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American Express is the ONLY card accepted by Costco. No, you still have to pay a fee, although when I joined I got a free AMEX card with it that has no annual fee (just the Costco fee). You even need an American Express card to buy gas at Costco, unless you pay cash -- does anyone still do that?
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We use our American Express for basically one thing: car rentals. Our AmEx will cover the damage to a rental car up to the deductible on our insurance. With CDW at the extortionist price it is, this saving covers the AmEx fee in just one rental.
Our Discover Platinum{R} card also covers this, but Discover isn't accepted anywhere (almost) outside the U.S. and Canada. If your AmEx will also replace playing the CDW, it may be worth it. |
Won't the Plat M/C do that also? ((b))
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Hi Budman,
I am actually wondering the same thing. I think I am going to get one because apparently you can build hotel points, which can come in useful, particularly in expensive cities such as London and New York. Being that airline miles are increasingly unuseful, I might as well get hotel points. Hope this helps. |
We have Delta Amex cards and get double miles for some purchases, grocery, gas, post office,pharmacy.They often have promotions when you get double or triple miles on ALL purchases
On car rentals , you pay a fee and are covered but the best part is they come in as the Primary insurer , so your personal car insurance never enters the equation and your rates won't go up! We also like the fact that with the platinum card we can use the Delta lounges even if we are flying coach. The 2% fee is a lot better than the 3% I pay on my Citi cards. |
"Being that airline miles are increasingly unuseful. . ."
Speak for yourself. I find my AA miles wonderful and have yet to have a single problem using them for wonderful free trips and upgrades. Of course you have to know how to do it and when, but I'd still prefer my credit card miles to go directly into my AA account. |
I don't see the point to them, either, but I think at one time many years ago you were able to get some services from them that other cards didn't offer. They always had a fee, though, so I really didn't understand why people would pay a fee for a credit card. I don't know what kind of services they would offer abroad that would be necessary, but if you think you'd use them, I can see that purpose, and their good customer service.
As for the other points, they don't make sense to me. You can get a CC from many banks that don't have to be where you live, so you aren't limited to local banks to get a CC with less than 2 pct fee on foreign charges. AS for the unlimited charges. I can't imagine how much people would want to charge that would ever make that necessary beyond the limit you can get with another card if you hve decent credit. I have $20-25K limits on my AAA Visa and Capital One MC and have never requested them to be that high or done anything special to get them. I just have decent credit, I guess, they just gave them to me. How much of a limit would you want on a credit card, anyway? I don't think I'd even want a $50K CC limit, or why you'd ever need that. |
I certainly agree with Neopolitan on the FF miles. In the last 2 years I've booked 4 business class tickets to Paris on Delta and upgraded 4 flights on AA and BA to London. I'll be upgrading again on AA for our March trip .
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Christina, I'm with you. I just got a notice from Citibank that my credit limit has been raised to $42,000. Since I have never ever failed to pay off my balance each month, what on earth do they think I'm going to buy?
Oh, and when I did get an AMEX card, there was a wonderful little folder about special benefits. One was being able to buy theatre tickets ahead of the public. A couple of times I tried that for Broadway shows. In both cases when I called, the AMEX advance tickets were for horrible seats. I waited until the same performances went on sale to the general public and was able to get wonderful seats. What was the benefit again? |
Have had an AMEX card - plain old green - for almost 30 years.
IMHO here are the benefits: No limit on spending - so unlike other cards if some hotel screws up a "hold" you don;t have no worry if you're getting near your limit No interest Their rewards program allows transfer of points to numerous airline and hotel programs depending on what you need at the moment - as well as purchase of other goods and services (I'm getting a free digital camera - as soon as I can figure out which one I need) Much better service than Visa or MC - either in disputes with merchants or if card is used illegally and you need another (they notified me of someone else's use of my card, removed every charge I said wasn;t mine without question, gave me a new card # on the spot and had a new card in my hands the next day via FedEx - at no charge.) And it doesn;t cost anything - since every company I know pays for at least one credit card fee for any employee that travels on business |
Delta Airlines gives a AE card, no fee for the first year, and a bonus of up to 17.5K points. I don't see a bonus at USAA.
