American Express anyone?

[Upper-cruster]

I do have MC and VISA and I was wondering what benefits has an American Express and what is the difference between a VISA and Amercan Express..

 

[Outtlaw]

None. A lot of places wont even accept american express because they have to pay fees to even be able to take the card. And besides that you have to pay an annual fee with american express that is normally around $80-90. So I'd just stick with visa if I were you.

 

[out_at_sea]

I have an American Express card with the computer chip. There is no annual fee. However, many places do not accept it.

Dont you have to pay your entire balance every month?

 

[Crazy Ivan]

I have an American Express card with the computer chip. There is no annual fee. However, many places do not accept it.

 

[platinum search]

im pretty sure with american express you have to pay your full balance every month.

 

[Crazy Ivan]

Dont you have to pay your entire balance every month?

Not true. This is the new card they released about a year ago. It is called "Blue". For the past 6 months I've been making $100 payments toward my 4-digit balance.

 

[anabolicmd]

If you spend more than 30 000 a year, you will enjoy an AE card better. I also come across better when I whip mine out.

 

[out_at_sea]

If you spend more than 30 000 a year, you will enjoy an AE card better. I also come across better when I whip mine out.

Why?

 

[anabolicmd]

Why?

Girls think you are loaded when you whip it out.

 

[OXANDRIN]

Why?

rewards points

 

[Upper-cruster]

Dont you have to pay your entire balance every month?

That's what I heard too...Does American Express have a very high limit amount as opossed to Visa?

As far as rewards pts one can get them even with a Visa...no need to have an AE.

 

[War Against Iron]

they're all about the same, but i do feel like i'm at some kind of next level when i present my AE card. dunno why, i guess i've never even though about it before.

 

[anabolicmd]

Only a member truly understands the privilege of membership. Better service at restaurants, shorter ticket lines, special limited offers, discounts you name it, its just a higher level of comfort.

 

[Upper-cruster]

Only a member truly understands the privilege of membership. Better service at restaurants, shorter ticket lines, special limited offers, discounts you name it, its just a higher level of comfort.

better service at restaurants???

Like you show the your CC before you order your meal...

 

[anabolicmd]

better service at restaurants???

Like you show the your CC before you order your meal...

Theres a secret handshake for the maitre-d that only members are taught.

 

[Upper-cruster]

Theres a secret handshake for the maitre-d that only members are taught.

I gotcha...a gay thing...too bad I am so straight...

 

[anabolicmd]

too bad I am so straight...

I didn't ask.

 

[velvett]

Only a member truly understands the privilege of membership. Better service at restaurants, shorter ticket lines, special limited offers, discounts you name it, its just a higher level of comfort.

You actually believe that hype?

I had an AMEX for 13 years - I dislike the company and their unacceptable customer service so much I canceled my card.

AMEX makes Verizon look like GOLD.

I won't accept an AMEX card at the shop and I get great pleasure of telling people,"I'm sorry we don't accept American Express." and you know what, everyone has another card in their wallet.

You can get frequent flyer miles from many other cards with offers very similiar to AMEX.

Businesses lose about 4% per sale by accepting AMEX instead of 1-2.5% with other cards.

 

[Upper-cruster]

what a line of BS. I have been spending over $60k per year for the last 4 years on my Amex and I have never witnessed anything along these lines. I also pay off my bill every month to avoid the finance charges. You are too full of shit.

MAYBE the BLACK CARD (the one with the concierge service) gets SOME amenities but not the Corp green or even Personal Plat.

Did he mention that he is gay?...maybe there is a gayness privilege ...

 

[anabolicmd]

what a line of BS. I have been spending over $60k per year for the last 4 years on my Amex and I have never witnessed anything along these lines. I also pay off my bill every month to avoid the finance charges. You are too full of shit.

MAYBE the BLACK CARD (the one with the concierge service) gets SOME amenities but not the Corp green or even Personal Plat.

I call bullshit on your 60k per year spending fantasy. You would now about special deals with sports stadiums, airlines, event tickets, all kinds of perks and amenities. Ive boarded planes faster, gotten ticket upgrades you name it. Why else would people want them then?

 

[anabolicmd]

call BS asshole. Feel free. I roll with a business expense budget even bigger than $60k per year. Consider my flights, hotels, entertaining, restaurants, tittie bars and it adds up. I travel at least 2 weeks per months and stay at 4-5 star hotels. And I am still laughing in your face about these incredible deals Amex offers.

IM NOT WORTHY.

 

[anabolicmd]

just tell me who I have to call to get all these deals.

1-800-IMS-TPID

 

[velvett]

1-800-IMS-TPID

 

[gonelifting]

I only use cards for convenience. Used Private issue Discover for a while. Loved the 2% cash back, but they went down to 1%.

Now all I`ve been using is A E, and yes not everybody takes it. I use A E now because on some purchases you get more than 1% cashback I think.

Last year I got $400 back from Private Issue. I`ll take what I can get. lol

 

[out_at_sea]

I only use cards for convenience. Used Private issue Discover for a while. Loved the 2% cash back, but they went down to 1%.

Now all I`ve been using is A E, and yes not everybody takes it. I use A E now because on some purchases you get more than 1% cashback I think.

Last year I got $400 back from Private Issue. I`ll take what I can get. lol

Never had a Discover.. How is it different from a Visa? What is the interest rate?

Cash back is a nice feature. Do you get 1% cash back at the end of the month?

