$495? What am i missing?

[Stralem]

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@chrisw1968uk wrote:

wth am I missing here??

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Get with the times, grandpa. Plain old plastic isn't at all #swag.

Besides, carbon fiber ain't cheap, you know.

[d170]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@keithB wrote:

Why do people pay for first class airfare for a flight less than 2 hours? Why do people buy cars that get crappy mileage?  Why do people pay $120 for a plain white Kayne West t-shirt?

People do what they do because they can and they want too.  Honestly, if a $495 credit card makes someone feel good about themselves then so be it.  Some people drop more than that on a night on the town - it means nothing to them.  I don't see the fascination of being a hater and ragging on people with a difference of opinion.

If there wasn't a market for the card then it wouldn't be there.... Obviously someone is paying for it.  Whether they want to admit it publically is another story.

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Right, and I am not advocating that anyone goes up to a holder of this card and yell "You are a total loser, you [expletives of your choice]"  (I save that for those that get the BCE).   But, I would guess that a number of people who have this card weren't aware of alternatives, much the same as here when people choose to go for cards for which they got a "preapproval" rather than looking round.    And on a discussion forum, it makes sense to talk about the pros and cons of this card versus other alternatives. 

Preferably with more insight than "total loser" type stuff, but you get what you get!

  

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Just curious, why do you feel that way about the BCE?

[Gunnar419]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@keithB wrote:

Why do people pay for first class airfare for a flight less than 2 hours? Why do people buy cars that get crappy mileage?  Why do people pay $120 for a plain white Kayne West t-shirt?

People do what they do because they can and they want too.  Honestly, if a $495 credit card makes someone feel good about themselves then so be it.  Some people drop more than that on a night on the town - it means nothing to them.  I don't see the fascination of being a hater and ragging on people with a difference of opinion.

If there wasn't a market for the card then it wouldn't be there.... Obviously someone is paying for it.  Whether they want to admit it publically is another story.

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Right, and I am not advocating that anyone goes up to a holder of this card and yell "You are a total loser, you [expletives of your choice]"  (I save that for those that get the BCE).   But, I would guess that a number of people who have this card weren't aware of alternatives, much the same as here when people choose to go for cards for which they got a "preapproval" rather than looking round.    And on a discussion forum, it makes sense to talk about the pros and cons of this card versus other alternatives. 

Preferably with more insight than "total loser" type stuff, but you get what you get!

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Right. There's a market for the card and I haven't heard anybody here saying that it should be banned or that people who get it should be rejected from society or whatever. To each his own for sure.

Still, like a lot of other products the $495 a year black card's main benefit is mostly a pathetic attempt at status. The only person I know who has one is a nearly bankrupt alcoholic who was born into privilege, ruined a promising career, and has no friends, but somehow he believes that flashing around that card that he can't afford and has almost no use for makes him better than the rest of us. That's his thing and let him do it, but it's sad in exactly the same way it's sad for people to think that certain celebrity brands or trendy styles make them better than they otherwise would be.

[Anonymous]

Personally, I just find it ill-conceived 

If you are going to be paying that much, might as well spring for the amex platinum. You get it all: "elite" card, high annual fee, and some actual worthwhile perks/benefits 

[SevenNEW]

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@d170 wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@keithB wrote:

Why do people pay for first class airfare for a flight less than 2 hours? Why do people buy cars that get crappy mileage?  Why do people pay $120 for a plain white Kayne West t-shirt?

People do what they do because they can and they want too.  Honestly, if a $495 credit card makes someone feel good about themselves then so be it.  Some people drop more than that on a night on the town - it means nothing to them.  I don't see the fascination of being a hater and ragging on people with a difference of opinion.

If there wasn't a market for the card then it wouldn't be there.... Obviously someone is paying for it.  Whether they want to admit it publically is another story.

