Comments on: Why I Love My American Express Blue Cash Card – Amex Blue Cash Review http://moneysmartlife.com/why-i-love-my-american-express-blue-cash-card/ Money Tips for a Better Life Sat, 21 Nov 2009 07:43:50 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Sean http://moneysmartlife.com/why-i-love-my-american-express-blue-cash-card/comment-page-1/#comment-163683 Sean Mon, 12 Oct 2009 04:02:42 +0000 http://www.moneysmartlife.com/why-i-love-my-american-express-blue-cash-card/#comment-163683 I have an AMEX Blue Cash card. I've found that it's terrible at categorizing purchases. Less than half of my purchases are associated with the correct categories to get my 5% (and I'm well over the $6500 cutoff to get that). I've contacted their support, and the first couple of times they corrected it. However, they're now blaming the merchants for not categorizing the purchases correctly. I don't buy that though. All of my other cards that offered bonuses in the same categories have correctly applied those bonuses, even my Costco Truearnings card, which is also an AMEX, when I've used it at the same gas stations (that one doesn't offer bonus for grocery or drug stores). At any rate, I'm very frustrated at this point and am probably going to look for a different card to use that will actually categorize my purchases correctly so that I can get the Cash Back that is promised. I have an AMEX Blue Cash card. I’ve found that it’s terrible at categorizing purchases. Less than half of my purchases are associated with the correct categories to get my 5% (and I’m well over the $6500 cutoff to get that). I’ve contacted their support, and the first couple of times they corrected it. However, they’re now blaming the merchants for not categorizing the purchases correctly. I don’t buy that though. All of my other cards that offered bonuses in the same categories have correctly applied those bonuses, even my Costco Truearnings card, which is also an AMEX, when I’ve used it at the same gas stations (that one doesn’t offer bonus for grocery or drug stores).

At any rate, I’m very frustrated at this point and am probably going to look for a different card to use that will actually categorize my purchases correctly so that I can get the Cash Back that is promised.

]]> By: Brad http://moneysmartlife.com/why-i-love-my-american-express-blue-cash-card/comment-page-1/#comment-148556 Brad Sun, 10 May 2009 18:30:05 +0000 http://www.moneysmartlife.com/why-i-love-my-american-express-blue-cash-card/#comment-148556 I agree with Keith from the 4-26 post. I've had the Blue Cash card now for four years. We (family of two plus two dogs) charge everything from a $1 can of soda to $2500 in new appliances. If a favorite place doesn't take AMEX, we let them know that we'd prefer to shop there, but don't because they don't take AMEX. Several places like Trader Joes have switched to accepting AMEX in just the last few years because of the growing number of customers that they previously lost because of not accepting AMEX. Our combined gross income is about 95k a year, and our total charges for the year range around 27k. We usually hit the $6500 mark in the third month and from then on earn 5% on groceries and gas. Last year we earned just shy of $800 back, the year before about $650, and the first year about $450. We always pay the full balance due every month, and have never paid interest. I think AMEX actually wants to get rid of us as a customer because they frequently try to get me to upgrade to their Gold card with a yearly fee. I don't see a benefit to switching to paying up front to earn points for merchandise, over having $800 knocked off a bill once a year with no up-front cost. We do the bulk of our grocery and gas purchases at non-warehouse or discount retailers, which is important to remember. Once you hit the $6500 mark, you save more overall by filling up your gas tank for $2.05 at a stand-alone gas station versus $1.99 at Costco, Meijer, or another discount store. The best way to figure out what qualifies as a discount store or not, is if the store sells much more than gas or groceries. A customer service rep. said he likes to tell customers "If the store also sells shoes, then they're classified as a discount store." Purchases at stand-alone drugstores like CVS also qualify for the 5% cash back, but we've found that prices at these stores are generally much higher than say at Target (discount store) to justify shopping there. For toiletries and household goods you save more overall with the significantly lower prices at Target, plus the lower 1.5% cash back (after $6500) that the card pays. The deal is so good, I hope they don't decide to cancel it one day. I think AMEX must still make a profit of all the transaction fees. I agree with Keith from the 4-26 post. I’ve had the Blue Cash card now for four years. We (family of two plus two dogs) charge everything from a $1 can of soda to $2500 in new appliances. If a favorite place doesn’t take AMEX, we let them know that we’d prefer to shop there, but don’t because they don’t take AMEX. Several places like Trader Joes have switched to accepting AMEX in just the last few years because of the growing number of customers that they previously lost because of not accepting AMEX. Our combined gross income is about 95k a year, and our total charges for the year range around 27k. We usually hit the $6500 mark in the third month and from then on earn 5% on groceries and gas. Last year we earned just shy of $800 back, the year before about $650, and the first year about $450. We always pay the full balance due every month, and have never paid interest. I think AMEX actually wants to get rid of us as a customer because they frequently try to get me to upgrade to their Gold card with a yearly fee. I don’t see a benefit to switching to paying up front to earn points for merchandise, over having $800 knocked off a bill once a year with no up-front cost. We do the bulk of our grocery and gas purchases at non-warehouse or discount retailers, which is important to remember. Once you hit the $6500 mark, you save more overall by filling up your gas tank for $2.05 at a stand-alone gas station versus $1.99 at Costco, Meijer, or another discount store. The best way to figure out what qualifies as a discount store or not, is if the store sells much more than gas or groceries. A customer service rep. said he likes to tell customers “If the store also sells shoes, then they’re classified as a discount store.” Purchases at stand-alone drugstores like CVS also qualify for the 5% cash back, but we’ve found that prices at these stores are generally much higher than say at Target (discount store) to justify shopping there. For toiletries and household goods you save more overall with the significantly lower prices at Target, plus the lower 1.5% cash back (after $6500) that the card pays. The deal is so good, I hope they don’t decide to cancel it one day. I think AMEX must still make a profit of all the transaction fees.

