Not all credit cards are the same, AMEX has the highest merchants fees of any cards. That really impacts and hurts small businesses. As for consumers if they go somewhere I doubt whether or not AMEX is accepted will have any effect on their purchasing as most people have VISA/MC or debit cards, , more and more people are using debt cards these days.

The fact of the matter is that consumers need to carry a Visa or Mastercard beacuse they are nearly universally accepted. I regretablly work for AMEX (my soul has been sold), and I don't understand these customers that think they have to be "loyal," and carry only AMEX with the ridiculous notion that "loyalty," will be returned. Beacuse we all know a credit card company won't stab you in the back. Ha.

The University I attend does not take AMEX (the other three major credit cards they proudly accept), with a sign stating "Sorry we don't accept American Express," or half the restaurants I eat at for that matter don't take the card.

I don't see how you can say all businesses should take all forms of payment. Customers should not limit their wallets to one form of payment, thats just asking for trouble.