topic Best and Worst Looking Cards in SmorgasBoard

Best and Worst Looking Cards

QuakerOatmeal — Fri, 11 May 2018 14:58:20 GMT

What cards do you have that you think are hideous and could do with a major redesign? Which cards have you seen over the years that you think are terrible?

Also, why not throw in which card you think looks nicest?

My first credit card with Bank of America was the Cash Rewards card, it's a glossy red plasticy card. But once my excitement wore off from getting a card with them though I kinda realized how hideous the card was. If it wasn't for how amazingly good it was, I probably would rarely use it.

This only worsened once I got the Premium Rewards card at Bank of America, which has a nice simple matte grey finish. I really wish BOA would've gone with matte red as well instead of that glossy red that gets easily scratched and scuffed within 3 minutes.

I think the new QuickSilver cards look like a huge improvement over the older design but still looks like a bland store card.

I'm actually really jealous of that Cobalt AMEX, and I really miss that old AMEX Zync design!

Re: Best and Worst Looking Cards

Anonymous — Fri, 11 May 2018 14:59:00 GMT

I hear that the AMEX gold cc looks really nice and shiney. I plan on getting one one day and finding out myself...

Re: Best and Worst Looking Cards

QuakerOatmeal — Fri, 11 May 2018 15:01:19 GMT

It is, AMEX put an almost metallic glitter sheen in the gold color that makes it look really nice. AMEX generally has super nice cards IMO!

Re: Best and Worst Looking Cards

Anonymous — Fri, 11 May 2018 15:06:01 GMT

Amex by far is the nicest and the Platinum never fails to get compliments when I use it. Penfed quality is lacking for sure.

Re: Best and Worst Looking Cards

HeavenOhio — Fri, 11 May 2018 15:07:41 GMT

I honestly don't care what my cards look like. I care more that they're made in a way that they don't fall apart.

Having said that, people have commented on my BCE, Amazon, Savor, and Quicksilver cards.

Re: Best and Worst Looking Cards

QuakerOatmeal — Fri, 11 May 2018 15:09:50 GMT

You know what, now that you mention it, my BOA debit card is starting to fall apart even though I rarely use it. It's like the plastic wrap is peeling back and it's driving me nuts. I can't imagine how bad it would be if I actually used the darn thing!

Re: Best and Worst Looking Cards

kilroy8 — Fri, 11 May 2018 15:32:05 GMT

I have gotten the "cool card" comment from young people on the BCP. The CSP just causes them to do a double-take because it is heavier than expected and metal.

Re: Best and Worst Looking Cards

QuakerOatmeal — Fri, 11 May 2018 15:35:09 GMT

Is the CSP metal?

Im an AU on my CSP but I always figured it was just very dense plastic since it's so bendy, at least when compared to the metal platinum card...

Re: Best and Worst Looking Cards

kilroy8 — Fri, 11 May 2018 15:38:04 GMT

@QuakerOatmeal wrote:
Is the CSP metal?

Im an AU on my CSP but I always figured it was just very dense plastic since it's so bendy, at least when compared to the metal platinum card...

Mine seems to be. Not going to scratch it to find out.

Re: Best and Worst Looking Cards

Kforce — Fri, 11 May 2018 16:09:59 GMT

Northrop Grumman Federal Credit Union

My pick for best

Re: Best and Worst Looking Cards

Anonymous — Fri, 11 May 2018 16:47:06 GMT

Re: Best and Worst Looking Cards

iced — Fri, 11 May 2018 18:20:12 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Amex by far is the nicest and the Platinum never fails to get compliments when I use it. Penfed quality is lacking for sure.

What part of the country still thinks the Platinum is an exclusive or elite enough card to compliment on?

As for the main question, none of the cards today really jump out as attractive, so I'd take anything that's not plastic or still has embossed numbers as they tend to break after a few years.

The last generation of Citi cards, where the stripe was on the front of the card, caused a lot of confusion at registers, so I'd put them in the "worst" bucket, too. They walked that change back after about a year.

Of my cards, I guess I'd go with the CSR as the "best" since it's blue and has a simple, clean front. No pictures, no numbers, just a card.

