I am very happy with my Platinum card. Each month I charge lots of things to the card and once a month AMEX take the equivalent out of my account, that works just fine.

When I have had a problem, it has always been resolved, quickly, efficiently and without fuss.

I don't use any of the travel services, I have a travel agent to do that.

I don't use any of the lifestyle services, I have a Secretary to do that.

I don't worry about the insurances, I have other policies that take care of that.

I don't pay a fee, so I am happy there. I have never used any MR points, but maybe oneday I will.

My main card is issued in The Netherlands, so I don't pay anything for supplementary cards either.


So all in all, I am very happy with the card. Now I must be about the perfect customer for AMEX... I spend a considerable amount on the card and it is nice mix of personal and T&E.

What benefits does the card offer me that a Green card doesn't? What benefits does the card offer me that the Market Harborough Building Society Visa doesn't? not a single one.

And that is what I think is wrong with the whole AMEX proposition: the 'benefits' are largely of no benefit to the very people they are trying to attract and retain as customers (we have secretaries, travel agents, insurance polices, memebership of FFPs etc).

Now we all figured this out didn't we? And AMEX realised we had figure this out as well... but they had a great idea... they though, if we recycle the same old useless benefits, promise better service, put some marketing spin on a new card, give it a fancy name, pretend it is exclusive and paint it black, we should be able to fool these suckers for a few more years - in fact they thought this was such a good idea they could even charge more.

And that is exactly what they have done, and we my friends have fallen for it.


Personally, if I was allowed (by my employer) to charge to a cash-back visa/mastercard, I would take the 1% rebate and was my AMEX's down the sink.

We stick with it for one reason and one reason only - snobbery. We all like to show that we have something the person in the line behind us does not have. You know it, I know it, AMES sure as hell no it.

We are all suckers! Don't try and fool yourself into believeing the benefits make the card-fee worthwhile. They don't.


Nick