topic Re: Affinity NERF for existing users in Credit Cards

Affinity NERF for existing users

GatorCowboyLion — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 06:16:01 GMT

And so comes another NERF for Affinity. This was up on my credit card rewards page. I was aware new customers had the lower limit, but I was hoping we'd be grandfathered in. It doen't change anything too substantially for us, but it's one more thing to keep in the back of my mind, in particular if any big purchases are made. Discover 5% Amazon could help this year for Christmas spend. And after all, this is still double the CCC/Discover/CFF limits.

Overall, I'm still very happy with this card. The previous level of rewards was unsustainable. We use it most every week for Amazon and it's there for other bookstore purchases too. And I'm not married to my Prime membership, ya gotta love that freedom.

One thing I've learned dealing with credit cards, if it seems too good to be true, it still might be true, but it won't last forever. That doesn't mean you can't ride the wave as long as possible, and the best case scenario is to wind up with a useful card after the inevitable nerf(s). I also think the Redstone card is also unsustainable. That's why it's not the first card I'll get out of the garden. I'm worried they'll nerf those 5% categories and leave the base. Don't get me wrong, it has a great SUB, more power to anyone who has it. But since I'm still collecting 5% cards to round out as much of my spend as possible it doesn't have enough draw considering it might only be useful for couple months or a year.

Re: Affinity NERF for existing users

CreditCuriosity — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 12:05:00 GMT

Haven't used card since the last nerf as already have business Amex amazon. Sure card is good for some still, but now just collects dust for myself.

Re: Affinity NERF for existing users

Anonymous — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 12:22:16 GMT

@GatorCowboyLion wrote:

One thing I've learned dealing with credit cards, if it seems too good to be true, it still might be true, but it won't last forever. That doesn't mean you can't ride the wave as long as possible, and the best case scenario is to wind up with a useful card after the inevitable nerf(s).

Right, and sometimes the wave can be long and profitable, with the prime example being AOD. Despite it being obvious that it was unsustainable and couldn't possibly last (and the other major alternatives have all nerfed) it's still going strong for existing user.

Re: Affinity NERF for existing users

Anonymous — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 12:27:06 GMT

@GatorCowboyLion wrote:

That's strangely worded! From your comparison with Discover, I assume this means that you will earn 5% only on the first $1000 a month bookstore spend? To me, the wording seems to mean that you are limited to $1000 cashback a month, ie 5% on the first $20K a month, which wouldn't be an issue for most!

Re: Affinity NERF for existing users

Beefy1212 — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 15:54:58 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@GatorCowboyLion wrote:
That's strangely worded! From your comparison with Discover, I assume this means that you will earn 5% only on the first $1000 a month bookstore spend? To me, the wording seems to mean that you are limited to $1000 cashback a month, ie 5% on the first $20K a month, which wouldn't be an issue for most!

Nah the 5% is capped at 1,000 a month is pretty clearly 1,000 spend. This is what happens when MSers cycle gift cards endlessly.

I am like CM I have been letting this card collect dust since they got rid of hi5.

Re: Affinity NERF for existing users

juanxincai — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 17:00:42 GMT

Does anyone know how to close an afcu credit card? Do I have to call in and request account closure?

Did some search through the website and app, and cannot find anything about it.

Re: Affinity NERF for existing users

ptatohed — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 17:18:36 GMT

Time to remove from my sig wish list?

Re: Affinity NERF for existing users

AndySoCal — Fri, 10 Nov 2023 02:27:49 GMT

@GatorCowboyLion The card gives you 5% cash back at Amazon and bookstore spending. From the way the message is worded the nerf is on the bookstore spend not on Amazon spend. I could be wrong.

Re: Affinity NERF for existing users

ZackAttack — Fri, 10 Nov 2023 04:25:05 GMT

@AndySoCal wrote:
@GatorCowboyLion The card gives you 5% cash back at Amazon and bookstore spending. From the way the message is worded the nerf is on the bookstore spend not on Amazon spend. I could be wrong.

You do know that the Amazon website transaction swipe is coded as a bookstore, right?

Re: Affinity NERF for existing users

GatorCowboyLion — Fri, 10 Nov 2023 06:28:51 GMT

Yes, I'm confident the $1000 is inclusive of both Amazon and book stores.

Re: Affinity NERF for existing users

Taurus22 — Sat, 11 Nov 2023 18:51:52 GMT

@ptatohed

Naw, why would you remove it? I see you have Chase already, but Affinity has its own set of benefits that Chase can't match. If you have any substantial spend at Amazon, $1000/mth is still a solid hustle, and you're not 'attached-to-the-hip' with Prime if you don't want to be. That's some hefty spend monthly.

I mean obviously the card is not nearly what it used to be with the Hi5 categories, but this is a CU that clearly reviews their rewards structure often and offers what they can sustain at that time. The Hi5 structure simply couldn't exist in this high inflation Bidenomics-era. But the CU is great and who's to say they won't restructure (for the better) the rewards once the economy levels back out.

Don't give up on it yet.

Re: Affinity NERF for existing users

AndySoCal — Sat, 11 Nov 2023 20:53:29 GMT

@ZackAttack No I did not know that Amazon was coded as a bookstore. Most of my Amazon spending is from gift cards someone has given me. Actual credit card spending maybe 6 times a year at most. Sometimes I can find better prices than what Amazon charges elsewhere.

Re: Affinity NERF for existing users

ZackAttack — Sat, 11 Nov 2023 21:07:43 GMT

@AndySoCal wrote:
@ZackAttack No I did not know that Amazon was coded as a bookstore. Most of my Amazon spending is from gift cards someone has given me. Actual credit card spending maybe 6 times a year at most. Sometimes I can find better prices than what Amazon charges elsewhere.

This is how I knew. The 5% CB on the Affinity Card only works via the website. So if you use the Prime Video or something else (like music or Amazon Pay) you won't get it compared to the Chase Amazon