topic Re: amex ED vs EDP ?! in Credit Cards

amex ED vs EDP ?!

Anonymous — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 04:27:53 GMT

Is the AF on the edp really worth it ?!

Re: amex ED vs EDP ?!

Anonymous — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 04:29:47 GMT

Not really.

Re: amex ED vs EDP ?!

Anonymous — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 04:32:23 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Not really.

It's the same structure as BC vs BCP just with points right?

If so, I disagree.

My AF is $75. And 6% on groceries vs 3% makes up for easily... But if it's different on the ED vs EDP... well then just ignore me.

Re: amex ED vs EDP ?!

Anonymous — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 04:41:14 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
Not really.
It's the same structure as BC vs BCP just with points right?

If so, I disagree.

My AF is $75. And 6% on groceries vs 3% makes up for easily... But if it's different on the ED vs EDP... well then just ignore me.

It (as usual) depends on spending, but I would have given the opposite answer to Nixon's!

With the BCP/BCE, it's a fairly easy calculation, will you spend enough on groceries for the extra 3% to make up the AF (I ignore gas and department stores as the difference is only 1%, and on gas you should another card anyway!)

But the EDP increases the bonus on all non-category spend by 25% (from 1.2 to 1.5 MR per $) as well as increased awards on groceries (and gas). So if you spend enough on "other" AND can sensibly use MRs, the EDP AF is very much worth while

Re: amex ED vs EDP ?!

Anonymous — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 04:44:52 GMT

So....perhaps?

Re: amex ED vs EDP ?!

Anonymous — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 04:49:15 GMT

Thanks guys ! I'm just putting a couple cards on chopping block (amazon store and bofa cash) I have. hIlton hhonors that doesn't benefit fit me , so I was thinking to get a ED and cancel Hilton :/

Re: amex ED vs EDP ?!

Anonymous — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 05:01:14 GMT

You realize AMEX backdating is dead. Right?

Re: amex ED vs EDP ?!

Anonymous — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 05:10:14 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
You realize AMEX backdating is dead. Right?

Still convinced it's an April fools day joke that they backdated to march 21st...

Re: amex ED vs EDP ?!

bigbang91 — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 05:56:28 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Is the AF on the edp really worth it ?!

If you spend 6k annually on groceries, i just max out mine, then the answer is yes, its worth it. For example, i spent 6k at groceries last year, and 1k on gas.total 6x4.5=27k points for groceries , 1x3=3k points for gas. I got total 30k points, which worth more than 1000$ for me since I transferred them during 40% xtra points to BA

Conservatively, mr point worth 2 cpp, so 30k points=600$,more than offset AF.

Re: amex ED vs EDP ?!

Anonymous — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 06:03:48 GMT

Sounds like I picked the wrong card! I went with no AF but do spend a lot on groceries. Maybe I should switch them up in the future?

Re: amex ED vs EDP ?!

bigbang91 — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 06:06:06 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Sounds like I picked the wrong card! I went with no AF but do spend a lot on groceries. Maybe I should switch them up in the future?

I have both, so my cap at 12k

Re: amex ED vs EDP ?!

lg8302ch — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 06:16:48 GMT

I guess the answer to your question need a bit of homework. You need to find out your spending pattern and do the calculations with both cards. There is no one size fits all answer. For me the ED makes more sense but only because I cannot use the EDP to its maximum.

Re: amex ED vs EDP ?!

lg8302ch — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 06:18:56 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
You realize AMEX backdating is dead. Right?
Still convinced it's an April fools day joke that they backdated to march 21st...

oh.... I would love that idea

Re: amex ED vs EDP ?!

onstar — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 06:53:28 GMT

Couple more things to consider.

(1) How many cards do you have with AF? If you need to spread your spending on all your AF cards to justify the AF, then there may not be enough spend left for one or more cards.

(2) What categories do you spend your money on? For me, I spend <$50 a month on groceries. I eat 90% of my meals at work (complimentary) or at a restaurant (spend more here than rent). I spend <$50 a month on gas since I take the train to work (paid for by work) and the train station is <2 miles from home. So groceries & gas are my 2 most useless categories.

Re: amex ED vs EDP ?!

Anonymous — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 07:03:17 GMT

I would say NOT worth the annual fee for EDP if you have other good cards that you split up your spending on. The EDP requires 30 transactions/month to get the bonus; this is not hard to get if you don't have many cards.

However, I have Forward for dining, CSP for travel, Freedom for many category spendings (and I value UR higher than MR). All that gets put on my EDP is grocery shopping, gas, and random miscellaneous purchases. I don't make enough miscellaneous purchases to reach the 30 purchases/month (unless I FORCE myself to make the required 30 purchases in the month) if a card like my Freedom has Groceries or Gas for the quarter (this makes up 2 quarters, so the EDP is only really handy for half of the year for me).

