topic Re: I need to get in with American Express in Credit Cards

I need to get in with American Express

Spanky23 — Sat, 16 Aug 2014 18:11:42 GMT

Is their cash back program better or the flight one?

I don't travel much but could start saving points for after school. Do already have a discover it but it's rotating categories where as I could get a straight 2 and 3% on the Blue card.

Thoughts?

Re: I need to get in with American Express

mongstradamus — Sat, 16 Aug 2014 18:15:43 GMT

@Spanky23 wrote:
Is their cash back program better or the flight one?

I don't travel much but could start saving points for after school. Do already have a discover it but it's rotating categories where as I could get a straight 2 and 3% on the Blue card.

Thoughts?

for points the EDP or ED is nice place to start, since you can some bonus spending on there with groceries and gas. PRG is another option to get started with some MR points. BTW from what i can tell ED > Blue in almost every way, unless i am missing something?

Re: I need to get in with American Express

Anonymous — Sat, 16 Aug 2014 18:16:12 GMT

I just got the BlueCash Preferred. 6% back on groceries. I spend about 500 to 600 on groceries a month, mostely healthy proteins and veggis. so it is worth it.

I actually chatted online with the AMEX customer service, they helped me decide by showing me the benifits and numbers i would be saving on each one.

Re: I need to get in with American Express

Closingracer99 — Sat, 16 Aug 2014 18:28:17 GMT

@mongstradamus wrote:
@Spanky23 wrote:
Is their cash back program better or the flight one?

I don't travel much but could start saving points for after school. Do already have a discover it but it's rotating categories where as I could get a straight 2 and 3% on the Blue card.

Thoughts?
for points the EDP or ED is nice place to start, since you can some bonus spending on there with groceries and gas. PRG is another option to get started with some MR points. BTW from what i can tell ED > Blue in almost every way, unless i am missing something?

MR as a cash back option is terrible ... the only point system that works as good Cash back is UR points. Blue Cash Everyday card is the best option if you want no AF and a Cash back card.

Re: I need to get in with American Express

Spanky23 — Sat, 16 Aug 2014 18:35:44 GMT

I will definitely be using the card a lot for gas. Though not as much at supermarkets (I shop at Kroger's and I see that's not on their supermarket list)

But like I said, the Everyday can get me started on points. Thought 10,000 bonus isn't that much and I won't be spending so much money that it'll really add the points. I think BCE is the pick

Re: I need to get in with American Express

Closingracer99 — Sat, 16 Aug 2014 18:38:34 GMT

@Spanky23 wrote:
I will definitely be using the card a lot for gas. Though not as much at supermarkets (I shop at Kroger's and I see that's not on their supermarket list)

But like I said, the Everyday can get me started on points. Thought 10,000 bonus isn't that much and I won't be spending so much money that it'll really add the points. I think BCE is the pick

Personally the only reason why i chose the ED is because it has no AF and the first non AF that can accrue MR points so in the future if I ever value MR points more I have already attained MR points for transfer

Re: I need to get in with American Express

mongstradamus — Sat, 16 Aug 2014 18:41:40 GMT

@Closingracer99 wrote:
@Spanky23 wrote:
I will definitely be using the card a lot for gas. Though not as much at supermarkets (I shop at Kroger's and I see that's not on their supermarket list)

But like I said, the Everyday can get me started on points. Thought 10,000 bonus isn't that much and I won't be spending so much money that it'll really add the points. I think BCE is the pick
Personally the only reason why i chose the ED is because it has no AF and the first non AF that can accrue MR points so in the future if I ever value MR points more I have already attained MR points for transfer

I thought he said he wanted points to accrue for travel i guess i misunderstood.

Re: I need to get in with American Express

Spanky23 — Sat, 16 Aug 2014 19:05:39 GMT

Will listen to other ideas if any.

Re: I need to get in with American Express

Closingracer99 — Sat, 16 Aug 2014 19:07:19 GMT

App for the old Blue cash card? A link is floating around somewhere for it

Re: I need to get in with American Express

mongstradamus — Sat, 16 Aug 2014 19:23:14 GMT

@Closingracer99 wrote:
App for the old Blue cash card? A link is floating around somewhere for it

you can just google it i think it goes straight to the app. The funny thing about that is if i were logged into my amex account I couldn't find it , but if you are incognito mode the link shows up and you can app for it i found that quite odd. Blue cash you need to put an fair amount of spending throught it before the 5% categories kick in. 6500 i believe , but good thing is there are no caps

Re: I need to get in with American Express

Anonymous — Sat, 16 Aug 2014 20:08:34 GMT

@mongstradamus wrote:
@Closingracer99 wrote:
App for the old Blue cash card? A link is floating around somewhere for it
you can just google it i think it goes straight to the app. The funny thing about that is if i were logged into my amex account I couldn't find it , but if you are incognito mode the link shows up and you can app for it i found that quite odd. Blue cash you need to put an fair amount of spending throught it before the 5% categories kick in. 6500 i believe , but good thing is there are no caps

Yes this (and its byproducts) is really the only card I use these days. The $6,500 threshold really is equivalent to an annual fee, ranging from 0 to $97.50, depending on how you meet the threshold and what other cards you have

Re: I need to get in with American Express

Spanky23 — Sat, 16 Aug 2014 21:05:19 GMT

https://www295.americanexpress.com/cards/npz.do?pmccode=77#CARDS/77/1/0/0

This one? I probably won't spend $6500 in a year anytime soon so is that a better choice than the BCE when I can get 3% on gas year round?

