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I haven't see any other posts similar to this, so I thought this would be a worthile forum for many. Like many consumers, I tend to shy away from cards which have an annual fee tied into them. I'm not sure that I really have an answer to this question, but if hard pressed, I would say chase sapphire preferred if you spend enough each year without carrying a balance, due to 1:1 transfer point ability, no foreign transaction fees, and the bonus redemption.
Absolutely the CSP if you eat out and travel - ESPECIALLY in foreign countries. I'd also say that the BCP is worth it- IF you have a family to spend for, or are willing to partake in MS. I have neither, so I use the BCE.
@Weights wrote:I haven't see any other posts similar to this, so I thought this would be a worthile forum for many. Like many consumers, I tend to shy away from cards which have an annual fee tied into them. I'm not sure that I really have an answer to this question, but if hard pressed, I would say chase sapphire preferred if you spend enough each year without carrying a balance, due to 1:1 transfer point ability, no foreign transaction fees, and the bonus redemption.
there are many cards with AFs that can be well worth it's value.
It all depends on what you are spending on, how much you are spending, and what you need.
There's no 1 size fit all solution / answer.
A lot rewards card are well worth it if you spend enough, but not everyone has the ability to spend "enough" on a credit card.
The two AF cards that I'd pay for are BCP and Barclaycard Arrival.
I know there's a lot of Chase love on here, but I have no interest in getting another Chase card at the moment and for the foreseeable future, so the CSP doesn't interest me at all right now.
The annual fee gets far too much weight in some peoples decisions. Stripped of more subjective matters (I want to get in with issuer X, this card is METALLLLL etc) for any card the decision should be:
Given my spending patterns, is the value (evaluated however you like) I will get from this card after expenses, equal to or greater than other cards that cover a similar space that I can reasonably expect to get.
i.e. AF is just part of the reward structure calculation.
To be fair, there are some cards with AFs that are no better than free cards, so those are clearly (absent the subjective factors) not worthwhile. But for many, again depending on spending patterns and reward valuation, a particular AF card is the way to go.
@longtime_lurker wrote:Absolutely the CSP if you eat out and travel - ESPECIALLY in foreign countries. I'd also say that the BCP is worth it- IF you have a family to spend for, or are willing to partake in MS. I have neither, so I use the BCE.
What is MS? I always see this..
Manufactured Spend, buying of (near) cash equivalents to get rewards, using the proceeds to pay off the card and repeat.
(The BCP ISN'T a good card for this)
@megaman1 wrote:
@longtime_lurker wrote:Absolutely the CSP if you eat out and travel - ESPECIALLY in foreign countries. I'd also say that the BCP is worth it- IF you have a family to spend for, or are willing to partake in MS. I have neither, so I use the BCE.
What is MS? I always see this..
manufactured spending.
@longtimelurker wrote:The annual fee gets far too much weight in some peoples decisions. Stripped of more subjective matters (I want to get in with issuer X, this card is METALLLLL etc) for any card the decision should be:
Given my spending patterns, is the value (evaluated however you like) I will get from this card after expenses, equal to or greater than other cards that cover a similar space that I can reasonably expect to get.
i.e. AF is just part of the reward structure calculation.
To be fair, there are some cards with AFs that are no better than free cards, so those are clearly (absent the subjective factors) not worthwhile. But for many, again depending on spending patterns and reward valuation, a particular AF card is the way to go.
Well said!
@longtimelurker wrote:Manufactured Spend, buying of (near) cash equivalents to get rewards, using the proceeds to pay off the card and repeat.
(The BCP ISN'T a good card for this)
longtimelurker,
why do you say bcp is not a good ms card? Is the cap too small?
do you consider PenFed platinum a good ms card?