Originally Posted by
aviators99
Interesting point about the wallet candy for someone who is single, etc. People often "accuse" Centurion holders of getting it only for that reason, but for someone in your situation there is legitimate value. I guess I've found that the fact that the card is physically different actually had more use than I expected.
I get what you are saying and agree, with you, but having had a Cent card since the beginning (oh, you $1k annual fee, I miss you...) I've never "got it" when people talk about the seas parting because you march in with your black amex. Mine never comes out until the end of a transaction or meal, after everyone is done, and I've taken to placing it face-down just because it seem pretentious sometimes, but other than what the quoted post said (which I think was insightful - you might be remembered next time), the payment for services often comes post-experience. You don't go into a restaurant and slap down your Amex and say "Ok, the king has arrived! Give me the extra attention, free food and drinks!" I would think the opposite - they might assume you have deep pockets, will order large, and tip well.
It's just a charge card. Like everyone else, I ponder that annual fee every October, but the reality is that 95% of my travel is domestic, and flying USAir I get upgraded maybe 18 out of 20 segments, including companion, but I don't accumulate the kind of mileage to get Platinum status on my own. Unlike some of the horror stories on here, I've always received outstanding service any time I've called.
I'd love if they would kick down some love in the form of gifts to help mitigate the annual fee, I was on the "don't send me anything" list for years before I realized it, although I've never gotten anything after being removed from the list, either.
So far it's useful to me for the airline status and hotels, which I know are pretty pedestrian levels to most of the forum members here.
But not for eye-candy. Out of the tens of thousands of times I've used it, I've probably had it recognized as the almighty-black-card maybe a dozen times, tops. Most of the time (lots of times) I get the "Wow, this is really heavy". It gets more attention in label or brand-conscious cities like Dallas or Atlanta than it does here in California.
Someone at a Mexican place was looking at it once and did the "I didn't know they came in black" comment and thanks to someone on the forums I said "It's for the people with REALLY bad credit." to which he smiled and slyly replied "If that was the case, I'd have one of these!"