Concierge Services from Non Elite Cards?
 

Anyone have an idea which concierge service is better amongst the non-elite cards?

Citi PPE
Merril+
Visa Signature
Generic World Mastercard

Merrill+ and Visa Signature
 

In my experience, the Merrill+ and Visa Signature are better. Also, I find the Visa Signature concierge website helpful when researching a destination and it is the best integrated I have seen including the specials and discounts for Visa cardholders.

Merrill+ has done well on arranging entertainment activities, dinner, spas, etc. I have not tried the others.

merrill+3 ($50K/year spend) = best, possibly same as centurion card (circles) considering its free, you cannot come anywhere near that.

citi chairman card is not a concierge, they are a personal assistant. regular citi mastercards dont even act as a personal assistant, making them pretty worthless. (vipdesk PA and vipdesk)

citi amex cards have entre, and im not sure what concierge that uses..

I like the World Wlite over the Visa Signature, though both have trouble getting me a table on Friday night with 1hr. notice :D

I don't have a world card but does that use the same concierge services as the world elite?

Since I don't have a chairman, what's the difference between a PA and the normal vipdesk?

What types of things can the PA do that the normal vipdesk can't?

So far I've used the normal vipdesk to book me reservations and do research on an area that I was visiting for business.

vipdesk PA = "personal assistant"

"research on an area" like what kind of information did they give you?

and were they able to secure any quality reservations?

I had the AMEX PLAT and thought the concierge service was ok...nothing to write home about....

with Chairman's PA -- I love it...but I have no need for reservations at the last minute and trying to get in hot clubs....since I am not single and that phase of my life has passed...I do not think "hot clubs" allow 17 month old kids...;) ;)

I need a PA....someone to handle plane tickets, hotel bookings and so forth....

example: My wife and I are planning to go to Maldives in Jan 2008 and are staying at the Taj group of hotels. I used to be a SILVER card holder with them but it has been 3 yrs since I have used them. I told PA to call them and try to see if they will extend the status....mission accomplished...I am now again a SILVER member and will stay at their hotel in Maldives...and after this stay I will be GOLD

I could have called Taj directly in India, but that would have wasted a lot of my time....

Loving it Anaggie. I would assume that there is little difference among the non-elite concierge services. I could be wrong, however. I have yet to use the Saks WEMC concierge service (nor do I have the number handy) but will try it out and report back with comarision to AMEX Centurion and Citi Chairman if anyone wants...

that comparison should be amusing :)

one must remember that as in all phases of life, one saying holds true -- "You get what you pay for"....

so in this regard, if your card if free, what type of service does it warrant? If one pays 75 and another pays 400, what service does that warrant?

PPE and Chairman use the same VIPDESK, but Chairman service is very different from PPE....trust me I know....I used to have PPE before Chairman....

I'd love to pay the 400 for a chairman, but since the chairman isn't available I can't.

What is Saks WEMC?

Do you think its services would be of any greater value than the others here in New York City?

world elite mastercard = WEMC

Has anyone had really good or bad experience with the Merrill+ concierge? I am starting to use them for simple requests like Dinner reservations at restaurants and spas, but I have not had an opportunity to try anything complex. I wanted to use them for 3 Final Four tickets. The best that they could do was a block of 4 tickets. I used RazorGator instead.

If you respond, please indicate whether you are a +1, +2, or +3 (although Circles claims that the only difference is that +3 card members get a named concierge).