topic Re: CSP vs Venture? in Credit Cards

CSP vs Venture?

Anonymous — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 05:21:23 GMT

So I apped a bunch of cards mostly to increase my available credit. I don't carry a balance and have been preferring cash back cards. However I decided to pick up a Venture for some travel since we are hoping to plan for a vacation this summer. After the Venture, I read here on the CSP and picked that up too before the Venture reported as my 5th card.

My Venture just arrived (ooh shiny) and I'm still waiting for my Sapphire card.

My question is this: which card has the better rewards (I'm mostly thinking of hotels and not so much for flying) if I can only focus on getting one signup bonus?

I plan to contact Chase and ask them to give me the new 50k miles bonus since I was approved on the 13th.

What do you think?

Re: CSP vs Venture?

Anonymous — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 05:48:49 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
So I apped a bunch of cards mostly to increase my available credit. I don't carry a balance and have been preferring cash back cards. However I decided to pick up a Venture for some travel since we are hoping to plan for a vacation this summer. After the Venture, I read here on the CSP and picked that up too before the Venture reported as my 5th card.

My Venture just arrived (ooh shiny) and I'm still waiting for my Sapphire card.

My question is this: which card has the better rewards (I'm mostly thinking of hotels and not so much for flying) if I can only focus on getting one signup bonus?

I plan to contact Chase and ask them to give me the new 50k miles bonus since I was approved on the 13th.

What do you think?

If you stay at Hyatts occasionally, CSP can blow Venture out of the water.

Re: CSP vs Venture?

Anonymous — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 06:44:17 GMT

We've had some pleasurable Hyatt stays.

So I'll earn the CSP bonus then pick up the Chase Hyatt?

Re: CSP vs Venture?

Anonymous — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 07:05:41 GMT

You don't need the Hyatt credit card to transfer your ur point. Hyatt cc is only good for free night stay. Your freedom and csp should be the main ur earner.

Re: CSP vs Venture?

Anonymous — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 07:07:09 GMT

Actually, the main earner is chase ink plus.

Re: CSP vs Venture?

takeshi74 — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 14:05:53 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
My question is this: which card has the better rewards

It's a bit late for that now. You need to do the research before applying. For rewards programs like this you need to look at you own spend, run the numbers and consider redemptions as the methods you can leverage will impact reward value.

There isn't a one-size-fits-all answer and you can't just poll others to determine which suits you best. You need to do your due dligence. We can certainly help out with specific questions about how to compare though. For my spend, redemption, etc the CSP is clearly better and the Venture is a nonstarter but YMMV.

@Anonymous wrote:
Actually, the main earner is chase ink plus.

Again, depends on one's spend. Ink Plus doesn't suit me. Ink Cash does but it doesn't generate anywhere near as much as the CSP for me. Again, YMMV.

@Anonymous wrote:
What do you think?

If you're churning then just considering sign on bonuses is fine but if you're looking for rewards on spend then you need to do your due dligence before applying.

Re: CSP vs Venture?

Anonymous — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 16:20:58 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
So I apped a bunch of cards mostly to increase my available credit. I don't carry a balance and have been preferring cash back cards. However I decided to pick up a Venture for some travel since we are hoping to plan for a vacation this summer. After the Venture, I read here on the CSP and picked that up too before the Venture reported as my 5th card.

My Venture just arrived (ooh shiny) and I'm still waiting for my Sapphire card.

My question is this: which card has the better rewards (I'm mostly thinking of hotels and not so much for flying) if I can only focus on getting one signup bonus?

I plan to contact Chase and ask them to give me the new 50k miles bonus since I was approved on the 13th.

What do you think?

Venture is basically a 2% cash back card with an annual fee.

CSP is a points card with an annual fee. Points can be redeemed for a variety of uses, from 1c per point for cash to more than 2c per point when transferring to hotels or airline partners. You really have to look at the exchange rates and see what you can get for the points. In general, I would probably go with CSP over Venture, but that's only because you travel.

Re: CSP vs Venture?

kdm31091 — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 16:49:00 GMT

The time to ask this question and figure out the answer was before applying but whats done is done. Venture is a restricted cash back card with a fee (and equivalent options are available for free without restrictions), and CSP can be used for cash but theres not much point - the value lies in transferring your points to frequent flyer and/or hotel programs. If you wont be doing that, it isnt really worth the fee IMO (but neither is venture, outside of the sign up bonus).

Math doesnt lie so my suggestion for next time is to simply run the numbers for your spend and look at redemption values before applying. You may find that some cards wont benefit you, even if they benefit others.

Re: CSP vs Venture?

Anonymous — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 18:53:34 GMT

I absolutely understand that it varies for everyone which is why I was hoping to hear some thoughts - most of which I presume would have been based on personal experience/opinion.

As I said in my initial post, I app'd several cards to increase my available credit lines. I app'd the Venture because I am already a Cap1 customer, I read that card had generous limits (again going back to wanting to jncrease my overall available credit), and after already picking up several cash back cards, I thought a travel card could fill a future need. The Venture has my highest CL. If the rewards tier doesnt suit me down the road I am considering consolidating with an existing Cap1 card.

