topic Re: Amex BCE vs Chase Amazon in Credit Cards

Amex BCE vs Chase Amazon

Anonymous — Mon, 15 Aug 2022 22:45:43 GMT

Chase Amazon Visa

3% Amazon, Whole Food

2% restaurants, gas stations, and drugstores

BCE

Groceries 3%

Gas 3%

Online retail 3% :

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.

At least for me, BCE is better.

Chase only has advantage in no caps and no FTF. So unless you're a big spender on Amazon, BCE hands down. In fact Chase 2% are useless to me since I have CFF/Disco it CB/CO SO, 3% or 5%

Prime version is of course Amazon/Whole Food 5% but annual fee about $120/yr, and CFF/Disco can match it for like half the year

Re: Amex BCE vs Chase Amazon

mfinsmi1 — Mon, 15 Aug 2022 23:06:02 GMT

i have both cards but i do have prime so i get the benefit of 5% - they both are my main players in my wallet for sure

Re: Amex BCE vs Chase Amazon

GatorGuy — Mon, 15 Aug 2022 23:37:34 GMT

Pretty weird comparison in my opinion.

Let's start with there isn't much reason to get the Amazon card if you don't have Prime. However if you do, there are only a couple 5% back Amazon cards. Uncapped 5% back in any category is pretty rare. Whereas there are many cards which can replace the BCE or surpass it.

Re: Amex BCE vs Chase Amazon

Anonymous — Mon, 15 Aug 2022 23:47:35 GMT

@GatorGuy wrote:
Pretty weird comparison in my opinion.

Let's start with there isn't much reason to get the Amazon card if you don't have Prime. However if you do, there are only a couple 5% back Amazon cards. Uncapped 5% back in any category is pretty rare. Whereas there are many cards which can replace the BCE or surpass it.

My prime reason to get Amazon non Prime visa is to allocate limit to CFF $500. Otherwise not much use to me, and CFF/Disco It CB can cover Amazon 5% for half the year. I did say 'unless you're a big spender on Amazon'

And now that BCE upgraded gas to 3% and added online retail 3%, it's now very attractive indeed

Re: Amex BCE vs Chase Amazon

Anonymous — Mon, 15 Aug 2022 23:47:49 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:

At least for me, BCE is better.
Chase only has advantage in no caps and no FTF. So unless you're a big spender on Amazon, BCE hands down. In fact Chase 2% are useless to me since I have CFF/Disco it CB/CO SO, 3% or 5%

Sure, but for those with prime and decent spend "no caps" is a huge advantage, clearly outpacing BCE. (And for me, since I do most of grocery shopping at WholeFoods, the BCP makes no sense either). IMO, no FTF is less interesting, because the Chase Amazon card doesn't do 3/5% at international Amazon sites or international WholeFoods, so that's just for the 2% categories.

Re: Amex BCE vs Chase Amazon

unsungivy — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 00:39:11 GMT

Agree that this is a super odd choice to compare. Since if you are a "big spender" on Amazon, like myself, you have Prime anyways, and if you're not, then why on earth would you have the Chase Amazon Visa in the first place?? (Maybe it's a relic from before the card holder downgraded from Prime, deciding that they don't use it that much anyways... only reason I can think of.)

"Better" to compare the BCE vs the Affinity, with 5% Amazon even if you don't have Prime, and 2% on groceries/gas/dining, and the stacking 5% categories quarterly.

Or just do what I did and have all 3. Why choose?

Re: Amex BCE vs Chase Amazon

Anonymous — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 00:42:47 GMT

@GatorGuy wrote:
Pretty weird comparison in my opinion.

Let's start with there isn't much reason to get the Amazon card if you don't have Prime. However if you do, there are only a couple 5% back Amazon cards. Uncapped 5% back in any category is pretty rare. Whereas there are many cards which can replace the BCE or surpass it.

