AmEx losing the battle for big spenders?
Feb 12, 2015, 3:02 pm
#46
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No, but I plan on burning through a fair chunk of the $6000 in grocery store spend this month so I want to make certain I hit the bonus threshold. In regular months I may not care enough. I mostly got the Everyday card so I would have transfer ability to airlines for my 6 figure MR balance.
Feb 12, 2015, 3:11 pm
#47
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Chase issues cards which earn 5 points per dollar. To me it is the most appealing aspect of Ultimate Rewards.
Citi used to issue 5X cards. The cards are all discontinued, but many of us still have them. I doubt they will last long, because the points are more valuable than they were when those cards were issued.
American Express Everyday Preferred comes close. 3X at supermarkets, with a 50% bonus for 30 transactions in a month. In this case, the bonus applies to the category bonus, effectively 4.5 points per dollar at supermarkets, BUT capped at $6,000 per year.
Citi used to issue 5X cards. The cards are all discontinued, but many of us still have them. I doubt they will last long, because the points are more valuable than they were when those cards were issued.
American Express Everyday Preferred comes close. 3X at supermarkets, with a 50% bonus for 30 transactions in a month. In this case, the bonus applies to the category bonus, effectively 4.5 points per dollar at supermarkets, BUT capped at $6,000 per year.
I am guessing that they can afford to give you 4.5x because they assume that the 30 transactions per month generates a lot of transactions that it wouldn't otherwise (including non-grocery purchases). Also, there is an annual fee (which the Everyday card does not have)
Feb 12, 2015, 3:40 pm
#48
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Feb 12, 2015, 4:02 pm
#49
Join Date: Oct 2010
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I used to like to have a bunch of both MR and UR on hand. However, recently I've switched over to mainly MR for some odd reason (could have something to do with Chase cancelling my checking account and all of mine and Mrs. Knopflers cards except business ink). However, grocery store purchases have always been a strong PRG/Hilton/OBC lean.
Feb 12, 2015, 4:37 pm
#50
Join Date: Nov 2013
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http://www.marketwatch.com/story/ame...me_latest_news
Looks like it is not just the big spenders they are losing.
I am not surprised given the high business and card holders fees AMEX charges.
Looks like it is not just the big spenders they are losing.
I am not surprised given the high business and card holders fees AMEX charges.
Costco has always been extremely aggressive in getting the best deal for the exclusivity agreement they have with payment networks. I really don't know why more big box retailers don't do the same.
American Express' decision to go after revolving customers was a mistake, they should've continued to focus on high value larger transactor customers. They tried to minimalize the damage to their brand by branding the new cards as AmEx instead of American Express but it wasn't enough to differentiate it for consumers.
There will be a number of new benefits coming out for AmEx Platinum cardholders soon, let's see if any of those will encourage big spenders to come back.
Feb 12, 2015, 5:23 pm
#51
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Feb 12, 2015, 5:33 pm
#52
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That 5x is restricted both in quantity, and in time frame. You can't get 5x in groceries from the Freedom all year long. I'm using my Freedom for groceries now. I won't be in April. I'll likely be using an Amex.
Feb 12, 2015, 5:35 pm
#53
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Feb 12, 2015, 5:46 pm
#55
Join Date: Apr 2011
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We eat healthy, prepare all of our meals ourselves, and avoid the center of the grocery store. Two people can easily rack up $250-$300 a week at the grocery store if they are buying high quality food. Not gourmet, just good food.
I moved all of my bills to the EDP, things like Insurance x 3, Internet, power, gas, phone and so on. Those alone will hit 20 transactions a month. Add in 2 trips a week to the store (and its on the way home, not out of the way)...now we are at 28. Gas station... and ding....
You dont "have" to pay your homeowners through escrow....
Chase this year will let me earn a little bit more however, and I just hit the cap this week.
Feb 13, 2015, 12:23 am
#57
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I do agree not everyone will hit that limit however just me and my spouse will hit it every year. I analyzed my spend the last two years and I exceeded $6000.
We eat healthy, prepare all of our meals ourselves, and avoid the center of the grocery store. Two people can easily rack up $250-$300 a week at the grocery store if they are buying high quality food. Not gourmet, just good food.
We eat healthy, prepare all of our meals ourselves, and avoid the center of the grocery store. Two people can easily rack up $250-$300 a week at the grocery store if they are buying high quality food. Not gourmet, just good food.
Also, are you exceeding it by much? If not, the cap doesn't make much difference. If you spend $6100 we are talking about a few hundred extra pts, which is no big deal. But, yeah, if you spend in the $10k range, then just get a card in each person's name.
Feb 13, 2015, 5:48 am
#58
Join Date: Apr 2011
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AmEx losing the battle for big spenders?
Oh We've got plenty of earning opportunities was just commenting it's easy to exceed that limit with just two people and one card.
We each have an EDP now for this reason among a few others.
There are still situations where you can squeak a little more out based on shopping portals that sadly Amex shut down a few years back. I loved those 4-10x offers.
Discover just changed their portal and I took advantage of it frequently.
My wife is a points and cash back fanatic.
We each have an EDP now for this reason among a few others.
There are still situations where you can squeak a little more out based on shopping portals that sadly Amex shut down a few years back. I loved those 4-10x offers.
Discover just changed their portal and I took advantage of it frequently.
My wife is a points and cash back fanatic.
Feb 13, 2015, 7:23 am
#59
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I think the appeal is that SPG has more airline transfer partners than any other program, and the 25% automatic bonus eliminates the need to wait for a promotion.
The appeal of Chase Ultimate Rewards is attributable largely to one partner -- United Airlines. I do not foresee a circumstance where Chase would lose UA as a partner, but I do foresee UA devaluing their partner redemption chart, and when this occurs the lack of other Star Alliance options will be painfully apparent.
The appeal of Chase Ultimate Rewards is attributable largely to one partner -- United Airlines. I do not foresee a circumstance where Chase would lose UA as a partner, but I do foresee UA devaluing their partner redemption chart, and when this occurs the lack of other Star Alliance options will be painfully apparent.
It now is clear beyond doubt that Membership Rewards has THE MOST WORTHLESS partners.
Last edited by Dieuwer; Feb 13, 2015 at 8:32 am Reason: typo
Feb 13, 2015, 8:10 am
#60
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Every frequent flyer program periodically devalues, no exceptions. It's only a matter of timing. Diversification allows us to transfer to the program which has the best award pricing and availability today, and there is no way to know now who that will be in 2016 or beyond.