Merrill+ VISA [Consolidated]
Mar 14, 2005 | 5:57 am
#63
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 3,233
I've seen some trash the Centurion card while others envy it. I think we all need to realize that it is simply a tool. To hold a a certain colored card becuase one lacks self concept, is rather foolish. Only if the benefits of the card can be utilized, should one obtain a particular card. Keep in mind that it would be rather simple to obtain a Centurion card simply by charging your business expenses to a no fee Hilton card, for example. Given that your employer reimburses you for your expenses, how impressive is it to then pay $2,500 for a Centurion.
Mar 18, 2005 | 9:33 am
#64
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: BTR; SW Alist, Marriott Titanium, Choice Diamond
Programs: National Rental - Executive
Posts: 322
Merrill seems like a great primary card but not the best for someone spending under $10k. Plus there doesn't appear to be any sort of sign-up bonus.
Mar 19, 2005 | 12:28 am
#65
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Coconut Creek, FL
Programs: AA Lifetime Platinum-3 MM Marriott Lifetime Plat Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 980
Originally Posted by stevens397
I had spent most of my dollars on my Starwood AMEX and some on a Centurion. Thanks to this board, I got the MERRILL+ card - mostly for the free Ritz nights. I reached the +2 ($20,000) category two weeks ago. I will seriously have to reconsider my plans after reading this thread.
My Starwood points can be used pretty much anywhere, anytime. To divert my business to MERRILL only to find out I have 4 Ritz certificates I can't use would be very distressing. My plan when I started was to use the 4 nights for NJ teachers convention (early November) in Naples.
That said, as I posted elsewhere, the 20,000 level apparently will get American Airlines to match my Gold status on a few airlines. We'll see what that's worth.
My Starwood points can be used pretty much anywhere, anytime. To divert my business to MERRILL only to find out I have 4 Ritz certificates I can't use would be very distressing. My plan when I started was to use the 4 nights for NJ teachers convention (early November) in Naples.
That said, as I posted elsewhere, the 20,000 level apparently will get American Airlines to match my Gold status on a few airlines. We'll see what that's worth.
Rob
Mar 20, 2005 | 8:58 am
#66
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 63
All of you posters with complaints about the Merrill + Rewards Program have just been "LYNCHED," and I have no doubt that you will suffer many more "lynchings" when trying to use the Merrill + Rewards Program before you crawl beaten down and exasperated to American Express where you can get a Rewards Program credit card that works as advertised in the form of an Amex Hilton HHonors or Starwood Preferred. Why do you think the card is black manure colored with an outline of a bull on the front of the card -- I think that it's Merill's way of informing consumers from the outset that the Rewards Program is "bull _ _ _ _."
Last edited by dbayeddy2; Mar 20, 2005 at 9:07 am
Mar 20, 2005 | 11:02 am
#67
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Hudson Valley, NY USA
Posts: 279
Originally Posted by dbayeddy2
All of you posters with complaints about the Merrill + Rewards Program have just been "LYNCHED," and I have no doubt that you will suffer many more "lynchings" when trying to use the Merrill + Rewards Program before you crawl beaten down and exasperated to American Express where you can get a Rewards Program credit card that works as advertised in the form of an Amex Hilton HHonors or Starwood Preferred. Why do you think the card is black manure colored with an outline of a bull on the front of the card -- I think that it's Merill's way of informing consumers from the outset that the Rewards Program is "bull _ _ _ _."
Mar 20, 2005 | 4:33 pm
#68
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: On a Bridge
Programs: Starwood Residences Owner, AA 1MM, MP Gold, Avis-Hertz PC, Ritz Gold
Posts: 1,072
Originally Posted by Rawhide
Didn't you post a similar tirade in another thread?
Mar 21, 2005 | 8:40 pm
#70
Join Date: May 1999
Location: Tucson, AZ
Programs: Marriott LTT, Hilton Dia, Avis Pres, Hertz Pres, National EE, UA Silver
Posts: 874
Originally Posted by JAGMAP
Additionally, I was told there are 2 versions of the card. One version has a fixed APR of 5.9%, and the other is 7.4% but you get offers for lower rates (currently offering 2.9% for 12 billing cycles). You can pick between the two. I pay my balance off each month so neither appealed, but you can't beat 2.9% for 12 months.
Last edited by MarshKing; Mar 21, 2005 at 8:43 pm Reason: Editted to correct html for bolding of 'variable'
Mar 21, 2005 | 9:15 pm
#71
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Northwest NJ
Programs: Starwood Platinum,Marriott Platinum, United Silver
Posts: 2,313
About 2-3 weeks ago, I sent documentation for the American Airlines Elite status match. I was currently gold on Continental, Delta and US Air. Checked the American website and now, thanks to the Merrill + card, I am Platinum Elite at American. Not sure if it means anything, but I'll take it for free.
Mar 22, 2005 | 6:33 am
#72
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: CT/ Germany - Ich spreche deutsch
Programs: UA Plat, Bonvoy LTTE, HH Dia, HY Expl
Posts: 4,801
Originally Posted by stevens397
About 2-3 weeks ago, I sent documentation for the American Airlines Elite status match. I was currently gold on Continental, Delta and US Air. Checked the American website and now, thanks to the Merrill + card, I am Platinum Elite at American.
Apr 4, 2005 | 10:13 pm
#73
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA - UA/1K
Posts: 459
Has anyone tried to get the Marriott and Sofitel benefits:
Marriott: $100 per night in resort credits toward spa, dining, golf and resort shops with a min. 2 night stay.
Sofitel: Purchase the first night and get the second night free plus a complimentary breakfast at 11 exclusive Sofitel hotels in the U.S. and Canada.
These seem like very nice deals if they apply to discounted rates, esp. since they don't seem to restrict the number of times you can use the offer.
Marriott: $100 per night in resort credits toward spa, dining, golf and resort shops with a min. 2 night stay.
Sofitel: Purchase the first night and get the second night free plus a complimentary breakfast at 11 exclusive Sofitel hotels in the U.S. and Canada.
These seem like very nice deals if they apply to discounted rates, esp. since they don't seem to restrict the number of times you can use the offer.
Apr 9, 2005 | 7:02 pm
#74
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 86
Ritz Carlton Certs
Well just racked up another $20k in charges and earned another 1 night Ritz Stay. Here is the catch though, the certs you earn this year expire on Dec. 30, 2005. Yup, they expire THIS year. I asked the rep when the Ritz Certs expired, and she told me that they will expire this year. She said that they may discontinue the Ritz Cert award and subsitute it with another similar type program (such as with another hotel) after this year. I can confirm this as I received the cert today and it does indeed expire at the end of this year. I was really hoping to use the ones that I earn this year next year. Now I got too many certs to use from last year and the ones I'll earn this year.
Apr 13, 2005 | 9:29 am
#75
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 177
I called ML Visa+ for the buy 1 get 1 economy class on British Airways for late May. They quoted me the unrestricted economy fare to be around $2250! That comes out to be about $1100 per ticket. I don't see how this is any benefit at all. BA is selling economy class tix (restricted of course) for only about $525.