American Express (USA) refreshed Green Card (October 2019).
Jan 7, 2019, 8:25 am
#1
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American Express (USA) refreshed Green Card (October 2019).
Pretty interesting rumor from doctor of credit. A refresh to the green card with bonus categories. I'm assuming this will come with an AF increase like all the other refreshes.
https://www.doctorofcredit.com/rumor...treaming-more/
4x on gas is interesting. However, I don't know if I actually spend that much in the category to justify the AF. While 3x is nice on anything for typical un-bonused categories I can just get 2x on the BBP and not worry about an AF.
https://www.doctorofcredit.com/rumor...treaming-more/
4x on gas is interesting. However, I don't know if I actually spend that much in the category to justify the AF. While 3x is nice on anything for typical un-bonused categories I can just get 2x on the BBP and not worry about an AF.
Last edited by JHake10; Jan 7, 2019 at 9:05 am
Jan 7, 2019, 9:00 am
#2
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I expected Green to be refreshed, but I thought the annual fee would stay at $95 to compete with Sapphire Preferred and Citi Premier. However, I suppose American Express could increase the fee for Green and leave Everyday Preferred as its $95 entry.
Jan 7, 2019, 10:25 am
#3
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3% on streaming? What's that, 40 MR a month for my Hulu No-commercials plan? If it was all entertainment including cable bills, that would be more enticing.
Jan 7, 2019, 10:37 am
#4
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THIS data is a year old, but it seems common for people to have more than one streaming subscription, and I gather this is increasing due to proprietary programming that is only available from one service.
Jan 7, 2019, 11:10 am
#5
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 50
If past is prologue, there’s going to be a sizable increase in the upfront annual fee with some sort of benefit/credit that if has 100% utilization brings the actual fee way down. I’m skeptical about Prime as that would have minimal breakage opportunities.
It seems to me that Amex wants to drive customers into a single product for the vast majority of their spend, with Gold being the sweet spot for most customers.
If customers really do want multipliers on a large number of categories, Amex will not cede space to competitors, but it will cost customers, probably upwards of $1,000 in annual fees for Green, Gold, and Platinum.
It seems to me that Amex wants to drive customers into a single product for the vast majority of their spend, with Gold being the sweet spot for most customers.
If customers really do want multipliers on a large number of categories, Amex will not cede space to competitors, but it will cost customers, probably upwards of $1,000 in annual fees for Green, Gold, and Platinum.
Jan 7, 2019, 2:44 pm
#6
Join Date: Jul 2016
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- As you said, the fee would not remain only slightly increased. My expectation would be fully increased from $95 to $195 or more.
- Given Amazon's relationship with Chase on cards, it would be a big shift to introduce such an arrangement with Amex. Doesn't mean it isn't possible, but I think the addition of Prime is wishful thinking.
Not sure why Amex would choose to refresh the Green card with these categories. I would think streaming would need a wider appeal, for a general entertainment category instead. But, what do I know. The green card has always confused me after they introduced the PRG and Platinum.
Jan 7, 2019, 3:11 pm
#7
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Even if one spends $50 a month between a bunch of different streaming services, you're looking at 150 MR points... Not enough to make the card significant.
Free Amazon Prime on the other hand? I think that would outweigh a $119 annual fee, or at least draw even. People may bash the card for being "even" when talking about the benefits they'll get, but at least they wouldn't be paying a $95 AF for what's basically a 1x on everything card (like before) with no benefits.
I'd like to see AMEX have the Green earn 1.5x MR on everything with a $50 airline incidental credit - I think this would be more attractive than the rumors cited in the article.
Given Amazon's relationship with Chase on cards, it would be a big shift to introduce such an arrangement with Amex. Doesn't mean it isn't possible, but I think the addition of Prime is wishful thinking.
Last edited by mikesyr18; Jan 7, 2019 at 3:29 pm
Jan 7, 2019, 5:53 pm
#8
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Gotta keep the AMEX Green as an undesirable card I guess - at least compared to the Gold and Platinum.
