CSP or Cap1 Venture?

[Anonymous]

So I had my eyes set on the CSP for some time now. I'm just holding up on applying for it as I recently signed up for some cards, and want to wait a little bit. One of which is a Cap1 Quicksilver card.

It seems the Venture is a pretty good card. It's 2% on all purchases, as opposed to the CSP 2% only on travel and dining. The AF on the Venture is also less 

($59 vs $95). It also seems easier to redeem the Venture's rewards as you redeem them virtually for any travel expenses after the fact.

Enlighten me. Are there anyone here who has come across this decision before, and what has persuaded you to get one card or the other?

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

So I had my eyes set on the CSP for some time now. I'm just holding up on applying for it as I recently signed up for some cards, and want to wait a little bit. One of which is a Cap1 Quicksilver card.

It seems the Venture is a pretty good card. It's 2% on all purchases, as opposed to the CSP 2% only on travel and dining. The AF on the Venture is also less 

($59 vs $95). It also seems easier to redeem the Venture's rewards as you redeem them virtually for any travel expenses after the fact.

Enlighten me. Are there anyone here who has come across this decision before, and what has persuaded you to get one card or the other?

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The difference in the cards is how you can redeem.   With CSP, you earn URs that can be transferred to partners (airlines and hotels) and, POTENTIALLY, earn much more than 2% per $.   Venture is basically a 2% cashback card, with restricted redemptions (as compared to a normal cashback like Double Cash.   In return for an AF, you get no FTF and a largish bonus.)

[Anonymous]

There's different reasons.  One is getting the Freedom card with the CSP.  Use the CSP for dining and the Freedom for the 5% categories, you can rack of UR points that way. Capital One was offering some generous SL's though, I don't know if they still are, seems like it.  Just check both cards' pre-qual screens before you apply, they are both pretty accurate.

[Anonymous]

I would go for the CSP first.  Reason being that Chase has the 5 cards in 2 years rule.  I don't know how many cards you've opened in the last couple years but it would suck to get the Venture and then decide you want the CSP and not be able to get it becuase the Venture was your 5th card......Personally I'd get the CSP first and then the freedom (again, if you haven't opened too many cards to get both).   You can always get the Venture after if you want.

Now if you've only opened 1 or two cards in the last 2 years I'd get the Ventture first, wait for it to report and then go for the CSP/Freedom.  Good chace you'll get a relatively high limit on the Venture and then Chase might match it which is why I say wait for it to report.....

[jsucool76]

The CSP and venture are two very different animals.

The Venture card has a FAR simpler rewards structure, however, its points can be worth less than the CSP at 1 cent per point


The CSP offers transferrable points, which admittedly require substantially more work and research to redeem, but can be worth quite a bit more than 1 cent per point.

Some plane tickets are $1500, but only require 50,000 airline miles (which can be transferred from your CSP) whereas a $1500 ticket with the venture would set you back 150,000 venture miles.

Depends what you're looking for. Both are great for the signup bonus.