Originally Posted by
DMSFCA
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.
Yes. What I'm saying is that if you *do* tip well, it will be easier for them to remember you because of the black card, and that translates into seas parting for you next time (IME).
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!"
That someone on the forums would be me! :-)
Since the card is now titanium, I've found that I get less of that than expected, and more "Why is this so heavy?". My new comback (which you are free to use, too!) is:
"That's because I just paid the bill and there's still a lot of credit left. You'll see that it gets lighter after you run the charge."