Pre-approved offers versus finding the card that you want on the internet

[Anonymous]

Are you actually more likely to get a credit card if you get one of those pre-approval things in the mail, or is it better to seek out the card that you want and just apply for it?

[Anonymous]

No difference really. Used to be based on credit, but now it seems to be more based on age and zip codes. However it is a better sign if you are getting invitations from Amex -vs- Cap1. Find a card that you like, consider your current score when applying for that type of card and do it that way. If you get a pre-approval that you like you can apply too. Doesn't increase your chances from what I see these days.

[haulingthescoreup]

The one difference might be AmEx. I got a pre-approval for the green card and called up to switch it to the gold rewards plus. I would have gotten points if I had taken the green card, but since I asked for the gold, I got 0. Another member was pre-approved for the gold rewards during the same week, accepted, and got some huge amount of points with it.