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Right, and I am not advocating that anyone goes up to a holder of this card and yell "You are a total loser, you [expletives of your choice]"  (I save that for those that get the BCE).   But, I would guess that a number of people who have this card weren't aware of alternatives, much the same as here when people choose to go for cards for which they got a "preapproval" rather than looking round.    And on a discussion forum, it makes sense to talk about the pros and cons of this card versus other alternatives. 

Preferably with more insight than "total loser" type stuff, but you get what you get!

  

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Just curious, why do you feel that way about the BCE?

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Same here.

[-NewGuy-]

It's also because people have different wants and needs than we do. As FICOans (FICOians?) we are all concerned about getting the best rewards we possibly can. The black card has horrible rewards for $495, hence most of us are not interested. However, that isn't everyone's goal. Most people have heard of a 'Visa Black' card and are awed by the thought of it. They think it designates the elite.. Now imagine that you are some single player at a bar trying to get some lady to go home with you. Bust out the distinguished 'Visa Black' card and she may think the guy is a total baller, and he may get his wish. Maybe someone is at a business dinner and pays with the Black card to the amazement of everyone at the table. OMG is that black stainles steel??? Almost everyone has heard of it, despite not really knowing anything about it. So, the card does serve a purpose. Unfortunately for us, that purpose is not providing rewards that justify a $495 AF.

[GlocksAndCredit]

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@SevenNEW wrote:

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@d170 wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@keithB wrote:

Why do people pay for first class airfare for a flight less than 2 hours? Why do people buy cars that get crappy mileage?  Why do people pay $120 for a plain white Kayne West t-shirt?

People do what they do because they can and they want too.  Honestly, if a $495 credit card makes someone feel good about themselves then so be it.  Some people drop more than that on a night on the town - it means nothing to them.  I don't see the fascination of being a hater and ragging on people with a difference of opinion.

If there wasn't a market for the card then it wouldn't be there.... Obviously someone is paying for it.  Whether they want to admit it publically is another story.

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Right, and I am not advocating that anyone goes up to a holder of this card and yell "You are a total loser, you [expletives of your choice]"  (I save that for those that get the BCE).   But, I would guess that a number of people who have this card weren't aware of alternatives, much the same as here when people choose to go for cards for which they got a "preapproval" rather than looking round.    And on a discussion forum, it makes sense to talk about the pros and cons of this card versus other alternatives. 

Preferably with more insight than "total loser" type stuff, but you get what you get!

  

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Just curious, why do you feel that way about the BCE?

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Same here.

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Same here....

[mongstradamus]

I think LTL is an little tongue in cheek with regards to BCE. Sarcasm may not always work well on the interwebs :-) The reason is most people don't think bce is really that good , when you compare it to SM for instance, since both are no af cards. SM will beat BCE in almost every way possible. It even compares very very well to BCP, this all for no AF card. So when you are talking for best value BCE is just not that good. The only really redeeming value i suppose is if you want it as an back up for backdating purposes i supppose. 

[Anonymous]

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@mongstradamus wrote:

I think LTL is an little tongue in cheek with regards to BCE. Sarcasm may not always work well on the interwebs :-) The reason is most people don't think bce is really that good , when you compare it to SM for instance, since both are no af cards. SM will beat BCE in almost every way possible. It even compares very very well to BCP, this all for no AF card. So when you are talking for best value BCE is just not that good. The only really redeeming value i suppose is if you want it as an back up for backdating purposes i supppose. 

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Well, tongue in cheek, but with feeling!   Yes, the BCE is, from a rewards perspective, similar to the card being derided in this thread, just $495 cheaper.  There (nearly always) aren't good reasons to get the BCE, people get it without looking at alternatives.  As mongstradamus says, Sallie Mae is better for this set of rewards, the Everyday card is better if you just need a no AF Amex for backdating or as your first Amex.

[Stralem]

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@mongstradamus wrote:

 The only really redeeming value i suppose is if you want it as an back up for backdating purposes i supppose. 

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Or for those with MR cards who would rather switch over to cash back.

Even though it gets rekt by the Sallie Mae, the Blue Cash Preferred is what I plan to replace my PRG with before the latter's annual fee comes up.