topic Re: Use Amex concierge, but not pay with Amex? in Credit Cards

Use Amex concierge, but not pay with Amex?

SuperKirby — Sat, 06 Oct 2018 05:50:40 GMT

Out of curiosity, how many people here use the Amex Plat concierge (i.e. to book a restaurant), but not use an Amex card to pay.

I've been loyal to UR since it came out so I continue to use Chase cards. Not sure if I am in the norm or the exception group.

Re: Use Amex concierge, but not pay with Amex?

Anonymous — Sat, 06 Oct 2018 06:03:38 GMT

Kind of off topic but the few times I used them, the whole process is similar to:

1. call the restaurant/ticket box, told no availability.

2. call the number on the Plat card, spend 10min walking the other side through what I want.

3. on hold for another 5 to 10min, or sometimes they'll be like 'will call back in an hour or two'.

4. told by AMEX people, 'sorry, no availability'.

(optionally)5. go to the restaurant/venue for walk in and was sometimes lucky enough to get in.

OP has any good success story/tips for using that service to share?

Re: Use Amex concierge, but not pay with Amex?

Anonymous — Sat, 06 Oct 2018 06:11:13 GMT

Haven't used Plat concierge yet but when I used visa signature concierge, they say the charges will go on my visa card and that's automatic during the service.

Re: Use Amex concierge, but not pay with Amex?

wasCB14 — Sat, 06 Oct 2018 06:15:46 GMT

I've never had the Amex concierge actually purchase anything on my behalf. I've just had them do research and then advise me of my options.

I use the best card I have for any particular transaction. Amex gets enough of my overall spend that I'll not make a sub-optimal card choice just because Amex helped with it.

For example, I once left for a trip and quickly realized I'd forgotten to pack some things. I called Amex and (during the afternoon and morning I was traveling) the concierge found a place near my final destination where I could buy them. Prices there were higher than available online, so I used Citi for price protection instead of Amex.

When I have used Platinum for a concierge-advised transaction, it's been when the purchase was being shipped internationally and I needed a no-FTF card, anyway.

Re: Use Amex concierge, but not pay with Amex?

Anonymous — Sat, 06 Oct 2018 07:47:26 GMT

I haven't yet made any purchases directly through the AMEX concierge yet but I have recently made dining reservations through them and the experience was wonderful . Apparently AMEX had requested the restaurant give me free appetizers on their behalf and they were so yummy.... In the end I did end up paying with the plat card tho.

Re: Use Amex concierge, but not pay with Amex?

mdd0214 — Sat, 06 Oct 2018 14:41:07 GMT

I've used concierge to make reservations quite a few times. I always use an AmEx to pay, but not always my plat. I'm sure they track the data somewhere, although I use my AmEx cards for pretty much everything anyway so it isn't really a decision for me. However, it feels like common courtesy to me (as little as that matters when dealing with a bank/cc company).

Re: Use Amex concierge, but not pay with Amex?

redpat — Sat, 06 Oct 2018 14:53:22 GMT

@mdd0214 wrote:
I've used concierge to make reservations quite a few times. I always use an AmEx to pay, but not always my plat. I'm sure they track the data somewhere, although I use my AmEx cards for pretty much everything anyway so it isn't really a decision for me. However, it feels like common courtesy to me (as little as that matters when dealing with a bank/cc company).

+1, I used concierge twice and always used my plat as a courtesy. Losing 4 points isn't going to kill me.

As I see it, they did something for me and I'll do something for them.

Re: Use Amex concierge, but not pay with Amex?

SBR249 — Sat, 06 Oct 2018 17:24:30 GMT

Intangible things like goodwill do exist. I try to avoid burning people for a quick buck. I'm sure most of us have known people who insist on coming out on top in every little thing and refuses to take the short straw ever. I'm sure they aren't the easiest to get along with. </moralizing>

Re: Use Amex concierge, but not pay with Amex?

wasCB14 — Sat, 06 Oct 2018 17:34:52 GMT

I think a bit of context is necessary.

I've spent a little over $50k on BBP this year. Is it really so bad if Amex doesn't get some $100 concierge-advised purchase?

Besides, if that $100 purchase ends up giving Citi $2 of revenue...while costing them $2 of rewards and $10 of benefits...I would think Amex would be happy to see one of their competitors suffer a bit.

Re: Use Amex concierge, but not pay with Amex?

SBR249 — Sat, 06 Oct 2018 17:48:10 GMT

@wasCB14 wrote:
I think a bit of context is necessary.

I've spent a little over $50k on BBP this year. Is it really so bad if Amex doesn't get some $100 concierge-advised purchase?

Besides, if that $100 purchase ends up giving Citi $2 of revenue...while costing them $2 of rewards and $10 of benefits...I would think Amex would be happy to see one of their competitors suffer a bit.

I'm not trying to accuse anyone of being discourteous. If it's a small thing like the concierge told you where the store is, by all means, use whatever card you like. The concierge provided a small convenience that you could have just googled if you didn't have it. That's a small amount of goodwill on the line.

But I'm of the opinion if the concierge truly performed a service that you could not have obtained otherwise or would have been very difficult to accomplish for you, like a walk up reservation at an exclusive restaurant that has a line out the door and a reservation list 3 months long then I'd be willing to take a small hit and use an AmEx vs. another more lucrative card. The latter obviously engenders a bit more goodwill than the former.

