Who has the Amex Black Card???

[skyedog]

I saw someone using one to Split the check!

[cbusjer]

I've seen hundreds in my restaurant. I have a platinum and I use the concierge service frequently. I could have one (buy tens of thousands of things for the restaurant on my card and write myself checks out of petty), but I think it's terribly trite.

Oh, and factually speaking -- you have to have $100,000 in CC charges a month and pay an annual fee of $2500. I'd rather have to pay $400 a year for platinum (which is always waved for me) and not have the extra thickness of the black car stretching out my card carrier :-P


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[Jonathan007]

Saw a lady using one in Prada Rome once!

I have a Tesco club card????

[AAMD11]

I prefer my Citi AAdvanatage card

[Launch Mini]

I have a buddy withone. He is out of my league, but the perks he gets are amazing, but so is the annual fee.

[jay1988]

I know a guy with one. They say it's by invitation only but after seeing it in Casino Royale this guy made some calls and ended up getting one. Personally considering the number of international places that don't accept American Express I wouldn't bother.

I knew a guy (I'm being intentionally vague here) who had some special invitation only Visa that was all white and made of some material I can't identify. It had an amazing concierge service. Once this guy and his wife were in Madagascar and they had nowhere to go. They rang this concierge service and they got weekend passes to an exclusive country club of some sort.

Need some headphones ? Ring the concierge service saying you want noise cancelling headphones from x brand with a, b and c specifications. They'll ring you back 10 minutes later with your choices and where they can be found cheapest.

These concierge services are worth the money imo. They can cancel things that normally aren't supposed to be cancelled. They'll get you things that have sold out etc.

Visa beats AMEX though but because celebrities rock the AMEX it becomes known as the most exclusive card in the world to the uninformed. Like most people probably think the Rolex is the best watch in the world. I'm sure there are a few "Patek's" of the card world we are not aware of.

[SubmarinerMariner]

Originally Posted by psv

Think about it, who in their right mind would admit to having a black Amex on an internet watch forum...

Someone said it earlier..."Fight Club" rules...

And the first rule of "Fight Club" is....

[mgent]

My F-in-L has one... I always hoped he'd add me to that account ;)

Its 200 or 250k a year in spending, history with AMEX, and net worth to get the invite, then about 5k a year in fees...

250/yr (21k/m) seems really high, but you'd be surprised how easy it is to spend. Dinner out a few nights/wk, at ~500 for a party of 4 (2k a week)? gas for the cars and boat (4k/m)? a little shopping (5k/m)? you're at 17, and not doing anything crazy...

The 5k a year in fees is no big deal, typically the benefits cover that pretty quickly. For example, a weekend in NY, staying at the St. Regis (700/night?), but the card gets you discounted room rate, 3rd night free, and 300 room credit... thats something like 1500 in value over a quick weekend.

[Monte Cristo]

I was offered a Centurion card but got turned off by the $4500 annual fee.
Also in Australia it costs you more when using AMEX vs VISA as most merchants charge you a higher transaction fee when using AMEX, so you are paying for the privilege of using your AMEX.

Besides, the $4500 fee is half way towards another Rolex...

[brian8121]

Originally Posted by psv

Think about it, who in their right mind would admit to having a black Amex on an internet watch forum...

This

[Sweramic]

Originally Posted by bayerische

We receive about one Black Amex a month at my restaurant. So there seems to be plenty around.

How do you know it's not the same customer coming back?

[newrolexman]

Made no business sense to me.

I opted for the free AMEX BLUE card.

Cash back and great Customer Service with direct dial special reps, all pro-bono.

Could not be happier with this free cash back AMEX Card.

[aquanaut]

I have the platinum amex card which is really good, however recently been informed they are raising the annual fee to £450 ($700). Apparently its because all the extra services and offers in London etc, which is all very well if you live in London. Not so good if you live 500 miles away. So debating wether to renew.

[Lol-x]

Originally Posted by Monte Cristo

I was offered a Centurion card but got turned off by the $4500 annual fee.
Also in Australia it costs you more when using AMEX vs VISA as most merchants charge you a higher transaction fee when using AMEX, so you are paying for the privilege of using your AMEX.

Besides, the $4500 fee is half way towards another Rolex...

I agree, we will not be renewing our subscription next year. $4,500 can go a long way, and really I have had some cool benefits but not $4,500 worth I have to say.

