topic Re: All AMEX Zync Charge Cards Closed as of 3/30/20 in Credit Cards

My AMEX Zync Charge Card to be Closed as of 3/30/20

jamie123 — Sun, 19 Jan 2020 04:48:40 GMT

AMEX is shutting down my ZYNC charge card line as of 3/30/20. What do I do now? My Zync is one of my oldest cards.

I also have an AMEX BCE but really liked having a White Zync card! Is their anything else AMEX has that would be a good replacement for the Zync? I was thinking about the Green Charge card but don't really care for the $150 annual fee. Is it worth it?

Re: All AMEX Zync Charge Cards Closed as of 3/30/20

kdm31091 — Tue, 14 Jan 2020 22:35:52 GMT

There's no broad answer as to whether the Green is "worth it". It depends on your spending habits and lifestyle, and what you want to redeem for. If you're redeeming your MR points for high value, the Green can make sense. If you're getting 1 cent per point or less, there are likely better options with lower/no fees and similar reward categories.

Unfortunately, sometimes issuers discontinue products and there's not a whole lot you can do. Even if closed the account will remain on your report for another 10 years so I wouldn't stress that much about losing it.

Re: All AMEX Zync Charge Cards Closed as of 3/30/20

CreditCuriosity — Tue, 14 Jan 2020 23:00:07 GMT

Going to be some very upset people that it is getting shut down wow... i would of loved to have gotten that card when around. Guessing they will recycle the card design as kinda of cultish following

Re: All AMEX Zync Charge Cards Closed as of 3/30/20

kerplunk — Tue, 14 Jan 2020 23:31:15 GMT

What did you like about the Zync?

Re: All AMEX Zync Charge Cards Closed as of 3/30/20

wasCB14 — Tue, 14 Jan 2020 23:59:30 GMT

@CreditCuriosity wrote:
Going to be some very upset people that it is getting shut down wow... i would of loved to have gotten that card when around. Guessing they will recycle the card design as kinda of cultish following

There definitely is a cult following, but part of what makes the card rare is that many people closed their accounts and moved on to more practical products.

@kerplunk wrote:
What did you like about the Zync?

It is more of a low-AF conversation piece...a scarce collectible. Some affluent areas have so many people with Platinums and Centurions that it's a Zync that can actually stand out as unusual.

I didn't see the appeal. To me, it seemed like "the recession Amex" for people who couldn't afford a Gold or Platinum. If Amex had continued to accept applications for the card, Zync would likely be considered as mediocre as the old Green ($95 AF) card was. But some people do get really excited about Zync, even though other cards give better rewards with a similar or no AF.

Re: All AMEX Zync Charge Cards Closed as of 3/30/20

Anonymous — Wed, 15 Jan 2020 00:12:16 GMT

No chance of a PC? Hate to lose the history.

Edit: lose the age of account.

Re: All AMEX Zync Charge Cards Closed as of 3/30/20

UncleB — Wed, 15 Jan 2020 01:11:13 GMT

@CreditCuriosity wrote:
Going to be some very upset people that it is getting shut down wow... i would of loved to have gotten that card when around. Guessing they will recycle the card design as kinda of cultish following

LOL, this ^^^ was actually my first thought.

Re: All AMEX Zync Charge Cards Closed as of 3/30/20

jamie123 — Wed, 15 Jan 2020 02:42:59 GMT

@wasCB14 wrote:
@CreditCuriosity wrote:
Going to be some very upset people that it is getting shut down wow... i would of loved to have gotten that card when around. Guessing they will recycle the card design as kinda of cultish following
There definitely is a cult following, but part of what makes the card rare is that many people closed their accounts and moved on to more practical products.

@kerplunk wrote:
What did you like about the Zync?
It is more of a low-AF conversation piece...a scarce collectible. Some affluent areas have so many people with Platinums and Centurions that it's a Zync that can actually stand out as unusual.

I didn't see the appeal. To me, it seemed like "the recession Amex" for people who couldn't afford a Gold or Platinum. If Amex had continued to accept applications for the card, Zync would likely be considered as mediocre as the old Green ($95 AF) card was. But some people do get really excited about Zync, even though other cards give better rewards with a similar or no AF.

Yeah, the Zync was the most undesirable card for a while. People moved on. But some of us stayed! Pulling out a White AMEX always got notice whenever I did it. Sure it was a lowly card but most people dsidn't know that! They thought that I had inside knowledge. Kinda like James Bond. AMEX hasn't offered the card for new enrollies for a couple of years so even if you wanted it you couldn't get it. Drove. People. Crazy.

Re: All AMEX Zync Charge Cards Closed as of 3/30/20

budugu — Wed, 15 Jan 2020 06:33:12 GMT

White with blue combination made it the coolest looking card at that time. I had it for a while and kept it just for the design. It had a very low annual fee 25$(?) made it easy. it was practically useless as it gave MR express points. I do miss it once in a while i guess the apple card has taken its place now

Re: All AMEX Zync Charge Cards Closed as of 3/30/20

Streetervillelady — Wed, 15 Jan 2020 14:21:14 GMT

@jamie123 wrote:
AMEX is shutting down their ZYNC charge card line as of 3/30/20. What do I do now? My Zync is one of my oldest cards.

I also have an AMEX BCE but really liked having a White Zync card! Is their anything else AMEX has that would be a good replacement for the Zync? I was thinking about the Green Charge card but don't really care for the $150 annual fee. Is it worth it?

Nooooooooo! Not the Unicorn!

Re: All AMEX Zync Charge Cards Closed as of 3/30/20

Anonymous — Wed, 15 Jan 2020 18:02:47 GMT

This is in no way important or helpful but I had never heard of this card before, much less seen one (on the younger side so when this came out I was a long ways away from thinking about credit/income/money) but last night I had a dream about being handed a white Amex that as far as I knew didn’t exist. So what a surprise to come on here, see a reference to a white Amex and googling it to discover it was literally in my dreams last night.... totally not important but now I really want a white Amex.

