« God does graffiti | Home | Human – I am not God. »
Does American Express bring you a smile?
By Ron | October 7, 2009
American Express slogans through the years have been “American Express. Do More,” and “Make Life Rewarding,” and more recently “Don’t Leave Home Without It.” I have been a big fan of the service with previous blogs praising their service.
American Express has offered our organization the freedom of spending without limits. With freedom comes responsibility; we have always paid our bills and maintained a detailed accounting of expenditures. Most of the year, it was spending as usual such as travel and dinners with clients or vendors. But once a year we put on a convention hosting nearly 4,000 youth, children and their parents and youth pastors. This requires a bit more spending than the other eleven months and American Express makes it easy to deal with business as it comes.
Until recently! Earlier this year, American Express became an ordinary credit card. Worse than ordinary, they have become an overpriced hassle! I rarely take an organization to task in my blog, but they have ceased to be impressive. Their new slogan should be “Hope you don’t get left stranded.” On a more than one occasion, I have landed in another city, went to get my rental car only to find my card would not work. I have heard every excuse from them from security or fraud checks, to over the limits. Over the limit? This was the card without limits. Because they do not keep their history beyond six months, then they cannot see our years of experience with big events and solid payment records.
Yes, it seems that after the collapse of the banking world that everyone has been affected including American Express and their clients. With businesses closing every month, I suppose they have had to change their policies to protect how much credit they have extended each month. Now their credit limits, expected twelve to fifteen day billing cycle instead of thirty and less than amicable customer service has made them ordinary. In fact, ordinary would mean they should reduce their annual fee and reduce the fees they charge merchants. I was taught than in business, when you charge more you deliver more. Now they have come full circle to the opposite of their slogan, American Express. Do Less.
American express was the “purple cow” of the credit card world, which is a high compliment. Now they have become just part of the heard blending in among the other priceless cards. I hope they recapture what once made them worth more.
Topics: Leadership, Miscellaneous, Travel Tips | 1 Comment »
October 16th, 2009 at 3:33 am
I can tell you from the merchant side of things, AMEX has dropped the ball as well. More than once, the business where I work has had problems with them. Thanks for tactfully, yet firmly and purposefully sharing these thoughts.