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Why AMEX? Archived From: Finance

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Well, being on FW for as long as I have, I've noticed so much talk of AMEX cards and always see "Credit of $x showed up on my AMEX card" for Staples threads. In other words, it appears a large number of people use AMEX. So I ask why?

First, a little about me. I am a college student and have a Citi Dividend Platinum Select MC. I consider this to be one of the best cards out there (perhaps not THE best) due to its CashBack perks. My credit limit is just over $6k. While I have yet to hit the $300/yr cap, I am getting very close - I've had this card for almost 1.5yrs and my lifetime CashBack is over $350 IIRC.

The main thing I look for in a card is the CashBack rate. I couldnt care less about the APR or BTs and the like - I wont need them as I have no debt and never plan to get some started!

The ONLY AMEX card that has caught my eye is the Blue Cash for Business. I do have a registered business, but should it grow, the CashBack offerings on this card could be bested by one that features 1.5% CashBack or more.

Your opinions welcome. Just find it odd that some people like the opportunity to grab an AMEX card (read some Citi AMEX threads) just because its an AMEX.

BVG
Extended warranty
1.5% Cash Back
wish certificate

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i use it for the wishcertificate thing.

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I notice alot of people use it for their Best Value Guarantee, its like a pricematching policy for stores that don't have it.

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AMEX Gold Rewards along with others have BVG = Best Value Guarentee, basically means that if I buy item x today and see item x advertised at a lower price within 60 days, AMEX refunds me the difference capped at $250 per purchase max $1,000 year.

I love my AMEX card for this reason. It makes shopping on Black Friday a heck of a lot easier considering I don't have to do a PM to a store, just send it to AMEX and they credit me.

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I used it for the Costco True Rewards which is a tiered 1/2/3% Cash Back. And I use it for warranty extension.

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I rarely use credit cards but I use AMEX charge card (Platinum Card) for basically whatever I purchase. I travel extensively and I find the card benefits very suitable for my personal needs.

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bssc said:I used it for the Costco True Rewards which is a tiered 1/2/3% Cash Back. And I use it for warranty extension.And Costco doesn't accept Visa or Mastercard.

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Probably wasting my time, since you seem to already know why people get AMEX cards "Just find it odd that some people like the opportunity to grab an AMEX card (read some Citi AMEX threads) just because its an AMEX" but if you use the many features of the different cards (and I have) you find AMEX is very customer friendly, not like some (all?) of the others. I just had a laptop 60 GB HD fail and it was covered under my AMEX card's extended warrantee. I called was immediately connected to a computer specialist who told me to go to CompUSA and have the drive replaced with a faster 100 or 120 GB drive with 5 year warrantee (old one was 1 year) and have all software reinstalled and send him the bill. I did and about the time the charge showed up so did the full credit for $315 from AMEX. Had the lens of a two-day old telescope accidentally break and AMEX had it repaired ($400) within days. BVG has also been painless and saved me a small fortune (whole hell of a lot more than $300/yr), not to mention wishlist. Missed making payments when traveling overseas, a quick call got all late charges dropped. Every charge I've disputed has been resolved in my favor.

Now I might be able to get similiar results with other cards but based on my past experiences, not without major hassles. I don't keep my AMEX cards just because they're AMEX, but because they deliver much more value that other cards including your MC. So when I buy groceries, I'll use my Visa or MC, but when I buy a big ticket item I plan to keep or BVG, out comes an AMEX card.

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3x pts on the AMEX Membership Rewards (e.g., for this Nov. 2005 - Feb 2006) if you have a charge card.
That's like 3% rewards.

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never heard anything good about AMEX.

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I'll vote this thread green if the OP comes back and updates the OP/Quick Summary with his findings (pros and cons).

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nm....just tired

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Beyond all the card benefits, I use it because they let me charge about 200k per month in expenses. They seem much more flexible, for most people, with regard to credit lines overall.

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AMEX business cash rebate card: save 2% on Staples and 5% on fedex.
savings credited to your card in 2-3 days after the purchase posts.

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tuckeg said:Probably wasting my time, since you seem to already know why people get AMEX cards "Just find it odd that some people like the opportunity to grab an AMEX card (read some Citi AMEX threads) just because its an AMEX" but if you use the many features of the different cards (and I have) you find AMEX is very customer friendly, not like some (all?) of the others. I just had a laptop 60 GB HD fail and it was covered under my AMEX card's extended warrantee. I called was immediately connected to a computer specialist who told me to go to CompUSA and have the drive replaced with a faster 100 or 120 GB drive with 5 year warrantee (old one was 1 year) and have all software reinstalled and send him the bill. I did and about the time the charge showed up so did the full credit for $315 from AMEX. Had the lens of a two-day old telescope accidentally break and AMEX had it repaired ($400) within days. BVG has also been painless and saved me a small fortune (whole hell of a lot more than $300/yr), not to mention wishlist. Missed making payments when traveling overseas, a quick call got all late charges dropped. Every charge I've disputed has been resolved in my favor.

Now I might be able to get similiar results with other cards but based on my past experiences, not without major hassles. I don't keep my AMEX cards just because they're AMEX, but because they deliver much more value that other cards including your MC. So when I buy groceries, I'll use my Visa or MC, but when I buy a big ticket item I plan to keep or BVG, out comes an AMEX card.


well said. I found myself using AMEX blue for most things rather than my citi dividends just because I needed their service to be there for a peace of mind.

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I can use at Costco, they have a nicer "return policy", I got the clear card so I can get a free credit report every year, AMEX wishlist/AMEX discounts.

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not a fan of AMEX. was using citi divident but reached 300 cap in 9 mos so now using chase rewards (750/yr cap).

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AMEX customer service is miles better than the rest.

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mansa said:AMEX customer service is miles better than the rest.

stolen card - nov 29.

replacement card still hasnt arrived as of jan06...

i used to think AMEX had best customer service... not anymore.. they said it will take 10days to PROCESS... and 10 for mail to come to me...(OMAHA to SEATTLE) go figure!

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