topic Re: Which AMEX Card is most Aesthetic looking and can grow to like 100K limit in SmorgasBoard

Which AMEX Card is most Aesthetic looking and can grow to like 100K limit

barca — Thu, 17 Dec 2020 00:59:26 GMT

I am plannig to get back to AMEX.

Which of the card is most aesthetic (looks most elegant) and can also grow towards 100K in future.

The last time I did prequalify - I was prequalified with platinum, BCE and magnet.

I like the design of the magnet, but not sure how it looks in real life

I prefer cash rewards, I don't like to travel

Re: Which AMEX Card is most Aesthetic looking and can grow to like 100K limit

Remedios — Thu, 17 Dec 2020 01:13:49 GMT

Have you even tried applying to see if you're off of their blacklist?

Three cards is quite a bit, and they aren't exactly the forgiving kind

Re: Which AMEX Card is most Aesthetic looking and can grow to like 100K limit

FalconSteve — Thu, 17 Dec 2020 01:17:34 GMT

@barca wrote:
I am plannig to get back to AMEX.

Which of the card is most aesthetic (looks most elegant) and can also grow towards 100K in future.

The last time I did prequalify - I was prequalified with platinum, BCE and magnet.
I like the design of the magnet, but not sure how it looks in real life

I prefer cash rewards, I don't like to travel

Most asthetic is an opinion, I like the Cash Magnet. It is definitely nicer looking than the BCE, IMO. The Platimum might have more prestige, but it's a travel care with only 1x points on everyday purchases. Magnet gives you 1.5x on everything with no annual fee. Also, my wife, my Dad, and myself have all gotten pretty generous limits and CLI on our Cash Magnet cards.

Re: Which AMEX Card is most Aesthetic looking and can grow to like 100K limit

FinStar — Thu, 17 Dec 2020 01:26:52 GMT

@barca- in keeping with forum standards, any topics associated with the aesthetics of any particular card (appearance, weight, images, texture, etc.) should be discussed in the Smorgasboard subforum.

Re: Which AMEX Card is most Aesthetic looking and can grow to like 100K limit

wasCB14 — Thu, 17 Dec 2020 01:48:30 GMT

I've heard of Amex revolvers with 7-figure limits. $100k is not hard with adequate income, spend, and history (income generally being the hard part!). It sounds like you would have the first two but from @Remedios 's comments it sounds like the third would be a problem (having bad history with Amex). And if it's a problem on one card it would be a problem on other cards.

Re: Which AMEX Card is most Aesthetic looking and can grow to like 100K limit

barca — Thu, 17 Dec 2020 01:57:19 GMT

@FinStar - can you help me move it to that subforum.

I will most likely go for the magnet (for reasons unknown to me I like my cards to look elegant)

I burnt 3 amex cards in 2009/2010 financial crisis.

A judgement was against me on one of the cards - later settled for less and vacated.

I apply about 2 years ago -declined - usual message - you burned us in the past - no credit pull

Then I prequalify about 6 months ago , then apply - message - ask me to unfreeze my report..

all my report was frozen then - that is how I know I am back .

I did not move forward with the app because I am planing for mortgage app in few months.

after my morgage I am planing to go back

Re: Which AMEX Card is most Aesthetic looking and can grow to like 100K limit

barca — Thu, 17 Dec 2020 02:04:01 GMT

@wasCB14 wrote:
I've heard of Amex revolvers with 7-figure limits. $100k is not hard with adequate income, spend, and history (income generally being the hard part!). It sounds like you would have the first two but from @Remedios 's comments it sounds like the third would be a problem (having bad history with Amex). And if it's a problem on one card it would be a problem on other cards.

oh no no - I plan to only apply for one card.

I never like to have too many cards

I was only trying to see which one to app for out of the three cards.

currently, I only have three cards (one BOA, two from cap one).

Once I get the magnet from Amex, I will close one of cap one.

I only want to carry three cards in total

Re: Which AMEX Card is most Aesthetic looking and can grow to like 100K limit

Aim_High — Thu, 17 Dec 2020 02:31:04 GMT

@FalconSteve wrote:
Most asthetic is an opinion, I like the Cash Magnet. It is definitely nicer looking than the BCE, IMO. The Platimum might have more prestige, but it's a travel care with only 1x points on everyday purchases. Magnet gives you 1.5x on everything with no annual fee. Also, my wife, my Dad, and myself have all gotten pretty generous limits and CLI on our Cash Magnet cards.

