Carrying a BACKUP network card

[OmarR]

I currently carry 3 VISA's, 1 AMEX, and 1 MC.

The mastercard (DoubleCash 2%) is just my backup card to my USAA Limitless VISA. But I have NEVER had to rely on it. FTR, it only gets a recurring $19.99 bill charged to it and PIF.

Have any of you guys, in the 50 states, EVER had to go-to-your-backup-card because it was an alternate network? I do ZERO traveling outside of the country

I am torn between cancelling it or sock-drawering it. But I like the idea of having at least ONE mastercard in my wallet.

[Anonymous]

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@OmarRwrote:

I currently carry 3 VISA's, 1 AMEX, and 1 MC.

The mastercard (DoubleCash 2%) is just my backup card to my USAA Limitless VISA. But I have NEVER had to rely on it. FTR, it only gets a recurring $19.99 bill charged to it and PIF.

Have any of you guys, in the 50 states, EVER had to go-to-your-backup-card because it was an alternate network? I do ZERO traveling outside of the country

I am torn between cancelling it or sock-drawering it. But I like the idea of having at least ONE mastercard in my wallet.

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The need for a backup is going to greater if Amex or Discover is the primary card.   As you say, very few places in the US accept one and not the other.   The few big exceptions, like Costco, are well-known enough to plan for.   So generally, no reason to carry around a V and a MC for NETWORK diversity.   There is a much stronger argument for carrying cards from two different issuers though.

[DeeBee78]

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@OmarRwrote:

I currently carry 3 VISA's, 1 AMEX, and 1 MC.

The mastercard (DoubleCash 2%) is just my backup card to my USAA Limitless VISA. But I have NEVER had to rely on it. FTR, it only gets a recurring $19.99 bill charged to it and PIF.

Have any of you guys, in the 50 states, EVER had to go-to-your-backup-card because it was an alternate network? I do ZERO traveling outside of the country

I am torn between cancelling it or sock-drawering it. But I like the idea of having at least ONE mastercard in my wallet.

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Most merchant services accounts bundle Visa and MasterCard together, so it's pretty much impossible (and not worth the money) to accept one and not the other. I have yet to run into a merchant in the US (outside of the ones that have exclusive agreements, like Costco) that only takes one of the two.

I carry my Amex PRG for some occasional spending, like the $3,500 down payment on my new car, and a Visa card for most daily spend. I only have two MasterCards and neither of them have compelling limits or rewards that are maximized by being in my wallet. My Freedom Unlimited covers me for 1.5% cashback, so I don't carry my Quicksilver - It's better off being used for its frequent balance transfer offers. The BetterBalanceRewards card earns its best reward by being a Netflix recurring charge card, so it stays in the desk at home. I don't feel a need to carry either one as backup with Amex and Visa in my wallet. 

Currently I am using my Freedom Unlimited for daily non-category spend. I also keep my new Citi Costco Anywhere Visa in my wallet, because it's a pretty unbeatable gas and restaurant card, and took the place of my Costco Membership card. 

[SouthJamaica]

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@OmarRwrote:

I currently carry 3 VISA's, 1 AMEX, and 1 MC.

The mastercard (DoubleCash 2%) is just my backup card to my USAA Limitless VISA. But I have NEVER had to rely on it. FTR, it only gets a recurring $19.99 bill charged to it and PIF.

Have any of you guys, in the 50 states, EVER had to go-to-your-backup-card because it was an alternate network? I do ZERO traveling outside of the country

I am torn between cancelling it or sock-drawering it. But I like the idea of having at least ONE mastercard in my wallet.

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I've had a couple of instances where Visa was permissible but Mastercard wasn't; never the other way around.

Nevertheless, since it's got no annual fee, and gives 2% cash back, I would hold on to it and use it, rather than dump it.

[kdm31091]

I think 99% of the time in the US, Visa and MC are interchangeable. The few exceptions are pretty obvious i.e. Costco. So I would not worry about having a MC just to have a MC. I have never seen a place where MC was taken but Visa was not.

[UpperNwGuy]

I have been using Visa and MasterCard for over 40 years, and I never once had a situation where a merchant would accept one but not the other.  I currently have seven Visa cards and no MasterCards.  Not having a MasterCard has not been a problem for me either here in the US or in Europe.  It simply isn't necessary to have at least one card in each network (despite what some people here believe).

[RicHowe]

Sock drawer that schneeshee.

[Kforce]

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@OmarRwrote:
Have any of you guys, in the 50 states, EVER had to go-to-your-backup-card because it was an alternate network?

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Yes, Just today my "MC" was not accepted at a location that I wished to make a purchase. They were "Visa" friendly. Costco and a large "Feed Store" that I frequent will only take "Visa" not "MC". There are quite a few places near me that do not take "AE". Do not have a "Discover", so no data points on that front. With both a "Visa" and "MC", I have never had to pull out cash.

I would keep it, just in case.

[SomewhereIn505]

Both of my MC are SO. Waiting till end of next month to combine the 2 accounts. They’re my highest APR (rebuilder cards). 

[OmarR]

Thanks for the replies, guys!

I guess what I ALSO meant to ask was:

Has anyone ever been to a vendor where they said "Sorry, VISA has been down for the last hour. You got another type of card?"