topic Re: Membership has its privileges. in General Credit Topics

Membership has its privileges.

youdontkillmoney — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 13:58:29 GMT

For those of us here with AMEX, how long have you been a member?

Me: 1991. Do tell.

Re: Membership has its privileges.

BigBS — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 13:59:56 GMT

1989.

Re: Membership has its privileges.

tattooedhusker — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 15:34:59 GMT

2013. Woot woot

Re: Membership has its privileges.

eddie84 — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 16:11:34 GMT

Card member since 2001.

Re: Membership has its privileges.

Swapmeet — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 15:48:14 GMT

2013 for me too. Not the longest time, but I am proud still

Re: Membership has its privileges.

youdontkillmoney — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 15:50:42 GMT

@Swapmeet wrote:
2013 for me too. Not the longest time, but I am proud still

As you should be.

Re: Membership has its privileges.

Anonymous — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 15:53:20 GMT

Back dated to my Corporate card date 2008

Re: Membership has its privileges.

DaveSignal — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 15:57:50 GMT

I am not a member, and have failed to see the great privleges. I keep playing with the idea of getting an Amex, but it is hard to rationalize since I know that it would rarely be used. If more places actually accepted Amex, I would take it more seriously.

Re: Membership has its privileges.

youdontkillmoney — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 16:06:42 GMT

@DaveSignal wrote:
I am not a member, and have failed to see the great privleges. I keep playing with the idea of getting an Amex, but it is hard to rationalize since I know that it would rarely be used. If more places actually accepted Amex, I would take it more seriously.

Agree that your mileage may vary depending on your oindividual needs.

I just used the slogan "Membership has its privileges" since AMEX uses it and it's catchy to garner interest.

In my case, take one year for example, I sold a bag on eBay for $1,500 or so and shipped it to Pais. The buyer said she never got it (I didn't use signature confirm..lesson learned)

I disputed through paypal showing my tracking # as delivered (no signature though). The buyer claimed she did not get it, which could be true since maybe someone took it off the front door. Paypal investigated, and found in favor of the buyer for this reason. I am out $1,500 as paypal reversed the buyer's payment.

Well, my nest level of protection, if paypal did not find in my favor is AMEX. I filed a dispute with AMEX since my paypal is linked with AMEX and all transactions are based on AMEX. AMEX couldn't get a response from the buyer and paypal issued their decision, so what did AMEX while on the phone with the rep, she said "I'm just going to reverse it." So AMEX unilaterally reverse the deduction and this was a few years ago, I have not heard otherwise from paypal. So I got my money back.

The annual fee is surely covered for this one instance. maybe 3 years worth of fees.

I could name other stories as can others on here, such as use of airline clubs, $200 airline fee credit for luggage and other incidentals, Global Entry program fee coverage, etc.

Again, your mileage may vary on an individual basis.

Re: Membership has its privileges.

Anonymous — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 16:17:18 GMT

@DaveSignal wrote:
I am not a member, and have failed to see the great privleges. I keep playing with the idea of getting an Amex, but it is hard to rationalize since I know that it would rarely be used. If more places actually accepted Amex, I would take it more seriously.

My BCE has given me a lot of cash back so far. I get offers all the time like:

Dollar Tree

SHOPPING//Spend $25 or more, get $5 back

iTunes

RETAIL//Spend $5 or more, get $5 back

PetSmart

RETAIL//Spend $25 or more, get $5 back

Lowe's

RETAIL//Spend $50 or more, get $10 back

My rewards dollars is sitting at $79.01 right now have not decided how to use it

Re: Membership has its privileges.

DaveSignal — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 16:20:55 GMT

@youdontkillmoney wrote:

Again, your mileage may vary on an individual basis.

I keep thinking that I might use Amex someday and so I should get a card now to get a membershp date, but I have enough accounts that the backdating isn't a huge benefit anyway (its not going to change my AAoA wether backdated or not).

I am kind of a world traveler, as is required by my job. I have frequent travel expenses and live in foreign countries for long periods of time. I wish that Amex had a more global network and offered more cards aimed at international travelers.

