Neiman Marcus

[Nebor]

So I was doing some christmas shopping earlier, and I find this nice Waterford crystal vase for my mom. I look at a couple different things first, but finally settle on the vase and the saleslady and I go to the register. She ask if I "have a Neiman's." I look at her funny and say no. Then she was like, "Will you be paying with your American Express?" I look at her funny again and ask why, thinking maybe there's some sort of discount for Amex card holders.

She informs me that the only credit card they take is American Express. No Visa, no Mastercard, no Discover. So I'm like, "Really? I can't buy this with my Visa?" She says, "No, but you can use a check or cash, or apply for a Neiman's card." I show her my AmEx and explain, "It's not that I don't have an AmEx, it's just that I don't normally use it, and I don't want to use it." Anyone, we'd come to an impass, so I said, "I'll just go get it at Dillards."

My girlfriend was visibly irritated by my decision, presumably because I spent so much time looking and then declined to pay with my AmEx. Maybe I'm crazy, but I grew up in a world where the customer is right, and you (as the retailer) want their MONEY, no matter how they want to give it to you.

Anyway, I went to Dillards and they had the same thing. Some money that Neiman Marcus didn't get, and I'll never buy anything else there, ever. Fuck 'em.

 

[BigJ]

You didn't want to use your AmEx, so you shopped somewhere else. I see no harm in this.

They probably have a deal with AmEx, so they can't even process other types of cards. Shit happens.

 

[ponyo]

Was this your first time shopping at Neiman Marcus? They always had their card or Amex policy as long as I can remember.

 

[LegendKiller]

Score one for pretentious people buying 1,700 vases.

 

[Nebor]

Originally posted by: Naustica
Was this your first time shopping at Neiman Marcus? They always had their card or Amex policy as long as I can remember.

Yeah, first time I've been in there since I was a kid. Always preferred Dillards\Macy's\Nordstrom.

 

[tasmanian]

I thought it was illegal for a store to not accept your credit card.

 

[Wreckem]

Originally posted by: tasmanian
I thought it was illegal for a store to not accept your credit card.

You cannot be serious.

My saracasm meter must be broken.

 

[poncherelli2]

Originally posted by: tasmanian
I thought it was illegal for a store to not accept your credit card.

where would you ever get an idea like that?

 

[isekii]

Originally posted by: poncherelli2

Originally posted by: tasmanian
I thought it was illegal for a store to not accept your credit card.

where would you ever get an idea like that?

Tasmania ?

 

[rise]

Fuck 'em.

that's what they said too. they have their policies, you didn't like it. fine, move on.

0/5

 

[Nebor]

Originally posted by: rise

Fuck 'em.

that's what they said too. they have their policies, you didn't like it. fine, move on.

0/5

Not even a 0/10 ?

 

[Schfifty Five]

Originally posted by: Nebor
So I was doing some christmas shopping earlier, and I find this nice Waterford crystal vase for my mom. I look at a couple different things first, but finally settle on the vase and the saleslady and I go to the register. She ask if I "have a Neiman's." I look at her funny and say no. Then she was like, "Will you be paying with your American Express?" I look at her funny again and ask why, thinking maybe there's some sort of discount for Amex card holders.

She informs me that the only credit card they take is American Express. No Visa, no Mastercard, no Discover. So I'm like, "Really? I can't buy this with my Visa?" She says, "No, but you can use a check or cash, or apply for a Neiman's card." I show her my AmEx and explain, "It's not that I don't have an AmEx, it's just that I don't normally use it, and I don't want to use it." Anyone, we'd come to an impass, so I said, "I'll just go get it at Dillards."

My girlfriend was visibly irritated by my decision, presumably because I spent so much time looking and then declined to pay with my AmEx. Maybe I'm crazy, but I grew up in a world where the customer is right, and you (as the retailer) want their MONEY, no matter how they want to give it to you.

Anyway, I went to Dillards and they had the same thing. Some money that Neiman Marcus didn't get, and I'll never buy anything else there, ever. Fuck 'em.

You sure showed them.

 

[BarneyFife]

Costco is the same thing.

 

[Schfifty Five]

Originally posted by: tasmanian
I thought it was illegal for a store to not accept your credit card.

So if a store which doesn't even use a credit card system setup says to you "Cash only, no CC's", are you going to call the cops b/c the store wouldn't take your card?

 

[AmberClad]

Originally posted by: tasmanian
I thought it was illegal for a store to not accept your credit card.

Erm...no.

And I've seen the opposite before, where certain places like restaurants won't take AMEX. Happened last time I went on a business trip. I always pay with my personal Mastercard (cash back rewards, etc), and have the company reimburse me instead of charging to my corporate AMEX. Anyways, everyone else had their AMEXs out on the table...which were all promptly refused by the waitress when she came around for the check .

I think the rates/fees the merchants pay may differ depending on the type of credit card. But in the OP's case...I don't know...it seems more like a bid to seem as pretentious and "exclusive" as possible :frown:.

 

[Auric]

Why is the inconvenience of going to a different store preferable to using the acceptable card? Difference in cash back? Stubborness? Other? Enquiring minds... are mildly curious.

 

[kranky]

Originally posted by: Nebor

Originally posted by: rise

Fuck 'em.

that's what they said too. they have their policies, you didn't like it. fine, move on.

0/5

Not even a 0/10 ?

Your topic summary says "Mini-rant" so he used the short scale.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: tasmanian
I thought it was illegal for a store to not accept your credit card.

Roflcopter

 

[Auric]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: tasmanian
I thought it was illegal for a store to not accept your credit card.

Roflcopter

Don't laugh at the law. Next time, make a citizen's arrest.

 

[Nebor]

Originally posted by: Auric
Why is the inconvenience of going to a different store preferable to using the acceptable card? Difference in cash back? Stubborness? Other? Enquiring minds... are mildly curious.

Their desire to seem "exclusive" as Amberclad put it, inconveniences me, the customer. I would have had to read another bill, write another check, etc. at the end of the month. Why would I go to the trouble?

AmEx has the highest vendor fees, that's why so many places don't accept them.

 

[DainBramaged]

My mother always called them Needless Markup. That's all I know about Neiman Marcus.

 

[KLin]

Originally posted by: DainBramaged
My mother always called them Needless Markup. That's all I know about Neiman Marcus.

Don't get sucked into buying their cookie recipe for two-fifty either!!!!

 

[pyonir]

Originally posted by: BarneyFife
Costco is the same thing.

But Costco will take my visa logo debit card. From the way it sounds, Neiman will not.

 

[Epic Fail]

Originally posted by: Nebor

Originally posted by: Auric
Why is the inconvenience of going to a different store preferable to using the acceptable card? Difference in cash back? Stubborness? Other? Enquiring minds... are mildly curious.

Their desire to seem "exclusive" as Amberclad put it, inconveniences me, the customer. I would have had to read another bill, write another check, etc. at the end of the month. Why would I go to the trouble?

AmEx has the highest vendor fees, that's why so many places don't accept them.

And going to another store isn't an inconvenience?

 

[EvilYoda]

meh...doesn't seem like they're hurting for customers. But now you know...I only knew this "rule" because I buy my Kiehls products there and occasionally shop there. Never seemed like a big deal to me.