topic Re: Amex BCP vs BCE 2022 in Credit Cards

Amex BCP vs BCE 2022

xenon3030 — Mon, 15 Aug 2022 01:09:56 GMT

I recently got a SUB offer to upgrade BCE to BCP ($75 after spending 1k/3month). Based on recent changes in their reward categories, it looks like BCE can be more interesting (unless having lots of groceries). Here are the comparisons:

BCE: AF=0, groceries~3% (6k cap), online retail~3%, Homechef~15$/m, Disney+ bundle~7$/m.
BCP: AF=$95, groceries~6% (6k cap), stream~6%, Disney+ bundle~7$/m.

What do you think? Not sure why BCE has more rewarding categories. The PC can be eniticing if the SUB can waive the AF (I may call them to see whether it is feasible). For online retail stores, I have BOA CCR and Cash+. Not a fan of Disney+ (have 6 months for free on Amex HH). Homechef foods are very salty and I discontinue it after completing the 3 month trial offer.

Re: Amex BCP vs BCE 2022

Anonymous — Mon, 15 Aug 2022 02:06:14 GMT

@xenon3030 wrote:
I recently got a SUB offer to upgrade BCE to BCP ($75 after spending 1k/3month). Based on recent changes in their reward categories, it looks like BCE can be more interesting (unless having lots of groceries). Here are the comparisons:

BCE: AF=0, groceries~3% (6k cap), online retail~3%, Homechef~15$/m, Disney+ bundle~7$/m.
BCP: AF=$95, groceries~6% (6k cap), stream~6%, Disney+ bundle~7$/m.

What do you think? Not sure why BCE has more rewarding categories. The PC can be eniticing if the SUB can waive the AF (I may call them to see whether it is feasible). For online retail stores, I have BOA CCR and Cash+. Not a fan of Disney+ (have 6 months for free on Amex HH). Homechef foods are very salty and I discontinue it after completing the 3 month trial offer.

The SUB offer is very low compared to ones in the recent past, either $150 with fee waived for the first year or $250 without the waive. Still, this may be the new norm, who knows.

Re: Amex BCP vs BCE 2022

CashOutReFi — Mon, 15 Aug 2022 02:32:07 GMT

Since I've culled spending recently I have also made a point to downgrade my cards to either NO-AF or the lowest AF I can product change to.

The principle is to remove the incentive to spend money solely to make the card "worth it", and just purchase most things on a 2% cash back card unless I happen to already hold a no-fee card that is offering more for a certain category.

That "other" card would be the BCE for online retail purchases and gas.

Re: Amex BCP vs BCE 2022

wasCB14 — Mon, 15 Aug 2022 02:45:28 GMT

Still playing upgrade/downgrade games. Gold+BusPlat gives me the better return on supermarket spend.

But having finished meeting a retention offer on Schwab, I will be pretty close to the $2500 CCR cap between Costco and non-business online spend. So it might be time to add a second CCR.

Re: Amex BCP vs BCE 2022

xenon3030 — Mon, 15 Aug 2022 03:24:48 GMT

I did several upgrade/downgrade games in the past between BCP/BCE. This time, the SUB offer looks very small (in the past, I had ~$200-250 offers to upgrade).

If Discover/CFF can cover groceries for two quarters (without overlap), it is not worth to pay the AF of BCP.

For groceries, I may permanently consider Instacart pickup to get ~8-11% cashback (5% by instacart for pickup, ~3-6% by CC). Depending on cards, such purchase can be done by PP, BOA online shopping or it can simply considered as groceries. Some may also get stacked by Rakuen.

Re: Amex BCP vs BCE 2022

Anonymous — Mon, 15 Aug 2022 03:27:06 GMT

@xenon3030 wrote:
I recently got a SUB offer to upgrade BCE to BCP ($75 after spending 1k/3month). Based on recent changes in their reward categories, it looks like BCE can be more interesting (unless having lots of groceries). Here are the comparisons:

BCE: AF=0, groceries~3% (6k cap), online retail~3%, Homechef~15$/m, Disney+ bundle~7$/m.
BCP: AF=$95, groceries~6% (6k cap), stream~6%, Disney+ bundle~7$/m.

