@jdbkiang wrote:
@wasCB14 wrote:
@jdbkiang wrote:Really would have to disagree there. Perk, or perquisite, really means benefit or additional income over the normal income. So for credit cards, the earn rate is the normal "income," and anything outside of that, whether it's a travel credit, a discount provided by the company, or lounge access/status would be considered a benefit, or perk. Just like working for certain companies offer a discount with partner companies as a "perk," Amex offers is simply offering discounts with their partners. Amex offers are a specific "perk," or benefit, of Amex cards. Travel credits are also a benefit. Just because you see them as a way to offset the AF doesn't mean they aren't a perk. This is my main point--Travel credits, along with other perks, help offset the AF more easily than spend. There are still many people who pay the AF and don't use the credits, especially with Amex cards. You'll also note that because of the versatile nature of the CSR travel credit, I only did the math for a $150 AF above. However, other cards' travel credits are more difficult to use. A perk is simply a benefit of having the card. You can choose to define a perk more specifically, but I think, in general, the travel credits Amex cards offer, lounge access, free hotel nights are all labeled as benefits.
Many/most Amex offers are little more than advertisements for high-margin goods. Sure, $20 off $50+ at Amazon is nice, but very few are like that.
Most of the savings are illusory. One holding company will have "offers" for several different independent-sounding brands. TWE wines has had six independent-sounding wine Amex offers at the same time. Luxottica has had Amex offers for four different eyewear brands at the same time.
And being a regular customer somewhere, paying with an Amex, can seriously hurt your chances of getting a decent offer when it next comes around.
Having slain the evil wall of text, I hereby proclaim myself Savior of the Masses on Mobile Devices.
Agree, though the Hilton/Starwood $100 off $500 is always nice, especially when combined with an Aspire. Still though, you're right, Amex offers are definitely not the biggest perk for most cardholders.
Yea I doubt anyone signs up for specific amex cards for amex offers, which you really don't know what they will be in advance anyway. Still they can be a minor factor in an overall decision re: the value of a card to an individual.
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