topic Re: Why Discover? in Credit Cards

Why Discover?

Anonymous — Wed, 31 Jul 2013 12:08:58 GMT

So not being from round here I wanted to ask, why Discover?

The seem to be reasonably generous in CLs, but I just wanted to ask people what attracted them to their card - what are the advantages/disadvantages relative to another issues Visa or Mastercard options? It seems to be a rather often used staple here, hence my interest.

Re: Why Discover?

sr383 — Wed, 31 Jul 2013 12:25:42 GMT

Fairly easy to get
Customer service is excellent
Floating 5% categories are useful (though kind of a pain to manage)

Re: Why Discover?

SwiftTone — Wed, 31 Jul 2013 12:52:14 GMT

ShopDiscover

[/thread]

Re: Why Discover?

m3rge — Wed, 31 Jul 2013 13:47:22 GMT

Discover was my first prime card I applied. The 5% cash back on different categories is a nice perk plus you get 1% on every purchase. When I applied, they also gave me the highest CL of all my cards. And one of the best things is the customer service, very very good.

Re: Why Discover?

manwoot — Wed, 31 Jul 2013 13:50:11 GMT

And they just sent me a $5 giftcard, just for fun.

When's the last time a Visa or MasterCard company sent me a for fun giftcard? Never.

Re: Why Discover?

lithium78 — Wed, 31 Jul 2013 13:50:48 GMT

I initially got a Discover for the 5% categories, but when I signed up the CSR told me about ShopDiscover and now that's where the card gets most of my usage. I am buying all new appliances for my new house using ShopDiscover and getting 5% cashback (with free shipping) and an extra 12 months on the warranty for free for using Discover.

Re: Why Discover?

takeshi74 — Wed, 31 Jul 2013 13:59:36 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
It seems to be a rather often used staple here, hence my interest.

Take a look at it and see if it sounds like it fits your needs/wants. No one card fits everyone. I don't use Discover, for example.

Re: Why Discover?

kevinjjc — Wed, 31 Jul 2013 14:31:19 GMT

Here are some reasons why you should have a Discover card:

100% U.S. based customer service available 24/7
No foreign transaction fee (widely accepted in Asia): https://www.discover.com/credit-cards/help-center/account/international-use.html
ShopDiscover (cashback for online shopping): https://www.discover.com/credit-cards/cashback-bonus/shopdiscover.html
Cash Over (get cash at checkout): https://www.discover.com/credit-cards/member-benefits/cash-over-purchases.html
Money Messenger (send money to family/friends/etc.): https://www.discover.com/credit-cards/send-money/
SP CLI'S and APR reductions are possible
Excellent website
etc...

Did you know Discover invented the very first cash rewards program?

Re: Why Discover?

migliogiorni — Wed, 31 Jul 2013 14:39:20 GMT

Shop Discover is my primary usage as well. They do have amazing CS. Occasionally, they'll have a 2% promo period as well.

Re: Why Discover?

Open123 — Wed, 31 Jul 2013 14:52:21 GMT

All very good reasons listed here on the merits of having a Discover card.

While I agree with all of them, I'd like to point out that in my estimation, customer service while important is a distant 3rd on my list of priorities behind rewards and performance.

For rewards, there's no reason to use a 1% cashback card, unless one didn't have better options, of which there are many. By performance, I mean that during a merchant dispute, take my side and give me the benefit of the doubt, not them. The last thing I want is for an exemplary based US CSR with a perfect "Brokaw" Midwest American English telling me nicely the litany of reasons why they've chosen not to side with me.

To me, customer service isn't about "nice US based CSRs" who will merrily answer frivolous nonsensical queries all day long, but rather solve or resolve time sensitive issues when they invariably arise. In this regard, I can think of several issuers's customer service I prefer over Discover's.

Re: Why Discover?

Burned2manybridgesB4 — Wed, 31 Jul 2013 15:14:56 GMT

Back in '97 (yeah, you're reading the date right) it was the "in" card to get, simply because it was "not for everybody." LOL... and the rumor back then was that they were heavily based on your income (like a younger Amex).

...most god awful looking rainbow colored card I ever saw. Liked it when they made it to entire black with the silver lettering though.

Re: Why Discover?

kevinjjc — Wed, 31 Jul 2013 15:18:21 GMT

@Open123 wrote:
All very good reasons listed here on the merits of having a Discover card.

While I agree with all of them, I'd like to point out that in my estimation, customer service while important is a distant 3rd on my list of priorities behind rewards and performance.

For rewards, there's no reason to use a 1% cashback card, unless one didn't have better options, of which there are many. By performance, I mean that during a merchant dispute, take my side and give me the benefit of the doubt, not them. The last thing I want is for an exemplary based US CSR with a perfect "Brokaw" Midwest American English telling me nicely the litany of reasons why they've chosen not to side with me.

