Is American Express (USA) steering churners to Business cards?
May 20, 2014, 12:29 pm
#1
Moderator
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,952
Is American Express (USA) steering churners to Business cards?
In another thread we are discussing new terms for personal cards which limit individuals to one new account bonus per product, lifetime, if enforced as written. However, small business cards are marketed very differently.
To see exactly what I see you should RIGHT CLICK the links below, and open in a Private or Incognito browser window:
Click HERE to see the list of all USA-issued personal cards.
Click HERE to see the list of of all USA-issued small business cards.
Notice that most of the Business cards are marked with an orange ribbon touting a "Welcome Offer", but none of the personal cards are marked - even though offers are, in fact, available on many personal cards.
Notice also that the terms on Business card offers have been simplified and somewhat liberalized compared to the terms earlier in the year which disqualified bonuses if you had held the same card, or a related card, in the previous 12 months:
To see exactly what I see you should RIGHT CLICK the links below, and open in a Private or Incognito browser window:
Click HERE to see the list of all USA-issued personal cards.
Click HERE to see the list of of all USA-issued small business cards.
Notice that most of the Business cards are marked with an orange ribbon touting a "Welcome Offer", but none of the personal cards are marked - even though offers are, in fact, available on many personal cards.
Notice also that the terms on Business card offers have been simplified and somewhat liberalized compared to the terms earlier in the year which disqualified bonuses if you had held the same card, or a related card, in the previous 12 months:
Welcome bonus offer not available to applicants who have or have had this product within the last 12 months.
May 20, 2014, 9:26 pm
#2
Join Date: Dec 2010
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Radisson Gold, Hyatt Globalist, M life Gold, IHG Spire
Posts: 918
I don't have any insider info, but it's better to view this as the latest attempt to push churners to business cards. I've been seeing better sign up offers for the biz cards for a while.
Meanwhile they are clearly pulling back from the heavy marketing on the personal cards (the new Everyday card being the obvious exception).
I won't cry for American Express, the company is very profitable and growing, but on the high end they are obviously getting pinched by Chase and now Citi too. The AmEx product line has become messy, and is in need of trimming. Maybe this is their first step, because they clearly need some new blood in product planning.
Meanwhile they are clearly pulling back from the heavy marketing on the personal cards (the new Everyday card being the obvious exception).
I won't cry for American Express, the company is very profitable and growing, but on the high end they are obviously getting pinched by Chase and now Citi too. The AmEx product line has become messy, and is in need of trimming. Maybe this is their first step, because they clearly need some new blood in product planning.
Last edited by jn in ca; May 20, 2014 at 9:34 pm
May 20, 2014, 9:32 pm
#3
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: 5280/8150
Programs: Flying and sleeping
Posts: 341
I wouldn't say the effort is directed at churners. Rather, it is a reaction to new legislation that imposes regulations on personal credit account but leaves business accounts relatively unrestricted.
May 20, 2014, 10:06 pm
#4
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Arizona
Posts: 5,688
Jul 15, 2014, 8:30 am
#5
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: NYC suburbs
Programs: UA LT Gold (BIS), AA LT Plat (CC SUBs & BD), Hilton Dia (CC), Hyatt Glob (BIB), et. al.
Posts: 3,274
Sorry I’m late to this thread. With the understanding that AmEx is, for whatever reason, effectively pushing churners to Business cards, can anyone direct me to a link for a Business version of the AmEx Hilton card? Thanks.
(Yeah, I know HHonors points are getting to be like Skypesos
. But the minimum spend for an AmEx Hilton card is relatively small and with no annual fee it’s like getting a HHonors bonus at the cost of a few minutes of time and a possible credit pull 
.)
(Yeah, I know HHonors points are getting to be like Skypesos
. But the minimum spend for an AmEx Hilton card is relatively small and with no annual fee it’s like getting a HHonors bonus at the cost of a few minutes of time and a possible credit pull .)
Jul 15, 2014, 8:33 am
#6
Moderator
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,952
Jul 15, 2014, 8:50 am
#7
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: NYC suburbs
Programs: UA LT Gold (BIS), AA LT Plat (CC SUBs & BD), Hilton Dia (CC), Hyatt Glob (BIB), et. al.
Posts: 3,274
Hi mia. Thank you for the timely and pertinent reply. That was my understanding as well but I was hoping someone else knew something I didn’t know. Looks like AmEx churning for redeemable welcome bonuses for many of us might now be limited to 3 different business cards per year instead of the 3 business cards and 4 personal cards per year in the past. Seems like 150-200K miles/points left on the table each year. Kinda stinks but them’s the rules. Thanks again for the quick reply.
Jul 21, 2014, 2:12 pm
#9
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 6
If I were to open a business card, would my personal MR points be combined with my business MR points?
I've got a 100k MR offer for a Platinum business card which I can easily spend the $10k with. Once I get the spend and points, would I be able to cancel the card and get my annual fee back?
I've got a 100k MR offer for a Platinum business card which I can easily spend the $10k with. Once I get the spend and points, would I be able to cancel the card and get my annual fee back?