Even if one spends $50 a month between a bunch of different streaming services, you're looking at 150 MR points... Not enough to make the card significant.
Free Amazon Prime on the other hand? I think that would outweigh a $119 annual fee, or at least draw even. People may bash the card for being "even" when talking about the benefits they'll get, but at least they wouldn't be paying a $95 AF for what's basically a 1x on everything card (like before) with no benefits.
I'd like to see AMEX have the Green earn 1.5x MR on everything with a $50 airline incidental credit - I think this would be more attractive than the rumors cited in the article.
Amazon's latest credit card is through AMEX.
Even if one spends $50 a month between a bunch of different streaming services, you're looking at 150 MR points... Not enough to make the card significant.
Free Amazon Prime on the other hand? I think that would outweigh a $119 annual fee, or at least draw even. People may bash the card for being "even" when talking about the benefits they'll get, but at least they wouldn't be paying a $95 AF for what's basically a 1x on everything card (like before) with no benefits.
I'd like to see AMEX have the Green earn 1.5x MR on everything with a $50 airline incidental credit - I think this would be more attractive than the rumors cited in the article.
Amazon's latest credit card is through AMEX.
seems redundant to be offering all these cards.
also let us cash out MR at 1cpp and can merge the Cash magnet and blue cash cards into these as well.
Keep it simple, you know?
Jan 8, 2019, 7:00 am
#10
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 50
The EveryDay portfolio does seem to be the odd group out, particularly the Preferred. With Amex aggressively pushing Pay overtime Limits onto their charge cards, and in some cases automatically like the new Business Gold, it might make sense to have Green, Gold, & Platinum earning Membership Rewards, keep the basic EveryDay card and deprecate the Preferred.
Jan 8, 2019, 4:00 pm
#11
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The EveryDay portfolio does seem to be the odd group out, particularly the Preferred. With Amex aggressively pushing Pay overtime Limits onto their charge cards, and in some cases automatically like the new Business Gold, it might make sense to have Green, Gold, & Platinum earning Membership Rewards, keep the basic EveryDay card and deprecate the Preferred.
The Green is a useless card... AMEX should focus on making their charge cards a premium product, and the Green won't ever fit that category.
Jan 17, 2019, 12:35 pm
#12
Join Date: Jul 2012
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I'm not sure how typical this distribution is, however.
Jan 17, 2019, 5:37 pm
#13
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 998
I wonder how beneficial for Amex it would be to have quarterly free categories and how much that would piss odd streaming companies. (Since you can binge new shows). Like...
Three months free NetFlix (via Amex credit for up to $15/mo or something)
Three months free HBOGO or Showtime Anytime
Three months free iTunes/Pandora/Spotify
$20/mo credit for DirectTV Now or Sling or something.
If Amex dialed it in they could get near ~$195/year in credits which could justify a ~$195 AF. They also probably would see higher numbers of people that don’t utilize it because they would have to remember to cancel every 3 months. So for heavy streamers that had each service they would use all them, for power users like us we might sign up and cancel and use them. But for most people they probably would only have a movie service and music or movie and tv, or music and tv. So see pretty good value but at the same time not max it out...
Three months free NetFlix (via Amex credit for up to $15/mo or something)
Three months free HBOGO or Showtime Anytime
Three months free iTunes/Pandora/Spotify
$20/mo credit for DirectTV Now or Sling or something.
If Amex dialed it in they could get near ~$195/year in credits which could justify a ~$195 AF. They also probably would see higher numbers of people that don’t utilize it because they would have to remember to cancel every 3 months. So for heavy streamers that had each service they would use all them, for power users like us we might sign up and cancel and use them. But for most people they probably would only have a movie service and music or movie and tv, or music and tv. So see pretty good value but at the same time not max it out...
Jan 17, 2019, 7:16 pm
#14
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I would say the Green card is one of the most recognizable icons out there. I doubt Amex will ever get rid of it. Even Warren Buffett carries it!
Jan 18, 2019, 6:50 am
#15
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