Last edit by: TheDapperDon
Bonus category spending is now capped at $50k per year for new accounts. For now, this does not apply to existing cardholders, although Amex may continue to close accounts for excessive spend in bonus categories. This card is less viable as an MS instrument. Consider factors that may have led to these closures when sharing personal experiences.
Oct 22, 2014 onwards: Many people getting cancellation email from Amex. As of Dec 13, 2014, shutdown reports continue. Shutdowns appear to be triggered by spending on the card or upon statement closure, but not always
Some who have been shutdown are reporting back that AMEX is declining new non-OBC card applications due to "unsatisfactory relationship". (However, see here for an example where reconsideration was successful.) It is unclear at this time the length/extent of this Adverse Action/Ban.
Others have succeeded in getting new cards, including new OBCs, but consider your relationship with Amex and how much you value that and this card when deciding how to use it.
There might be some impact with other issuers. If AMEX sends you a cancellation it goes on your record as a cancellation by AMEX, not a cancellation by cardholder. While FICO score does not distinguish between closed by issuer and closed by cardholder, on manual review it may raise questions. However, issuers close cards for benign reasons as well (such as non-use) so unless several cards have been closed it probably won't cause a rejection by itself.
So, if you still feel it is worth it:
Application Link: Copy & paste the following link into a incognito window in Chrome or InPrivate Browsing in IE, Private Session in Firefox. There have been reports of people who got the card in the last couple of months getting shut down because of the rush to spend the initial $6,500.
Do NOT post "Link isn't working" until you have tried it incognito/private browsing and it fails there.
Up to 5% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations & select U.S. drugstores (Everyday Purchases). Up to 1% Cash Back on other purchases. For your first $6,500¹ spend in a reward year², you will earn 1% on Everyday Purchases³ (5% after 6500⁴), and 0.5% on other purchases (then 1%).
0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months.
Eligible purchases do NOT include fees or interest charges, balance transfers, cash advances, purchases of travelers checks, purchases or reloading of prepaid cards, or purchases of other cash equivalents. Additional terms and restrictions apply. (Presume these T&Cs are standard and that all credit cards state this)
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
¹ First '$6,500' is spend on all purchases.
² 'Reward year' is the 12 billing periods in a row beginning with the one in which the anniversary of your Card Account occurs.
³ 'everyday purchases' refers to U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations & select U.S. drugstores, not all purchases.
* Read the fine print for 'gas' purchases! Right from AMEX T&C's:
...Everyday Purchases are: ... $400 or less of gasoline at gas stations located in the U.S. (superstores, supermarkets and warehouse clubs that sell gasoline are not considered gas stations)... A >$400 purchase at a gas station will get 5% for the first $400 and 1% thereafter. E.g., for something, say, $503.95, you would earn $21.04 CB [($400*5%)+(103.95*1%)].
⁴ 5% kicks in immediately after hitting $6500.(mid-statement). In fact, it will even kick in mid-purchase and a portion of the purchase will credit at the higher rate.
* Reward dollars for the previous statement period show up a day or two after the current statement period closes.
* Most cash back redemptions will be applied to your statement within 2–3 days.
* Helpful post regarding moving CL between cards. Thanks lad2
* How to Visually Distinguish the Three Types of Blue Cash Cards:
Blue Cash (old) has a "<" character to the left of the word CASH
Blue Cash Everyday has a circle to the right of the word CASH, with the "Everyday" wording at the back.
Blue Cash Preferred has the word PREFERRED printed vertically on the extreme left side.
If you get the error message "You cannot be logged in. Please contact the number on the back of your card." when trying to redeem Reward Dollars online, it may be because you have too many closed accounts still showing in your scrolling images of cards. Delete the closed ones, then try to redeem again.
Oct 22, 2014 onwards: Many people getting cancellation email from Amex. As of Dec 13, 2014, shutdown reports continue. Shutdowns appear to be triggered by spending on the card or upon statement closure, but not always
Some who have been shutdown are reporting back that AMEX is declining new non-OBC card applications due to "unsatisfactory relationship". (However, see here for an example where reconsideration was successful.) It is unclear at this time the length/extent of this Adverse Action/Ban.