Many?! In fact I'm looking for grocery/online retail card after my 1st yr grocery 5% ends for CFF in September. Of grocery card that at least get 3% back, CO SO is as versatile(restaurant/entertainment), but what else. BCP has AF and I don't spend that much for groceries either. Citi CC 5%? But not as versatile, others all 1%

Re: Amex BCE vs Chase Amazon

Anonymous — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 00:45:39 GMT

@unsungivy wrote:
Agree that this is a super odd choice to compare. Since if you are a "big spender" on Amazon, like myself, you have Prime anyways, and if you're not, then why on earth would you have the Chase Amazon Visa in the first place?? (Maybe it's a relic from before the card holder downgraded from Prime, deciding that they don't use it that much anyways... only reason I can think of.)

"Better" to compare the BCE vs the Affinity, with 5% Amazon even if you don't have Prime, and 2% on groceries/gas/dining, and the stacking 5% categories quarterly.

Or just do what I did and have all 3. Why choose?

Nah, better to compare Affinity with Chase Prime and I would prefer Affinity.

Re: Amex BCE vs Chase Amazon

unsungivy — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 01:01:58 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@unsungivy wrote:
Agree that this is a super odd choice to compare. Since if you are a "big spender" on Amazon, like myself, you have Prime anyways, and if you're not, then why on earth would you have the Chase Amazon Visa in the first place?? (Maybe it's a relic from before the card holder downgraded from Prime, deciding that they don't use it that much anyways... only reason I can think of.)

"Better" to compare the BCE vs the Affinity, with 5% Amazon even if you don't have Prime, and 2% on groceries/gas/dining, and the stacking 5% categories quarterly.

Or just do what I did and have all 3. Why choose?
Nah, better to compare Affinity with Chase Prime and I would prefer Affinity.

Right, so in head-to-head situation, Affinity beat Chase Amazon Prime, so should be what is in the final round vs BCE.

Re: Amex BCE vs Chase Amazon

Anonymous — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 01:17:22 GMT

Ok I'll bite

Amazon, bookstore: Affinity

All other online retail: BCE

Gas: BCE

Supermarket: BCE

Stream, Uber: Affinity

Restaurant: Affinity

So, hard to say 😅

BCE has CDW, maybe Affinity too?

Sub, same amount but BCE easier to achieve

But for me, stream I have CO SO which gets higher than Affinity, restaurant too(CFF, CO SO, Disco It, 3 or 5%). CFF has Lyft methinks not that I use rideshare.

Re: Amex BCE vs Chase Amazon

xenon3030 — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 03:14:05 GMT

In long term, I suggest to get all BCE, Chase Amazon and Affinity Cash Rewards (I have all of them). In short term, it is up to you to choose between 3% to 5% and whether you potentially hit the CAP or not.

Affinity Cash Rewards will be 10% on Amazon in Q4 (rotating Hi5 category). I got it with ~20k CL. I wish that the card would stand for a long time and would not nerf. It is one of active cards in my wallet, especially for Costco.

Re: Amex BCE vs Chase Amazon

cws-21 — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 04:07:01 GMT

@xenon3030 wrote:
In long term, I suggest to get all BCE, Chase Amazon and Affinity Cash Rewards (I have all of them). In short term, it is up to you to choose between 3% to 5% and whether you potentially hit the CAP or not.

Affinity Cash Rewards will be 10% on Amazon in Q4 (rotating Hi5 category). I got it with ~20k CL. I wish that the card would stand for a long time and would not nerf. It is one of active cards in my wallet, especially for Costco.

@xenon3030, I am curious as to why you recommend, in the long-term, for someone to get the Blue Cash Everyday, Chase Amazon, AND Affinity Cash Rewards.

I agree with you about hoping the Affinity Cash Rewards doesn't get nerfed, at least for existing customers.

Re: Amex BCE vs Chase Amazon

crystal626 — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 04:22:26 GMT

All 3 have no annual fee so just get all 3.

Re: Amex BCE vs Chase Amazon

cws-21 — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 04:31:23 GMT

@crystal626 wrote:
All 3 have no annual fee so just get all 3.

@crystal626, for the SUBs? For me, a card having no annual fee is not a reason to apply for it and have another new account reporting.

