@daytrade5 wrote:Thanks haulingthescoreup! Great to know I could cancel my Zync without being put in timeout by Amex! I was under the impression that I would have to shop at Costco often to really take advantage of the card offerings. Did you apply for this card in store or online? Just when I thought I had my mind set on the Blue Cash, you share this awesome news (minus the $50 fee)!
@haulingthescoreup wrote:I don't have the BofA AmEx, although I'll probably try to PC from my current BofA World MC to get the better cash back.
I have the PenFed AmEx and the USAA AmEx. I use the first for the travel rewards (plus they just popped up with 5% in other areas again), and I used to use the second for big-ticket purchases for the consumer protections. Now that so many Visas and MC's offer the same thing, I don't use it much any more.
I have two AmEx AmEx's: Blue and Costco TrueEarnings. I don't use the Blue much any more, because I'm not a big fan of points. I love the Costco card. I go to Costco maybe once a month, and I could happily keep using the card without ever shopping at Costco again, because the rewards are good, and because I greatly prefer cash rewards.
IMO, it's a great card, even if you never set foot in Costco. It's just that there's the $50 fee. But the membership CSR at my local Costco swore that they refund the fee if you shop at Costco. We shall see.
Oh, and I had a Gold (charge) card first. I opened the Blue a month before the annual fee was going to pop up, and then I canceled the Gold (pre-fee.) No problems from AmEx.
I joined and app'd at the same time in the store.
That's the way to do it if you don't want to wait a couple of weeks. Same if you're already a Costco member --app for the card in the store. If you app online with AmEx, AmEx can do its thing immediately, but then they have to wait for Costco to verify membership. And to transmit your professional-quality ID pic for the back of the card. 
If you're adding an AU to the card, same again. They need to be a Costco member, and it's best to app in the store, or there's the same looooong wait.
I think I got my card in the mail 4 days or so after approval.
Other than the picture on the back , I love the card.
Oddly, nothing special happens with Costco purchases. It's 3% on their gas (as at other gas stations, but not at places like WalMart), and 1% back on instore purchases. So to me, it's the same deal. From the AmEx site:
Make a purchase, earn cash back
-
- Earn a bigger reward with every eligible purchase you make with your Card - even when you use your Card outside of Costco. You can even earn cash back on the things you buy every day.
- Earn 3% cash back for gasoline for annual gasoline purchases of up to $3,000 (1% thereafter), 3% cash back for restaurants, 2% cash back for travel, and 1% everywhere else, including Costco.4
- Take advantage of special offers and savings at various locations around the world and in your neighborhood.
4Each eligible purchase shall qualify for a reward of 1, 2, or 3% of the purchase amount as follows: 3% for the first $3,000 in annual purchases (1% thereafter) of automobile gasoline (individual purchases of 75 gallons or less) at Costco and domestic stand-alone gas stations (excluding superstores, supermarkets, convenience stores, and warehouse clubs other than Costco); 3% at restaurants; 2% for travel purchases from airline, lodging, car rental, cruise line, travel agency and tour operators; and 1% on all other eligible purchases posted to your account. Fees, interest charges, cash advances, balance transfers and purchases of cash equivalents (e.g., Gift Cards, Travelers Cheques) from American Express are not eligible for a reward. Reward is distributed annually in the form of an in-store coupon redeemable for merchandise or cash at any U.S. Costco Warehouse. Coupon must be redeemed in person prior to its expiration date of August 31st in the year in which it is issued. Additional terms and conditions apply. See Cardmember Agreement for full terms and conditions.
The only way that you can make it special at Costco is if you get the Executive Membership (I did), which gives you 2% back from Costco. Add in the 1% back from AmEx, and you're getting 3% back from Costco instore purchases, which might help pay for the leg transplants I'll need after staggering around that place.
As for other AmEx revolvers, Blue Cash is good IF it's pretty much the only card you use, but you have to run a ton of money through it to hit the higher rewards categories, and it's not retroactive when you do. There's a calculator on their website to help you see how much you might (or might not) earn in rewards with Blue Cash.
@Anonymous wrote:When considering Blue Cash Everyday for your regular spend card, it is important to also consider Blue Cash Preferred before applying.
Although there is a $75 annual fee, you get 6% back groceries, 3% dining and department stores, and 1% everything else. If you are spending high
in these catagories, you may come out way ahead, even with the fee. Just do the math.
That bit isn't true, it's 3% gas and dept stores. You got me dashed to the Amex website to check if BCP rewards were changed because if it does give 3% back on dining, a lot of us, including me, would be all over this card 
Starting Score (08/11/11): TU08: 643
@Guava wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:When considering Blue Cash Everyday for your regular spend card, it is important to also consider Blue Cash Preferred before applying.
Although there is a $75 annual fee, you get 6% back groceries, 3% dining and department stores, and 1% everything else. If you are spending high
in these catagories, you may come out way ahead, even with the fee. Just do the math.
That bit isn't true, it's 3% gas and dept stores. You got me dashed to the Amex website to check if BCP rewards were changed because if it does give 3% back on dining, a lot of us, including me, would be all over this card
Question is, which one is easier to get?
What kidn of scores are we talking about here?
I got my Blue with EX 680's which surprised me. I started to get offers for BCE this month with scores in the very low 700's.
@Guava wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:When considering Blue Cash Everyday for your regular spend card, it is important to also consider Blue Cash Preferred before applying.
Although there is a $75 annual fee, you get 6% back groceries, 3% dining and department stores, and 1% everything else. If you are spending high
in these catagories, you may come out way ahead, even with the fee. Just do the math.
That bit isn't true, it's 3% gas and dept stores. You got me dashed to the Amex website to check if BCP rewards were changed because if it does give 3% back on dining, a lot of us, including me, would be all over this card
so sorry...I meant gas.....NOT dining.