Others have succeeded in getting new cards, including new OBCs, but consider your relationship with Amex and how much you value that and this card when deciding how to use it.
There might be some impact with other issuers. If AMEX sends you a cancellation it goes on your record as a cancellation by AMEX, not a cancellation by cardholder. While FICO score does not distinguish between closed by issuer and closed by cardholder, on manual review it may raise questions. However, issuers close cards for benign reasons as well (such as non-use) so unless several cards have been closed it probably won't cause a rejection by itself.
So, if you still feel it is worth it:
Application Link: Copy & paste the following link into a incognito window in Chrome or InPrivate Browsing in IE, Private Session in Firefox. There have been reports of people who got the card in the last couple of months getting shut down because of the rush to spend the initial $6,500.
Do NOT post "Link isn't working" until you have tried it incognito/private browsing and it fails there.
Code:
https://www304.americanexpress.com/credit-card/blue-cash/25330
Up to 5% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations & select U.S. drugstores (Everyday Purchases). Up to 1% Cash Back on other purchases. For your first $6,500¹ spend in a reward year², you will earn 1% on Everyday Purchases³ (5% after 6500⁴), and 0.5% on other purchases (then 1%).
0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months.
Eligible purchases do NOT include fees or interest charges, balance transfers, cash advances, purchases of travelers checks, purchases or reloading of prepaid cards, or purchases of other cash equivalents. Additional terms and restrictions apply. (Presume these T&Cs are standard and that all credit cards state this)
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
¹ First '$6,500' is spend on all purchases.
² 'Reward year' is the 12 billing periods in a row beginning with the one in which the anniversary of your Card Account occurs.
³ 'everyday purchases' refers to U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations & select U.S. drugstores, not all purchases.
* Read the fine print for 'gas' purchases! Right from AMEX T&C's:
...Everyday Purchases are: ... $400 or less of gasoline at gas stations located in the U.S. (superstores, supermarkets and warehouse clubs that sell gasoline are not considered gas stations)... A >$400 purchase at a gas station will get 5% for the first $400 and 1% thereafter. E.g., for something, say, $503.95, you would earn $21.04 CB [($400*5%)+(103.95*1%)].
⁴ 5% kicks in immediately after hitting $6500.(mid-statement). In fact, it will even kick in mid-purchase and a portion of the purchase will credit at the higher rate.
* Reward dollars for the previous statement period show up a day or two after the current statement period closes.
* Most cash back redemptions will be applied to your statement within 2–3 days.
* Helpful post regarding moving CL between cards. Thanks lad2
* How to Visually Distinguish the Three Types of Blue Cash Cards:
Blue Cash (old) has a "<" character to the left of the word CASH
Blue Cash Everyday has a circle to the right of the word CASH, with the "Everyday" wording at the back.
Blue Cash Preferred has the word PREFERRED printed vertically on the extreme left side.
If you get the error message "You cannot be logged in. Please contact the number on the back of your card." when trying to redeem Reward Dollars online, it may be because you have too many closed accounts still showing in your scrolling images of cards. Delete the closed ones, then try to redeem again.
Old Amex Blue (2013-2014)
#2881
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 201
Ah, yes, I guess you can get electronics at Office Supply. I have the Ink for that. I was thinking in my head about electronic stores specifically, like BB.
I'm looking into the US Bank Cash+, though the $2k/quarter limit probs makes it not worth it for me.
I'm looking into the US Bank Cash+, though the $2k/quarter limit probs makes it not worth it for me.
#2882
Join Date: Oct 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist No More..., Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 4,375
But anyways, this isn't a thread to rant about Cash+. Sorry to go OT.
#2883
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 149
If the old version didn't have a limit then it would have been the best MS card ever
#2884
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,944
Not only did it not have a limit, it also had a bonus! (Every $100 you redeemed it would give you an extra $25. This is now just once a year)
#2885
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Down South, The Desert
Programs: Marriot Rewards, Southwest Rapid rewards, Emerald Club, Avis Preferred
Posts: 1,871
Yea. The Cash+ isn't as great as it was up until like June last year. They add the cap and got rid of the best categories (e.g. Airlines, Online BillPay, and now Hotels). Not to mention that I HATE that they separate fast food and restaurant.
