What does Platinum mean?

[Open123]

This is most assuredly true, especially in Asia, where compartmentalizing people is common practice.

No idea if issuers take this into consideration, but I've always felt the single greatest thing about the American people is that we're magnificiently ungovernable.  Not only are we the only country founded upon a set of ideals (however flawed they may have been), but revolted and won a war against the greatest empire the world has ever known.  The notion of never "putting up with anything" or "never going along just because some entity tells us too" is deeply entrenched in American culture.  While the Banks are free to compartmentalize all they'd like, I suspect they realize that Americans in general aren't going to accept this and "go gently into the night."

In my view, one should *NEVER* know his place.  Whether we are dictated to by our government, corporate employers, the banks, or just the bullying organization down the street, we should always "revolt" whenever we feel aggrieved.

I just love the fact that in America, if an employer (or, any organization) lays down rules we find unworkable, all we'd have to do is say, "the heck with you, I'm starting my own company and kick your a**!"  For all the faults of California (of which there are too many to list), it is still far and away the most anti "non-compete" regulation State in the Union making all of it's other failings tolerable.

[Anonymous]

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@Open123 wrote:

This is most assuredly true, especially in Asia, where compartmentalizing people is common practice.

No idea if issuers take this into consideration, but I've always felt the single greatest thing about the American people is that we're magnificiently ungovernable.

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I think this feeling is actually pretty common, in the UK most people would say the same thing!  And if we really wanted to be mean, we might say that US incanceration rates (highest in developed world) and has penalties that allows the government to execute you,  shows in fact a high degree of government control.

[Open123]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@Open123 wrote:

This is most assuredly true, especially in Asia, where compartmentalizing people is common practice.

No idea if issuers take this into consideration, but I've always felt the single greatest thing about the American people is that we're magnificiently ungovernable.

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I think this feeling is actually pretty common, in the UK most people would say the same thing!  And if we really wanted to be mean, we might say that US incanceration rates (highest in developed world) and has penalties that allows the government to execute you,  shows in fact a high degree of government control.

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In my estimation, it shows a great deal of government's adherence to the consent of the governed.

I suspect the overwhelming majority of Americans believe in the Death Penalty.  Those in power who are against the Death Penalty dare not abolish it because of what may come in November.  The Supreme Court in CA tried to do away with the Death Penalty in the late 80s, and the Chief Justice (Rose Bird, if memory serves) had to resign because of the vociferous objections by voters.  

In this case, I think it's more the government is afraid of voters reaction.  Unlike in Europe, where with a Parliamentary system, the few can impose the rules for the many, in the US, that will never work because when November comes, the voters can vote their Congressmen out of office.

*sorry, nothing to do with credit cards, but..."  LOL

[injustifiiable]

Having a Platinum card was a big deal in like the '90s.

Nowadays...not so much.

<---CreditOne "Platinum" Visa cardholder here...lol.

[ForumPheen]

I want a lithium card then.

Oh wait.  Too hot to handle.

[ltspongebob]

But don't "People treat you different when have a gold card?"  

I think I remember that commercial from the '90s.  I think it was Providian, luckily never had to have one of those.

Every lower-end card I have says platinum now. so I think it's metal inflation.  I think the going terms for "status" cards is "Preferred, Signature, Premier, or Select"

I want an Unobtanium card!

[koalablue]

I remember in the late 1980s, working summers in Bullocks Wilshire dept store in southern California, I think we were pretty impressed when someone had a platinum credit card, like an Amex plat, or at least I was impressed.  Maybe it meant more then.

[mxp114]

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@Anonymous wrote:
CS, its like that for most parts of Asia too!

I can see why schools in the US do not differentiate students into different 'classes' as much. The idea of segregating students like this may invite potential discrimination lawsuits, simply because certain ethnicities do not seem to fare as well in academics over the others. Look at affirmative action in colleges as an example. That policy alone has resulted in numerous discrimination lawsuits and one of the cases even went all the way to the Supreme Court. Regardless of whether lawsuits like these have merit, having to defend them can be extremely costly.

Banks prolly don't try to impose these hard requirements for similar reasons. There is a distinct difference in the median income of different ethnicities. Imposing income requirements may invite frivolous lawsuits which they would very much rather not deal with altogether.

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The potential discrimination at the heart of affirmation action is about equal protection and raises important constitutional questions. Lenders distinguishing on the basis of income with respect to offering products is nothing new. There is no constitutional right to a credit card lol American Express requires (or required) $100k in income for The Platinum Card for decades, afaik no lawsuits citing discrimination. I think it has more to do with the market expectation and not because lenders fear lawsuits.

[improvingmycredit]

+1
I think it's more about the US society expectations as a whole. We have a very active and lively "I want it now" and "what's in it for me" mentality. Immediate gratification is the name of the game. In order for cards to be competitive in this market- they have to give the "newest" or "next best thing" or people start looking elsewhere.