Agreed that the Platinum card makes no sense for OP since he prefers cash back cards and does not travel. Platinum is best in the hands of someone who buys a lot of airfare and hotel rooms (at 5x MR/dollar), places a high value on airport lounges, and can fully leverage the value of MRs through transfer of points to travel partners. MRs are not the best fit for a cash back profile, since their value outside of travel redemption is weak, especially when AFs for premium cards are included. The only reason for OP to consider the Platinum would be from the aesthetics viewpoint, and if that's the priority it wouldn't matter if he prefers cash, MRs, wooden nickels, or no rewards at all.

However, comparing the 1x MR points on Platinum to 1.5x cash back on Cash Magnet is mixing apples and oranges. Cash is cash. MR values can fluctuate widely depending on how the holder chooses to redeem them. For simple redemptions like cash or gift cards, they can be worth less than one ccp but in the hands of a savvy traveler using transfer partners, they can be redeemed for two or more ccp. Again, if OP doesn't travel, he wouldn't be able to leverage the points for better value.

Re: Which AMEX Card is most Aesthetic looking and can grow to like 100K limit

Aim_High — Thu, 17 Dec 2020 02:40:04 GMT

@barca wrote:
I am plannig to get back to AMEX.

Which of the card is most aesthetic (looks most elegant) and can also grow towards 100K in future.

The last time I did prequalify - I was prequalified with platinum, BCE and magnet.
I like the design of the magnet, but not sure how it looks in real life

I prefer cash rewards, I don't like to travel

From purely an aesthetics standpoint, I find the Everyday, Everyday Preferred, and Blue Cash Everyday cards to be AMEX's poorest efforts in creating a nice-looking card. There are good-looking cards and then there are elegant cards. These are neither, IMO.

Cash Magnet is fine. But Blue Cash Preferred takes the colors and Centurion picture of the Cash Magnet and makes it truly bold and beautiful with the darker colors and more sharply-defined image.

Limit-wise, I think AMEX will reward high limits on any card depending on the consumer profile. As said above, enough income, heavy spend, and history will get their attention.

Re: Which AMEX Card is most Aesthetic looking and can grow to like 100K limit

barca — Thu, 17 Dec 2020 02:54:25 GMT

From purely an aesthetics standpoint, I find the Everyday, Everyday Preferred, and Blue Cash Everyday cards to be AMEX's poorest efforts in creating a nice-looking card. There are good-looking cards and then there are elegant cards. These are neither, IMO.

Cash Magnet is fine. But Blue Cash Preferred takes the colors and Centurion picture of the Cash Magnet and makes it truly bold and beautiful with the darker colors and more sharply-defined image.

Limit-wise, I think AMEX will reward high limits on any card depending on the consumer profile. As said above, enough income, heavy spend, and history will get their attention.

I totally agree. I checked on the Amex website - cash magnet and blue cash prefered have similar design concept

but the blue cash preferred color is just striking.

I will go for the blue cash preferred - hopefully they will welcome me back with open arms (lol)

Re: Which AMEX Card is most Aesthetic looking and can grow to like 100K limit

wasCB14 — Thu, 17 Dec 2020 03:40:46 GMT

@barca wrote:
@wasCB14 wrote:
I've heard of Amex revolvers with 7-figure limits. $100k is not hard with adequate income, spend, and history (income generally being the hard part!). It sounds like you would have the first two but from @Remedios 's comments it sounds like the third would be a problem (having bad history with Amex). And if it's a problem on one card it would be a problem on other cards.

oh no no - I plan to only apply for one card.
I never like to have too many cards

I was only trying to see which one to app for out of the three cards.

currently, I only have three cards (one BOA, two from cap one).
Once I get the magnet from Amex, I will close one of cap one.

I only want to carry three cards in total

A sensible goal, but any particular reason one of them has to be an Amex? You're not going to get Platinum-level customer service on a Cash Magnet.

I wasn't suggesting you get multiple Amex cards...just pointing out no particular Amex card is uniquely suited or unsuited for 5-figure monthly spend.

Re: Which AMEX Card is most Aesthetic looking and can grow to like 100K limit

wasCB14 — Thu, 17 Dec 2020 03:42:14 GMT

It's funny...my BCE is ugly but somehow my BBP looks just fine. It's too darn useful to be unattractive!

