topic Re: VISA vs Mastercard in Credit Cards

VISA vs Mastercard

CS800 — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 18:01:54 GMT

IS there any advantage of hiving a VISA over a MC? Apart from the convenience of having both just in case a merchant doesnt take one or the other?

Re: VISA vs Mastercard

DeadSpider — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 18:06:39 GMT

Sams club doesn't take Visa but do take MC and VISA more accepted outside US.

Re: VISA vs Mastercard

Anonymous — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 18:07:08 GMT

well I guess it's good to have both, but I've never been in a place where they only accept one and not the other.

Re: VISA vs Mastercard

Revelate — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 18:08:12 GMT

@CS800 wrote:
IS there any advantage of hiving a VISA over a MC? Apart from the convenience of having both just in case a merchant doesnt take one or the other?

Not really, both transaction networks are ubiquitous in the States, either is fine to my knowledge. Might be some difference in Visa Sig vs World MC but I've never looked into that.

Re: VISA vs Mastercard

Anonymous — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 18:09:00 GMT

"Sams club doesn't take Visa but do take MC and VISA more accepted outside US."

Sams club dont accept credit visa, but they accept debit visa and I thought that was kind of weird though.

Re: VISA vs Mastercard

trumpet-205 — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 18:10:29 GMT

Advantage of Visa

* Visa offers more practical discount on its website when using Visa card.

* If you have Visa Signature, it has superior purchase protection/extended warranty than Wold MC/World Elite MC.

Advantage of MC

* It is more widely accepted on international level (some countries like Canada tends to accept MC over Visa).

If you travel abroad, Visa and MC calculate their exchange rate differently.

Re: VISA vs Mastercard

Jlu — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 18:19:57 GMT

alboto, MC has more acceptability overseas than Visa, not the other way around.

Re: VISA vs Mastercard

jamesdwi — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 18:46:48 GMT

Visa is slightly more prestigous than MC.

When you move into higher end cards Visa Signature seem to be more recognised as oposed to "World" mastercard. Also Visa Signature benefits seem to be slightly better than what World MC offers.

My recomendation is to have both, especially if you can get both with no AF.

Re: VISA vs Mastercard

Razeus — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 19:01:12 GMT

MC doesn't get much love here in the U.S. The issuing banks seems to push Visa. I've never had an MC in my life, always Visa. It wasn't even an option when I signed up for my Freedom card.

Re: VISA vs Mastercard

jamesdwi — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 19:08:57 GMT

Untill I got my Chase VISA, I never had one.... I had 4 MC's (2x CapOne, HSBC Sears, BestBuy rewardzone) no visa, in fact the reason I AP'd for the Freedom card is because it was a VISA.

Re: VISA vs Mastercard

CS800 — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 19:19:18 GMT

Thanks for the feedback.

All my High CL cards are VISA

The only MC's I have is a Cap One rebuilder and a USAA Classic (also a rebuilder I believe) And both cards have a $1000 each. When I travel abroad, I have never had an issue with VISA; AMEX for sure in Europe but Visa no issues at all.

Re: VISA vs Mastercard

bichonmom — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 19:41:33 GMT

Some CCs will allow you to PC from Visa to MC. I believe both Navy and Chase Freedom will do that. Others probably would as well. IMO, it's just a good idea to have the variety. Also, sometimes one or the other will have a promo/contest where each purchase gives you an entry. It does seem like Visa is a lot more prevalent here. I only have one MC (Barclay's) and all others are Visa.

Re: VISA vs Mastercard

trumpet-205 — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 20:09:24 GMT

@Razeus wrote:
MC doesn't get much love here in the U.S. The issuing banks seems to push Visa. I've never had an MC in my life, always Visa. It wasn't even an option when I signed up for my Freedom card.

Citi used to issue MC primarily. Now even Citi is switching over to Visa.

Re: VISA vs Mastercard

Anonymous — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 20:09:25 GMT

There's not a whole lot of advantages to one over the other in the US. Sam's Club is the only place I know that takes one but not the other. I think Visa Signature typically has a little bit stronger benefits over World MasterCard, but the individual card may enhance them anyway; also MasterCard has World Elite level, which has more perks.

Re: VISA vs Mastercard

trumpet-205 — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 20:10:36 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
There's not a whole lot of advantages to one over the other in the US. Sam's Club is the only place I know that takes one but not the other. I think Visa Signature typically has a little bit stronger benefits over World MasterCard, but the individual card may enhance them anyway; also MasterCard has World Elite level, which has more perks.

World Elite is meant to compete against Visa Infinite. Visa Infinite beats World Elite MC, as does Visa Signature to World MC. MC overall has less perks than Visa.

Re: VISA vs Mastercard

Jlu — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 20:20:18 GMT

For some reason most subprime cards are MC and most prime cards are Visa.

Re: VISA vs Mastercard

DeadSpider — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 20:53:51 GMT

So MC is more accepted outside US ? I thought I was the other way around !

By the way my Freedom card is MC.

Re: VISA vs Mastercard

trumpet-205 — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 21:07:17 GMT

@DeadSpider wrote:
So MC is more accepted outside US ? I thought I was the other way around !
By the way my Freedom card is MC.

Correct, MC has better international acceptance.

Re: VISA vs Mastercard

Jlu — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 21:14:09 GMT

Your Freedom is pumped/marketed in the Visa flavor. Not all subprime are MC and not all Prime cards are Visa but it just seems most subprime is MCs and most prime is Visas.

Re: VISA vs Mastercard

DeadSpider — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 21:14:11 GMT

So much for Visa commercials "It's everywhere you want to be" IT'S A LIE