@increasingmyfico wrote:I find AMEX Everyday points cards to be rather lackluster. I wish they had a mr card with a similar structure to the BCP. Looking to pool points annually for a nice trip. That could be done with just the charge cards, but I would like a third player as a catch all. 1 point on most transactions is terrible. The grocery benefit on the Everyday Preferred is outdone by the Gold. No wonder people seem to gravitate to the Chase setup. Amex has some holes in its lineup.
It does have an enhanced version of the Everyday card, the Everyday Preferred.
Never mind, I just read your post more carefully and see that you don't care for the Everyday Preferred either.
@jcooks wrote:That's ironic as I feel the complete opposite of Amex trifecta vs Chase trifecta (or even quadfecta). Amex points are much easier for me to get. I have the Amex Gold for 4x on groceries and dining and BBP for 2x as a catchall for everything else. I will be applying for the Plat very soon for travel. There's too much overlap with Chase. I have the Chase Freedom Flex and the Chase Sapphire Preferred. I only get 3x on dining and no mulitpliers on groceries. I can get 3x on online groceries, but there's a charge for that service around me so I don't use that at all. Other than the SUB's and the rotating categories on the CFF, I find it more difficult for me to get Chase UR points as opposed to Amex MR points. Most of my spend really goes towards dining and groceries. My highest multiplier other than rotating categories from Chase would be my parking garage at 2x for travel.
You would have to see which system works better for you and your spend. It's not always a 1 glove fits all.
^ This. I am evaluating MRs against URs and I'm coming to the opposite conclusion than you, @jcooks, but I completely agree that which system someone gets better value may vary. IMO, the keys to the differences lie in spending patterns, ability to recoup credits, and most of all, how someone intends to redeem those points.
While I don't intend to redeem URs for cash, I appreciate how they are always worth no less than 1 cpp as opposed to as little at 0.6 cpp with MRs. I also appreciate the ability to redeem directly in travel portal for a flat 1.5 cpp, without hassle. My observations so far are that MRs are worth only about 1 cpp through AMEX travel. So Chase URs beat MRs in both those areas (cash and travel portal) from my perspective. (While MRs can be redeemed for 1.1 ccp with the Schwab Platinum if transferred to investments, that entails another AF in the mix.)
For anyone invested in MRs, they are probably paying more than one high AF as part of that combo, and being able to organically claim enough credits against those high fees is essential to claiming a genuinely-high return. Platinum + Gold = $945 versus the Sapphire Reserve's $550 and no second AF card required. Chase starts out with a $395 advantage on fees. While AMEX offers plenty of opportunities with various credits that could theoretically offset most or all of those fees, they don't work well for everyone.
Both MRs and URs are most valuable if transferred to partners. So if this is your sole redemption goal, I think this is where MRs begin to pull significantly ahead for some consumers, but depending on where (and how) they will redeem. Preferences in travel partners and ability to leverage points for higher values comes more into play.
Chase added enhanced UR point earnings on travel portal bookings also which made it more competitive to AMEX point earnings. CSR now earns 10x UR on flights and 5x UR on hotels and rental cars booked in portal. I'm noting that some of the comments I've seen in this or other threads are comparing the Sapphire Preferred's lower value to AMEX charge cards instead of the possibilities with the Sapphire Reserve.
Chase does have more of a hole in ability to earn URs for grocery spend. However, the differences may be negligible depending on several factors. 1) Possible unclaimed credits creating breakage on the higher AMEX annual fees. 2) Where someone grocery shops in terms of MCC, since Gold won't earn 4x MR at warehouse clubs or discount stores. 3) Possible alternatives to buying groceries on Chase cards chip away at the differences. For example, instead of focusing ALL spend on UR points, someone could switch to other cards where they could get a higher 3% to 5% in cash for groceries when UR point value is diminished. 4) Volume of grocery spend is important. For one example, since DW and I are older and empty-nesters, our grocery bill is not nearly as high as some families.
The AMEX-Chase discussion will go on forever since they both have their strengths and are best-suited for different lifestyles, spending patterns, and preferences.
Tons of good points made here. Some even hit me from angles I didn't think of. That is what makes this forum great. I wrote this more than anything just thinking about what I saw as a missing product. A consumer version of the BBP or something similar to compliment the charge cards for point earnings. For me I do want to build a setup to build a point bank for travel. Since I am already in with Amex I am likely to start there. For now I was just thinking out loud, but again realy great points.