(The two are virtually identical in appearance.)

Re: Which AMEX Card is most Aesthetic looking and can grow to like 100K limit

barca — Thu, 17 Dec 2020 04:05:42 GMT

@wasCB14 wrote:
@barca wrote:
@wasCB14 wrote:
I've heard of Amex revolvers with 7-figure limits. $100k is not hard with adequate income, spend, and history (income generally being the hard part!). It sounds like you would have the first two but from @Remedios 's comments it sounds like the third would be a problem (having bad history with Amex). And if it's a problem on one card it would be a problem on other cards.

oh no no - I plan to only apply for one card.
I never like to have too many cards

I was only trying to see which one to app for out of the three cards.

currently, I only have three cards (one BOA, two from cap one).
Once I get the magnet from Amex, I will close one of cap one.

I only want to carry three cards in total
A sensible goal, but any particular reason one of them has to be an Amex? You're not going to get Platinum-level customer service on a Cash Magnet.

I wasn't suggesting you get multiple Amex cards...just pointing out no particular Amex card is uniquely suited or unsuited for 5-figure monthly spend.

I just wanted diversity , especially with the big boys in the credit card industry.

final goal :

BOA cash rewards (> 100K) - currently have 99.9K limit with them

Amex card (>100K)

Chase or Citi (>100K)

all these limits just for the kicks. .. you know when you have time and nothing to do - you start obsessing with things like this(lol)

Re: Which AMEX Card is most Aesthetic looking and can grow to like 100K limit

K-in-Boston — Thu, 17 Dec 2020 04:15:20 GMT

Delta SkyMiles Business Platinum is easily the winner for aesthetics. Far from my favorite Amex card, but for looks it's hard to beat. Any Amex revolving card can grow to 6 (even 7) digits.

Having previously burned Amex on multiple cards and settling for lower than the owed amount, a small limit (probably $1000) is likely and it may be many years before you even have a chance of getting much more than that from them without a very strong profile, very high income and/or assets, and an enormous amount of spend to even approach a $100k revolver. I've been with Amex nearly 20 years, have always had spotless credit reports, and run 6 digits a year through my Amex accounts and haven't even been able to hit $100k.

Re: Which AMEX Card is most Aesthetic looking and can grow to like 100K limit

barca — Thu, 17 Dec 2020 15:00:13 GMT

@K-in-Boston wrote:
Delta SkyMiles Business Platinum is easily the winner for aesthetics. Far from my favorite Amex card, but for looks it's hard to beat. Any Amex revolving card can grow to 6 (even 7) digits.

Having previously burned Amex on multiple cards and settling for lower than the owed amount, a small limit (probably $1000) is likely and it may be many years before you even have a chance of getting much more than that from them without a very strong profile, very high income and/or assets, and an enormous amount of spend to even approach a $100k revolver. I've been with Amex nearly 20 years, have always had spotless credit reports, and run 6 digits a year through my Amex accounts and haven't even been able to hit $100k.

Delta sky business is also beautiful but looks too artificial with modern appeal .

I feel blue cash preferred is best - it is more artistic, classic and naturally beautiful.

well - beauty is in the eyes of the beholder

as far as limit is concerned, I hope the stars are aligned when I go back to Amex.

I burnt BOA 100 times more that Amex

yet in about 3 years I now have a single BOA card with 99.9K limit

maybe BOA don't hold grudges , but I agree with you , I should not be too optimistic

Re: Which AMEX Card is most Aesthetic looking and can grow to like 100K limit

Aim_High — Thu, 17 Dec 2020 17:59:28 GMT

@K-in-Boston wrote:
Having previously burned Amex on multiple cards and settling for lower than the owed amount, a small limit (probably $1000) is likely and it may be many years before you even have a chance of getting much more than that from them without a very strong profile, very high income and/or assets, and an enormous amount of spend to even approach a $100k revolver. I've been with Amex nearly 20 years, have always had spotless credit reports, and run 6 digits a year through my Amex accounts and haven't even been able to hit $100k.

