Targeted Bonus Offer: Ritz Carlton Visa

[CreditScholar]

I just got an email for 5k bonus points after spending 5k in July, plus another 5k spend in August. Is it just me, or does this offer seem a bit lackluster?

I know Chase sends out offers like this for their Marriott and Hyatt cards, but I think this is the worst of the lot so far.

[NonSufficientFunds]

For the annual fee of $395, they should offer something more than a cool-looking card and 5000 points.

There are better deals out there, which don't require you to spend $10,000 in the first two months.

[Open123]

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@CreditScholar wrote:
I just got an email for 5k bonus points after spending 5k in July, plus another 5k spend in August. Is it just me, or does this offer seem a bit lackluster?

I know Chase sends out offers like this for their Marriott and Hyatt cards, but I think this is the worst of the lot so far.

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Doesn't seem compelling, at all.  I'm not sure if I'm going to renew my Ritz card; need to really think about it at $395.

[CreditScholar]

I know they give better bonuses on their Marriott and Hyatt cards, depending on your recent spending patterns.

Marriott gives a Cat 1-5 cert after 3k spending in 3 months, while Hyatt offers 3k bonus points after 3 months, 5k bonus for 5k spend, 10k for 10k, 20k for 20k. For Hyatt, that essentially is 2 points per dollar on general spend.

Open, I just got another 100k Amex platinum offer like I did last year (which I passed on). I'm wondering if I should keep the Ritz or try the Amex platinum instead. What are your thoughts on this now that you've had both?

[Open123]

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@CreditScholar wrote:
Open, I just got another 100k Amex platinum offer like I did last year (which I passed on). I'm wondering if I should keep the Ritz or try the Amex platinum instead. What are your thoughts on this now that you've had both?

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After almost a year, between a Personal Plat or Ritz card, I probably still get a little more out of the Ritz.  

This is mainly because I spend greater than $10K at the Ritz whether I have the card or not, which gives me two free nights per year. The airline credit, no forex emv, and club level passes are all nice touches, but not really the main reason for my having the card.  

If I didn't have a business Plat and SPG lifetime Plat starting this Fall, I'd probably say the Plat was a better deal, especially with the 100K MR bonus. In your position, renewing the Ritz at $395 basically gets you Marriott Gold; whereas, the Amex Plat will give you 100K MR (you know how I feel about sign up bonsues!), $200 airline credit that's easier to use, elite rental car status, and free global entry.

All things being equal, the Plat with 100K MR bonus is a better deal than the Ritz with no bonus.

PS - Downside is though Plat has EMV and no forex, there's minimal acceptance where you are.

PS 2 - Even with my stays, I'm not sure if I'm going to renew the Ritz card.  2 free nights for $395 seems like a wash, since the other "perks" aren't that relevant to me.

[Open123]

By the way, how do they treat you at the Ritz when you have the card?  Do you think they treat you better with the card, or no difference?

[CreditScholar]

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@Open123 wrote:

By the way, how do they treat you at the Ritz when you have the card?  Do you think they treat you better with the card, or no difference?

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I've only had 2 Ritz stays since I received the card, but based on those experiences I think the treatment I've received is better with than without. For starters, there is no way I stay 50 nights per year there. On pure nights alone without the CC I'd be silver, so I'm assuming gold has to count for something.

More importantly though, showing the Ritz card somehow "legitimizes" my presence there. I definitely don't look like your average Ritz patron (I don't think having spiky hair that's 3-4 inches high is exactly "the norm" there), and there's been more than one occasion where I've encountered a negative first reaction (from doormen, check-in staff, etc.), or have been scrutinized more heavily than my behaviour would warrant.

However once I hand the check-in staff my Ritz card, it's almost as if they have this look of "Oh, you're ok then. You aren't lost afterall and you actually do belong here". They then proceed to thank me for my loyalty, comment on the card, etc.

[Open123]

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@CreditScholar wrote:

I've only had 2 Ritz stays since I received the card, but based on those experiences I think the treatment I've received is better with than without. For starters, there is no way I stay 50 nights per year there. On pure nights alone without the CC I'd be silver, so I'm assuming gold has to count for something.

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So, are you leaning towards keeping yours?

I'm undecided.  For me, it's either the Ritz or CSP; so, I'd have to pick one.

[CreditScholar]

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@Open123 wrote:

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@CreditScholar wrote:
Open, I just got another 100k Amex platinum offer like I did last year (which I passed on). I'm wondering if I should keep the Ritz or try the Amex platinum instead. What are your thoughts on this now that you've had both?

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After almost a year, between a Personal Plat or Ritz card, I probably still get a little more out of the Ritz.  

This is mainly because I spend greater than $10K at the Ritz whether I have the card or not, which gives me two free nights per year. The airline credit, no forex emv, and club level passes are all nice touches, but not really the main reason for my having the card.  

If I didn't have a business Plat and SPG lifetime Plat starting this Fall, I'd probably say the Plat was a better deal, especially with the 100K MR bonus. In your position, renewing the Ritz at $395 basically gets you Marriott Gold; whereas, the Amex Plat will give you 100K MR (you know how I feel about sign up bonsues!), $200 airline credit that's easier to use, elite rental car status, and free global entry.

All things being equal, the Plat with 100K MR bonus is a better deal than the Ritz with no bonus.

PS - Downside is though Plat has EMV and no forex, there's minimal acceptance where you are.

PS 2 - Even with my stays, I'm not sure if I'm going to renew the Ritz card.  2 free nights for $395 seems like a wash, since the other "perks" aren't that relevant to me.

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This is a huge downside, and beyond the signup bonus requirement there's little incentive to put any spend on the Amex plat unless I use FHR or the reimbursed airline credit spending. It would free up 10k annual spend on the Ritz card that could be diverted over to my UA Club card, and 15k UA miles >> 10k Ritz points.

The alternative is that I could "pull an Open", take the 100k MR signup bonus (since I know how you feel about signup bonuses!), and then cancel after 11 months. The Ritz card would then remain untouched and spending would proceed on it as normal (10k per year).

[CreditScholar]

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@Open123 wrote:

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@CreditScholar wrote:

I've only had 2 Ritz stays since I received the card, but based on those experiences I think the treatment I've received is better with than without. For starters, there is no way I stay 50 nights per year there. On pure nights alone without the CC I'd be silver, so I'm assuming gold has to count for something.

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So, are you leaning towards keeping yours?

I'm undecided.  For me, it's either the Ritz or CSP; so, I'd have to pick one.

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If I had to make a decision right now, I'd probably keep it for another year and then re-evaluate my position then. Of course things may change over the next several months.

I'm also still undecided as to whether or not I'll stay at the Ritz or JW in Seoul later this year, but some of the luke-warm reviews about the Ritz are making me have second thoughts. I've stayed at the JW before, so at least I know what I'm getting. If I did pick the Ritz, that would be one more reason to keep it (at least for the next year).

On another note, what do you think of the new version (with the EMV chip)?