loop network that no other credit card company can provide. Charging a higher fee on merchant transactions has nothing to do with being "a nice company." Also, merchants that supposedly accept Amex, but instead encourage their customers to use other cards deserve to be reported. There are Amex cardholders that are fiercely loyal to the brand and don't want to be duped when a merchant tries to make them use a different card. You seem to have bitter experiences with American Express, but that doesn't mean your personal beef should be included in the article. --Bittershell 18:44, 26 May 2007 (UTC)
As mentioned above, there is a rationale for charging a higher fee to the merchants up front. If you look at the breakdown of what merchants get charged by the banks and Visa/Mastercard, it actually adds up and the fees are very similar because Visa/Mastercard have been using banks as clearing houses, whereas American Express has had to use itself for that purpose. I am surprised there is no mention of the lawsuit brought by the Department of Justice against Visa for antitrust violations for having colluded with the banks for years to keep American Express out of the bank-issued credit card business. The piece only casually mentions that banks have started issuing AmEx cards. But there is much more "dirt" there on what Visa/Mastercard have been doing for years to keep American Express out of the market.

Very biased towards the US market. In Europe AmEx cards are of little use and few places will accept them.

Also, in 1999 the company introduced a marketing triumph, Blue from American Express, a popular card among the young and techno-savvy with its multi-functional onboard chip. -- This is ridiculous marketing-speak.

Agreed, if there are no objections I will remove it --Jum4 15:17, 19 July 2006 (UTC)
No objections, have removed it.. --Jum4 12:48, 21 July 2006 (UTC)

"Also in 1999, the company introduced a marketing triumph, Blue from American Express, which quickly became a popular card among young adults". This is not much better, can anyone in the US confirm that this card is popular? Any references? As a young(ish) adult I don't know anyone who has an American Express card of any colour. At the very least some mention of the geograpical popularity of various cards should be included. Mtpaley 18:13, 10 September 2006 (UTC)

I Googled "American Express" and got 132,000,000 hits. Why is the link to the salad oil scandal worthy of inclusion when the other 131,999,997 aren't? I think this link should be deleted. It seems if the salad oil link should be anywhere, it should be on the salad oil page. --ButtonwoodTree 02:00, 13 July 2006 (UTC)

In addition, why does the third paragraph indicate that Chenault was preceded by Golub who was preceded by Robinson and then stop there? The company is over 150 years old. Were the CEO/Presidents before Robinson unworthy of mention? Anyone think it would make more sense to include just Chenault in the intro section and mention other CEOs either in the historical section, as appropriate, or in a new section entitled "Past CEOs" (or maybe in both places). --ButtonwoodTree 02:09, 13 July 2006 (UTC)


The article talks about their "Clear" card supporting ExpressPay; the next paragraph says "Also in 2005, American Express introduced ExpressPay...". It seems to me that this paragraph introducing ExpressPay should come first, and then "Also in 2005, American Express introduced Clear...". Does this make sense? Stevie-O (talk) 00:55, 5 January 2008 (UTC)


[edit] Fair use rationale for Image:Amex-Travelers-Cheque-Card.jpg

Image:Amex-Travelers-Cheque-Card.jpg is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in Wikipedia articles constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.

Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale.

If there is other other fair use media, consider checking that you have specified the fair use rationale on the other images used on this page. Note that any fair use images uploaded after 4 May, 2006, and lacking such an explanation will be deleted one week after they have been uploaded, as described on criteria for speedy deletion. If you have any questions please ask them at the Media copyright questions page. Thank you.BetacommandBot 17:29, 31 May 2007 (UTC)

The article doesn't contain any discussion of MEMBERSHIP REWARDS... a major program and feature of AMEX. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.115.47.129 (talk) 19:10, 22 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] "Höhepunkt der Ausfälle wohl frühestens Ende 2009"