]]> By: keith http://moneysmartlife.com/why-i-love-my-american-express-blue-cash-card/comment-page-1/#comment-147470 keith Mon, 27 Apr 2009 01:46:08 +0000 http://www.moneysmartlife.com/why-i-love-my-american-express-blue-cash-card/#comment-147470 I'm a huge fan of the AMEX Blue Cash Card. If you're disciplined about paying off your credit card bill every month then there's no better card out there. Last year I earned almost 750 dollars back, paid nothing in membership fee or interest costs. As an added bonus the AMEX web site is top of the line and their customer service is first rate. I’m a huge fan of the AMEX Blue Cash Card. If you’re disciplined about paying off your credit card bill every month then there’s no better card out there. Last year I earned almost 750 dollars back, paid nothing in membership fee or interest costs. As an added bonus the AMEX web site is top of the line and their customer service is first rate.

]]> By: Credit Card Identity Theft In Action (Maybe) | Money Smart Life http://moneysmartlife.com/why-i-love-my-american-express-blue-cash-card/comment-page-1/#comment-138209 Credit Card Identity Theft In Action (Maybe) | Money Smart Life Thu, 05 Mar 2009 13:42:18 +0000 http://www.moneysmartlife.com/why-i-love-my-american-express-blue-cash-card/#comment-138209 [...] Luckily, I only use this card as one of my backups when a merchant doesn’t accept my American Express Blue Cash card so I don’t have any recurring payments that I need to [...] [...] Luckily, I only use this card as one of my backups when a merchant doesn’t accept my American Express Blue Cash card so I don’t have any recurring payments that I need to [...]