If you have numerous other good reward cards, just go for the ED with no AF. You only have to make 20 transactions/month to get the bonus, which is relatively easy to do without ever having to feel like your'e stretching yourself. If you don't have many other rewards cards and are looking to only have a couple cards, then by all means, go for the EDP, and you'll have a grand 'ol time. Just do be aware that the required 30 purcahses in a month can be annoying and after having had the card for almost half a year, I plan to downgrade it to the ED, because it's extra stress that I don't want to have to worry about ("stress").

Re: amex ED vs EDP ?!

bigbang91 — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 08:15:33 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I would say NOT worth the annual fee for EDP if you have other good cards that you split up your spending on. The EDP requires 30 transactions/month to get the bonus; this is not hard to get if you don't have many cards.

However, I have Forward for dining, CSP for travel, Freedom for many category spendings (and I value UR higher than MR). All that gets put on my EDP is grocery shopping, gas, and random miscellaneous purchases. I don't make enough miscellaneous purchases to reach the 30 purchases/month (unless I FORCE myself to make the required 30 purchases in the month) if a card like my Freedom has Groceries or Gas for the quarter (this makes up 2 quarters, so the EDP is only really handy for half of the year for me).

If you have numerous other good reward cards, just go for the ED with no AF. You only have to make 20 transactions/month to get the bonus, which is relatively easy to do without ever having to feel like your'e stretching yourself. If you don't have many other rewards cards and are looking to only have a couple cards, then by all means, go for the EDP, and you'll have a grand 'ol time. Just do be aware that the required 30 purcahses in a month can be annoying and after having had the card for almost half a year, I plan to downgrade it to the ED, because it's extra stress that I don't want to have to worry about ("stress").

15 minutes at grocery store got me 20 transactions, super easy

Re: amex ED vs EDP ?!

lg8302ch — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 08:36:08 GMT

Scan each item separate ? ..lol

Re: amex ED vs EDP ?!

CreditCuriosity — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 12:46:35 GMT

@bigbang91 wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
I would say NOT worth the annual fee for EDP if you have other good cards that you split up your spending on. The EDP requires 30 transactions/month to get the bonus; this is not hard to get if you don't have many cards.

However, I have Forward for dining, CSP for travel, Freedom for many category spendings (and I value UR higher than MR). All that gets put on my EDP is grocery shopping, gas, and random miscellaneous purchases. I don't make enough miscellaneous purchases to reach the 30 purchases/month (unless I FORCE myself to make the required 30 purchases in the month) if a card like my Freedom has Groceries or Gas for the quarter (this makes up 2 quarters, so the EDP is only really handy for half of the year for me).

If you have numerous other good reward cards, just go for the ED with no AF. You only have to make 20 transactions/month to get the bonus, which is relatively easy to do without ever having to feel like your'e stretching yourself. If you don't have many other rewards cards and are looking to only have a couple cards, then by all means, go for the EDP, and you'll have a grand 'ol time. Just do be aware that the required 30 purcahses in a month can be annoying and after having had the card for almost half a year, I plan to downgrade it to the ED, because it's extra stress that I don't want to have to worry about ("stress").
15 minutes at grocery store got me 20 transactions, super easy

One would think Amex would see this pattern and elminate that card from your current portfolio... Granted they are probably still making money, so not worth their hassle

Re: amex ED vs EDP ?!

Anonymous — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 12:56:01 GMT

@bigbang91 wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
I would say NOT worth the annual fee for EDP if you have other good cards that you split up your spending on. The EDP requires 30 transactions/month to get the bonus; this is not hard to get if you don't have many cards.

However, I have Forward for dining, CSP for travel, Freedom for many category spendings (and I value UR higher than MR). All that gets put on my EDP is grocery shopping, gas, and random miscellaneous purchases. I don't make enough miscellaneous purchases to reach the 30 purchases/month (unless I FORCE myself to make the required 30 purchases in the month) if a card like my Freedom has Groceries or Gas for the quarter (this makes up 2 quarters, so the EDP is only really handy for half of the year for me).

If you have numerous other good reward cards, just go for the ED with no AF. You only have to make 20 transactions/month to get the bonus, which is relatively easy to do without ever having to feel like your'e stretching yourself. If you don't have many other rewards cards and are looking to only have a couple cards, then by all means, go for the EDP, and you'll have a grand 'ol time. Just do be aware that the required 30 purcahses in a month can be annoying and after having had the card for almost half a year, I plan to downgrade it to the ED, because it's extra stress that I don't want to have to worry about ("stress").
15 minutes at grocery store got me 20 transactions, super easy

Yeah, but it's not really money-wise to buy klondike bars seperately.

6-packs are much more economical.

Re: amex ED vs EDP ?!

Anonymous — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 12:57:56 GMT

I read somewhere that recommended 30 purchases of $.50 Amazon gift cards. Now I'm sure Amex would love that.