To me, customer service isn't about "nice US based CSRs" who will merrily answer frivolous nonsensical queries all day long, but rather solve or resolve time sensitive issues when they invariably arise. In this regard, I can think of several issuers's customer service I prefer over Discover's.

Open123, I'm glad you brought it up. Did you have any bad experiences with disputing charges on your Discover card?

Re: Why Discover?

Open123 — Wed, 31 Jul 2013 15:20:13 GMT

@Burned2manybridgesB4 wrote:
Back in '97 (yeah, you're reading the date right) it was the "in" card to get, simply because it was "not for everybody." LOL... and the rumor back then was that they were heavily based on your income (like a younger Amex).

LOL...right, it was offered by DW Discover, and the only places which accepted them were Sears and the "newly" launched Amazon.com.

Re: Why Discover?

Open123 — Wed, 31 Jul 2013 15:25:24 GMT

@kevinjjc wrote:
Open123, I'm glad you brought it up. Did you have any bad experiences with disputing charges on your Discover card?

Personally, no.

Here, I'm a paper theorist. For whatever reason, I've never had to file a merchant dispute. However, I keep reading posts from here, elsewhere and people I know sharing their stories of Discover being extremely pro-merchant during disputes. I inferred from these posts, that if a merchant merely replies to the dispute in a timely manner, Discover (and Barclay) will automatically side with the merchant.

Likewise, I've read positive experience with filing disputes with Amex, Chase, and Cap One.

So, I'm only "presuming" that all things being equal, it is true that in general, other issuers would be more consumer friendly in this case.

Re: Why Discover?

sccredit — Wed, 31 Jul 2013 15:30:01 GMT

@Open123 wrote:
@kevinjjc wrote:
Open123, I'm glad you brought it up. Did you have any bad experiences with disputing charges on your Discover card?
Personally, no.

Here, I'm a paper theorist. For whatever reason, I've never had to file a merchant dispute. However, I keep reading posts from here, elsewhere and people I know sharing their stories of Discover being extremely pro-merchant during disputes. I inferred from these posts, that if a merchant merely replies to the dispute in a timely manner, Discover (and Barclay) will automatically side with the merchant.

Likewise, I've read positive experience with filing disputes with Amex, Chase, and Cap One.

So, I'm only "presuming" that all things being equal, it is true that in general, other issuers would be more consumer friendly in this case.

I have had to file a dispute, much easier with Discover than AMEX or Citi. Chase I have no experience with so I won't pretend to know what I am talking about with them.

Re: Why Discover?

Open123 — Wed, 31 Jul 2013 15:34:39 GMT

@sccredit wrote:
I have had to file a dispute, much easier with Discover than AMEX or Citi. Chase I have no experience with so I won't pretend to know what I am talking about with them.

Yours is the first post I can recall in the past several years relaying a positive experience with Discover's dispute resolution, especially on the procedure being "much easier" than Amex's.

Re: Why Discover?

m3rge — Mon, 07 Jul 2014 15:14:03 GMT

I made a dispute on 3/24/14 regarding Ebay fee for an electronic that was sold but not the buyer not paid (never sent the item) but Ebay charged me the fee for the selling price even though buyer not paid and Discover still don't have any response. I presented evidence from messages to the buyer to a letter from Ebay saying I will get my money back from selling charges and still nothing.

On the other hand Discover rewards are awesome and ithe card is pretty much accepted everywhere here in Puerto Rico.

Re: Why Discover?

LawStudentCivilis — Mon, 07 Jul 2014 15:19:43 GMT

Since this is a Discover thread, can anyone tell me why there appears to be both a burgundy card and a silver one? I keep getting offers in the mail, and I cannot tell if there is any difference and why. I would love a Discover card but it will more than likely be a year or so before I get one. I feel as though I am at my card max.

Re: Why Discover?

Jaylima91 — Mon, 07 Jul 2014 15:38:43 GMT

The silver one a Discover It Chrome card. That is Discovers newest addition to their line of cards and offers a solid 2% cashback on up to $1000 quarterly limit on Gas and Restaurants.

The Burgandy card I suppose would be the regular Discover It card with the 5% quarterly bonuses. Maybe they are showing you their custom colored card because I know their default Discover It card is the Blue Titanium one.

Re: Why Discover?

Anonymous — Mon, 07 Jul 2014 16:26:28 GMT

@Jaylima91 wrote:
That is Discovers newest addition to their line of cards and offers a solid 2% cashback on up to $1000 quarterly limit on Gas and Restaurants.

I guess it's all on perception! I would have phrased it as "offers a mere 2% cashback up to a very low $1000 per quarter limit on Gas and Restaurants".