Who has the Amex Black Card???

[rr-nyc]

Originally Posted by 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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I know that isn't right

[Hairdude1]

Originally Posted by directioneng

I have had the basic card since 1981.
I have never found anything that I couldn't buy with it.

True!

[rr-nyc]

Originally Posted by Hairdude1

True!

There are things you cannot buy with an a standard amex, or any other credit card and even cash. The concierge service with platinum and centurion cards get you tickets and reservations to restaurants and events that are sold out or not available to the general public.

Additionally, platinum and centurion members have access to several airlines clubs at no additional cost. That alone can cost $400+ per year. International transaction fees are waived on both cards as well.

[Rockrolex]

Originally Posted by rr-nyc

There are things you cannot buy with an a standard amex, or any other credit card and even cash. The concierge service with platinum and centurion cards get you tickets and reservations to restaurants and events that are sold out or not available to the general public.

Additionally, platinum and centurion members have access to several airlines clubs at no additional cost. That alone can cost $400+ per year. International transaction fees are waived on both cards as well.

That's why I keep my Platinum AMEX card, Renato.

Of course, now that I have a United Explorer Club card which has essentially the same privileges, I might consider giving up the AMEX Platinum. OTOH, the Platinum card got me Global Entry status for free (which for me is worth it because I travel internationally enough that it's a pleasure to skip the immigration line when returning to the US from abroad) and it gets me premium status at rental car compaies - again a useful perk because of the amount of US travel that I do. So I think I will keep the Platinum along with the Visa Explorer Club card for now.

[rr-nyc]

Originally Posted by Rockrolex

That's why I keep my Platinum AMEX card, Renato.

Of course, now that I have a United Explorer Club card which has essentially the same privileges, I might consider giving up the AMEX Platinum. OTOH, the Platinum card got me Global Entry status for free (which for me is worth it because I travel internationally enough that it's a pleasure to skip the immigration line when returning to the US from abroad) and it gets me premium status at rental car compaies - again a useful perk because of the amount of US travel that I do. So I think I will keep the Platinum along with the Visa Explorer Club card for now.

The perks are the only reason I keep my platinum open. I try to use my debit card most of the time unless I'm traveling abroad or charging reimbursed business expenses. Aside from that, I use the card to check into hotels and rent cars but I use my debit card to settle the bill.

[Rockrolex]

Originally Posted by rr-nyc

The perks are the only reason I keep my platinum open. I try to use my debit card most of the time unless I'm traveling abroad or charging reimbursed business expenses. Aside from that, I use the card to check into hotels and rent cars but I use my debit card to settle the bill.

I don't have a debit card, and likely never will. With my Milage Plus Explorer Club card, I get 1.5 points for each $$ spent on regular purchase and 2 points for each airline ticket charged to that card. It helps build my milage points faster to use for upgrades. I pay my credit card balances in full each month - I never carry a balance, what with the card companies charging exhorbitant interest rates on outstanding balances. I'd rather draw on my line of credit, if necessary, which only costs me about 4%.

[rr-nyc]

Originally Posted by Rockrolex

I don't have a debit card, and likely never will. With my Milage Plus Explorer Club card, I get 1.5 points for each $$ spent on regular purchase and 2 points for each airline ticket charged to that card. It helps build my milage points faster to use for upgrades. I pay my credit card balances in full each month - I never carry a balance, what with the card companies charging exhorbitant interest rates on outstanding balances. I'd rather draw on my line of credit, if necessary, which only costs me about 4%.

I used to charge everything and pay it off at the end of the month but my wife seems to think that if money is in our account, it must be there to spend! Back when Chase had their United Mileage Plus debit card, I found that to be the best of both worlds. It was like paying cash for everything and I would earn 1 mile per dollar spent. Since they did away with the debit rewards program, I think about going back to charging everything and paying it off at the end of each month. If thats the case, I'll start using my amex because I think the membership rewards is a great program.

[Rockrolex]

Originally Posted by rr-nyc

I used to charge everything and pay it off at the end of the month but my wife seems to think that if money is in our account, it must be there to spend! Back when Chase had their United Mileage Plus debit card, I found that to be the best of both worlds. It was like paying cash for everything and I would earn 1 mile per dollar spent. Since they did away with the debit rewards program, I think about going back to charging everything and paying it off at the end of each month. If thats the case, I'll start using my amex because I think the membership rewards is a great program.

My wife doesn't bother with details like knowing how much is in our checking account. She'll write whatever checks she wants, whether or not the money is there. So having a debit card wouldn't help one bit.

As for membership rewards, the cash equivalent of the products AMEX offers as part of its reward program is at the very highest end of retail, if not higher. I very seldom use AMEX's membership rewards program. I don't use the VISA rewards program for pretty much the same reason. I'd rather pay a discounted price for a product, pay for it with my credit card, and get the points to use for free trips or upgrades.

A couple of months ago, I got a USAir Mastercard because they were offering 50K miles with the first purchase. I got my 50K milage credit and booked us on flights to Florida in December, when we would normally go anyway. It wiped out my USAIR account, but since I don't use that account anyway, it was worth it. That card will now go into the back of my desk drawer, and the account will be closed when it comes time to renew.

[byeedo]

So I do not meet any of the requirements to have an invite to this card but I got one. I started looking up info on the Black Card when I saw this thread and remembered I had this on my desk to check in on later. Anyway, they must be lowering the standards for me to have one!

[byeedo]

forgot to post pic

[Jonathan007]

Didnt James Bond use one to make a purchace in Casino Royal?

I was in Rome once mooching around Prada, near the Spanish steps when I noticed a rather dapper looking lady pay for a pair of shoes with one.

Must be nice.

[jamesbondOO7]

I have had a Platinum for years, well 2 as one was for business,and got invited to a Black one just as we were leaving London to move to Paris. At that time there was no support for it in France so I declined. Since then, as part of a cost reduction exercise, I have downgraded to Gold...
I had a business host who paid for the meal with one once.
Well, the good old days....
I enjoy the sun 300 days a year now, and that's plenty.

[Megalobyte]

Ah yes, I have my temporary drivers licence, and my astronaut application form. I didn't pass that though, I failed everything but the date of birth. Didn't get the job.

[speedo]

gave back my credit card, hold only one debit card to buy online, reserve rental cars etc. for me spending what i have has been the best strategy so far.

[Rodentman]

I have a black Cabela's Visa which is nice because I get points to spend there on my other hobby. I got to the black level pretty quickly when I had to get a lawyer and bail
bondsman on the quick to get a loved one out of jail.

I call all my credit cards American Distress.

[rr-nyc]

Originally Posted by byeedo

forgot to post pic

Thats not an Amex Centurion card, its a Visa black card. Visa black is a Barclay bank product.

[byeedo]

Originally Posted by rr-nyc

Thats not an Amex Centurion card, its a Visa black card. Visa black is a Barclay bank product.

Ah yes, forgive my ineptitude. Reading is not a requirement in my personal or professional life!

[rr-nyc]

Originally Posted by byeedo

Ah yes, forgive my ineptitude. Reading is not a requirement in my personal or professional life!

No problem

My wife actually fell for it when I was out of town. Got the card and then the bill for the $495 annual fee. The perks and benefits are slightly above a platinum visa but less than visa signature. She called customer service and told them to cancel the card because the perks do not justify the fee. They ended up waiving it for the first year so she'll have to cancel the card next year.

The card itself is kind of cool. Its a carbon material rather than black plastic but a far cry from the titanium centurion card.