cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 

Why is Amex percieved "the best"?

tag
CarbonCard
Established Contributor

Why is Amex percieved "the best"?

When I first moved here in the US about 6 years ago, I always look into Amex as the "best" card to get even though I don't know anything about CCs. Fast forward into today, I know some of the reasons are the 3x CLI, purchase protection, and extended warranty.  But why do regular (peeps who do not know this forum/or credit in general) people percieved Amex as great?

Starting Score: (1/15)TU: 690 EX: 690 EQ: 711
Current Score: (10/18) TU-8: 813 EX-8: 808 EQ: 797
Goal Score: (7/20) 800+ for all three bureaus

Take the myFICO Fitness Challenge
Message 1 of 28
27 REPLIES 27
Open123
Super Contributor

Re: Why is Amex percieved "the best" card to get?

For travel rewards (not cash), only Chase comes close to what Amex offers.  

 

Of the top 3 travel rewards programs, Amex has two of them.

Message 2 of 28
HiLine
Blogger

Re: Why is Amex percieved "the best" card to get?

Message 3 of 28
Open123
Super Contributor

Re: Why is Amex percieved "the best" card to get?


@HiLine wrote:

American Express is not a card ...


LOL...semantics not withstanding, I assumed OP meant "issuer."

Message 4 of 28
CarbonCard
Established Contributor

Re: Why is Amex percieved "the best" card to get?

lol I just noticed I opt out the word "company"

Thanks!

Starting Score: (1/15)TU: 690 EX: 690 EQ: 711
Current Score: (10/18) TU-8: 813 EX-8: 808 EQ: 797
Goal Score: (7/20) 800+ for all three bureaus

Take the myFICO Fitness Challenge
Message 5 of 28
HiLine
Blogger

Re: Why is Amex percieved "the best" card to get?

Lol just teasing you 

Seriously speaking, Amex used to easily beat other credit card issuers because of their terrific customer service and their tendency to side with consumers in transaction disputes. Membership with Amex used to cost a boatload of money, and therefore membership was considered some sort of privilege. In addition, they had the best reward programs for high-spenders. 

Things have changed lately; Amex is now offering fee-free cards that are associated with lower customer service quality and with rewards that would benefit even the lower spenders. They are becoming more mainstream and less exclusive. Still, they favor customers in transaction disputes, and the rewards are often quite competitive. Add to that the SP CLI policy, and the collection of charge cards that make membership a lot easier to obtain, and there you have Amex as a top credit card issuer. 

Message 6 of 28
jsucool76
Super Contributor

Re: Why is Amex percieved "the best" card to get?

It's perceived as the best, because people think it is the best. The average person has no idea about any other rewards systems, fees, APRs (in the case of revolvers that is) and stuff like that. All they know is, amex has been a sign of someone who is "doing well" and whether or not amex has the best rewards systems or any of that, until the average consumer starts learning about credit, and the other options available, amex will always be "the best."

Message 7 of 28
HiLine
Blogger

Re: Why is Amex percieved "the best" card to get?

Mind you, most people still believe that Amex cards are for business only. 

Message 8 of 28
CarbonCard
Established Contributor

Re: Why is Amex percieved "the best" card to get?


@HiLine wrote:

Lol just teasing you 

Seriously speaking, Amex used to easily beat other credit card issuers because of their terrific customer service and their tendency to side with consumers in transaction disputes. Membership with Amex used to cost a boatload of money, and therefore membership was considered some sort of privilege. In addition, they had the best reward programs for high-spenders. 

Things have changed lately; Amex is now offering fee-free cards that are associated with lower customer service quality and with rewards that would benefit even the lower spenders. They are becoming more mainstream and less exclusive. Still, they favor customers in transaction disputes, and the rewards are often quite competitive. Add to that the SP CLI policy, and the collection of charge cards that make membership a lot easier to obtain, and there you have Amex as a top credit card issuer. 


Lol i know Smiley Tongue

That said, I called Amex three days ago, and I got an untrained CSR (most likely outsourced to a diff country)... I asked if they could change my due date to 28th of the month, and the CSR didn't know what she was doing.. I ended up not changing it.. Oh and there's a lot of background voice and noice from their end, and she was having a hard understanding me.  This is my first call to Amex, so maybe I'm just unlucky lol.

 

OT: I purchased some clothes where I work at, and they were in disbelief that I have Amex to the point that they checked my ID and card... I'm like really? You guys don't trust me that I have an Amex....

Starting Score: (1/15)TU: 690 EX: 690 EQ: 711
Current Score: (10/18) TU-8: 813 EX-8: 808 EQ: 797
Goal Score: (7/20) 800+ for all three bureaus

Take the myFICO Fitness Challenge
Message 9 of 28
nicholasyud
Valued Contributor

Re: Why is Amex percieved "the best" card to get?

Anytime ppl said something about their American Express CC, I was like oh they must have  good credit and rich...welll it's just me.......lol

Starting Score: 560
Current Score: ?
Goal Score: 800
Message 10 of 28
Advertiser Disclosure: The offers that appear on this site are from third party advertisers from whom FICO receives compensation.