Re: All AMEX Zync Charge Cards Closed as of 3/30/20

sjt — Wed, 15 Jan 2020 18:42:39 GMT

@jamie123 wrote:
AMEX is shutting down their ZYNC charge card line as of 3/30/20. What do I do now? My Zync is one of my oldest cards.

I also have an AMEX BCE but really liked having a White Zync card! Is their anything else AMEX has that would be a good replacement for the Zync? I was thinking about the Green Charge card but don't really care for the $150 annual fee. Is it worth it?

Did you call to see if there is any chance of a product change.

Re: All AMEX Zync Charge Cards Closed as of 3/30/20

ToxikPH — Wed, 15 Jan 2020 18:46:12 GMT

When I got into credit the first two cards I found interesting were the Gold card and Platinum. The Gold card had been revamped a month after I got my first rewards card (it was an Amex) so it was super nice to me. I have all three personal charge cards now and ran across the Zync card sometime halfway through last year. I think that Amex could totally pull off a customizable card like this in 2020. I could also see a Zync 2.0 style being like the Cobalt card and having a monthly fee instead of annual; maybe something like $5 a month?

Re: All AMEX Zync Charge Cards Closed as of 3/30/20

wasCB14 — Wed, 15 Jan 2020 19:04:20 GMT

@UncleB wrote:
@CreditCuriosity wrote:
Going to be some very upset people that it is getting shut down wow... i would of loved to have gotten that card when around. Guessing they will recycle the card design as kinda of cultish following
LOL, this ^^^ was actually my first thought.

They could use the design for the rumored "super platinum"...the rumored card from a few months ago that would be between Platinum and Centurion in terms of perks/AF.

Re: All AMEX Zync Charge Cards Closed as of 3/30/20

Essence — Wed, 15 Jan 2020 19:25:48 GMT

I love my Zync! I might try to PC into the AMEX Green. Funny enough, I just received an updated Zync last week that has support for contactless. What a shame!

Re: All AMEX Zync Charge Cards Closed as of 3/30/20

Anonymous — Wed, 15 Jan 2020 19:35:20 GMT

I don't know anything about this card, but wouldn't there need to be a comparable product to PC it to?

If it were me I'd probably just close the Zync and app the Green or whatever for the SUB. I doubt Amex is going to offer the same for a PC if anything at all. However, PCing it is the only way to keep account age. If that is important to OP.

I guess you'll have to treasure the time you have left with it.

Re: All AMEX Zync Charge Cards Closed as of 3/30/20

CreditCuriosity — Wed, 15 Jan 2020 19:57:54 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I don't know anything about this card, but wouldn't there need to be a comparable product to PC it to?

If it were me I'd probably just close the Zync and app the Green or whatever for the SUB. I doubt Amex is going to offer the same for a PC if anything at all. However, PCing it is the only way to keep account age. If that is important to OP.

I guess you'll have to treasure the time you have left with it.

senior green but no longer around either

Re: All AMEX Zync Charge Cards Closed as of 3/30/20

wasCB14 — Wed, 15 Jan 2020 20:38:14 GMT

BBP:

No AF

0% intro for 15 months (at least, that's what I got)

2x MRs on all spend up to $50k per calendar year

Real MRs...you can transfer to airlines without needing another card.

Zync:

$25 base AF

PIF generally required, or a balance carried by invitation at interest

1x MREs by default.

A few 2x categories with a $5k spend cap available in "packs" for additional fees ($5-$25 each)

MREs...If you wanted real MRs, you had to have another card.

Re: All AMEX Zync Charge Cards Closed as of 3/30/20

jamie123 — Wed, 15 Jan 2020 22:27:08 GMT

Yeah, I called to see if they would PC me to another card but no dice. AMEX cards don't suite me very well for the most part because I don't travel much nor do I eat out at restaurants much. Yeah, sucks to be older with a couple of teenagers at home that only want to eat hamburgers and junk food!

Because I was on the phone with customer service, discussing the demise of my Zync card, I apped right there and then for the AMEX Cash Magnet. The 1.5% back on everything isn't too bad but the one thing I like is the warranty extension provided when you purchase something with their cards.

I was approved with a starting credit line of $18,100 so not too bad! (But what's with that $100? I wonder if that extra $100 is AMEX code for something? Ya know, they could search their data base by customers with the extra $100 to I don't know? Anybody else get an extra $100 on their CL?)

Re: All AMEX Zync Charge Cards Closed as of 3/30/20

wasCB14 — Wed, 15 Jan 2020 22:44:00 GMT

@jamie123 wrote:
Yeah, I called to see if they would PC me to another card but no dice. AMEX cards don't suite me very well for the most part because I don't travel much nor do I eat out at restaurants much. Yeah, sucks to be older with a couple of teenagers at home that only want to eat hamburgers and junk food!

Because I was on the phone with customer service, discussing the demise of my Zync card, I apped right there and then for the AMEX Cash Magnet. The 1.5% back on everything isn't too bad but the one thing I like is the warranty extension provided when you purchase something with their cards.

I was approved with a starting credit line of $18,100 so not too bad! (But what's with that $100? I wonder if that extra $100 is AMEX code for something? Ya know, they could search their data base by customers with the extra $100 to I don't know? Anybody else get an extra $100 on their CL?)

As of 1/1/20, Amex no longer offers an Extended Warranty on Cash Magnet. The benefit was cut from many (not sure about all) no-AF products.

https://www.americanexpress.com/us/credit-cards/features-benefits/policies/extended-warranty-terms.html