What do you think? Not sure why BCE has more rewarding categories. The PC can be eniticing if the SUB can waive the AF (I may call them to see whether it is feasible). For online retail stores, I have BOA CCR and Cash+. Not a fan of Disney+ (have 6 months for free on Amex HH). Homechef foods are very salty and I discontinue it after completing the 3 month trial offer.

BCP has transit

Re: Amex BCP vs BCE 2022

Anonymous — Mon, 15 Aug 2022 03:29:53 GMT

@CashOutReFi wrote:
Since I've culled spending recently I have also made a point to downgrade my cards to either NO-AF or the lowest AF I can product change to.

The principle is to remove the incentive to spend money solely to make the card "worth it", and just purchase most things on a 2% cash back card unless I happen to already hold a no-fee card that is offering more for a certain category.

That "other" card would be the BCE for online retail purchases and gas.

Wonder if online retail for BCE covers Amazon? If so it's better than Chase Amazon Visa's 2% Back at restaurants, gas stations, and drugstores?

Re: Amex BCP vs BCE 2022

xenon3030 — Mon, 15 Aug 2022 03:38:29 GMT

It covers also Amazon (it looks similar to BOA CCR). Here are the lists: https://www.americanexpress.com/us/rewards-info/retail.html

For Amazon, Affinity Cash Rewards also gives 5% (in Q4, it typically gets stacked with another 5% by its rotating hi5 category).

Re: Amex BCP vs BCE 2022

Anonymous — Mon, 15 Aug 2022 03:56:48 GMT

@xenon3030 wrote:
It covers also Amazon (it looks similar to BOA CCR). Here are the lists: https://www.americanexpress.com/us/rewards-info/retail.html

For Amazon, Affinity Cash Rewards also gives 5% (in Q4, it typically gets stacked with another 5% by its rotating hi5 category).

Examples* of purchases that will earn additional rewards include, but are not limited to:

Major retailers (e.g., Amazon.com, Walmart.com)
Pet stores (e.g., Chewy.com)
Furniture stores (e.g., Wayfair.com)
Department stores
Drug Stores
Book stores
Auto & home supply stores
Personal and household care
Toy & Hobby stores
Computer & Electronic stores
Apparel, Footwear, and Accessories stores
Sporting goods stores
*This is not a complete list.

Jesus this is huge. BCE looks all the more enticing, Amazon only better in no FTF and Caps(it does cover restaurant). Plus Amex is better on CLI as well lol. Thx!

Re: Amex BCP vs BCE 2022

CashOutReFi — Mon, 15 Aug 2022 05:32:31 GMT

For Amazon, I'd do the AmEx Amazon Business Prime. 5% cash back OR 90 day terms.

1.) Doesn't appear on personal credit so utilization doesn't drop score.

2.) Building on 1., neither does the fact that it's a new account

3.) If you're already a cardholder, isn't this a SP?

@Anonymous wrote:
@CashOutReFi wrote:
Since I've culled spending recently I have also made a point to downgrade my cards to either NO-AF or the lowest AF I can product change to.

The principle is to remove the incentive to spend money solely to make the card "worth it", and just purchase most things on a 2% cash back card unless I happen to already hold a no-fee card that is offering more for a certain category.

That "other" card would be the BCE for online retail purchases and gas.
Wonder if online retail for BCE covers Amazon? If so it's better than Chase Amazon Visa's 2% Back at restaurants, gas stations, and drugstores?

Re: Amex BCP vs BCE 2022

Anonymous — Mon, 15 Aug 2022 05:57:05 GMT

@CashOutReFi wrote:
For Amazon, I'd do the AmEx Amazon Business Prime. 5% cash back OR 90 day terms.

1.) Doesn't appear on personal credit so utilization doesn't drop score.

2.) Building on 1., neither does the fact that it's a new account

3.) If you're already a cardholder, isn't this a SP?

@Anonymous wrote:
@CashOutReFi wrote:
Since I've culled spending recently I have also made a point to downgrade my cards to either NO-AF or the lowest AF I can product change to.

The principle is to remove the incentive to spend money solely to make the card "worth it", and just purchase most things on a 2% cash back card unless I happen to already hold a no-fee card that is offering more for a certain category.

That "other" card would be the BCE for online retail purchases and gas.
Wonder if online retail for BCE covers Amazon? If so it's better than Chase Amazon Visa's 2% Back at restaurants, gas stations, and drugstores?

