If I may,
summarizing:
…Business Gold … refreshed … AF … from $295 to $375 for applications received as of 2/1. … Amex is raising an AF in exchange for a coupon book of credits.
Originally Posted by
shdflyer
GONE are 4X monthly categories SHIPPING and AIRFARE BOUGHT DIRECTLY FROM AIRLINES (if either is in your two highest monthly spend of all categories offered) and 25% rebate when buying tickets through amex using points (giving effective 1.33% cpp)…
Originally Posted by
SanDiego1K
… the 2 (new) categories where your business spends the most each billing cycle from 6 categories:
Transit purchases including …
Monthly wireless telephone service charges … .
Opining:
Originally Posted by
richardparker
… 4x shipping is the main reason I have this card …
Originally Posted by
SanDiego1K
… 4x on shipping is a big reason this card appeals. Now, it seems as though the benefits are meant to appeal to consumers not business owners…..
Different businesses have different spend categories, perhaps the changes are intended to appeal to businesses with large spend in the 2 new categories?
Originally Posted by
SanDiego1K
… We do get 3x shipping on one of our Chase business cards …
Perhaps the changes are intended as a shot across the bow* of Chase’s Ink business cards, some of which offer 5X on wireless and/or 3x on (most) transit (travel) purchases?
Originally Posted by
nemenor
… just keep the coupon book for themselves and sell me the SUB points for $375. No need to print a card for the drawer. ….
Agreed. Some/many people get this card (almost) entirely for the SUB, for them the changes (other than the increased AF) are of little significance and the higher AF can be viewed as (another inevitable) devaluation. In this case, a relatively small devaluation (compared to something like a 60% increase in miles required for an award).
FWIW, trying to see the silver lining, this change gives us all another reason (perhaps among all the other gibberish reasons
that I and some others discuss with AmEx) to request/expect/receive a generous retention offer.
Thank you’s:
Originally Posted by
SpaethCo
The doc is dispensing solid advice here in his usual pleasant manner.
At a minimum if you cancel the card before your first year is up it's almost certain to trigger a clawback of the sign-up bonus MR points. … offer terms … if you cancel or downgrade your account within 12 months after acquiring it; … or we may take away Membership Rewards® points … We may also cancel this Card account and other Card accounts you may have with us.
Thank you for the compliment, I’m flattered and humbled. Thanks for pointing out more specifically, accurately and forcefully the risks of premature closure of an account.
(* “Shot Across the Bow”: Etymology; from the naval tactic of firing a warning shot across the bow or front portion of a ship in order to force it to stop or alter its course. Idiomatic: a warning that negative consequences will be faced if something is carried out or allowed to continue, a statement or gesture intended to frighten someone into changing their course of action.)