I app'd the CSP mostly because I had read good things about it, I didn't have a Chase card in my wallet, and I knew that once my apps began reporting I would be unable to pick it up in the future (thanks 5/24 rule!). Again, having several cash back cards already, I figured an additional travel card wouldn't hurt.

I am not overly familiar with travel cards and was hoping for some insight from those of you that use them successully. I am hoping to be able to pull off the bonuses for both but it will be a tight esp. with my cash back cards offering some lovely incentives right now. Which is why my post said if I can't hit both bonuses, which do you think would be most advantageous?

I don't have a problem with both cards in my wallet as they suited their initial purpose. So all the, "You should have thought about this before apping" seems a little unnecessarily condescending, no?

Re: CSP vs Venture?

Anonymous — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 19:20:56 GMT

it's not condescending nor unnecessary. your latest comment of "i'm not overly familiar with travel cards and was hoping for some insight" signifies you apped without knowing what you were getting yourself into. it's fine, lots of people do it, but that's the meat of the situation. essentially they can each be better for different things and if your spend can justify two AF cards that are in the same "general category" then that's good.

Re: CSP vs Venture?

Anonymous — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 19:22:12 GMT

if you like simplicity then the venture can be better. if you don't mind going through portals then the CSP can triumph

Re: CSP vs Venture?

kdm31091 — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 19:48:29 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I absolutely understand that it varies for everyone which is why I was hoping to hear some thoughts - most of which I presume would have been based on personal experience/opinion.

As I said in my initial post, I app'd several cards to increase my available credit lines. I app'd the Venture because I am already a Cap1 customer, I read that card had generous limits (again going back to wanting to jncrease my overall available credit), and after already picking up several cash back cards, I thought a travel card could fill a future need. The Venture has my highest CL. If the rewards tier doesnt suit me down the road I am considering consolidating with an existing Cap1 card.

I app'd the CSP mostly because I had read good things about it, I didn't have a Chase card in my wallet, and I knew that once my apps began reporting I would be unable to pick it up in the future (thanks 5/24 rule!). Again, having several cash back cards already, I figured an additional travel card wouldn't hurt.

I am not overly familiar with travel cards and was hoping for some insight from those of you that use them successully. I am hoping to be able to pull off the bonuses for both but it will be a tight esp. with my cash back cards offering some lovely incentives right now. Which is why my post said if I can't hit both bonuses, which do you think would be most advantageous?

I don't have a problem with both cards in my wallet as they suited their initial purpose. So all the, "You should have thought about this before apping" seems a little unnecessarily condescending, no?

I apologize if it came off condescending. I am trying to help you. My point is: don't dive into applying for travel cards (or any cards) without knowing what you are getting into. There is no hurry. The cards aren't going anywhere. The Internet is wonderful resource for learning everything there is to know about a card, rewards program, redemption options and values, etc. After examining all this, you can make an informed decision vs applying and then wondering about the pros/cons.

Some cards just seem better on the surface until you really dive into them; you really have to do the work.

Re: CSP vs Venture?

Anonymous — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 19:49:27 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I absolutely understand that it varies for everyone which is why I was hoping to hear some thoughts - most of which I presume would have been based on personal experience/opinion.

As I said in my initial post, I app'd several cards to increase my available credit lines. I app'd the Venture because I am already a Cap1 customer, I read that card had generous limits (again going back to wanting to jncrease my overall available credit), and after already picking up several cash back cards, I thought a travel card could fill a future need. The Venture has my highest CL. If the rewards tier doesnt suit me down the road I am considering consolidating with an existing Cap1 card.

I app'd the CSP mostly because I had read good things about it, I didn't have a Chase card in my wallet, and I knew that once my apps began reporting I would be unable to pick it up in the future (thanks 5/24 rule!). Again, having several cash back cards already, I figured an additional travel card wouldn't hurt.

I am not overly familiar with travel cards and was hoping for some insight from those of you that use them successully. I am hoping to be able to pull off the bonuses for both but it will be a tight esp. with my cash back cards offering some lovely incentives right now. Which is why my post said if I can't hit both bonuses, which do you think would be most advantageous?

I don't have a problem with both cards in my wallet as they suited their initial purpose. So all the, "You should have thought about this before apping" seems a little unnecessarily condescending, no?

These two things are related. CSP is a points program, and until you know how much you can redeem a point for, nobody can tell you how good the offer is. If you're treating it as cash, CSP has a higher AF and more restrictive terms, so you're probably better off going for the Venture bonus first. However, if you travel enough to be able to use the points, and can transfer them at a decent rate, then CSP might be the better option.

