The photo above shows one of the more creative ways I’ve seen a small business say that they don’t take American Express. If you’re wondering why many small retailers and restaurants don’t take AmEx, it’s because of the higher fees they charge for processing payment (3.5% versus the 2 to 3% charged by Visa and MasterCard). The blog of the money-management company NerdWallet explains that AmEx make their money on fees, while Visa and MasterCard do so through interest.
Note that they didn’t say they wouldn’t accept unlocked iPhones. In many countries, they’re the best barter items.