Black cards gold cards schmuck cards....

[VanB]

I was reading about banks offering new Black charge cards to rival Amex's Centurion card. The Centurion card costs the holder $1,000 a year for the privilege.

Apart from a marketing gimmick to appeal to the snobs can anyone tell me what the point of this is?

 

[Cheyenne]

Nope. I use only free credit cards and I don't care what color they are.

 

[Merelan]

Why the hell would you pay to use a charge card????

 

[SINthysist]

Usually when you pay, they have a bennies package and better limits. Having said that. I don't pay. i don't maintain a monthly balance either. They hate that.

One good way to strike back at evil, corporate America. Pay your bills on time and in full...

 

[VanB]

I never carry a balance over, wouldn't pay for the privilege of a card (especially as they get a % of what you spend) andjust can't figure why the fuck anyone would spend $1,000 pa to use one. The bennies would have to be pretty spectacular to justafy that.

 

[SINthysist]

It's for those who want to charge for the next Rolls...

Tough times for everybody!

 

[teddybear4play]

[rant]

For some reason my CapitalOne card comes with all those little ticky-tacky, pain-in-the-ass hidden charges and shit that they make commercials saying they don't have.

Fuck them and their dumbass commercials. "What's in your wallet?" If you keep on charging me "processing fees," my foot'll be in your ass!

[/rant]

TB4p

 

[Monkeybone]

I think with some the limit is way up there so you could buy a car on the card and get all the miles or points that come with that.

 

[teddybear4play]

I just realized that if someone from CapitalOne read my post, they probably wouldn't be too frightened by someone with a cute teddy bear av threatening to kick their asses.

TB4p

 

[Bob Peale]

The black-colored Centurion Card offers customized personal service to help ease the busy and demanding lifestyles of cardmembers. It has been designed for individuals who travel frequently, entertain often and value single points of contact for service. The annual fee for the card is $1,000.

“We created the Centurion Card in response to customer research that identified a small but affluent group of cardmembers for whom individual attention and access to previously unavailable elite travel benefits was of great interest,” said James Bush, senior vice president of Consumer Marketing at American Express. “Many of our prospective cardmembers are already frequent travelers receiving elite benefits on one airline. The Centurion Card is the only product on the market that can grant them elite status on four airlines, and much more.”

The introduction of the Centurion Card is part of a broader American Express strategy to introduce a wider array of card products to specific market segments.

“Our company’s innovation includes the creation of the world’s first Travelers Cheque more than 100 years ago, and has continued with unique services for the Personal Card and the invention of the first Gold and Platinum Cards,” added Bush. “With the Centurion Card, we’ve again set the standard -- raising the bar in the premium card category.”

Centurion Card Benefits

The card provides customers with all the benefits and rewards they received with their Platinum Card, plus numerous additional travel, lifestyle and financial services benefits, including:

Elite Travel Benefits

Centurion members are eligible for upgrades and enrollment in the elite tiers of several airline frequent flier, hotel guest and car rental programs, without the rigorous mileage requirements usually needed to join. Examples include:

Upgrades to the Concorde at no additional cost with the purchase of a full-fare, first-class transatlantic ticket to or from London and any British Airways gateway in the United States.

Complimentary upgrades, dedicated check-in, priority boarding and mileage earning at an accelerated rate via complimentary enrollment in the Continental Airlinesâ OnePassâ Gold Elite Program, Delta Air Lines Gold MedallionÔ program, TWA Aviators Elite 1 program and US Airways Dividend Milesâ Preferred PlusSM.

Complimentary access to the airport clubs of Continental, Northwest and TWA airlines when flying those airlines.

Room upgrades, late checkout, complimentary use of fitness centers and other benefits through enrollment in Starwood Gold Preferred Guest program, Gold VIP membership in the Hilton HHonorsâ program, Diamond membership in the Hyatt Gold Passport program and membership in the Inter-Continetal Six Continents Club.

Confirmed room upgrades when available, at Ritz-Carlton and select Four Seasons properties around the world and more than 330 other fine hotels, resorts and spas.

Complimentary international cellular phones, which will be delivered directly to Centurion Cardmembers, who pay only the cost of the calls.


Personal Assistance

Each cardmember will be assigned a personal travel counselor to handle all travel needs, and their own concierge to help with anything from special occasion planning and selecting ideal gifts, to locating unusual items.
Retail Privileges

Special privileges will be extended to Centurion members at Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue, including personal shopper services, invitations to exclusive events, free consultation for restyling of precious jewelry (Neiman Marcus) and private shopping hours (Saks.)
Rewards

Fee-free enrollment in Membership Rewards PlusSM, the premium level of the Membership Rewardsâ program. This includes redemption of points for travel on any airline anywhere in the world, and for purchases charged on the American Express Card.

Fifty-percent Membership Rewards point bonus on all charges made with a Centurion Card at our Centurion partners. These partners include Delta Air Lines, Continental Airlines, TWA, British Airways, Hilton Hotels, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, and others.
Financial

Complimentary two-hour consultation with Provident Financial Management, a subsidiary of American Express Tax and Business Services, which specializes in planning for high-net-worth individuals, including industry leaders and celebrities.

A 25 percent reduction in the management fee for investments and a reduced minimum investment requirement at Portfolio Management Group, a division of American Express Asset Management Group at American Express Financial Advisors.
American Express is a diversified worldwide travel, financial and network services company founded in 1850. It is a world leader in charge and credit cards, Travelers Cheques, travel, financial planning, investment products, insurance and international banking.

****************************************************

It ain't for everybody...

 

[Cheyenne]

It ain't for everybody...

THAT'S the understatement of the day.

Anyone who will pay for a "full-fare, first-class transatlantic ticket to or from London and any British Airways gateway in the United States" has $1,000 for this card as pocket change.

I still wouldn't waste $,1000 by actually getting the card though.