topic Re: Blue Cash AMEX in Credit Cards

Blue Cash AMEX

corymcd88 — Tue, 06 Feb 2018 14:59:15 GMT

I just got the old Blue Cash card from AMEX and I can't find out how the rewards are set up, does anyone know?

Re: Blue Cash AMEX

Anonymous — Tue, 06 Feb 2018 15:01:55 GMT

What do you mean by "old?" If you log into your account and go under "explore rewards" you should be able to find the answers to any reward-related questions you may have.

Re: Blue Cash AMEX

simplynoir — Tue, 06 Feb 2018 15:20:22 GMT

wrote:
What do you mean by "old?" If you log into your account and go under "explore rewards" you should be able to find the answers to any reward-related questions you may have.

I'm assuming the OP means the OBC (Old Blue Cash) card that has 5% cashback on groceries, gas and pharmacy charges after an initial $6500 spend. I didn't realize you could still app for it. I was considering getting this card myself but all link seems to redirect to the BCE now unless there's some unknown method to get app to populate.

Re: Blue Cash AMEX

MrDisco99 — Tue, 06 Feb 2018 18:08:22 GMT

@simplynoir wrote:

I didn't realize you could still app for it. I was considering getting this card myself but all link seems to redirect to the BCE now unless there's some unknown method to get app to populate.

According to DoC TODAY, they finally closed apps for this card after not marketing it for months (years?):

https://www.doctorofcredit.com/old-blue-cash-card-application-link-no-longer-working/

Re: Blue Cash AMEX

simplynoir — Tue, 06 Feb 2018 18:17:11 GMT

wrote:
@simplynoir wrote:

I didn't realize you could still app for it. I was considering getting this card myself but all link seems to redirect to the BCE now unless there's some unknown method to get app to populate.
According to DoC TODAY, they finally closed apps for this card after not marketing it for months (years?):

https://www.doctorofcredit.com/old-blue-cash-card-application-link-no-longer-working/

Ah, there we go. I remember the last time I checked when I was considering it back in December (but couldn't due to 2/90 rule) the link was working but had to go incognito to get to it. Alas I'm assuming holdovers will get to keep it as it unless they're gonna do PC to the BCE perhaps. I'm hoping they might open it back up in the future but I doubt it.

Re: Blue Cash AMEX

Anonymous — Tue, 06 Feb 2018 18:29:38 GMT

wrote:
I just got the old Blue Cash card from AMEX and I can't find out how the rewards are set up, does anyone know?

What do you mean by "set up"?

The rewards profile is, after $6,500 spend in the reward year:

5% on groceries, gas, and drug stores (a certain set only, but includes the big ones, CVS, Walgreens, RiteAid are included) up to a spend of $50K (does not include the initial $6,500), and 1% after that.

1% on everything else.

Before you meet the threshold:

1% on groceries, gas and drug stores (as above), 0.5% everything else.

The initial $6,500 can be on anything, getting either 1% or 0.5%

It has all the bad features of the BCE/BCP: rewards are delayed 1 month, spend in $25 increments.

Re: Blue Cash AMEX

Anonymous — Tue, 06 Feb 2018 20:15:44 GMT

The website is kind of a mess I noticed when it comes to the rewards. It also doesn't work correctly depending on what browswer you're using and what updates if you're on a computer. I don't know about the mobile ap. You have to do the math yourself. You can click "Merchandise" and then "groceries" to see how much you spent on groceries and then do the 3x or 6x math yourself to get a general idea. If you can't click this and get taken to a new chart then the problem is your browser because I had that problem before I updated Firefox.

The rewards are behind a statement. So, if your statement is Jan 1-31. You will not see January's Rewards until March. And, after the statement cuts it takes 24-48 hours for it to change on the main log-in screen.

You can use their chat and the CSR will give you an idea where you're at based on the last statemetn but they can't give you the rewards estimate on current statement. Just the last one generated. I've used the chat just for that.. Lol. Chat probably won't be around much longer if everyone is chatting just to get an update on their rewards.

Re: Blue Cash AMEX

Anonymous — Tue, 06 Feb 2018 21:01:32 GMT

One fairly hidden feature of the website: you CAN find out how much rewards you got on a transaction, but only after the extra month.

Go to Statements and Accounts, Change the Pull Down date to a previous billing period (at least two months ago) and in the Reward Dollars section, click on Bonus Details.

Yes, other issuers can put on the online bill for the current month, but not Amex....

Re: Blue Cash AMEX

Anonymous — Tue, 06 Feb 2018 23:41:06 GMT

wrote:
@simplynoir wrote:

I didn't realize you could still app for it. I was considering getting this card myself but all link seems to redirect to the BCE now unless there's some unknown method to get app to populate.
According to DoC TODAY, they finally closed apps for this card after not marketing it for months (years?):

https://www.doctorofcredit.com/old-blue-cash-card-application-link-no-longer-working/

I saw an app for it a couple of months ago through private mode.

