Hello all,
I've been toying with a decision and I believe your thoughts may be helpful. Please feel free to comment, I will not be offended.
I have been gardening for the last 2 months, nearly a year if you don't count an auto and a mortgage (they disqualify you in the Garden, but we know the real reason for Gardening is the allure of a new credit card). The last card I apped for (and received) was the result of being sucked in by a bonus offer they kept sending me week after week after week.
So here's the deal, the Chase Sapphire Reserve is actually a great card for my spending habits. And, although I will not make a decision to get a card for a sign up bonus again, the bonus of 100k UR points is very strong. I travel a great deal (weekly). Hotel is expense is the most frequent "standard" travel expense (as well as fuel, but thats not typically categorized as travel). Dining is another category of spending I use frequentlly, sometimes restaurants, sometimes fast foods, and everything in between. I typically stay at Marriotts, sometimes Starwood, sometimes IHG. The $300 travel credit as I understand it would be no issue effectively making the annual fee $150. Furthermore, the 3X's points for travel is pretty close to to the 5X's I get for Marriott on my MR card and better than the 2X dining I get for the same card. I closed the IHG card I had because I only stay there when there's not a Marriott or SPG that doesn't better meet my needs.
So here's my profile:
Current AAOA: ~5 yrs.~ (maybe less after mtg and autos)
Current Utilization: 5%-6%
Income: 175K ish
Current Card Line-up:
Chase Slate: 9 yrs (joint) $22,900 CL 11.49% APR
Chase Marriott Premier: 3 yrs, 9 months $44,000 CL 15.49% APR
Amex SPG: 4 yrs, 9 months $40,000 CL 10.49% APR
Citi AA Exec: 3 yrs, 5 months $45,000 CL 11.49% APR
Discover IT: 4 yrs, 4 months $9,500 CL 17.49% APR (think this one's flagged and never going anywhere)
PayPal MC (Synch): 2 yrs, 9 months $20,000 24.24% APR (this one's junk but free, haven't acted yet, but it will be the first I close)
If I get the CSR, I will close the Marriott. The CSR will have a 1 point higher APR, and Chase does not typically reduce the APR.
The Slate will be closed. It's my oldest, but also a joint and I have rewards cards with same or lower APR. This happens regardless of the CSR app, I'm just not in a hurry to do it.
The Discover I truly believe it is flagged. I had an account with Discover 15 yrs ago that went bad during a divorce and career change. I will likely close it, but it will be the last one I close. Again, it will be closed regardless of a CSR app, just waiting it out to see if it gets better.
PayPal MC/Synch is a sure closure and could happen any day.
There you go. Should I app for the CSR? Or do I stick with what I have? Since I stay with what are Chase partners, does the versatility pay off? Several variables and I am just unable to pull the trigger due to indecision...
@Anonymous wrote:
I'd personally app for it. I dont understand why you are getting rid of the marriott.
FYI my cards are CSR the Ritz and come next march ill be getting rid of my Prestige. I also have a WF propel card since everytime i hit $25 worth of points it goes directly to my mortgage.
If you are not gold or platinum with marriott i can see why you would dump it but as a platinum member myself i get great benifits from it.
CSR will be used for every day spend while my ritz is for hotels and airline credits only.
Hope this helps.
Thanks for your thoughts. I'm platinum, but will continue to be with or without the Marriot Premier Card. I stay 100+ days at Marriott every year conservatively.
I am working toward Lifetime Platinum which the Marriott Card will help me get more quickly. That said, with both the MR and the CSR, I would use the CSR with more fequency therefore negating the benefit of the MR card.
I promise you, I have overthought the s**t out of this. Therefore, complete indecision and request for help from the group.
You certainly have over thought this one... 
If the card works for you, and it sure looks like it would, go get it. I know that you're NOT chasing the sign up bonus, but it's awfully good one to let pass on a product that would fit you well anyway.
My vote is "go for it".
@tcbofade wrote:You certainly have over thought this one...
