NEW American Express Blue Cash Cards

Blue Cash Everyday
Get 3% Cash Back at supermarkets, 2% back at gas stations and department stores, and 1% everywhere else.

Blue Cash Preferred $75 AF
Get unlimited Cash Back for all your purchases, including 6% Cash Back at supermarkets, 3% Cash Back at gas stations and department stores, and 1% back everywhere else

Credit CB Forums.

Isn't this worse than the existing Blue Cash?

I was just about to post this myself. Good thing I checked before hitting "Post topic."

No, these cards are better than the "classic" Blue Cash, unless you spend enough above $6500 annually that the 5% rewards on the "classic" card exceed the rewards for the two new cards. The two new cards seem to pay the full Cash Back immediately, with no thresholds or caps.

I'm kind of intrigued by the new cards. I never use my current ("classic") Blue Cash anymore because I don't spend enough above the $6500 threshold every year to make it worth not spending on my other cards, which offer at least 2% Cash Back on everything. But it would be worth getting Blue Cash Everyday just for the 3% Cash Back at supermarkets (except for those quarters where my Citi Dividend Platinum Select or Chase Freedom cards are offering 5% Cash Back in those categories, assuming I stay below their spending caps, which hasn't been a problem so far).

I'm reluctant to get Blue Cash Preferred, simply because spending an annual fee on a credit card is against my religion, and because it's not outside the realm of possibility that AMEX will eventually raise the fee and/or lower or cap the Cash Back, worsening this card's benefit/cost structure. But objectively, doubling my Cash Back on supermarkets relative to the Blue Cash Everyday card isn't bad. In fact, it looks like the break-even for that is $2500 in annual spending at supermarkets, which is $208.33 per month. I spend more than that, so...it's something to consider.

dl73 said:   The question is if/when the change will take place for existing cardholders?

I've heard nothing from AMEX. It wouldn't be unusual for them to allow existing card holders to simply keep, and continue to use, their cards well into the future.

When I log in to AMEX and take a look at these cards, I have radio boxes that read "Apply Now" for "Blue Cash Everyday" and "Upgrade Now" for "Blue Cash Preferred." I wonder if that means that converting to "Blue Cash Preferred" will allow you to keep your account intact--meaning that they'll still report to the credit bureaus that you've had the card for, say, four years--while "Blue Cash Everyday" would be considered a new card. I'd think twice about applying for Blue Cash Everyday if it's going to hurt my FICO.

New cards are better for the general populace that didn't spend above $6,500 to reach the 5% rewards level.

If you're a FWF person the $6,500 spending threshold should take you a month to attain.

TooManyCards said:   
I'm reluctant to get Blue Cash Preferred, simply because spending an annual fee on a credit card is against my religion

Church of Fatwallet of latter day deals?

VagrTiger said:   hejustlaughs said:   New cards are better for the general populace that didn't spend above $6,500 to reach the 5% rewards level.

If you're a FWF person the $6,500 spending threshold should take you a month to attain.

and $130 lost in 2% CashBack. It means that your grocery purchases should top $13,000 per year (or $1083 per month) in order for the old card to be better than the new card. Most FWF people spend less than $1000 in supermarkets.

I forget what the profile of a typical FWF type person really is and I realize I am not one at all.

VagrTiger said:   I think the arrival of this card is very timely, given that most cards that gave 3-5% CashBack for everyday purchases all year long are gone. My last one was Driver's Edge.

Exactly. That is what I was looking for recently. I decided that even though I did not like the $6500 treshold, I would apply for it and use it, since the Chase Freedom and Discover are really not doing it for me since Driver's Edge died.

I tried to apply for it over the weekend and it kept giving me an error message. So when I tried today, the old Blue cash was not there but it gave me the option to "upgrade" my Blue to the Blue Cash Preferred. Since I do not have Penfed or a 2% card, and have and old blue with a large limit, this seems to be my best option. In three years with Driver's Edge, I got back over $2100. Looking for something similar with the 6% on groceries and 3% on gas.

Does FreshDirect count as a supermarket for this purpose?

Any sign up bonus avbailable????

and i am not sure about this term - supermarket

Earlier term was groceries - blue cash did not give 5% back if you bought groceries at WalMart

If I spend 3000 in gas, 2000 in groceries and 15000 misc
I would probably get more in my current blue cash

its 1% everywhere else in new cards, thats killing me

Called AMEX and got my Blue Cash converted to Blue Cash Everyday in 5 mins. Very Easy. Thanks OP.

someone in sd suggested that even these cards have 6500 threshold, better call AMEX and confirm

Thanks for letting me know. It's a good card!

I'll wait until AMEX offers me $ to open it

I just called and converted to the Everyday card. It took just under 18 minutes. To be fair, I had a bit of an issue with the telephone maze. I ended up talking to someone in New Accounts, who, once she understood that I wanted to convert my old card, transferred me to someone in Account Services or something similar. They initially thought I wanted to open a totally new account and keep my existing account active, but I emphasized that I wanted to convert the account, wanted the date/age of the account to remain the same, didn't want a hard pull, etc. They eventually understood that and cooperated.

The CSR in Account Services didn't understand all the details of the card--she asked me why I'd want to go from a 5% card to a 3% card, and had to verify with a colleague that the $6500 threshold is gone. She apologized, noting that the cards were only introduced a few days ago and she hadn't had an opportunity to really become familiar with them, but like all American Express CSR's I've dealt with she was helpful, friendly, and professional throughout.

So, my understanding is that my card has now been magically converted, and will show up as a five year old card (or whatever it is) for purposes of my FICO score and all that. She said I'd be getting a new card in 7-10 business days with my current number, but possibly a different expiration date, but added that their system will recognize my card as an Everyday card starting tomorrow, so if I go to the supermarket tomorrow and use my current card I'll get the 3% Cash Back under the Everyday program.

dpid said:   Thanks for letting me know. It's a good card!

I'll wait until AMEX offers me $ to open it

The preferred card is offering $100 Cash Back after spending $500 in the first 60 days.

"Use your Card for all your purchases and you can earn unlimited Rewards Dollars. Redeem Rewards Dollars for Cash Back, or choose from gift cards or merchandise."

Does this mean we can accumulate our points over time or will it automatically credit each month?

echip said:   Don't forget to factor in the 6% on gift cards at supermarket for the Blue Cash Preferred card.

do gift cards at supermarkets qualify for the 6% with this card?

pjws3 said:   echip said:   Don't forget to factor in the 6% on gift cards at supermarket for the Blue Cash Preferred card.

do gift cards at supermarkets qualify for the 6% with this card?
Absolutely not. Whenever you buy a gift card at a grocery store, the manager of the store calls your credit card company and informs them how much of your purchase was for gift cards. There is somewhat of a delay between when you make the purchase and when this information is reflected in your account. So the points may show up in your account fora brief period of time, but will be removed before you are able to cash them out.

FYI, Costcos, WalMart, Targets, Sams Clubs.... are considered superstore or warehouse stores, so only 1% Cash Back. Too bad... Costco would have been great.

craig10x said:   Is there a way to apply for a credit limit increase when you log into your account? I looked around and can't seem to locate it...if it's there, where would i find it?

Hope this helps.