]]> By: American Express Business Gold Rewards Card - First Bill | Money Smart Life http://moneysmartlife.com/why-i-love-my-american-express-blue-cash-card/comment-page-1/#comment-120415 American Express Business Gold Rewards Card - First Bill | Money Smart Life Fri, 14 Nov 2008 23:44:13 +0000 http://www.moneysmartlife.com/why-i-love-my-american-express-blue-cash-card/#comment-120415 [...] and I gave it some thought since I already have an account on the American Express web site for my Blue Cash credit card. However, I don’t intend to keep this card long-term so I don’t want to [...] [...] and I gave it some thought since I already have an account on the American Express web site for my Blue Cash credit card. However, I don’t intend to keep this card long-term so I don’t want to [...]

]]> By: Chase Freedom Unlimited Credit Card - New Cashback Credit Card Option | Money Smart Life http://moneysmartlife.com/why-i-love-my-american-express-blue-cash-card/comment-page-1/#comment-118229 Chase Freedom Unlimited Credit Card - New Cashback Credit Card Option | Money Smart Life Tue, 04 Nov 2008 15:17:03 +0000 http://www.moneysmartlife.com/why-i-love-my-american-express-blue-cash-card/#comment-118229 [...] changes the rewards to 3% cash rewards on gas, groceries and fast food purchases, similar to the American Express Blue Cash card categories of gas, groceries, and [...] [...] changes the rewards to 3% cash rewards on gas, groceries and fast food purchases, similar to the American Express Blue Cash card categories of gas, groceries, and [...]

]]> By: Worst Rewards Credit Cards - What’s Hidden in the Fine Print | Money Smart Life http://moneysmartlife.com/why-i-love-my-american-express-blue-cash-card/comment-page-1/#comment-117937 Worst Rewards Credit Cards - What’s Hidden in the Fine Print | Money Smart Life Mon, 03 Nov 2008 12:55:38 +0000 http://www.moneysmartlife.com/why-i-love-my-american-express-blue-cash-card/#comment-117937 [...] you might want to look into Blue Cash from American Express where you can earn up to 5% cash [...] [...] you might want to look into Blue Cash from American Express where you can earn up to 5% cash [...]

]]> By: American Express Blue Cash Card Can Help You Move | Money Smart Life http://moneysmartlife.com/why-i-love-my-american-express-blue-cash-card/comment-page-1/#comment-117716 American Express Blue Cash Card Can Help You Move | Money Smart Life Sun, 02 Nov 2008 12:48:22 +0000 http://www.moneysmartlife.com/why-i-love-my-american-express-blue-cash-card/#comment-117716 [...] American Express blue cash card is one of the best credit cards to use for your moving expenses because of it’s cash [...] [...] American Express blue cash card is one of the best credit cards to use for your moving expenses because of it’s cash [...]

]]> By: Chase Freedom Card vs Chase Cash Plus Rewards | Money Smart Life http://moneysmartlife.com/why-i-love-my-american-express-blue-cash-card/comment-page-1/#comment-115273 Chase Freedom Card vs Chase Cash Plus Rewards | Money Smart Life Fri, 24 Oct 2008 12:49:58 +0000 http://www.moneysmartlife.com/why-i-love-my-american-express-blue-cash-card/#comment-115273 [...] American Express Blue Cash card may be the best option for anyone that currently has a Chase Cash Plus Rewards card. Up until [...] [...] American Express Blue Cash card may be the best option for anyone that currently has a Chase Cash Plus Rewards card. Up until [...]

]]> By: Chase Freedom Card Credit Card Review | Credit Card Compare http://moneysmartlife.com/why-i-love-my-american-express-blue-cash-card/comment-page-1/#comment-111128 Chase Freedom Card Credit Card Review | Credit Card Compare Sun, 05 Oct 2008 23:39:59 +0000 http://www.moneysmartlife.com/why-i-love-my-american-express-blue-cash-card/#comment-111128 [...] categories of expenses that you spend the most money in.  Other top cash back cards, like Blue Cash from American Express, always offer their higher cash rebates on the same types of purchases: gas stations, supermarkets, [...] [...] categories of expenses that you spend the most money in.  Other top cash back cards, like Blue Cash from American Express, always offer their higher cash rebates on the same types of purchases: gas stations, supermarkets, [...]

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