50 wannabe ballers...

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The Black Card is money.

I wouldn't advise you to try. It's invite only. And the operator on the regular AMEX line would probaly claim to not know what you are talking about.

Real Ballers carry cash in thier pocket. Not fucking plastic.

I don't argue that $250k/yr in spending is some pretty good shopping (obviously most would have [at least] some business in there) but anywone who believes there's "no limit" is fooling themselves.

Cash is lame. I hate counting on the spot.
Plastic really is convinient. Charge accounts for frequent shoppers must be fun. I've never had one of those before.

i receive about 6-10 amex applications with those bullshit fake plastic cards per WEEK. they put me on some fucking list and i can't get off. the shit they send is outta control and get this, when i apply, i get rejected, though i have several cards with $50k limits and charge about $150k/year on credit cards.

fuck amex. they're idiots.

I like my black amex... all about the perks

I love my amex, but you do have a point about the acception issues

credit debt.. yikes

if you can't buy it in cash.. well.. you know the rest.

but your the exception to my comment above :)

I like my amex.

The fee is $400 a year but I easily pay the fee with points. Then I have good points left over which I usually switch to marriot rewards.

So for free I get worlwide travel insurance, excellent payment protection, entry into airport lounges and few other benifits and a few weekends away in marriots each year.

Never pay any interest as its a charge card, I think the stated rates are so high simply because it is a chargecard and they don't want anyone with a balance.

I think the American Express Membership Rewards program is by far the best. I get 1% cash back, straight up. Some people choose to take their rewards and convert them into frequent flyer miles or different hotel program points or do online shopping. The best value in my opinion are the gift card options which I use quite regularly to shop with. With the way my membership reward points convert, I get 1% back and typically take that in Home Depot Gift cards or Babys R Us gift cards... and now they've even added Dell. Talk about useful. I mean really, who couldn't always use hundreds or thousands of dollars to spend at Home Depot? :)

I use American Express for all of my personal and corporate accounts, as often as possible. Absolutely the best and most competant customer service and purchase protection... important to point out to those of you that insist on paying "cash" or using a "debit" card. I would be careful to carry anything in my wallet that could drain my company's entire bank account.

And don't whine about the Centurion card unless you've had the pleasure of using it. For some it might be a status thing but it has excellent benefits. I actually DO use the concierge service, it's like having a 24 hour personal assistant. The travel conceirge service is convenient as well. I give them the criteria for my trips and they plan it all out and create my itinerary and when it's done I get a PDF that is both my itinerary and receipt. The travel agents are never in a rush and they work until you're happy. The personal conceige is great for everything from events to games, plays and researching restaraunts and booking those reservations.

Automatic Gold status at Continental, Delta and US Airways is very nice. My wife suprised me with a trip to Jamaica for my birthday and it was great to be upgraded every leg of the trip for free... and to fly past security in the first class line without having to pay for it.

With hotels, automatic HiltonHonors Gold status and PriorityClub Platinum status is also a nice benefit.

On top of everything else... there are certain companies like FedEx Kinkos, Dell, Mobil where every purchase that appears on my card gets a 1-5% instant rebate. All for doing nothing.

As a merchant that accepts American Express, Visa, Mastercard and Discover I'm never too pleased with the rate that I pay which is around 1% higher than the other cards cost. However, it's all about serving the clients interests and the reality is for some *strange* coincidence every hosting customer than I have that is 5k or more a month is actually paying with their Amex. Fortunately, American Express actually gives merchants a discount on high dollar settlements that equates to about .5%.

I just know that I enjoy using my American Express for all of those reasons and more. There's my 2 cents..

Cheers,

Brad

I HATE carrying around cash, fumbling with bills and sorting out pocket change. Swiping the card makes it alot easier

not so much cash.. unless your spending 2k more a day.. i dont see why a debit card is more then you need.

i have no credit debt.

some people run up so much credit.. then have to pay 20% at a min. payment..

dont make much sence to me.