Re: I need to get in with American Express

mongstradamus — Sat, 16 Aug 2014 21:09:56 GMT

@Spanky23 wrote:
https://www295.americanexpress.com/cards/npz.do?pmccode=77#CARDS/77/1/0/0

This one? I probably won't spend $6500 in a year anytime soon so is that a better choice than the BCE when I can get 3% on gas year round?

Just so you know BCE you only get 2 % cash back on gas , BCP is 3% but that has an AF. There is no other Amex options for gas on cash back for gas. Other option is you can try an non amex cards like sm that has 5% Cashback on gas and groceries with 250 per month cap on each.

Re: I need to get in with American Express

Anonymous — Sat, 16 Aug 2014 21:36:16 GMT

@mongstradamus wrote:
@Spanky23 wrote:
https://www295.americanexpress.com/cards/npz.do?pmccode=77#CARDS/77/1/0/0

This one? I probably won't spend $6500 in a year anytime soon so is that a better choice than the BCE when I can get 3% on gas year round?
Just so you know BCE you only get 2 % cash back on gas , BCP is 3% but that has an AF. There is no other Amex options for gas on cash back for gas. Other option is you can try an non amex cards like sm that has 5% Cashback on gas and groceries with 250 per month cap on each.

Yes, for lower levels of spend on gas and groceries, Sallie Mae is probably the card tp get the most rewards.

Re: I need to get in with American Express

Spanky23 — Sat, 16 Aug 2014 21:38:27 GMT

I'm mainly going with American Express on the advice from multiple members that I should get in with American Express before I go with Chase and the such

Re: I need to get in with American Express

lonelyisland — Sat, 16 Aug 2014 21:43:27 GMT

Spanky23 wrote:

Is their cash back program better or the flight one?

I don't travel much but could start saving points for after school. Do already have a discover it but it's rotating categories where as I could get a straight 2 and 3% on the Blue card.

Thoughts?

What do you mean by "the flight one"? Are you debating between the Blue Cash and the Blue Sky?

Re: I need to get in with American Express

Spanky23 — Sat, 16 Aug 2014 21:48:12 GMT

BCE and the Everyday

Re: I need to get in with American Express

lonelyisland — Sat, 16 Aug 2014 21:53:04 GMT

@Spanky23 wrote:
BCE and the Everyday

If you aren't planning to get the Sallie Mae at some point, go BCE to start. If you do plan to get the SM, most of the BCE rewards will be redundant.

If am AMEX card isnt useful for you, and you cant make good reason to get one, wait until it makes sense for you.

Re: I need to get in with American Express

jamesdwi — Sun, 17 Aug 2014 03:26:03 GMT

@Spanky23 wrote:
Is their cash back program better or the flight one?

I don't travel much but could start saving points for after school. Do already have a discover it but it's rotating categories where as I could get a straight 2 and 3% on the Blue card.

Thoughts?

cash is usually better, but we would need some details on your credit report, AAoA, UTL, baddies, do you have any prime cards besides the discover card, how long have you had the discover card or other prime cards.

Might be best to start out with the AMEX PRG card, and then app for a revolver in January.

Re: I need to get in with American Express

Anonymous — Sun, 17 Aug 2014 04:33:00 GMT

@jamesdwi wrote:
@Spanky23 wrote:
Is their cash back program better or the flight one?

I don't travel much but could start saving points for after school. Do already have a discover it but it's rotating categories where as I could get a straight 2 and 3% on the Blue card.

Thoughts?
cash is usually better, but we would need some details on your credit report, AAoA, UTL, baddies, do you have any prime cards besides the discover card, how long have you had the discover card or other prime cards.

Might be best to start out with the AMEX PRG card, and then app for a revolver in January.

It's certainly not always the case that cashback is better, for many the travel can be much more valuable, as MRs are simply worth more when redeemed via travel partners.

I'm mainly going with American Express on the advice from multiple members that I should get in with American Express before I go with Chase and the such

Well, many members may have said that but it doesn't really make it true! You have to realize that most of the advice here is from people generalizing from their own experience with very limited information. (People say how useful it all is, but usually don't consider what would have happened if they had followed different advice!)

There are SOMETIMES advantages to Amex, if you go for a charge card you might get accepted when you would not get a credit card from Chase for example. But the Freedom is also given to people with lowish scores and thin files, so even that is not so clear. An Amex credit card doesn't even have this, they are no easier than decent cards from the other banks. So, choose one that has the rewards you want and matches your spending pattern.

Now that's just my advice, and (apart from the fact that I am right) subject to the same limitations above!