Global Adventurer

I don't recall ever plopping down my platinum card. I insert it in the card reader. Only a few times I've handed it over to front desk receptionists at hotels to use for Amex Offers, because they didn't have a portable card reader. But that's about it.

ziggy29

And reality, most places you would “plunk it down” (except at the airport at the airline’s counter, or when necessary for offers or credits) are only going to be 1X spend. So apart from working off the spend needed for the SUB, it makes no sense to “plunk this down” at a restaurant or a grocery store (1X) or some other merchant (very likely 1X), unless there is a credit or an offer behind it.

mia

It appears the context of the original remark has been lost. Many people do not have another card which earns better rewards. Rewards are not an important consideration for everyone. I know someone who became agitated when American Express told him that he had accumulated hundreds of thousands of points "without his knowledge or permission," and he insisted that they unenroll his card from the program and flush the points. He was much more concerned about things like billing accuracy and US based customer service.

emcampbe

yup. I get plenty of value out of this, even without Centurion lounge access (which I essentially barely had due to usual lines, and now, since I mostly travel with family, including wife/2 <13 kids, so no ability to get them as AUs anyway, and I wouldn�t make the 75K spend limit, even if I thought it might be worth going for it). Use it for cell phone bill (for the insurance, which IMO seems pretty good compared to Freedom cards, for example, since it covers if screen gets cracked, IIRC), and where it makes sense - basically for offers and credits. I get my value there. Even airfare I�ll usually (plunk or plop down, or more usually, just put the number on the website) of my CSR since, while it�s 3x vs. 5x, I find the insurance better for the most part (includes bag delay, easier for a trip to qualify for, only needs partial payment, etc.).

I have no need to impress anyone by showing them I have an Amex. I�ll use the card that makes the most sense - if it�s the plat, great, if it�s my boring, no AF freedom, I have no problem with that (nothing wrong with a blue card, IMO).

Mama

I know some people prefer living a complicated life. One card for grocery (because x2), one card for gas(because x2), one card for restaurants (because x2), one card for hotel A (because x3), one card for hotel B (because x4)....etc.

ziggy29

I don�t think 3-4 cards is all that complicated. More than about 5, and yeah, unless you really enjoy the game, at some point you start reaching diminishing returns with more work.

Just in the Amex MR ecosystem, you have air travel and hotels through the portal (5X on Plat), dining and groceries (4X on Gold), other travel (3X on Green), everything else (2X on BBP assuming you went through the motions with gig or other side hustle). Throw in some other affinity card where you are loyal for specific benefits, maybe, and that�s it. Doesn�t seem too complicated to me. Others in the Chase universe do similar.

It may well be that the *average* person carries about 3 cards. But I�d wager that among Platinum holders, it is likely considerably higher. The average person won�t pay $695 every year for a card.

Adelphos

There can be diminishing returns to having many cards, especially with how Amex makes you get specific cards for specific purposes. I have said this for years, but this year is finally the year where I try to simplify my card lineup by getting rid of a number of cards. I am likely to drop two Citi cards, one maybe two Amex cards, and some other extraneous cards. That said there are still cards I need/want to pick up, including cards in the Chase family (getting another Sapphire bonus, maybe a Marriott, United or British Airways card) and Capital One (Venture X). There is always another card to get, another bonus to churn.

notquiteaff

Same here. I have 17 cards. Many of them see very little action, but earn their place in my sock drawer through benefits such as elite status or free nights or companion passes. But I am in the process of culling the herd, to make room for new SUBs and also to simplify my life somewhat.

My physical wallet really only has 2-3 cards when I am not traveling (my Google Wallet has a lot more). At the moment I just carry

- CFU (3X dining, pharmacy)
- Hyatt (2.6X everyday spend, 3.6X dining due to Chase spend offer of 5K for $3K on top of regular earnings)
- UA Gateway (5X for groceries and gas)

For the last year or so, Chase has been running a series of spend promos, so while it is the Gateway card now for groceries and gas, it was the Explorer card in Q4 and the Explorer card in Q3. So cards rotate in and out of my wallet for 3 months of daily spend depending on promos.

Then occasionally when I head to Staples or Office Depot I pull the Ink Cash out of the sock drawer for a gift card promo purchase. Or when I have a Chase or Amex Offer, I take a card out for a specific purchase or use Google Pay

All other cards get mostly used for travel spend, which is usually online or at a hotel.

Even with 17 cards, it�s not that difficult to optimize spend. And I don�t obsess about it; if I mess up and use a suboptimal card, no biggie.

mia

Not necessary, Just apply, using your own name rather than a business name.

Doppy

Does the company still exist? I used it a few times when AmEx first started offering it, I haven't needed it or seen it listed on the website of an online store in line a decade.

mia

Shoprunner is owned by FedEx, they have scores of participating merchants, primarily in apparel category. https://www.shoprunner.com/

ChurnieEls

Pro tip: use Apple Wallet and you can carry up to 8 cards and use them as necessary based on the multipliers.

Mama

OK, if you insist.

ziggy29

True, but I don't think her point was simply having to carry a lot of cards, just not wanting to play the game of figuring out how to maximize rewards with each spend.

Adelphos

Just got my second $300 Equinox credit by switching to my Charles Schwab Amex Platinum. Now I will switch my billing either to Delta Reserve or Cap One Venture until 2024. For me, as long as I prioritize Equinox membership, it makes sense to keep multiple Amex Platinum cards. Time to explore Morgan Stanley Amex Plat