Re: Best and Worst Looking Cards

expatCanuck — Fri, 11 May 2018 21:13:44 GMT

@HeavenOhio wrote:
I honestly don't care what my cards look like. I care more that they're made in a way that they don't fall apart.

Having said that, people have commented on my BCE, Amazon, Savor, and Quicksilver cards.

Funny. I despise the BCE. Too thin, feels slippery, and (to my aging eyes) impossible to read in anything other than excellent light. CO shows me no love, so I may never experience a Savor or QS.

Big fan of the look & feel of the (metallic blue-gray) Discover It. Like Citi's DC and the CSP, too.

Re: Best and Worst Looking Cards

Anonymous — Fri, 11 May 2018 21:22:46 GMT

The most hideous cards in my opinion are any that are instant-issued from a bank/credit union. I have a Debit MasterCard from Security Service FCU that is downright awful and almost looks counterfeit! The numbers are printed in white with a black outline; there is a line running horizontally throughout the card during the printing process and despite being navy blue, the area where the mastercard logo is has been made white. I know I just described debit as opposed to credit-but SSFCU also issues credit cards. Awful. And they aren't the only CU that does that. Nearly all Credit One cards are bad (beach scenes on a credit card is so 1990s).

Best looking cards (besides the obvious Amex Platinum/Chase CSP/CSR/Ritz) are USAA. I don't think many people have actually seen one in person because membership is so closed...but they are very handsome cards.

As with anything, looks are subjective.

Re: Best and Worst Looking Cards

UncleB — Sat, 12 May 2018 14:15:39 GMT

@iced wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
Amex by far is the nicest and the Platinum never fails to get compliments when I use it. Penfed quality is lacking for sure.
What part of the country still thinks the Platinum is an exclusive or elite enough card to compliment on?

Ignorance about Amex's underwriting is not limited to any particular part of the country. I would argue that outside of this forum (and other similar credit/travel forums) knowledge about any card's underwriting is likely sparse.

At one time the Amex Platinum was somewhat-exclusive and out-of-reach for many people, and that thought is still common with many people.

Re: Best and Worst Looking Cards

UncleB — Sat, 12 May 2018 14:24:16 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
The most hideous cards in my opinion are any that are instant-issued from a bank/credit union. I have a Debit MasterCard from Security Service FCU that is downright awful and almost looks counterfeit! The numbers are printed in white with a black outline; there is a line running horizontally throughout the card during the printing process and despite being navy blue, the area where the mastercard logo is has been made white. I know I just described debit as opposed to credit-but SSFCU also issues credit cards. Awful. And they aren't the only CU that does that. Nearly all Credit One cards are bad (beach scenes on a credit card is so 1990s).

Best looking cards (besides the obvious Amex Platinum/Chase CSP/CSR/Ritz) are USAA. I don't think many people have actually seen one in person because membership is so closed...but they are very handsome cards.

As with anything, looks are subjective.

I'm a fan of USAA's designs as well... all of their designs are nice, but IMO the Limitless is a very attractive card. (It's seldom a card has both nice aesthetics and great rewards, too.)

Re: Best and Worst Looking Cards

Saleen099 — Sat, 12 May 2018 19:06:43 GMT

http://www.rosandiamond.com/cards_category/new-cards/

Re: Best and Worst Looking Cards

QuakerOatmeal — Mon, 14 May 2018 17:01:38 GMT

Wow! I checked out their website and I can't imagine how much they go for!

Re: Best and Worst Looking Cards

wasCB14 — Tue, 15 May 2018 05:36:09 GMT

@QuakerOatmeal wrote:
Wow! I checked out their website and I can't imagine how much they go for!

$15k to $50k.

The only issuers they partner with are in Russia, Switzerland, and Panama.

Re: Best and Worst Looking Cards

sarge12 — Tue, 15 May 2018 05:46:38 GMT

@kilroy8 wrote:
I have gotten the "cool card" comment from young people on the BCP. The CSP just causes them to do a double-take because it is heavier than expected and metal.

Metal and weight wise, how does it compare to the metal Chase Amason Prime card that is also metal?