I know, I know, just trying to do a little "aggressive promotion". But still, how can someone come on to F-chat and start throwing all this BigSh*t talk about credit cards and $$...? Not a good start! Image Unavailable, Please Login
I have the Centurion (black) card, but rarely use it. It is really only good for the airline upgrades and some hotel upgrades from what I can tell. Now that every card is pretty much either gold or platinum, AMEX decided they needed a new idea to sell to make their card seem exclusive again. LOOK AT ME! BT
How much do you have to spend a year in order to get your hands on those? Don't they get it back from you when you don't use that certain amount? I have American Express blue (joint account with my dad). I don't buy that much stuff with it so I can pay it all off at the end of the month. I just use it to build my credit.
The card is available only by invitation and, as of January 1, 2006, in the United States, it requires minimum spending of $250,000 within 10 consecutive months on another American Express card and exceptional credit history among other requirements. Certain requirements have been known to be waived for major celebrities and business figures.[citation needed] Requirements for invitation in other countries may differ. Starting May 1st, 2007, there will be a US$5000 one-time initiation fee for new card holders. After this initial charge the annual fee will be US$2500. Existing cardholders will not pay this fee. (Charter cardholders, who had remained at the $1,000/year fee level even after the January 1, 2006 fee/spending requirement increase, will now have to pay the same $2,500/year upon their next renewal date on or after May 1st 2007.)
1) Its not debt as you pay it off every month. 2) It saves you a TON if you fly a lot. Saves a ton on hitels too. If you look around the forum you can find where I added it all up and came up with that it saved me over $20k in one year.
I haven't paid for a airline ticket in over 7 years using Amex miles. You can actually accrue them on any Amex, I think. All the free stuff, hotel rooms, upgrades, membership in the airport clubs, etc. easily pay for the card. If you don't travel, there's not much of an advantage. I'm lucky, the company pays my membership fee.
Why do you care so much? A couple of you seem pretty passionate about anybody having a black card being a fool. Is it not more foolish to lose $50k per year on an exotic car that serves the same purpose as a car you can get for $150/month? To each his own. Black cards can indeed save somebody a lot more per year than the cost of having one. There are a lot more things that can be considered a "look at me" possession than a black card.
Well, if that service means getting from point A to point B, then sure, but I feel exotic cars serve a lot more than a point a-b service...obviously. As for the card, if it saves you a lot of money, then thats great, I'm all for it.
Henry, I defend it with the math of my pocket book, nothing more. I am not know for spending frivolously or for not being profitable. To say the user is going to defend something is a circular argument that makes you look like a moron. Most of the time, the user likes the thing he or she is using and that can be benefit enough. In the case of the black card, my savings are a matter of realized gain and record. (I will also defend eating and Ferraris.) .)
The black card indeed saves you thousands when used properly. I fly 1st Class as an automatic Elite member on America West. Upgrade to premium suites in hotels. And endless concierge service that again always seems to save me a ton of money when im in a travel emergency... Whether its sold out hotels... lost luggage... stuck at the airport... tey alwasy help me get what i need, and it doesnt cost me an arm and a leg. Those who slam the card either: A. Don't have the lifestyle to utilize the card properly or B. Are ignorant and have no clue on the perks or just jealous... Like the neighbor that would NEVER spend 100K on a car, no matter how much money he had.... ya right. I pay $2,500 a year for it... I write that fee off and save over $2,500 in the first month each year. The fact that cocktail waitresses and female clerks at department stores give me extra attention by the beautiful, thick, black titanium card... is just gravy! (welcome to California)
3 other sections, the business & investments section is well worth it if you invest, it's helped me a lot just by lurking on there