Re: Blue Cash AMEX

Anonymous — Tue, 06 Feb 2018 23:45:33 GMT

wrote:
I just got the old Blue Cash card from AMEX and I can't find out how the rewards are set up, does anyone know?

You get 0.5% back on all other purchases and 1% on gas, grocery, and drug store purchaes for the first $6,500 in spend per year.

After that, you get 1% on all other purchases and 5% cash back on gas, grocery, and drug store purchases.

The 5% categories get reduced after you spend $50,000 a year on the card.

I personally don't bother with the Blue cards anymore. The fact that I have to wait until the second statement after the purchase for cash to post, plus the $25 increments in redemption is annoying. At least with the Everyday and Everyday Preferred, there's no point redemption increments or minimums.

Re: Blue Cash AMEX

wasCB14 — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 00:22:01 GMT

wrote:
wrote:
I just got the old Blue Cash card from AMEX and I can't find out how the rewards are set up, does anyone know?
You get 0.5% back on all other purchases and 1% on gas, grocery, and drug store purchaes for the first $6,500 in spend per year.

After that, you get 1% on all other purchases and 5% cash back on gas, grocery, and drug store purchases.

The 5% categories get reduced after you spend $50,000 a year on the card.

I personally don't bother with the Blue cards anymore. The fact that I have to wait until the second statement after the purchase for cash to post, plus the $25 increments in redemption is annoying. At least with the Everyday and Everyday Preferred, there's no point redemption increments or minimums.

$25 cash increments are a problem, but plane ticket increments aren't?

And if not redeeming for plane tickets, why use ED/EDP?

Re: Blue Cash AMEX

Anonymous — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 01:01:21 GMT

wrote:
wrote:
wrote:
I just got the old Blue Cash card from AMEX and I can't find out how the rewards are set up, does anyone know?
You get 0.5% back on all other purchases and 1% on gas, grocery, and drug store purchaes for the first $6,500 in spend per year.

After that, you get 1% on all other purchases and 5% cash back on gas, grocery, and drug store purchases.

The 5% categories get reduced after you spend $50,000 a year on the card.

I personally don't bother with the Blue cards anymore. The fact that I have to wait until the second statement after the purchase for cash to post, plus the $25 increments in redemption is annoying. At least with the Everyday and Everyday Preferred, there's no point redemption increments or minimums.
$25 cash increments are a problem, but plane ticket increments aren't?

And if not redeeming for plane tickets, why use ED/EDP?

Hotels such as MR >> SPG >> Marriott >> (potentially Ritz Carlton).

I was just looking up Marriott hotels and it was 512/night over five nights or 180,000 points in the Bahamas.

Re: Blue Cash AMEX

wasCB14 — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 02:37:41 GMT

wrote:
wrote:

$25 cash increments are a problem, but plane ticket increments aren't?

And if not redeeming for plane tickets, why use ED/EDP?
Hotels such as MR >> SPG >> Marriott >> (potentially Ritz Carlton).

I was just looking up Marriott hotels and it was 512/night over five nights or 180,000 points in the Bahamas.

$512/night * 5 nights * maybe an extra 15% for taxes and fees = $2,944 cash

$2,944 / 180,000 = 1.6 cpp. Nothing amazing for MRs. Good for Marriott points, though! My last Cat 9 stay was in 2015, but it was only like $180/night with tax.

(For people unfamiliar with Marriott, the fifth night on an award stay is free).

If someone wants 180,000 Marriott points, there are better options:

Starwood: At 3x/6x, you earn much faster. EDP wins on grocery spend, but that's capped at $6k per year (27000 MRs).

Marriott/Ritz: 1x is nothing special, but good for 2x/5x categories and credit towards Platinum.

And the point remains that (apart from occasional "topping off" mile transfers) small MR redemptions are inefficient.

Re: Blue Cash AMEX

Anonymous — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 03:55:24 GMT

wrote:
@simplynoir wrote:

I didn't realize you could still app for it. I was considering getting this card myself but all link seems to redirect to the BCE now unless there's some unknown method to get app to populate.
According to DoC TODAY, they finally closed apps for this card after not marketing it for months (years?):

https://www.doctorofcredit.com/old-blue-cash-card-application-link-no-longer-working/

When i'm logged in, it still shows and the app button is for that card when i click it. not sure why DoC thinks its not working

Re: Blue Cash AMEX

Anonymous — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 03:58:25 GMT

wrote:
wrote:
wrote:

$25 cash increments are a problem, but plane ticket increments aren't?

And if not redeeming for plane tickets, why use ED/EDP?
Hotels such as MR >> SPG >> Marriott >> (potentially Ritz Carlton).

I was just looking up Marriott hotels and it was 512/night over five nights or 180,000 points in the Bahamas.

