UPDATE With Black Friday over, a number of small Westport retailers and restaurants are participating in today’s first Small Business Saturday.
Sponsored by American Express, it is a national day to support local and small businesses that create jobs, boost the economy and preserve neighborhoods around the country.
American Express is offering its cardholders a $25 credit if they shop at a small business and register online. Eligible merchants include any independently owned small businesses that accept the American Express Card. Purchases made online, at large, national chains, or at franchised business locations are not eligible.
For more information, visit Facebook.com/SmallBusinessSaturday or smallbusinesssaturday.com.
But there is no listing of local businesses participating in this promotion, anywhere.
I tried every link and button and could find no information on how to locate a retailer or restaurant to support today.
I wish the person responsible for including this press release from AmEx had bothered to check out the links.
I spoke with someone at American Express last week to register the same complaint, Jim. And what they said was just to think of what stores are local and not part of a chain and then call them to see if they accept Amex. I did that this morning with the consignment shop Then Again at 993 Post Road East, and the owner said, “Oh, you have $25 in Amex cash to get back?” I am sure that Silver’s and the local drugstores like Colonial and Acorn are probably participating too. The only advantage of this promotion is that it DOES make one think, “What are the small businesses in our community?”.
David,
You may have missed my point. I was merely pointing out that Am Ex is very smart in reaching out to the many business people who can benfit by an association with them. It’s the free market speaking and I think its great!
Michael & David,
Oddly the above-referenced Colonial, one of the great druggist/medical needs stores left anywhere, does not accept AmEX. And we all understand exactly why; Visa and Mastercard charge merchants about 2% while AmEx can charge closer to 3%, a full 50% more per transaction.
That said I was pleased to go into a liquor store an hour ago and mention that I was going to receive a gift from AmEx and not only were they completely aware of the deal and asked if I had “registered”, but they were pleased that somebody actually was cashing in on it.
So, a good idea for AmEx and its merchants and a $25 gift for me the day before my birthday. Hey, 25 bucks is 25 bucks. It paid for a nice bottle of Riserva Chiant. Vino I’m certain both of you would enjoy.
Thanks Linda for sorting it all out. I owe you $2.50, a standard commission.
Grazie.
You make me laugh, Jim. AND if I’d been smart enough to think like several of you that liquor stores aren’t “chains”, I would have registered my husband’s Amex so he could have gotten the $25 off too. I went to the consignment shop and got four terrific, stylish, name brand tops for a total of $26 after the money back.
And we’ve all learned why some merchants don’t use Amex, but if this promotion brings in some new business (more than came into the local liquor store you frequented, Jim), I bet that next time around more people will shop at small merchants locally.
I have always shopped local provided it was not more than a 10% spread. Shopping, handling the goods, having every question answered and then buying online is not fair, at all. So, if you pick the brain of an independent retailer about something you owe him/her the sale..within reason.
And, don’t forget that sales tax pays for our state’s, town’s, municipality’s upkeep. See Amazon et al.
Shopping online to avoid sales tax (6% in CT) robs our state of needed income as well as undermining our local businesses (not that I don’t do it as well, but we shouldn’t. We should support legislation requiring online retailers to collect and forward sales tax.)
http://www.slate.com/id/2275552
Many “small business” retailers do not take Am Ex because their fees are excessive.