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This may be minor, but ...
Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2005 2:18 pm
by 1987alum
Why doesn't the Universitiy accept Amex? Just called to order tickets and was told Visa, MC, Discover. Make it easier for the consumer and don't give me the "but Amex charges a larger percentage" malarky. There are several stores in our area that do not get our business strictly because they don't accept Amex.
Grrrrr.
Re: This may be minor, but ...
Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2005 2:52 pm
by Falconfreak90
1987alum wrote:Why doesn't the Universitiy accept Amex? Just called to order tickets and was told Visa, MC, Discover. Make it easier for the consumer and don't give me the "but Amex charges a larger percentage" malarky. There are several stores in our area that do not get our business strictly because they don't accept Amex.
Grrrrr.
I think ya have a valid point, '87. The consumer (fan) is trying to pay for tickets and any option should be available. I wonder why the U doesn't accept AMEX?
Re: This may be minor, but ...
Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2005 3:00 pm
by transfer2BGSU
1987alum wrote:... don't give me the "but Amex charges a larger percentage" malarky.
If you don't want to hear the truth, then what are we supposed to tell you?
The Bursar no longer accepts Visa and MasterCard for payments (in addition to Discover and American Express, although we do accept Visa Checks).
I'll see if I can find the figure, but I believe last year we lost $750,000 in revenues to credit card transaction fees.
Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2005 3:08 pm
by 1987alum
Transfer:
All well and good, but that's how business is done these days. Our controllers got together last year and were able to muscle down the fees for the majority of our credit card transactions. It saved a fair chunk of change, but we didn't stop accepting credit cards to try to save the whole bundle.
Heck, I'd be willing to pay a surcharge just for using Amex (or you can put a positive spin on it and say there's a "cash discount" or some such).
Just not good business protocol to not accept a major credit card...
Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2005 3:10 pm
by transfer2BGSU
But we're just like the Olympics!
You remember that Visa commercial - "Better pack your bags and bring your Visa, because the Olympics does not accept American Express. Visa, it's where you want to be."?
Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2005 3:23 pm
by BGDrew
Why can't the University charge the "convenience fee" if they lost so much money? I love this school, but some of their policies make me scratch my head.
Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2005 3:25 pm
by BGFalcons232
transfer2BGSU wrote:But we're just like the Olympics!
You remember that Visa commercial - "Better pack your bags and bring your Visa, because the Olympics does not accept American Express. Visa, it's where you want to be."?
the olympics only take visa because they paid a huge chunk of money to be the official credit card of the olympics.
if BGSU was smart, they'd sign an endorsement deal making a major credit card the "official" card of BG athletics. as part of that deal, have MC, visa, or whoever waive their fee or substantially discount it for all transactions at the university. it's a real pain not to be able to pay my bursar bill without having to go through all the bank routing stuff for my checking account.
plus, that way BG could keep the customers happy and cut down on the lost revenues. i wouldn't be surprised to hear of a lot of people not being able to use AMEX and then saying, screw you i just won't buy a ticket.
Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2005 3:28 pm
by BGDrew
Exactly. Take care of the customer first. We're trying to improve attendance, not push people away.
Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2005 3:47 pm
by Warthog
Hey Transfer, I just paid my wife's tuition bill last with with my MasterCard. They are still accepting MasterCard and Discover, but there is a 3.5% fee for using your credit card.
Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2005 4:35 pm
by mk455
honestly, the university gets charged a ridiculous amount more for accepting amex than any other card. if i remember correctly they get charged like 1.79% for visa and mastercard, maybe like 1.8% for discover, and like 4.2% for amex. could be a long shot... but im guessing thats why they dont accept it. amex is great from the consumer end, but when you're an organization trying to accept it, they screw u.
Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2005 4:41 pm
by hammb
Visa is the official card of the NFL. You cannot buy an NFL ticket with any card but a Visa. It seems awfully restrictive, but it works for them...we could probably go that route too if we had too.
I guess I'm wierd, don't most people have multiple credit cards? I don't have Amex or Discover, but I've never been to a place that didn't take either Visa or MC.
Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2005 4:46 pm
by 1987alum
hammb wrote:I guess I'm wierd, don't most people have multiple credit cards? I don't have Amex or Discover, but I've never been to a place that didn't take either Visa or MC.
hammb: we stopped using Visa and MC more than a year ago. We never got decent customer service from any of the providers. Meanwhile, Amex has always treated us like we're the most important people in the world. I have no patience for poor customer service. So, we pretty much use Amex exclusively ... except for BG football tickets.
Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2005 5:27 pm
by BGSU Falconz
I don't know if this means something, but I've never even heard of Amex
Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2005 6:11 pm
by UK Peregrine
BGSU Falconz wrote:I don't know if this means something, but I've never even heard of Amex
AMEX = American Express
BTW, '87 the solution may be to carry the BG Alumni Association MasterCard. Not only do you get to show off Freddie and Frieda on your credit card, but a small percentage of your charges go towards BG student and alumni programs. Just a thought.
Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2005 6:15 pm
by BGSU Falconz
UK Peregrine wrote:BGSU Falconz wrote:I don't know if this means something, but I've never even heard of Amex
AMEX = American Express
BTW, '87 the solution may be to carry the BG Alumni Association MasterCard. Not only do you get to show off Freddie and Frieda on your credit card, but a small percentage of your charges go towards BG student and alumni programs. Just a thought.
Oh. I'm a farking retard. Don't mind me. :-\