For me, have no AMEX card and no Prime member either($120/yr)

Re: Amex BCP vs BCE 2022

CluelessJohn — Mon, 15 Aug 2022 09:55:53 GMT

Agree with others that your upgrade offer seems low. I received and acted on the $150 for $1000 spend (and waive year 1 fee) upgrade on July 2 of yhis year.

Re: Amex BCP vs BCE 2022

collics — Mon, 15 Aug 2022 14:51:07 GMT

I'm glad I got the Blue Cash Preferred with no AF first year. I have time to assess if i spend enough organically on the card with the 6% and 3% categories to warrant the AF.

Ever since i found out the 6% can also work with Apple product purchases, i think it's going to be a keeper.

Re: Amex BCP vs BCE 2022

Anonymous — Mon, 15 Aug 2022 15:42:19 GMT

@collics wrote:
I'm glad I got the Blue Cash Preferred with no AF first year. I have time to assess if i spend enough organically on the card with the 6% and 3% categories to warrant the AF.

Ever since i found out the 6% can also work with Apple product purchases, i think it's going to be a keeper.

Eh, how, do u buy apple accessories at a supermarket

Re: Amex BCP vs BCE 2022

OmarGB9 — Mon, 15 Aug 2022 19:41:21 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@collics wrote:
I'm glad I got the Blue Cash Preferred with no AF first year. I have time to assess if i spend enough organically on the card with the 6% and 3% categories to warrant the AF.

Ever since i found out the 6% can also work with Apple product purchases, i think it's going to be a keeper.
Eh, how, do u buy apple accessories at a supermarket

I was wondering the same thing.

Re: Amex BCP vs BCE 2022

collics — Mon, 15 Aug 2022 20:30:15 GMT

@OmarGB9 @Anonymous

haha not thru the grocery category but thru the Streaming category.

(But my Publix does sell Apple gift cards so there's that)

When I added money to my Apple account balance to cover my recurring app purchases for the month (gotta meet the SUB ya know), Amex coded it as streaming & i got 6% back. Cool. Unexpected bonus. Transferred my Apple app charges from my Apple card to the BCP.

Later, I was ordering an Ipad, and the funds I had in the Apple ID balance were there in checkout and asked if I wanted to apply to my purchase.

I checked and several ppl on Reddit have confirmed the same.

Screenshot below:

Re: Amex BCP vs BCE 2022

Anonymous — Mon, 15 Aug 2022 22:32:27 GMT

@collics wrote:
@OmarGB9 @Anonymous
haha not thru the grocery category but thru the Streaming category.
(But my Publix does sell Apple gift cards so there's that)

When I added money to my Apple account balance to cover my recurring app purchases for the month (gotta meet the SUB ya know), Amex coded it as streaming & i got 6% back. Cool. Unexpected bonus. Transferred my Apple app charges from my Apple card to the BCP.

Later, I was ordering an Ipad, and the funds I had in the Apple ID balance were there in checkout and asked if I wanted to apply to my purchase.
I checked and several ppl on Reddit have confirmed the same.

Screenshot below:

That's ingenious oh yeah there's also Groceries option like you said, 5%. What use for the Apple card except for easy CLI

Re: Amex BCP vs BCE 2022

collics — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 12:28:56 GMT

@Anonymous lol right i feel so bad for my Apple card now

Re: Amex BCP vs BCE 2022

xenon3030 — Wed, 17 Aug 2022 11:47:10 GMT

Sounds good. Since I have Android, I cannot use this unexpected benefit.

Anyway, I decided to shop one CC now with high SUB and will be back to Amex in a few months. If they give me ~$200-250 SUB to do a product change, it is nice. Otherwise, the perks on Amex BCE look much better than BCP while it also does not have AF.

Re: Amex BCP vs BCE 2022

crystal626 — Wed, 17 Aug 2022 19:59:09 GMT

@xenon3030 wrote:
Sounds good. Since I have Android, I cannot use this unexpected benefit.

Anyway, I decided to shop one CC now with high SUB and will be back to Amex in a few months. If they give me ~$200-250 SUB to do a product change, it is nice. Otherwise, the perks on Amex BCE look much better than BCP while it also does not have AF.

Play Store counts as streaming too.