If the card works for you, and it sure looks like it would, go get it. I know that you're NOT chasing the sign up bonus, but it's awfully good one to let pass on a product that would fit you well anyway.
My vote is "go for it".
I certainly see the "over thought" perspective. I have just grown weary of opening new accounts unnecessarily, then realizing what I had was good enough (with a better AAOA). With my goals, this is really not an issue.
I will likely app tomorrow. I really though I may get more "no's". I'll give it time. Not app'ing tonight (too much to eat, and primarily, too much to drink). While rebuilding, dr'apping was kinda fun. Now it just makes me feel bad the next day.
Keep any comments coming. I'll check in tomorrow.
Given all the data you've provided it sucks to say that I don't have enough info for a definitive answer. But, honestly, I could never have enough data for that since I'm not living your life (as far as I know 
)
Having said that, I can only think of two probing questions that may help with your decision-
1) How valuable to you is earning Marriott Lifetime Platinum soner rather than later?
2) Did you remember to calculate in that with the CSR your UR points can be redeemed at 1.5x?
You said "the 3X's points for travel is pretty close to to the 5X's I get for Marriott on my MR card and better than the 2X dining I get for the same card." Bt, assuming you redeem the UR for the same thing you're redeeming Marriott points it's actually 4.5x for travel & dining which (most likely) exceeds the value of your current 5x Marriott & 2x dining.
@tacpoly wrote:
This is a no-brainer. Get the CSR! And move the Slate's limit to the CSR when you close it.
I would love to do just that... But since the Slate is a joint card, no consolidation is possible. (this is why it will be eventually closed, it's just floating out there in credit card deep space)
@Aahz wrote:Given all the data you've provided it sucks to say that I don't have enough info for a definitive answer. But, honestly, I could never have enough data for that since I'm not living your life (as far as I know
Having said that, I can only think of two probing questions that may help with your decision-
1) How valuable to you is earning Marriott Lifetime Platinum soner rather than later?
2) Did you remember to calculate in that with the CSR your UR points can be redeemed at 1.5x?
You said "the 3X's points for travel is pretty close to to the 5X's I get for Marriott on my MR card and better than the 2X dining I get for the same card." Bt, assuming you redeem the UR for the same thing you're redeeming Marriott points it's actually 4.5x for travel & dining which (most likely) exceeds the value of your current 5x Marriott & 2x dining.
So, do understand correctly? I would get 1.5 Marriott points for every UR point instead of the 1:1 transfer with the Sapphire Preferred? Or, you're saying I could use UR points for the "stay" and get the 1.5X redemption value?
I gotta say, this may seem like a no brainer, but the fact that I don't want to add cards and the CSR will take place of MR card is what makes this so difficult. I did this before with the IHG card and ended up closing it because it was competing with the Marriott (which was a better card for me) therefore it lost. The CSR appears to be a great card, but only if it is used to its potential, hence dropping the Marriott card.
@hardworkrebuilding wrote:
@tacpoly wrote:
This is a no-brainer. Get the CSR! And move the Slate's limit to the CSR when you close it.I would love to do just that... But since the Slate is a joint card, no consolidation is possible. (this is why it will be eventually closed, it's just floating out there in credit card deep space
Is it TRULY "JOINT" or is one or the other an AU. Joint cards are really rare. If someone else is an AU, kick them off and move the limit. If you're the AU, get off the card and let the other person deal.
I agree with keeping the MR and letting things coexist for a while. I 'get' self imposed limits, particularly for over thinkers. But you asked for comments and that's one that keeps coming up. I doubt you'll regret getting the CSR. You could regret dropping the MR (Does whatever they provide free for the annual fee benefit you? It's on the same log-in as the CSR so it will be easy to manage.) so wait on that part.
I love my Discover for various reasons at various times. But if you feel that's the one that's doing you no good (on their %#*@ list) then maybe that's the one to close IF you feel the need to close something to open the CSR.