Re: Amex BCE vs Chase Amazon

crystal626 — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 04:39:18 GMT

There was supposed to be a ? At the end of that because I wasn't totally serious but honestly I do have all three cards and they all have their merits. If I was ranking them personally though, it would be Affinity then Chase then BCE. That Affinity card with the quarterly categories is a very compelling card.

Re: Amex BCE vs Chase Amazon

Anonymous — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 06:22:22 GMT

I can't find hi 5 rotating categories on Affinity homepage. When I try/tried to apply I mean

O it's on the general credit card page, at the bottom lol, why don't they put it in front of each card page.

Re: Amex BCE vs Chase Amazon

AwsiDooger — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 06:19:36 GMT

Don't forget the ActivateMyBonus feature on Chase. They seemingly always give me 5% goodies on Chase Amazon. This quarter it is 5% on Home Improvement and Restaurants.

I have Blue Cash Everyday but use it primarily for the Plan It feature when they provide 0% for 24 months. They did that for me again last December. So now I'm paying off those purchases and don't use the card other than when one of the freebie offers shows up. I've had Peacock for free 6 months this year and now Disney+ for free. It's a net free because the offer is always something like spend $4.99 and we'll give you $4.99 back.

I rarely if ever see any value in the high dollar American Express offers. They look like pure laziness to me. It's basically spend way more than necesary directly with the merchant and we'll laugh in the background as we hand you a little bit back. Meanwhile via creatively shopping around it's easy to annihilate those prices.

Re: Amex BCE vs Chase Amazon

Anonymous — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 06:27:36 GMT

Oh yea

@AwsiDooger wrote:
Don't forget the ActivateMyBonus feature on Chase. They seemingly always give me 5% goodies on Chase Amazon. This quarter it is 5% on Home Improvement and Restaurants.

I have Blue Cash Everyday but use it primarily for the Plan It feature when they provide 0% for 24 months. They did that for me again last December. So now I'm paying off those purchases and don't use the card other than when one of the freebie offers shows up. I've had Peacock for free 6 months this year and now Disney+ for free. It's a net free because the offer is always something like spend $4.99 and we'll give you $4.99 back.

I rarely if ever see any value in the high dollar American Express offers. They look like pure laziness to me. It's basically spend way more than necesary directly with the merchant and we'll laugh in the background as we hand you a little bit back. Meanwhile via creatively shopping around it's easy to annihilate those prices.

but isn't activate bonus feature profile specific? And yeah Amex offers seem too niche for me, no organic spend for me. By the way Affinity has no FTF? If so great and it's also a Visa which I don't have..

Re: Amex BCE vs Chase Amazon

unsungivy — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 12:39:33 GMT

Yes, the Chase extra bonus categories are profile specific. I don't seem to get them, personally. I do get a lot of mileage out of the AmEx offers, however. The one at Chewy.com that pops up every quarter gets used, as does one at my favorite wings place, and large cashback offers for Norwegian CL that happened for several quarters while we were still paying for the reserved cruise (spend $500 get $125 back... used this on my own card, P2's card, and even roped in my parents'). I frequently see ones for "spend $100 at grocery store, get $10 back", and similar gas deals (I drive a full EV so useless to me personally)... you can't tell me that 10% on groceries is not organic spend for just about everyone.

Anyways, yes Affinity is no FTF. I originally planned to close my Chase Amazon Prime Visa after getting the Affinity card, but have found that the Affinity does not include digital purchases (like Kindle unlimited or movie rentals, or Audible) via Amazon, only things that come through the marketplace under the Bookstore MCC. So, for now, my Amazon Visa still has a place at the table, but if I was doing it again I wouldn't bother picking it up new. My Affinity card is definitely one of my favorite cards, however (still working on the SUB, so it's a wallet regular for me).

Re: Amex BCE vs Chase Amazon

unsungivy — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 12:32:36 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I can't find hi 5 rotating categories on Affinity homepage. When I try/tried to apply I mean

O it's on the general credit card page, at the bottom lol, why don't they put it in front of each card page.

In my opinion it's a good thing they don't advertise it more clearly... we don't want it to get nerfed [any sooner]!