11/29/2024
American Express started their billion dollar viral ad campaign, Small Business Saturday, the same year they were sued by the Justice Department in an antitrust case for limiting business' ability to ask customers to use lower-fee credit cards. Today they oppose the Credit Card Competition Act, proposed legislation that would help limit monopoly over payment processing, giving small businesses like ours more control over fees that drain money from our communities. Fernseed pays about $13,000 a year in credit card fees, and American Express charges the highest rate of all (3.5% of every online transaction). That means every time someone order a $69 bouquet for delivery in Tacoma ($14.99), Amex makes $2.94. That's a pretty big cut for not lifting a finger! We're not against credit card processing fees, but that's a lot of money to siphon out of a community while simultaneously lobbying to limit competition that might lessen that cut and defending your monopoly at the Supreme Court, all while you market yourself as a company that supports small, local shops. Well, not here!As of this week we're ceasing to accept Amex payments on our website (the only place we have control). This choice won't hurt Amex (because who can, honestly?), but it reflects our commitment to advocating for fair practices in the credit card industry. We're asking our customers and fellow shops to stop promoting Small Business Saturday, not by staying closed or not accepting American Express (because, after all, we face major fines that threaten our livelihood if we suggest that), but by just... ceasing to allow it to be a thing. It's a giant ad for an awful, manipulative credit card company, and it's time to start calling it that. Shop local today and every day.
Thank you.
Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from The Fernseed, Florist, 5243 South Tacoma Way, Tacoma, WA.