 

[gonelifting]

Never had a Discover.. How is it different from a Visa? What is the interest rate?

Cash back is a nice feature. Do you get 1% cash back at the end of the month?

Discover is a high rate, but they`re always advertising to lower it to 4.9% but I never carry a balance so I don`t really pay attention to the rates of the cards as much as their perks.

The most accepted cards are Visa and master, discover is very close but in the past it was different. A E is defintely last place for acceptance.(because of what velvett said about high % that the shop has to pay)

When I buy something and the guy was an asshole to me at the shop or mechanic or something I love to pay with the A E to just put the finishing touch on a miserable experience. lol

They used to pay the cash back on the "anniversary date" once a year, but I THINK they changed it now to The option of anytime or every month. It shows up on your bill every month what you`ve accrued in cashback. You can also put it towards your bill (payment) that month.

There`s so many 0% for one year or even longer deals out there. that it`s hard to pass up. I even did one of those. Just make sure you pay it off before you get to the final month.

 

[Upper-cruster]

I would maybe go back for the Black card though.

The only advantage is that they are likely more restricted on who they will extend credit to, so an account with them may be viewed as a positive, if you don't have much else going....

I am not familiat with the black card..Could you explain?

 

[AustinTX]

Amex isn't worth it. The plat does have advantages in being able to get into various airport lounges, etc. if you're not a frequent traveler. But being a former semi road warrior spending up to 10K a month at times on credit; I always got free upgrades to first from the airlines since I was already at various mileage levels, and the only time I needed an airport lounge was on international flights, I was in business class, so had access to the facilities anyway.

I would maybe go back for the Black card though.

The only advantage is that they are likely more restricted on who they will extend credit to, so an account with them may be viewed as a positive, if you don't have much else going....

 

[out_at_sea]

The Black card is like the Platinum AmEx used to be (whip it out at the bar and everyone takes notice), offered only to the top fraction of a percent of their cardmembers; or I'm sure if you throw a million bucks into one of their financial services accounts you can get one too....

Is it issued by AE?
Never had one...I guess only the Top 2% of the population may have access to one and the available credit could be as high as one million..

Just guessing..

 

[AustinTX]

I am not familiat with the black card..Could you explain?

The Black card is like the Platinum AmEx used to be (whip it out at the bar and everyone takes notice), offered only to the top fraction of a percent of their cardmembers; or I'm sure if you throw a million bucks into one of their financial services accounts you can get one too....

 

[Upper-cruster]

I have 2 Amex cards. One is the regular one, the other is the Blue card (you pay in monthly installments, zero percent interest for the first 6 months - and yes, I use it judiciously).

I make about 14K a year (grad student) and Amex comes in handy when I am traveling (less need to carry cash) and keeps my other cards free for major expenses that I wouldn't be able to pay off in one month. Also, using Amex FORCES me to pay my balance in full - keeps me sober about using credit.

So is it true that if you have AE you have to pay the full balance at the end of the month?

 

[makedah]

I have 2 Amex cards. One is the regular one, the other is the Blue card (you pay in monthly installments, zero percent interest for the first 6 months - and yes, I use it judiciously).

I make about 14K a year (grad student) and Amex comes in handy when I am traveling (less need to carry cash) and keeps my other cards free for major expenses that I wouldn't be able to pay off in one month. Also, using Amex FORCES me to pay my balance in full - keeps me sober about using credit. I must add that I've had the Amex for a few years and now I can pay some charges things "over time," but I don't. I also used to get their apps for gold card membership, but it didn't seem worth the $350 annual fee.

 

[makedah]

UC - yes, but note my edit. After a while (assuming you pay on time - I think I had my card 2 years before they offered me this option) you can select some charges to repay on a monthly basis. I have no idea what the interest rate is for this option.

 

[makedah]

Velvett - hey, I didn't know you had a shop. What kind is it?

Yes, I've heard the same thing about why lots of businesses (esp. smaller ones) won't take Amex. It costs them too much.

 

[Ffactor]

I agree with Velvett. I had American Express for a long time and I had terrible experiences with them. I'd be more than happy to talk to you about it if you want.

 

[Y_lifter]

The main difference between AE and Visa is that Visa is accepted at more small retail outlets and overseas than AE.
The other difference is that the standard AE card in NOT a revolving charge account meaning you are supposed to pay the entire ballance each month. AE does now offer a revolving card though.

In the old days (80's) AE was thought of as a premium card and had restrictive memberships.
These days, almost anyone with a bit of credit can get an American Distress card.

AE generally also has higher annual fees

I had a company AE card and now have a company Visa.
I have found no difference in service and have noticed the Visa card is more widely accepted at smaller retail outlets.

 

[anabolicmd]

I guess this means you were just talking shit? If you have a number for all these incredible services I'd really like it.

No it means that if you dont know how to get a hold of customer service for yourself, you are too dumb to take advantage of their services anyway.

 

[velvett]

Last time I was in Europe - It's been a while so thing may have changed - no merchants took AMEX only VISA.

Kinda blows the AMEX = cool trendy snob theory

 

[OXANDRIN]

i have amex....no pre-set spending limit.... and is just as good that the balance is due at once because if you don't have the cash you shouldn't be buying the shit.

 

[gonelifting]

I have`nt paid an annual fee on ANY card for years, or EVER. It`s maybe because I don`t have the mileage cards or something. I would never have a card that you pay a fee for. I have like ten cards now.