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Some shareholders of David Jones Ltd., an Australian retailer, dislike the firm's recently launched American Express store card, according to Australian press reports. The annual general shareholders meeting on Friday generated criticisms that the card's annual fee, AU$99 (US$64 or 50 euros), is too high and that store customers receive too much mail from AmEx urging them to apply for the card. Some shareholders reportedly also view the card as too "low-grade" for the David Jones brand, considered by many to be upmarket. Company officials reportedly responded by saying the card would help the retailer weather tough economic conditions. Neither David Jones nor AmEx responded to CardLine Global requests for comment. The card, launched in September, has faced a challenging birth. In October, some David Jones customers who never applied for the card received bills for it. The retailer blamed the mix-up on an administrative error involving consumers who attended the card's launch party (CardLine Global, 16 Oct.).
