DL Amex Reserve Bonuses and the purchase of a car
Nov 6, 2018, 2:35 pm
#31
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: PNS
Programs: DL PM / 1MM "Enhancee" (Frequent Flyer) Since 1990
Posts: 1,156
Well, quick update on the buying of a new car with my Delta AMEX reserve card. One week before exchange was to be sealed, the dealer did a 360 and decided to not let me put any large sum on my DL reserve card (to scoop all the bonus miles and MQMs.) I think he became suddenly aware he couldn't legally do this deal. So it all went wrong in the end. Still I did learn alot in the process...
Nov 6, 2018, 6:37 pm
#32
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: HSV
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Nov 6, 2018, 9:33 pm
#33
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AA EXP, IHG Diamond, IC Amb
Posts: 5,508
Well, quick update on the buying of a new car with my Delta AMEX reserve card. One week before exchange was to be sealed, the dealer did a 360 and decided to not let me put any large sum on my DL reserve card (to scoop all the bonus miles and MQMs.) I think he became suddenly aware he couldn't legally do this deal. So it all went wrong in the end. Still I did learn alot in the process...
What is the color of that? Is that one of the BMW Individual colors? I like it!
Nov 6, 2018, 9:50 pm
#34
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
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Posts: 100,369
Well, quick update on the buying of a new car with my Delta AMEX reserve card. One week before exchange was to be sealed, the dealer did a 360 and decided to not let me put any large sum on my DL reserve card (to scoop all the bonus miles and MQMs.) I think he became suddenly aware he couldn't legally do this deal. So it all went wrong in the end. Still I did learn alot in the process...
That's a very nice car.
My fairly recent experience in buying a new Mercedes from a local dealer I know is that they were happy to take my AmEx DL Reserve card (which I've been using at the dealership for service over the last decade) over the phone for a big deposit and for various fees and charges, but they wanted a personal check (isn't this more risky if you're writing the check and driving away) for the main purchase price. There was no mention of merchant fees, although I didn't push much as I was going to max out on the MQMs on my card in a couple months anyway.
My fairly recent experience in buying a new Mercedes from a local dealer I know is that they were happy to take my AmEx DL Reserve card (which I've been using at the dealership for service over the last decade) over the phone for a big deposit and for various fees and charges, but they wanted a personal check (isn't this more risky if you're writing the check and driving away) for the main purchase price. There was no mention of merchant fees, although I didn't push much as I was going to max out on the MQMs on my card in a couple months anyway.
Nov 7, 2018, 7:24 am
#36
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: RDU
Programs: DL PM
Posts: 44
FWIW there are some new payment services that allow you to use a CC for purchases that normally limit CC usage or don't accept them. 2.5% service fee, better than 3% if you wanted to max out your DL AMEX MQM bonuses:
https://www.plastiq.com/how-it-works/
Saw this example of a guy buying a Tesla 3 with a Chase card via Plastiq:
https://www.businessinsider.com/tesl...plastiq-2018-6
I guess you'd want to compare the 2.5% fee to the benefits you'd gain with a MQM boost - say you get to DM, probably not the worst trade, depending what you're in to
https://www.plastiq.com/how-it-works/
Saw this example of a guy buying a Tesla 3 with a Chase card via Plastiq:
https://www.businessinsider.com/tesl...plastiq-2018-6
I guess you'd want to compare the 2.5% fee to the benefits you'd gain with a MQM boost - say you get to DM, probably not the worst trade, depending what you're in to
Nov 7, 2018, 10:33 am
#37
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHX, SEA
Programs: Avis President's Club, Global Entry, Hilton/Marriott Gold. No more DL/AA status.
Posts: 4,421
So for $900 in fees, OP would have earned 45,000 SM ($450) and 15,000 MQM. Are Medallion miles worth $0.03 each? If someone is close to Diamond, maybe....
Nov 7, 2018, 10:35 am
#38
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,369
It's hard/impossible to find any MRs that yield MQMs for less than three cents each. Of course, they're only valuable if MQD requirements can be met.