Part of the attraction was that in our business the $4,500 was tax deductable, but even so one has to feel value for money and the Black AMEX Centurion has not been providing that to us.

We might look at a high end Visa next year.

[theloxmyth]

I quietly complain about the annual fee on the simple Gold Card.

[texex91]

Cancelled the Plat AMEX after 7 years.

Not worth the fee (as small as it was) for what I received.

Charged more than enough for Black last 4 years on it and rather get cash back on another card.

They offered Black and refused 8 months ago.

Rather put the $$ towards watches or get cash back on the ones I do buy every year (which is too many)

My days of impressing people at the dinner table when the check comes are long gone...

[iLLGT2]

Def. crazy, and I know a bunch of people with them as well... Big time player's lol, all major business owners however!

[crew]

Originally Posted by iLLGT2

Def. crazy, and I know a bunch of people with them as well... Big time player's lol, all major business owners however!

The only way the fee can be justified, IMHO, is if your company expenses it.
Otherwise it's just not worth it no matter what your financial resources are.

[gwozhog]

I'm in the air conditioning business so I judge a mans wealth buy how many A/C units a man has in his house. My one customer who gives me an AX black card has 11 A/C units cooling his home and a swimming pool inside his living room.

[rolio]

Cash is King

[joleel7]

Originally Posted by rolio

Cash is King

[Rockrolex]

Originally Posted by Lol-x

I agree, we will not be renewing our subscription next year. $4,500 can go a long way, and really I have had some cool benefits but not $4,500 worth I have to say.

Part of the attraction was that in our business the $4,500 was tax deductable, but even so one has to feel value for money and the Black AMEX Centurion has not been providing that to us.

We might look at a high end Visa next year.

Steve, I just got a Visa MilagePlus Club card. It gives me free access to United Red Carpet Clubs and I get 1.5 miles for every dollar spent on regular purchases, plus 2 miles when I pay for airline tickets with the card. Visa charges a $395 annual fee but that is less than what I pay for Red Carpet Club membership, plus I get priority boarding on flights, and concierge service, plus other benies. Also they don't charge a foreign transaction conversion fee that most other Visa cards charge.

Probably wouldn't do you much good in OZ, but maybe there's an equivalent card down there you could look into.

Of course I'm still keeping my Amex Platinum card for now just in case.

[Lol-x]

Sounds like very good value Ed.
There is some kind of VIP Visa Card available here I'll have to check it out.
No currency conversion fee sounds great.

[iLLGT2]

Originally Posted by crew

The only way the fee can be justified, IMHO, is if your company expenses it.
Otherwise it's just not worth it no matter what your financial resources are.

I would venture to say the primary percentage of black card users have it through/because of business, and use it mostly for their business expenditures..

[Boothroyd]

Originally Posted by SLRdude

I have Platinum and that's about as high as I will ever get.

That card has been worth it's weight in gold (non-sequiter intended) on multiple occasions. If you travel, that card is worth having.

Now the Black card, I am far removed from that league, so no comment.

[Boothroyd]

Actually, referring to a Platinum card 'as worth its weight in gold' is more of an oxymoron that an non-sequiter. For what it's worth.....

[FNFZ4]

Originally Posted by mboverst

It's utterly just stupid to meet the requirements as a private card holder, and get the invite on top of that.

Now it is fairly easy to get one for business. Own your own business, charge everything to your platinum, have a reasonable net worth, and you will get an invite. It's kind of like cheating, but a heck of a lot easier.

yup this is the fastest way. Own a Jewelry busyness and charge everything on the card. I bought some pieces for sale with my AMEX blue card and from JAN to Now I have a qualified spend of 60k already... and I dont even sell that much watches lol

[wdalew5]

[/IMG]

Looks pretty inexpensive to me......Haha

[patek.wis]

Hm, seems like a really superficial thing to splurge on... I don't use concierge service and my last job forced me to use an AMEX Platinum - which I hated. Nobody takes it up here. Non-sense.

My personal card is a Visa Infinite. It's nice and gives me points whenever I spend. I charge everything humanly possible to it =)

On a side note, my father has a black card and still does as far as I know. Waste of money in my opinion but oh well!

[Boothroyd]

Can't comment on Black card. But if you travel, I have gotten annual presidential suite upgrades, baggage fee compensation, airline club access, travel help while traveling from concierge to make Platinum worth it. Your mileage may vary, and to each their own!