Re: Membership has its privileges.

ProV — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 16:24:37 GMT

2004

Re: Membership has its privileges.

heyitsyeh — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 16:27:27 GMT

2013!

Re: Membership has its privileges.

bobbay — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 16:37:35 GMT

1993

Re: Membership has its privileges.

leoment — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 16:53:17 GMT

2007

Re: Membership has its privileges.

dilettante — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 16:57:16 GMT

2009

Got Costco TE when I signed up for Costco membership and found out they only take Amex.

Thanks to this forum, have learned of some of the privileges: FHR, backdating, and 3X CLI (will have to try that sometime if needed, but good to know you can w/ SP).

Re: Membership has its privileges.

SisterGirl — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 17:13:42 GMT

Member since 1999.

SisterGirl

Re: Membership has its privileges.

Anonymous — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 17:15:35 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@DaveSignal wrote:
I am not a member, and have failed to see the great privleges. I keep playing with the idea of getting an Amex, but it is hard to rationalize since I know that it would rarely be used. If more places actually accepted Amex, I would take it more seriously.
My BCE has given me a lot of cash back so far. I get offers all the time like:
Dollar Tree
SHOPPING//Spend $25 or more, get $5 back

iTunes
RETAIL//Spend $5 or more, get $5 back

PetSmart
RETAIL//Spend $25 or more, get $5 back

Lowe's
RETAIL//Spend $50 or more, get $10 back

My rewards dollars is sitting at $79.01 right now have not decided how to use it

Right, but other cards can do that or more, and give bigger sign up bonuses. Nothing particularly special about Amex here. IFor example, instead of named stores, Citi (and now Barclays) will give special category bonuses for a three month period.

Re: Membership has its privileges.

Anonymous — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 17:25:10 GMT

@youdontkillmoney wrote:
@DaveSignal wrote:
I am not a member, and have failed to see the great privleges. I keep playing with the idea of getting an Amex, but it is hard to rationalize since I know that it would rarely be used. If more places actually accepted Amex, I would take it more seriously.
Agree that your mileage may vary depending on your oindividual needs.
I just used the slogan "Membership has its privileges" since AMEX uses it and it's catchy to garner interest.

In my case, take one year for example, I sold a bag on eBay for $1,500 or so and shipped it to Pais. The buyer said she never got it (I didn't use signature confirm..lesson learned)

I disputed through paypal showing my tracking # as delivered (no signature though). The buyer claimed she did not get it, which could be true since maybe someone took it off the front door. Paypal investigated, and found in favor of the buyer for this reason. I am out $1,500 as paypal reversed the buyer's payment.

Well, my nest level of protection, if paypal did not find in my favor is AMEX. I filed a dispute with AMEX since my paypal is linked with AMEX and all transactions are based on AMEX. AMEX couldn't get a response from the buyer and paypal issued their decision, so what did AMEX while on the phone with the rep, she said "I'm just going to reverse it." So AMEX unilaterally reverse the deduction and this was a few years ago, I have not heard otherwise from paypal. So I got my money back.

The annual fee is surely covered for this one instance. maybe 3 years worth of fees.

I think this is the strongest benefit of Amex, siding with the consumer (usually) in disputes. Whether that is important enough depends on how often you need it! Also, Capital One did a similar thing for me on a free card, (even when I eventually found out that I was wrong)

Re: Membership has its privileges.

youdontkillmoney — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 17:28:31 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I think this is the strongest benefit of Amex, siding with the consumer (usually) in disputes. Whether that is important enough depends on how often you need it! Also, Capital One did a similar thing for me on a free card, (even when I eventually found out that I was wrong)

^^^^

I echo this sentiment. With other card companies you have to call them or make it difficult otherwise. With AMEX I go to the website, click on the transaction and file a dispute by filling out a short form and you can check on the status anytime online. Often with under $50 AMEX just automatically credits me, they did this a few times, I figure it's cheaper for them to just credit me than investigate. They also credit the account for that amount while the dispute is in progress. I can honestly say, I have never lost a dispute with AMex, they seem to be really on the consumer's side.