Metal Credit Cards, Important to you? Why?
May 3, 2013, 1:52 am
#46
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 117
I just called JPM and the rep told me the Select card has a sheet of metal between two layers of plastic with an embedded chip. Sounds like the Sapphire but with a chip. And afaik the Marriott Premier is also metal with the acct info laser engraved on the front (not the back like Sapphire) with a chip, so Sapphire should be able to get a chip too.
On the other hand, my card might not be the most recent version of the card (maybe a year old?)...so maybe that was all for naught.
May 3, 2013, 6:46 am
#47
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Stockholm, Sweden + Austin, Tx
Programs: "But, I'm a GLOBALIST guest...."
Posts: 2,848
I'm not saying i prefer plastic over metal. What I mean is that the single sided metal cards with flat numbers and strip on the same side is a PITA when traveling. I have to explain and point to the fact that the strip and numbers are on the same side at almost every cashier. that's after all the flipping and confused looks. It doesn't help that the strip is blue and blends in with the background blue.
On this note, Chase RC is replacing their cards with a chipped version (including sending a return envelope to destroy the cards) - I'm wondering if the new ones are going to be metal or not.
May 3, 2013, 7:03 am
#48
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,818
An examination of my JPM Select does not show any signs of metal between the plastic, and a comparison of thickness between my JPM Select and other credit cards suggests they're as equal in thickness as can be determined with the human eye.
On the other hand, my card might not be the most recent version of the card (maybe a year old?)...so maybe that was all for naught.
On the other hand, my card might not be the most recent version of the card (maybe a year old?)...so maybe that was all for naught.
May 7, 2013, 4:58 am
#49
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: LA area
Programs: SPG Plat, Priority Pass
Posts: 319
Makes me laugh, cause a couple of months ago I had a waitress at a very high end restaurant here in Austin flip my card over 20 times trying to figure out what it was, consulting with another waitress, and final came back to the table to ask if it was mastercard, visa or amex. While she was probably closer to room temperature IQ, the cards seem to be a bit confusing outside of their metal materials.
May 7, 2013, 12:56 pm
#51
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Rockin' the Bakken
Programs: Several
Posts: 978
Banks like to think that carbon copy imprinters are gone and there's no need for raised numbers anymore.
But somethings are better to be kept as is for backwards compatibility. Carbon copy imprinters still have use in places where there's no telecommunication access, take out deliveries, incidentals at places of stay, or as a back up during natural disasters when power is disrupted. If it has worked and is still is an accepted form of payment as the back up, keep it.
As an aside, don't international duty free purchases on aircraft use this method still? That seems very applicable to a travel type purchase for people who use credit cards.
May 7, 2013, 1:12 pm
#52
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: NYC/LA
Programs: DL Plat, AA Plat Pro, Marriott Titanium, IHG Diamond Amb
Posts: 7,486
I think most airlines now use portable POS terminals for on-board purchases, including international duty free.
May 7, 2013, 1:54 pm
#53
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: LAX
Programs: AA EXP 1.5MM, Asiana Club Silver, KE Morning Calm, Hyatt Platinum, Amtrak Select
Posts: 7,161
Yep. FAs use a portable terminal with a swiper or a chip insert. It's done as an offline process while in the air. Once they are on the ground, the terminal is hooked up for online processing. You can tell that's how it's done if you check your credit card account daily; when you buy something onboard, the transaction doesn't show up as a pending transaction until a day or two later.
May 8, 2013, 11:29 pm
#54
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 117
But obviously I can't be carrying around a beat up card everywhere, so naturally I took this as an excuse to order a new card.
I'm curious to see if they send a metal one...
May 12, 2013, 5:14 am
#55
Join Date: Nov 2008
Programs: SPG Gold, Hilton Diamon, IHG Spire
Posts: 374
Exactly. I live in SE Asia. So its more language and culture as opposed to your not so bright waitress. And the amount of flipping or rejection of the one sided metal cards has totaled alot of wasted time and inconvenience. Until they start making 2 sided metal cards with normal raised numbers, I'm sending back my metal cards immediately for plastic replacements.
Most of the times, they compliment the look and feel. CSP is poor man's Centurion. I once had 6 ladies surrounding the card to see what it is (oh well, office ladies)
May 12, 2013, 10:18 am
#56
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: HHonors Diamond
Posts: 731
and Chase can't get the EMV in the CSP because the darn "preferred" lettering is taking up the space where the EMV should be. Okay.....
I say, paint all the JP selects blue (or sapphire), and where "JP Morgan" is, replace it with Chase Sapphire Preferred and be done with it. Wow, I should be a credit card engineer.
I say, paint all the JP selects blue (or sapphire), and where "JP Morgan" is, replace it with Chase Sapphire Preferred and be done with it. Wow, I should be a credit card engineer.
May 12, 2013, 8:15 pm
#57
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 117
So I kinda, maybe, sort of accidentally put my Select in the cash-slot of a machine, and it got pretty beat up. Stupid, I know.
But obviously I can't be carrying around a beat up card everywhere, so naturally I took this as an excuse to order a new card. I'm curious to see if they send a metal one...
But obviously I can't be carrying around a beat up card everywhere, so naturally I took this as an excuse to order a new card.
I'm curious to see if they send a metal one...
May 13, 2013, 8:27 pm
#58
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: LA area
Programs: SPG Plat, Priority Pass
Posts: 319
I haven't had troubles with my CSP in SEA. A few cashiers flip and look back and forth to figure out the stripe to swipe. A few times "don't accept this" but ok after I point out that it's a Visa.
Most of the times, they compliment the look and feel. CSP is poor man's Centurion. I once had 6 ladies surrounding the card to see what it is (oh well, office ladies)
Most of the times, they compliment the look and feel. CSP is poor man's Centurion. I once had 6 ladies surrounding the card to see what it is (oh well, office ladies)
CSP is not a poor man's Centurion in SEA. No one knows what it is. Amex Platinum is is pretty highly regarded. And Citibank in Thailand (and SG, HK,etc) has a USD$1000 annual fee, invite only Ultima card. And there is the Visa Infinite cards across SEA too. Of course Thailand is strict on any foreigner, regardless of working permit and salary level. You are made to jump through endless hoops for a regular CC. It's likely I'll never qualify for a elite Thailand issued card.
the OL's were probably intrigued by the unique color and the metal. Since most cards are black or silver colored.
May 13, 2013, 11:48 pm
#59
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: UA 1K, AA EP, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Platinum, M life Noir
Posts: 1,279
The J.P. Morgan Select card is a plain plastic credit card, no metal insert of any kind. The card hasn't been discontinued, it's just no longer offered by Chase Private Client, only J.P. Morgan Wealth Management (PB-HNW, PB-UHNW and JPMS).
May 15, 2013, 3:17 am
#60
Join Date: Nov 2008
Programs: SPG Gold, Hilton Diamon, IHG Spire
Posts: 374
CSP is not a poor man's Centurion in SEA. No one knows what it is. Amex Platinum is is pretty highly regarded. And Citibank in Thailand (and SG, HK,etc) has a USD$1000 annual fee, invite only Ultima card. And there is the Visa Infinite cards across SEA too. Of course Thailand is strict on any foreigner, regardless of working permit and salary level. You are made to jump through endless hoops for a regular CC. It's likely I'll never qualify for a elite Thailand issued card.
the OL's were probably intrigued by the unique color and the metal. Since most cards are black or silver colored.
the OL's were probably intrigued by the unique color and the metal. Since most cards are black or silver colored.