Aside from learning the differences between the two cards, you need to start learning about UR points. They are a really important aspect of CSP. You also need to look at what they can be converted for. They can be transferred to various airlines and hotel partners. You then have to figure out what those stays are worth in cash. It might be that you can get a discounted airfare or hotel stay through Orbitz, Expedia, Kayak, etc., so the points might not be as valuable as they first appear. However, the nature of a points program is that the value is very much based on your own desires. So, for me, CSP might not be worth more than 1cpp, but for someone else, it might be 2.5cpp, which makes it a better value than Venture.

Re: CSP vs Venture?

Anonymous — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 20:12:52 GMT

Thanks for the insights. And you're correct, "condescending" probably isn't the rigjt word and I'm sorry for that. I feel like I must not have explained myself tjoroughly in my initial post.

I am fine working with points to redeem (I am not interested in converting to cash) for hotels (maybe airfare down the road but that's not my initial interest) and don't mind learning a rewards structure and pairing with (and booking through) a rewards program a la Hyatt Gold or the like.

Lots here seem to tout the CSP + Freedom combo. I haven't seen or heard much like that for the Venture + ???.

Again, I do appreciate thw responses and I'll try to explain myself more thoroughly in my initial posts.

Re: CSP vs Venture?

kdm31091 — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 20:15:44 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Thanks for the insights. And you're correct, "condescending" probably isn't the rigjt word and I'm sorry for that. I feel like I must not have explained myself tjoroughly in my initial post.

I am fine working with points to redeem (I am not interested in converting to cash) for hotels (maybe airfare down the road but that's not my initial interest) and don't mind learning a rewards structure and pairing with (and booking through) a rewards program a la Hyatt Gold or the like.

Lots here seem to tout the CSP + Freedom combo. I haven't seen or heard much like that for the Venture + ???.

Again, I do appreciate thw responses and I'll try to explain myself more thoroughly in my initial posts.

People like Freedom + CSP because if you find the Freedom's 5% categories useful, you can get the 5% and use the Freedom's points with your CSP (you transfer them over). Thus, you can extend your CSP's earnings.

Venture has no such option of transferring the points around, etc. What you see is what you get. 2% back for travel redemptions.

Re: CSP vs Venture?

Anonymous — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 20:23:40 GMT

@kdm31091 wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
Thanks for the insights. And you're correct, "condescending" probably isn't the rigjt word and I'm sorry for that. I feel like I must not have explained myself tjoroughly in my initial post.

I am fine working with points to redeem (I am not interested in converting to cash) for hotels (maybe airfare down the road but that's not my initial interest) and don't mind learning a rewards structure and pairing with (and booking through) a rewards program a la Hyatt Gold or the like.

Lots here seem to tout the CSP + Freedom combo. I haven't seen or heard much like that for the Venture + ???.

Again, I do appreciate thw responses and I'll try to explain myself more thoroughly in my initial posts.
People like Freedom + CSP because if you find the Freedom's 5% categories useful, you can get the 5% and use the Freedom's points with your CSP (you transfer them over). Thus, you can extend your CSP's earnings.

Venture has no such option of transferring the points around, etc. What you see is what you get. 2% back for travel redemptions.

As kdm mentioned, Freedom earns the same UR points that CSP does, but at a 5x rate for certain categories. Even as cash back, that's nice, but pairing it with CSP means that you can functionally get north of 10% back on those Freedom purchases (5x points X 2+cpp). That's a powerful combination IF you travel enough to use them. Chase Ink Plus (I think?) also earns UR points and gets the same conversion offers that CSP does. Some people pair Ink Plus with Freedom, while others use all three together for a power combo.

The only other system that uses the same system is Amex's MR points, and those seem to be a little lackluster.

While Venture is a points card in name, it is functionally a cash back card. There are no partner transfers or other benefits. So, there is no combination that you can use to maximize the value of your points.

Re: CSP vs Venture?

Anonymous — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 20:41:19 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:

The only other system that uses the same system is Amex's MR points, and those seem to be a little lackluster.

Citi TYP also has the same sort of system, although there the Freedom equivalent is no longer available to new applicants.

Re: CSP vs Venture?

Anonymous — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 20:50:29 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
The only other system that uses the same system is Amex's MR points, and those seem to be a little lackluster.

Citi TYP also has the same sort of system, although there the Freedom equivalent is no longer available to new applicants.

Give me yours

Re: CSP vs Venture?

Anonymous — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 21:27:57 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
The only other system that uses the same system is Amex's MR points, and those seem to be a little lackluster.

Citi TYP also has the same sort of system, although there the Freedom equivalent is no longer available to new applicants.
Give me yours

I suspect transfer of cards to others violates Citi's T&Cs. But anyway, no! I like to keep in my sock drawer, knowing that I could use it, and that other people want it, but it's mine, all mine...

Re: CSP vs Venture?

kdm31091 — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 21:38:10 GMT

For how many people really want a forward, it seems theres a comparative lack of people who actually have it. Was it not well advertised? Or just not around for very long?

I vaguely remember recieving a mailer for it a few years ago, but I think it was the 1x on every purchase version and this was before I cared about rewards so I didnt apply.