For me the card is VERY useful. I especially like the double points for taxis and subways bc I live in NYC. Shopping via the Ultimate Rewards website is a great way to earn points super fast. The downside is that this card is intended for big spenders, if you don't spend enough money to earn a reasonable amount of points, than the annual fee is not really worth it. The points are better used for travel vs cash back so if the cardholder doesn't travel much than once again the annual fee is not justifiable. All in all the CSP has a great sign up bonus and was "trending" on here for awhile, that is why alot of people signed up. Those same people then likely realized that while the card is "great" it doesn't meet their personal needs as consumers of credit so they product change to the regular Sapphire card, which in my opinion is completely useless, but hey... to each their own.
@eagle2013 wrote:
The influx of CSP AF threads are puzzling, particularly that the $400 cash back bonus after $2 or $3k spend more than covers a few years worth of annual fees. Honestly, I think some got caught up in the hype of having a "metal" card without truly assessing if the card matches their current needs/spend. It is a really good card, particularly if you travel and take advantage of the 1:1 transfers.
I don't think the CSP AF threads are puzzling at all. Why keep the card four years and keep paying the AF just because the initial bonus covers it? That cancels out the whole profit to the card holder unless they are putting significant annual spend on the card. Unless it meets your specific needs there is no reason to keep paying an AF on a card and its silly to do so. Also keep in mind that some people have chase premium biz cards that offer the same features as the csp so there is no reason to pay two annual fees and the biz cards are better imo. The csp is great for the benefits and the initial bonus, but the value of the card begins to wane after the first year (especially after recent devaluations) unless your really dedicated to generating URs. The bonus categories of the CSP are not the best.
;
I signed up for bonus, traveling perks and pretty card 
but after discovering the arrival I had no use for it. It's a hot topic but I prefer my Barclays
@eagle2013 wrote:
@red259 wrote:
@eagle2013 wrote:
The influx of CSP AF threads are puzzling, particularly that the $400 cash back bonus after $2 or $3k spend more than covers a few years worth of annual fees. Honestly, I think some got caught up in the hype of having a "metal" card without truly assessing if the card matches their current needs/spend. It is a really good card, particularly if you travel and take advantage of the 1:1 transfers.
I don't think the CSP AF threads are puzzling at all. Why keep the card four years and keep paying the AF just because the initial bonus covers it? That cancels out the whole profit to the card holder unless they are putting significant annual spend on the card. Unless it meets your specific needs there is no reason to keep paying an AF on a card and its silly to do so. Also keep in mind that some people have chase premium biz cards that offer the same features as the csp so there is no reason to pay two annual fees and the biz cards are better imo. The csp is great for the benefits and the initial bonus, but the value of the card begins to wane after the first year (especially after recent devaluations) unless your really dedicated to generating URs. The bonus categories of the CSP are not the best.
Why would anyone get a card that does not meet their inital spending needs? That is a part of responsible credit use. I am pretty sure everyone who apped for the CSP, particularly if they are a member here, knows what the AF will be and that it will take decent - not great spend to make the card worth the AF. If it is a matter of bonus churning, while I don't agree, than that is a understandable motive. It is also equally understandable if the CSP isn't living up to expectations for whatever reason. Far be it for me to judge, but I think there needs to be a bit more discretion in apping for CCs, particularly those with high AFs.
I don't know who is getting the CSP that don't meet their initial spending needs. I can think of many reasons why someone would want the CSP only for the first year. The AF is waived and it is a significant chunk of bonus points. I don't think that makes a person a credit card churner (not that there is anything wrong with that). My view is that you should only keep credit cards that are working for you. The AF on the CSP is steep and IMO there is nothing wrong with getting rid of it after one year if it doesn't fit in with your needs going forward. That's not to say that it didn't fit that person's needs during the first year.