From: regli@cs.umd.edu (William C. Regli)
Newsgroups: rec.travel.air
Subject: Re: DON'T DO BUSINESS WITH AMERICAN "EXPRESS" (Re: AMEX coupons???)
Summary: use it or loose it
Keywords: Clue
Date: 11 Apr 92 20:40:59 GMT
Organization: Yoyodyne Industries

In article <s5h70INNh4s@agate.berkeley.edu> dbr@ocf.berkeley.edu (Daniel Rosler) writes:
]In article <1992Apr10.171505.11128@midway.uchicago.edu> 
]gjw1@midway.uchicago.edu writes:
]>In article <10APR199211450025@venus.lerc.nasa.gov> smpalaz@venus.lerc.nasa.gov (Shankar Jagannathan) writes:
] >[Stuff deleted about another story about Amex]
] >	I disagree about AMEX.  I have been very pleased with AMEX,
] >and have not had any problems with them.  I do not believe that Amex
] >treats their student members (like me) any differently than of any
] >other members.
] >
] >	Whenever I have had a need to call Amex, I have been able to
] >just call the customer service on the back of the card and talk to a
] >person who has always been able to help me.

Stuff deleted . . .

]The problem occurs when one needs help related to Student Services.  
]At this point you become less than a nobody to them, especially when it's 
]all their fault.  
]I doth repeat it again: AMEX SUCKS!!!
]-----------------------------------------------------------------
]Dan Rosler                       Internet: dbr@ocf.berkeley.edu

This rather hackneyed thread has been through rec.travel and other
groups several times in the last year---especially with AMEX's recent
woes.  

There seem to be two prevalent camps:

1) Those who gladly pay AMEX (like myself) the $55-$75 fee, take the
time to find out all the services they offer, and gladly see to it
that they get their money's worth.

2) Those who have had a bad experience with AMEX, those who are
clueless about what they offer and how to get it, and those who just
don't think AMEX is worth the $$.

The only complaint that is justified (I feel) is that the stuff they
offer isn't worth the $55.  But, as was hashed over in previous
discussions: its not a credit card, its a charge card.  They do not
charge their merchants 6%.  More like 2-3% while visa and MC charge
1-2%.  The AMEX card it not for everyone.  Its only worth it if you
take advantage the things that they make you pay for.

If you hate them because you've had a bad experience with them please,
do, praytell, inform us all of which airline meets your lofty
standards?  What car do you drive?  Please list all things in your
life that you have never had a single problem with.  Get a mitt and
catch a clue!  I've had my problems with AMEX---some got fixed nicely,
others didn't.  Business relationships, like any, involve give and
take.  Suffice to say, they have responded adequately.

And if you're clueless about what they offer and are paying $55 for
the card its your loss.  Its not AMEX's job to tell you how to use
their card for your needs--they don't know what your needs are!
That's your job.

'nuf said,

b
================ 
William C. Regli                            I wanted to be a philosopher but
University of Maryland, College Park, MD    the laughter kept creeping in.
Department of Computer Science                --Dostevesky