Well stated, @K-in-Boston. Even with combining limits on multiple cards with AMEX, I would imagine them to be a harder bank to get those very high limits, particularly with previous AMEX history. It also makes me wonder if someone manages to get those super-high limits by combining credit limits, periodic focused spending, or aggressive CLI requests, will lenders allow someone to keep those ultra-high limits without using a significant portion of credit limits? OP posted (in BofA combined CL to $99.9K thread) that his spend is about $3K monthly and is seeking three $100K high limit cards. Assuming spend doesn't change over time, that's putting about $1K monthly per card or $12K annually on a $100K limit card, or about 12% annual utilization. So at what point will these lenders decide to CLD those accounts? That would seem to be a viable concern. My theory is that a lower-limit card such as $10K to $50K can more easily get away with lower utilization without becoming a bank target.

I would think Bank of America, Chase, Citi, and AMEX would frown on gifting about $90K in unused annual credit to a customer who doesn't have high six or seven-figure deposits on account. What's the history on this on My Fico?

Re: Which AMEX Card is most Aesthetic looking and can grow to like 100K limit

Aim_High — Thu, 17 Dec 2020 18:08:45 GMT

@wasCB14 wrote:
@barca wrote:
I only want to carry three cards in total
A sensible goal, but any particular reason one of them has to be an Amex? You're not going to get Platinum-level customer service on a Cash Magnet.

I wasn't suggesting you get multiple Amex cards...just pointing out no particular Amex card is uniquely suited or unsuited for 5-figure monthly spend.

I see why OP might target AMEX if he's looking for prestigious mainstream cards with high limits. The largest lenders will more easily grant those high limits without the heavy spend or assets that a smaller bank may require. Some small lenders cap each card at as little as $5K to $25K range, without exception, unless you're a wealth management client (if that even applies.) But yes, it probably doesn't matter which AMEX card since any can high limits for the right profile. Good point, though, about the customer service. You're not going to get special treatment on a Cash Magnet card with a CL of $100K but a spend of $3K or less monthly.

Re: Which AMEX Card is most Aesthetic looking and can grow to like 100K limit

wasCB14 — Thu, 17 Dec 2020 19:18:04 GMT

@Aim_High wrote:
@K-in-Boston wrote:
Having previously burned Amex on multiple cards and settling for lower than the owed amount, a small limit (probably $1000) is likely and it may be many years before you even have a chance of getting much more than that from them without a very strong profile, very high income and/or assets, and an enormous amount of spend to even approach a $100k revolver. I've been with Amex nearly 20 years, have always had spotless credit reports, and run 6 digits a year through my Amex accounts and haven't even been able to hit $100k.
Well stated, @K-in-Boston. Even with combining limits on multiple cards with AMEX, I would imagine them to be a harder bank to get those very high limits, particularly with previous AMEX history. It also makes me wonder if someone manages to get those super-high limits by combining credit limits, periodic focused spending, or aggressive CLI requests, will lenders allow someone to keep those ultra-high limits without using a significant portion of credit limits? OP posted (in BofA combined CL to $99.9K thread) that his spend is about $3K monthly and is seeking three $100K high limit cards. Assuming spend doesn't change over time, that's putting about $1K monthly per card or $12K annually on a $100K limit card, or about 12% annual utilization. So at what point will these lenders decide to CLD those accounts? That would seem to be a viable concern. My theory is that a lower-limit card such as $10K to $50K can more easily get away with lower utilization without becoming a bank target.

I would think Bank of America, Chase, Citi, and AMEX would frown on gifting about $90K in unused annual credit to a customer who doesn't have high six or seven-figure deposits on account. What's the history on this on My Fico?

~$600k at Merrill Edge and I got a $17k SL on PR and $21k on WWFCR.

A lot of my income goes through a different tax ID number, so I provide a conservative figure to lenders ($90k).

*Haven't asked yet for a CLI. I figure I may eventually want the Virgin Atlantic card, so why hurt my chances?

Re: Which AMEX Card is most Aesthetic looking and can grow to like 100K limit

Anonymous — Thu, 17 Dec 2020 22:12:36 GMT

The BCP is the most aesthetically pleasing to me. I downgraded to the BCE and I strongly dislike the glittery plastic.

Re: Which AMEX Card is most Aesthetic looking and can grow to like 100K limit

Schwartzinator — Fri, 18 Dec 2020 00:11:50 GMT

I think their charge cards are some of the best looking around while their other products leave a lot to be desired. Sort of a mootpoint if you're not interested in travel and timing redemptions.

As far as growing to $100k limit, it seems like pretty much any of their cards can get there but you've got to give them a reason and you're coming in at a significant disadvantage having burned them.

Which ever path you go down, I wish you the best of luck in your pursuit!