Use Amex concierge, but not pay with Amex?

[wasCB14]

No offense perceived. I phrased my last post poorly.

I guess I don't believe that the courtesy is really due in the context of a big AF (before credits) card. I'm already paying for the service.

If it was the WEMC concierge or something, that might be a different story.

I think the difference in rewards may play a factor. 3x URs is moderately better than 1x MRs (in the case of restaurant resevervations), but 12% cash is much better than 1x MRs.

[Anonymous]

---

@wasCB14 wrote:

No offense perceived. I phrased my last post poorly.

I guess I don't believe that the courtesy is really due in the context of a big AF (before credits) card. I'm already paying for the service.

If it was the WEMC concierge or something, that might be a different story.

---

That was exactly my thought, the concierge service is promoted as part of the benefit of the higher AF cards, whereas WEMC can be on free cards.   (That said, I wouldn't be bound to use the WEMC card either, the service is provided as their choice.  If they don't mandate.....)

Also, courtesy to me implies some kind of sort-of-personal relationship.  So while I would be polite to the conceirge, I can't believe that they will personally care what card I use (unless it is part of their compensation) and as for the company, presumably they will make decisions based on a bigger picture of the overall spend.

[wasCB14]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

---

@wasCB14 wrote:

No offense perceived. I phrased my last post poorly.

I guess I don't believe that the courtesy is really due in the context of a big AF (before credits) card. I'm already paying for the service.

If it was the WEMC concierge or something, that might be a different story.

---

That was exactly my thought, the concierge service is promoted as part of the benefit of the higher AF cards, whereas WEMC can be on free cards.   (That said, I wouldn't be bound to use the WEMC card either, the service is provided as their choice.  If they don't mandate.....)

Also, courtesy to me implies some kind of sort-of-personal relationship.  So while I would be polite to the conceirge, I can't believe that they will personally care what card I use (unless it is part of their compensation) and as for the company, presumably they will make decisions based on a bigger picture of the overall spend.

---

I've certainly never heard (from a concierge or forum) that it's part of the part of the compensation. And, in practice, I doubt my card choice would be moved away from what was best for me if it was a perk on a no-AF card.

A good rating on a follow-up survey may matter more.

[UpperNwGuy]

If you use the service, also use the card.  It's the right thing to do.

[wasCB14]

For people who say they'd use Platinum or some other Amex out of courtesy (rather than for rewards or protections), how much would you need to save with another card to switch? I suspect there is some point, either in percentage or absolute dollar terms.

Hypothetically, if it was a $10k purchase and some particular promotion would save you $2k if you paid with a Visa...would you still pay with Amex out of courtesy?

I know I wouldn't.

[Anonymous]

---

@UpperNwGuy wrote:

If you use the service, also use the card.  It's the right thing to do.

---

Only if you think so!  (i.e. not an absolute truth).   Providing you have the card that enables access to the service, the contract is fulfilled by that.

[SBR249]

---

@wasCB14 wrote:

For people who say they'd use Platinum or some other Amex out of courtesy (rather than for rewards or protections), how much would you need to save with another card to switch? I suspect there is some point, either in percentage or absolute dollar terms.

Hypothetically, if it was a $10k purchase and some particular promotion would save you $2k if you paid with a Visa...would you still pay with Amex out of courtesy?

I know I wouldn't.

---

Hence it's context dependent. I would take a small hit on rewards earning if the concierge provided a service that was more than just a small convenience. A 20% savings on a $10K is not a small hit and unless AmEx Concierge did something like arranging for a helicopter evac from Mt. Everest that saved my life, there's not that much goodwill there. 

[wasCB14]

---

@SBR249 wrote:

---

@wasCB14 wrote:

For people who say they'd use Platinum or some other Amex out of courtesy (rather than for rewards or protections), how much would you need to save with another card to switch? I suspect there is some point, either in percentage or absolute dollar terms.

Hypothetically, if it was a $10k purchase and some particular promotion would save you $2k if you paid with a Visa...would you still pay with Amex out of courtesy?

I know I wouldn't.

---

Hence it's context dependent. I would take a small hit on rewards earning if the concierge provided a service that was more than just a small convenience. A 20% savings on a $10K is not a small hit and unless AmEx Concierge did something like arranging for a helicopter evac from Mt. Everest that saved my life, there's not that much goodwill there. 

---

And, anyway, I think that would go through Premium Global Assist, not the general concierge.

A few not-necessarily-correct people said Amex nerfed it, but I've never seen any notice of the benefit change from Amex.