But anyways, this isn't a thread to rant about Cash+. Sorry to go OT.
But anyways, this isn't a thread to rant about Cash+. Sorry to go OT.
#2886
Join Date: Oct 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist No More..., Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 4,375
I always say that I'm bad luck. Everything that I come into, quickly shuts down right after. For instance, VRs/Serve load at CVS. OVs at WM. Etc LOL. I got in the quarter right after they stopped the great categories and only a few months before they stopped the $25 bonus.
Not to mention that I didn't know about WM MOs in the beginning so passed up on many many months of Best Buy VGCs. This especially sucks since a few months last year, I worked right down the road from Best Buy and had to pass it everyday to go home. Well, at least I made out pretty well the last couple of months before my limit came into effect this quarter. Lots of BB points to spend.
Not to mention that I didn't know about WM MOs in the beginning so passed up on many many months of Best Buy VGCs. This especially sucks since a few months last year, I worked right down the road from Best Buy and had to pass it everyday to go home. Well, at least I made out pretty well the last couple of months before my limit came into effect this quarter. Lots of BB points to spend.
#2887
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,763
I am looking at replacing my current system, there is an OM fairly close to home and one of the clerks there is very friendly to me ever since we did the multiple offers on VGCs in the past couple years. He told me last week all his electronics he bought from either AMZN or Best Buys - AMZN has the best selection and Best Buys tends to have the best prices for bundled packages. He said his desktop, 2 big screen monitors, 2 laptops and a gaming system, were all bought from BBY. BTW, he told me this while he walked me out the store and showed me the OM flyer display on the shelf at the foyer.
#2888
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Los Angles
Posts: 2,101
Now, I have only 3 Cards in my wallet. Inc, AmEx cash (Old) and for everything else is OV.
#2889
Join Date: Oct 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist No More..., Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 4,375
The electronics at Office Max or Staples are grossly overpriced.
I am looking at replacing my current system, there is an OM fairly close to home and one of the clerks there is very friendly to me ever since we did the multiple offers on VGCs in the past couple years. He told me last week all his electronics he bought from either AMZN or Best Buys - AMZN has the best selection and Best Buys tends to have the best prices for bundled packages. He said his desktop, 2 big screen monitors, 2 laptops and a gaming system, were all bought from BBY. BTW, he told me this while he walked me out the store and showed me the OM flyer display on the shelf at the foyer.
I am looking at replacing my current system, there is an OM fairly close to home and one of the clerks there is very friendly to me ever since we did the multiple offers on VGCs in the past couple years. He told me last week all his electronics he bought from either AMZN or Best Buys - AMZN has the best selection and Best Buys tends to have the best prices for bundled packages. He said his desktop, 2 big screen monitors, 2 laptops and a gaming system, were all bought from BBY. BTW, he told me this while he walked me out the store and showed me the OM flyer display on the shelf at the foyer.
#2890
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Down South, The Desert
Programs: Marriot Rewards, Southwest Rapid rewards, Emerald Club, Avis Preferred
Posts: 1,871
#2891
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Down South, The Desert
Programs: Marriot Rewards, Southwest Rapid rewards, Emerald Club, Avis Preferred
Posts: 1,871
#2892
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,763
For states that AMZN starts collecting taxes, AMZN no longer has the edge other than better selection.
#2893
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Down South, The Desert
Programs: Marriot Rewards, Southwest Rapid rewards, Emerald Club, Avis Preferred
Posts: 1,871
I cried when they started charging tax. I was buying and reselling video game systems and making a tidy profit for a while. This was before I was into credit cards.
#2894
Formerly known as FTRox87
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: TX
Programs: AA/US 1M, AS, BA, CX, EK, EY, JL, KE, LH, NH, OS, QF, QR, TG, UA/CO | *$G
Posts: 1,428
anyone have luck PCing from an AMEX Biz card to Old BC? for ex. an SPG Biz (dont yet have a personal SPG)
#2895
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Chicago
Programs: AA, BA, CX, DL, EK, F9, GA, HA, IB, JL, KE, LH, MH, NH, OS, PG, QR, RJ, SA, TG, UA, VN, WN, ZH
Posts: 927
I don't think you can PC between biz and personal cards.