As you said, it's all about context. There are no absolute rules that you must do something. But I'm sure we are all adults who can appropriate judge a social situation and not come out seeming like jerks.

Re: Use Amex concierge, but not pay with Amex?

wasCB14 — Sat, 06 Oct 2018 18:00:11 GMT

No offense perceived. I phrased my last post poorly.

I guess I don't believe that the courtesy is really due in the context of a big AF (before credits) card. I'm already paying for the service.

If it was the WEMC concierge or something, that might be a different story.

I think the difference in rewards may play a factor. 3x URs is moderately better than 1x MRs (in the case of restaurant resevervations), but 12% cash is much better than 1x MRs.

Re: Use Amex concierge, but not pay with Amex?

Anonymous — Sat, 06 Oct 2018 18:26:40 GMT

@wasCB14 wrote:
No offense perceived. I phrased my last post poorly.

I guess I don't believe that the courtesy is really due in the context of a big AF (before credits) card. I'm already paying for the service.

If it was the WEMC concierge or something, that might be a different story.

That was exactly my thought, the concierge service is promoted as part of the benefit of the higher AF cards, whereas WEMC can be on free cards. (That said, I wouldn't be bound to use the WEMC card either, the service is provided as their choice. If they don't mandate.....)

Also, courtesy to me implies some kind of sort-of-personal relationship. So while I would be polite to the conceirge, I can't believe that they will personally care what card I use (unless it is part of their compensation) and as for the company, presumably they will make decisions based on a bigger picture of the overall spend.

Re: Use Amex concierge, but not pay with Amex?

wasCB14 — Sat, 06 Oct 2018 19:24:41 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@wasCB14 wrote:
No offense perceived. I phrased my last post poorly.

I guess I don't believe that the courtesy is really due in the context of a big AF (before credits) card. I'm already paying for the service.

If it was the WEMC concierge or something, that might be a different story.

That was exactly my thought, the concierge service is promoted as part of the benefit of the higher AF cards, whereas WEMC can be on free cards. (That said, I wouldn't be bound to use the WEMC card either, the service is provided as their choice. If they don't mandate.....)

Also, courtesy to me implies some kind of sort-of-personal relationship. So while I would be polite to the conceirge, I can't believe that they will personally care what card I use (unless it is part of their compensation) and as for the company, presumably they will make decisions based on a bigger picture of the overall spend.

I've certainly never heard (from a concierge or forum) that it's part of the part of the compensation. And, in practice, I doubt my card choice would be moved away from what was best for me if it was a perk on a no-AF card.

A good rating on a follow-up survey may matter more.

Re: Use Amex concierge, but not pay with Amex?

UpperNwGuy — Sat, 06 Oct 2018 20:09:55 GMT

If you use the service, also use the card. It's the right thing to do.

Re: Use Amex concierge, but not pay with Amex?

wasCB14 — Sat, 06 Oct 2018 20:39:30 GMT

For people who say they'd use Platinum or some other Amex out of courtesy (rather than for rewards or protections), how much would you need to save with another card to switch? I suspect there is some point, either in percentage or absolute dollar terms.

Hypothetically, if it was a $10k purchase and some particular promotion would save you $2k if you paid with a Visa...would you still pay with Amex out of courtesy?

I know I wouldn't.

Re: Use Amex concierge, but not pay with Amex?

Anonymous — Sat, 06 Oct 2018 20:55:57 GMT

@UpperNwGuy wrote:
If you use the service, also use the card. It's the right thing to do.

Only if you think so! (i.e. not an absolute truth). Providing you have the card that enables access to the service, the contract is fulfilled by that.

Re: Use Amex concierge, but not pay with Amex?

SBR249 — Sat, 06 Oct 2018 22:06:26 GMT

@wasCB14 wrote:
For people who say they'd use Platinum or some other Amex out of courtesy (rather than for rewards or protections), how much would you need to save with another card to switch? I suspect there is some point, either in percentage or absolute dollar terms.

Hypothetically, if it was a $10k purchase and some particular promotion would save you $2k if you paid with a Visa...would you still pay with Amex out of courtesy?

I know I wouldn't.

Hence it's context dependent. I would take a small hit on rewards earning if the concierge provided a service that was more than just a small convenience. A 20% savings on a $10K is not a small hit and unless AmEx Concierge did something like arranging for a helicopter evac from Mt. Everest that saved my life, there's not that much goodwill there.

Re: Use Amex concierge, but not pay with Amex?

wasCB14 — Sat, 06 Oct 2018 22:18:30 GMT

@SBR249 wrote:
@wasCB14 wrote:
For people who say they'd use Platinum or some other Amex out of courtesy (rather than for rewards or protections), how much would you need to save with another card to switch? I suspect there is some point, either in percentage or absolute dollar terms.

Hypothetically, if it was a $10k purchase and some particular promotion would save you $2k if you paid with a Visa...would you still pay with Amex out of courtesy?

I know I wouldn't.
Hence it's context dependent. I would take a small hit on rewards earning if the concierge provided a service that was more than just a small convenience. A 20% savings on a $10K is not a small hit and unless AmEx Concierge did something like arranging for a helicopter evac from Mt. Everest that saved my life, there's not that much goodwill there.

And, anyway, I think that would go through Premium Global Assist, not the general concierge.

A few not-necessarily-correct people said Amex nerfed it, but I've never seen any notice of the benefit change from Amex.