$512/night * 5 nights * maybe an extra 15% for taxes and fees = $2,944 cash
$2,944 / 180,000 = 1.6 cpp. Nothing amazing for MRs. Good for Marriott points, though! My last Cat 9 stay was in 2015, but it was only like $180/night with tax.

(For people unfamiliar with Marriott, the fifth night on an award stay is free).

If someone wants 180,000 Marriott points, there are better options:
Starwood: At 3x/6x, you earn much faster. EDP wins on grocery spend, but that's capped at $6k per year (27000 MRs).
Marriott/Ritz: 1x is nothing special, but good for 2x/5x categories and credit towards Platinum.

And the point remains that (apart from occasional "topping off" mile transfers) small MR redemptions are inefficient.

The total included taxes and fees. I fast forwarded to the "total price" page before typing up the total.

If you spend $60,000 on the SPG card, you get $2,800 in rewards or whatever I said earlier, which is 4.6 cpp.

If you transfer 3:1 to SPG and then 1:3 to Marriott, the deal isn't terrible as long as you're using the EDP for only groceries and gas and then perhaps a PRG for restaurants and flights (to keep the annual fee reasonable).

Re: Blue Cash AMEX

simplynoir — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 04:31:18 GMT

wrote:
wrote:
@simplynoir wrote:

I didn't realize you could still app for it. I was considering getting this card myself but all link seems to redirect to the BCE now unless there's some unknown method to get app to populate.
According to DoC TODAY, they finally closed apps for this card after not marketing it for months (years?):

https://www.doctorofcredit.com/old-blue-cash-card-application-link-no-longer-working/

When i'm logged in, it still shows and the app button is for that card when i click it. not sure why DoC thinks its not working

You sure it's not the Blue Cash Everday you're seeing? Because any trick I try to get the (Old) Blue Cash to work redirects to the BCE.

Re: Blue Cash AMEX

Anonymous — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 05:21:27 GMT

wrote:
You sure it's not the Blue Cash Everday you're seeing? Because any trick I try to get the (Old) Blue Cash to work redirects to the BCE.

Me too. And no-one on Flyertalk has said that they have found a working one.

Re: Blue Cash AMEX

simplynoir — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 05:26:22 GMT

wrote:
wrote:
You sure it's not the Blue Cash Everday you're seeing? Because any trick I try to get the (Old) Blue Cash to work redirects to the BCE.
Me too. And no-one on Flyertalk has said that they have found a working one.

Yeah. I'm wondering if referrals are a way around it assuming they even provided links for a product like the OBC.

Re: Blue Cash AMEX

Anonymous — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 16:49:59 GMT

wrote:
wrote:
wrote:
@simplynoir wrote:

I didn't realize you could still app for it. I was considering getting this card myself but all link seems to redirect to the BCE now unless there's some unknown method to get app to populate.
According to DoC TODAY, they finally closed apps for this card after not marketing it for months (years?):

https://www.doctorofcredit.com/old-blue-cash-card-application-link-no-longer-working/

When i'm logged in, it still shows and the app button is for that card when i click it. not sure why DoC thinks its not working
You sure it's not the Blue Cash Everday you're seeing? Because any trick I try to get the (Old) Blue Cash to work redirects to the BCE.

1000% sure its the OBC as i dont have BCE or BCP in my cards page. The only way i can see BCE/BCP, is if i open another browser that i have never logged into amex before and it will show. not sure why, but its funny the only card i actually wanted wont show.

Looking at the rewards structure on the website for the OBC, and it doesnt seem all that great.. why would anyone want one?

So what i'm showing is no sign up bonus and 1x points per spend. it just says blue, not blue cash.. different one maybe

Re: Blue Cash AMEX

simplynoir — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 17:07:50 GMT

wrote:
wrote:
wrote:
wrote:
@simplynoir wrote:

I didn't realize you could still app for it. I was considering getting this card myself but all link seems to redirect to the BCE now unless there's some unknown method to get app to populate.
According to DoC TODAY, they finally closed apps for this card after not marketing it for months (years?):

https://www.doctorofcredit.com/old-blue-cash-card-application-link-no-longer-working/

When i'm logged in, it still shows and the app button is for that card when i click it. not sure why DoC thinks its not working
You sure it's not the Blue Cash Everday you're seeing? Because any trick I try to get the (Old) Blue Cash to work redirects to the BCE.
1000% sure its the OBC as i dont have BCE or BCP in my cards page. The only way i can see BCE/BCP, is if i open another browser that i have never logged into amex before and it will show. not sure why, but its funny the only card i actually wanted wont show.

Looking at the rewards structure on the website for the OBC, and it doesnt seem all that great.. why would anyone want one?
So what i'm showing is no sign up bonus and 1x points per spend. it just says blue, not blue cash.. different one maybe

Ah, that's a different one the generic Blue card is nothing at all really IMO. The OBC is a 5% gas/grocery/drugstore card after an initial $6500 spend with $50k cap. That card I can see as well logged in or not I really don't know why they still have that card when the OBC at least offers something for high spenders.