I use it at Costco. ((*)) |
If you get an Amex card issued by another bank such as Citibank or BofA, the customer service will be provided by that issuing bank not Amex. Any reward program, conversion fees, credit limit, etc. will also be determined by the issuing bank.
These cards are completely different from cards issued by Amex so any benefits pertaining to cards issued by Amex don't necessarily apply. I'm a long time Amex cardholder and currently have 3 open Amex accounts and even I can't see why I'd want an Amex card issued by another bank. |
If the card is not a "real" AMEX - with all the benfits that entails - then just stick with a Visa or MC or whatever gives you the best fee/interest rates.
(I looked carefully at a couple of the offers for Titanium Visas that I got - and even those come nowhere near AMEX in what they do. They tout a $100,000 limit - but then give you 14 pags of small print. With AMEX there's no small print - and NO LIMIT as long as you pay your bills - I've done over $50,000 a month with no questions.) |
I haven't read through all the posts, however you do NOT need to be military to have a USAA credit card!!! I have one and am not military!
It is a good company, nice people to deal with, and they don't charge a conversion fee..."0%", zippo! They charge just the 1% required by MC and Visa card. I've never seen the advantage of an AMerican Express card (I always remember that many years ago someone said that KMART would not accept them.....(:>)., and I know several places overseas that do not. (I don't have one, however, and never wanted one) but I do think AmEX has changed policies and given more benefits in the last few years. |
"Author: Budman
Date: 07/26/2006, 10:22 pm I just found out that USAA and American Express have an Alliance. I can get an Am Express card thru USAA with no annual fee. What's the benefit of having an American Express card? Everyone takes M/C which is offered thru USAA. Are there some places that only take Am Ex? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Author: Neopolitan Date: 07/26/2006, 10:26 pm One time a number of years ago, I nearly fell off my chair at a nice restaurant in Stockholm, when they informed me that American Express was the only card they took. I've had in happen a couple times in the US, but only that one time in Europe. On the other hand I've seen dozens of places hand an AMEX card back to a customer in Europe and tell them they don't take it. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Author: laurenzo Date: 07/26/2006, 10:33 pm That is good to know because I have USAA. I use AMEX for points to get certificates. I use my AMEX at the grocery store, Costco, gas station, etc. Any place I would use my ATM that takes AMEX, I use it. I don't like the annual fee, though. I did not use it on my recent trip to Europe, though, only my USAA M/C. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Author: tuscanlifeedit Date: 07/26/2006, 10:37 pm What is USAA? Racking my brain, but I can't guess. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Author: obxgirl Date: 07/26/2006, 10:44 pm United Services Automobile Association. They provide a host of financial services and products to members of the military and their families. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Author: laurenzo Date: 07/26/2006, 10:45 pm USAA stands for United Services Automobile Association. It is available only to people who are or who have been at least an officer, I think, in the military. I was able to use USAA services from my dad who was USAF. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Author: obxgirl Date: 07/26/2006, 11:01 pm FWIW, membership is not restricted to officers. Not sure what the plus to having an AMEX would be so I won't be getting one. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Author: xyz123 Date: 07/26/2006, 11:01 pm Several banks have begun to offer besides their usual Mastercard and visa cards Amex cards too..MBNA was one of the first and now that they're being absorbed into Bank of America, BofA will have an Amex card, Citibank has several different Amex cards including one tied in with American Airlines and now USAA. Now I just fail to see any advantage of an Amex card...it is very very very rare (I noted one in this thread) that there are very many merchants who take Amex and don't take MC/Visa...but many many merchants will take MC/visa and not take Amex and as far as currency conversion, you don't get a break...the banks charge whatever their going rate for currency conversions are...so a Citibank Amex charges 3% (how it breaks down possibly but I'm not sure of is 2% by the Amex system and 1% added on by Citibank to level the playing field with its MC's and Visas....I suppose there are still a few (hopefully very few) who feel there is some sort of snob appeal with an Amex over a MC or visa... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Author: obxgirl Date: 07/26/2006, 11:03 pm >>snob appeal with an Amex<< Is that even possible in 2006? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Author: Mollie Date: 07/26/2006, 11:26 pm USAA, out of San Antonio, used to be restricted to officers and diplomatic personnel only, but a few years ago they opened it up to all members of the military. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Author: tuscanlifeedit Date: 07/26/2006, 11:29 pm Current only, I suppose? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Author: gforaker Date: 07/26/2006, 11:37 pm I have used AMEX for many years in addition to MC and Visa. 1.They are vastly superior in customer service. 2. The foreign exchange rate is 2% while most others are 3%. Yes, I know you claim other banks are cheaper, but not around here. 3. There is no maximum on the card, so if an emergency happens, you will never max out the card. 4. Many insurance extras are included such as rental car insurance, automatic warentee extension, etc. Similar to those with MC or Visa Gold or Platinum cards but somewhat different. 5. Record keeping is superior. I can go online and print out a free record of all last years expenses broken down by type of expense or whatever. The detail of all charges is better than with MC or Visa. 6. Though I haven't used them in years, AMEX offices in major cities overseas offer a number of free services for members. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Author: LoveItaly Date: 07/26/2006, 11:45 pm tuscanlifeedit. I have had USAA for decades. It was until some years ago for Military officers current and retired. Than they opened up to nonofficers. Whether that includes retired military nonofficers I don't honestly know. In the past anyone with a good credit rating could acquire a USAA Savings Bank Master Card or Visa car without having any connection to the military. Non military could also open up a checking a/c etc with USAA Savings Bank. But it was posted on here, perhaps by Budman? that that is no longer true as of June 30, 2006 I believe. Lots of changes evidently with USAA. One good thing for those that qualify for a USAA checking a/c is that they are use to dealing with service people that are all over the world so to speak. And they reimburse something like 10 or 15 (not sure which) ATM charges for any USAA checking a/c customer. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Author: ira Date: 07/27/2006, 08:42 am Hi B, I have had an AMEX card for umpteen years. Their customer service is top notch. About the nicest thing that AMEX does is if you are a slow payer, they don't report it to the Credit Bureaus. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Author: Budman Date: 07/27/2006, 09:09 am I was just wondering if there was any reason why I should get an AMEX card if the M/C will do it. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Author: Neopolitan Date: 07/27/2006, 09:43 am The only real reason I can think of is if you want to shop at Costco. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Author: Randy ([email protected]) Date: 07/27/2006, 09:50 am A few years ago in St. Paul de Vence there was a 4 star hotel that would only accept a American Express card. I am sure it was because there is no limit on the card. They probally got burned in the past with a customer that had a VISA or MC with a credit limit and had a difficult time getting paid. I have also found that the American Experss card is not accepted in Europe as much as VISA or MC. I would take a VISA or MC or both for that reason. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Author: ira Date: 07/27/2006, 10:02 am Hi Budman >I was just wondering if there was any reason why I should get an AMEX card if the M/C will do it.< It's free? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Author: Neopolitan Date: 07/27/2006, 10:10 am "There is no limit on the card". Huh? Good clients of mine do MAJOR business travel and entertaining in Europe (like a dinner party for 25 in a five star restaurant in Paris). A few years ago, he changed to an American Express Card with the assurance there was NO Limit. He filled out extensive credit reports showing that credit was clearly NO problem. His wife was buying a few things in Paris and was shocked to find her AMEX card was refused. Upon returning to the hotel, the husband called and had an insane discussion with the phone rep. He kept telling them that indeed there is NO limit, however, their account had been put on hold because there had been over $15,000 of charges in the past week (duh, yes, that's what they call major expenses). AMEX refused to release more credit until that amount was paid in full. They would not accept the cardholder's assurance that these were indeed legitimate expenses. There IS a limit in other words. The AMEX card was cut in half and never used again. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Author: Budman Date: 07/27/2006, 10:12 am Costco? I'm not a member of Costco. Your AMEX card will get you in the door without paying for any membership fees/surcharges? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Author: Neopolitan Date: 07/27/2006, 10:22 am American Express is the ONLY card accepted by Costco. No, you still have to pay a fee, although when I joined I got a free AMEX card with it that has no annual fee (just the Costco fee). You even need an American Express card to buy gas at Costco, unless you pay cash -- does anyone still do that? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Author: PaulRabe Date: 07/27/2006, 11:22 am We use our American Express for basically one thing: car rentals. Our AmEx will cover the damage to a rental car up to the deductible on our insurance. With CDW at the extortionist price it is, this saving covers the AmEx fee in just one rental. Our Discover Platinum{R} card also covers this, but Discover isn't accepted anywhere (almost) outside the U.S. and Canada. If your AmEx will also replace playing the CDW, it may be worth it. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Author: Budman Date: 07/27/2006, 11:38 am Won't the Plat M/C do that also? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Author: wills Date: 07/27/2006, 12:04 pm Hi Budman, I am actually wondering the same thing. I think I am going to get one because apparently you can build hotel points, which can come in useful, particularly in expensive cities such as London and New York. Being that airline miles are increasingly unuseful, I might as well get hotel points. Hope this helps. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Author: jody Date: 07/27/2006, 12:18 pm We have Delta Amex cards and get double miles for some purchases, grocery, gas, post office,pharmacy.They often have promotions when you get double or triple miles on ALL purchases On car rentals , you pay a fee and are covered but the best part is they come in as the Primary insurer , so your personal car insurance never enters the equation and your rates won't go up! We also like the fact that with the platinum card we can use the Delta lounges even if we are flying coach. The 2% fee is a lot better than the 3% I pay on my Citi cards. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Author: Neopolitan Date: 07/27/2006, 12:34 pm "Being that airline miles are increasingly unuseful. . ." Speak for yourself. I find my AA miles wonderful and have yet to have a single problem using them for wonderful free trips and upgrades. Of course you have to know how to do it and when, but I'd still prefer my credit card miles to go directly into my AA account. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Author: Christina Date: 07/27/2006, 01:01 pm I don't see the point to them, either, but I think at one time many years ago you were able to get some services from them that other cards didn't offer. They always had a fee, though, so I really didn't understand why people would pay a fee for a credit card. I don't know what kind of services they would offer abroad that would be necessary, but if you think you'd use them, I can see that purpose, and their good customer service. As for the other points, they don't make sense to me. You can get a CC from many banks that don't have to be where you live, so you aren't limited to local banks to get a CC with less than 2 pct fee on foreign charges. AS for the unlimited charges. I can't imagine how much people would want to charge that would ever make that necessary beyond the limit you can get with another card if you hve decent credit. I have $20-25K limits on my AAA Visa and Capital One MC and have never requested them to be that high or done anything special to get them. I just have decent credit, I guess, they just gave them to me. How much of a limit would you want on a credit card, anyway? I don't think I'd even want a $50K CC limit, or why you'd ever need that. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Author: jody Date: 07/27/2006, 01:13 pm I certainly agree with Neopolitan on the FF miles. In the last 2 years I've booked 4 business class tickets to Paris on Delta and upgraded 4 flights on AA and BA to London. I'll be upgrading again on AA for our March trip . -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Author: Neopolitan Date: 07/27/2006, 01:49 pm Christina, I'm with you. I just got a notice from Citibank that my credit limit has been raised to $42,000. Since I have never ever failed to pay off my balance each month, what on earth do they think I'm going to buy? Oh, and when I did get an AMEX card, there was a wonderful little folder about special benefits. One was being able to buy theatre tickets ahead of the public. A couple of times I tried that for Broadway shows. In both cases when I called, the AMEX advance tickets were for horrible seats. I waited until the same performances went on sale to the general public and was able to get wonderful seats. What was the benefit again? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Author: nytraveler Date: 07/27/2006, 01:58 pm Have had an AMEX card - plain old green - for almost 30 years. IMHO here are the benefits: No limit on spending - so unlike other cards if some hotel screws up a "hold" you don;t have no worry if you're getting near your limit No interest Their rewards program allows transfer of points to numerous airline and hotel programs depending on what you need at the moment - as well as purchase of other goods and services (I'm getting a free digital camera - as soon as I can figure out which one I need) Much better service than Visa or MC - either in disputes with merchants or if card is used illegally and you need another (they notified me of someone else's use of my card, removed every charge I said wasn;t mine without question, gave me a new card # on the spot and had a new card in my hands the next day via FedEx - at no charge.) And it doesn;t cost anything - since every company I know pays for at least one credit card fee for any employee that travels on business -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Author: Jed Date: 07/27/2006, 02:12 pm Delta Airlines gives a AE card, no fee for the first year, and a bonus of up to 17.5K points. I don't see a bonus at USAA. I use it at Costco. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Author: Patty Date: 07/27/2006, 03:18 pm If you get an Amex card issued by another bank such as Citibank or BofA, the customer service will be provided by that issuing bank not Amex. Any reward program, conversion fees, credit limit, etc. will also be determined by the issuing bank. These cards are completely different from cards issued by Amex so any benefits pertaining to cards issued by Amex don't necessarily apply. I'm a long time Amex cardholder and currently have 3 open Amex accounts and even I can't see why I'd want an Amex card issued by another bank. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Author: nytraveler Date: 07/27/2006, 09:25 pm If the card is not a "real" AMEX - with all the benfits that entails - then just stick with a Visa or MC or whatever gives you the best fee/interest rates. (I looked carefully at a couple of the offers for Titanium Visas that I got - and even those come nowhere near AMEX in what they do. They tout a $100,000 limit - but then give you 14 pags of small print. With AMEX there's no small print - and NO LIMIT as long as you pay your bills - I've done over $50,000 a month with no questions.) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Author: mari5 Date: 07/27/2006, 10:43 pm I haven't read through all the posts, however you do NOT need to be military to have a USAA credit card!!! I have one and am not military!" I believe somewhere on this thread or another thread the point was made that this policy changed at the end of June. |
I think some of the "sequence" on this thread has been screwed up. Repetition of posts AND adding paragraphs to other posts that were not written by that poster.
Oh well.....all fine and good, it's not necessary to be perfect is it? These things happen. But the "jist" of the messages is there. |
One additional note - someone asked if there are places that take AMEX only.
The answer is yes. If you want to rent a more expensive car in many places in europe (not sure about the US) they will take only AMEX - since Visa or MC limits won;t cover the cost if you total the car - of if it's stolen- when AMEX will. |
I am a firm believer in AMEX, I use it like am ATM card, dbl. points for stuff like gas, grocery store etc. never had i had my card denied. recently started using a british airways visa for miles purposes, after having both my wife and i declined numerous times despite having 30k in available credit, i cut that sucker in half, it seems you can't build up a "history" if your constantly declined! what a joke, fraud protection so great you can't even use it yourself, AMEX platinum is the way to go.
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Unfortunately, I have had my AMEX card turned down many times, mostly in restaurants. ((*))
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Jed - You tried to use your AE card a restaurant that accepts AE card and get turned down? That's news to me. I've had an AE card for 16 years, and I don't even have problem when I out of a sudden charges several thousand dollars at a car dealership.
Only times they block my card are when I fueled up gas like 4 times on the same day across several states... :) |
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