Comments on: Converting My Blue AmEx to Blue Cash from American Express http://www.stopbuyingcrap.com/credit-related/converting-my-blue-amex-to-blue-cash-from-american-express/ Over Five Years of Personal Finance, Consumer Spending, Crazy Products and Boring Blog Posts. Good grief. Sun, 05 Sep 2010 15:25:14 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Chris http://www.stopbuyingcrap.com/credit-related/converting-my-blue-amex-to-blue-cash-from-american-express/comment-page-1/#comment-142612 Chris Mon, 06 Oct 2008 13:49:32 +0000 http://www.stopbuyingcrap.com/credit-related/converting-my-blue-amex-to-blue-cash-from-american-express/#comment-142612 Cap: I think you're right. Not so long ago they used to have Brooks Brothers gift cards. Probably others too. (Bums me out. I LOVE the Brooks Bros. No-Iron shirts! Kinda pricey, but totally worth it.) Cap: I think you’re right. Not so long ago they used to have Brooks Brothers gift cards. Probably others too. (Bums me out. I LOVE the Brooks Bros. No-Iron shirts! Kinda pricey, but totally worth it.)

]]> By: Zombie Money http://www.stopbuyingcrap.com/credit-related/converting-my-blue-amex-to-blue-cash-from-american-express/comment-page-1/#comment-142568 Zombie Money Sat, 04 Oct 2008 15:20:26 +0000 http://www.stopbuyingcrap.com/credit-related/converting-my-blue-amex-to-blue-cash-from-american-express/#comment-142568 I love reward credit cards :) I love reward credit cards :)

]]> By: Jesse Wojdylo http://www.stopbuyingcrap.com/credit-related/converting-my-blue-amex-to-blue-cash-from-american-express/comment-page-1/#comment-142512 Jesse Wojdylo Thu, 02 Oct 2008 19:52:52 +0000 http://www.stopbuyingcrap.com/credit-related/converting-my-blue-amex-to-blue-cash-from-american-express/#comment-142512 I actually applied for a Blue Card years ago just out of college and was denied. Is it worth it for me to apply again? My credit is MUCH better now! I actually applied for a Blue Card years ago just out of college and was denied. Is it worth it for me to apply again? My credit is MUCH better now!

]]> By: Eric http://www.stopbuyingcrap.com/credit-related/converting-my-blue-amex-to-blue-cash-from-american-express/comment-page-1/#comment-142506 Eric Thu, 02 Oct 2008 16:09:52 +0000 http://www.stopbuyingcrap.com/credit-related/converting-my-blue-amex-to-blue-cash-from-american-express/#comment-142506 Huh. I've had a blue cash card for 3 or 4 years now. Only used it twice. I actually got it because of a AMEX promotion for 25% off lifts tickets and lodging at Sugarloaf, USA. Since my driver's edge rebates are only 2% and start expiring after 3 years, maybe I should change my primary card. Huh.

I’ve had a blue cash card for 3 or 4 years now. Only used it twice.

I actually got it because of a AMEX promotion for 25% off lifts tickets and lodging at Sugarloaf, USA.

Since my driver’s edge rebates are only 2% and start expiring after 3 years, maybe I should change my primary card.

]]> By: K R SCHRADERBERG http://www.stopbuyingcrap.com/credit-related/converting-my-blue-amex-to-blue-cash-from-american-express/comment-page-1/#comment-142487 K R SCHRADERBERG Wed, 01 Oct 2008 16:37:20 +0000 http://www.stopbuyingcrap.com/credit-related/converting-my-blue-amex-to-blue-cash-from-american-express/#comment-142487 No minimum amout to receive 5% ...just a check once a year...see store for details..COSTCO Rocks! No minimum amout to receive 5% …just a check once a year…see store for details..COSTCO Rocks!

]]> By: K R SCHRADERBERG http://www.stopbuyingcrap.com/credit-related/converting-my-blue-amex-to-blue-cash-from-american-express/comment-page-1/#comment-142486 K R SCHRADERBERG Wed, 01 Oct 2008 16:32:15 +0000 http://www.stopbuyingcrap.com/credit-related/converting-my-blue-amex-to-blue-cash-from-american-express/#comment-142486 Who there...Costco still has %5 cash back on all gas purchases..few exceptions...tied in with AMEX of course...I switched just last month...it is a duel card that is my Costco and AMEX Who there…Costco still has %5 cash back on all gas purchases..few exceptions…tied in with AMEX of course…I switched just last month…it is a duel card that is my Costco and AMEX

]]> By: Cap http://www.stopbuyingcrap.com/credit-related/converting-my-blue-amex-to-blue-cash-from-american-express/comment-page-1/#comment-142471 Cap Wed, 01 Oct 2008 03:10:22 +0000 http://www.stopbuyingcrap.com/credit-related/converting-my-blue-amex-to-blue-cash-from-american-express/#comment-142471 Chris: I would have just transfer these points to my mileage accumulation, but turns out I'm in the Membership Reward "express" program. In order to transfer points, I'd have to be in the higher tier "gold/plus" or whatever Membership Rewards program. These are the ones you get w/ AmEx Green/Gold etc. cards I suppose. But yeah, gift cards are the only way to get the real 1% value of your points (otherwise they're like 0.5% or 0.75% in terms of points to dollars spent). I mentioned the Saks Fifth Avenue card because they're actually being sold near face value on eBay. Other gift cards, not so much. I could have sworn they had more selections before though... I like my 5 year old jeans just fine, so no thanks on Gap card. Although maybe I can get like 10-20 cards with my points and do some lame blog contest. Hmmmm.... Chris: I would have just transfer these points to my mileage accumulation, but turns out I’m in the Membership Reward “express” program. In order to transfer points, I’d have to be in the higher tier “gold/plus” or whatever Membership Rewards program. These are the ones you get w/ AmEx Green/Gold etc. cards I suppose.

But yeah, gift cards are the only way to get the real 1% value of your points (otherwise they’re like 0.5% or 0.75% in terms of points to dollars spent). I mentioned the Saks Fifth Avenue card because they’re actually being sold near face value on eBay. Other gift cards, not so much.

I could have sworn they had more selections before though…

I like my 5 year old jeans just fine, so no thanks on Gap card. Although maybe I can get like 10-20 cards with my points and do some lame blog contest. Hmmmm….

]]> By: Chris http://www.stopbuyingcrap.com/credit-related/converting-my-blue-amex-to-blue-cash-from-american-express/comment-page-1/#comment-142456 Chris Tue, 30 Sep 2008 20:02:56 +0000 http://www.stopbuyingcrap.com/credit-related/converting-my-blue-amex-to-blue-cash-from-american-express/#comment-142456 I was thinking of doing exactly that--switch from points to cash. I have over 100k Membership Rewards points that I transferred from my Amex Corporate Card when I left my last employer, plus all the points I earned since then. The points aren't as useful as a I thought. They can be converted to airline miles to get free frequent flyer travel (which is harder and harder to get), or you can shop by points (e.g., turn in 10,000 points for a blender or for a store gift card), or turn them in Amex gift cards--kinda like preloaded credit cards. In the end, the biggest bang for the buck, er, point is for the store gift cards, especially if you can sell them for close to face value on eBay. A $100 Gap gift card costs half as many points as a $100 Amex (use it anywhere) gift card. Or hey, just get a bunch of jeans and crap at the Gap! I was thinking of doing exactly that–switch from points to cash. I have over 100k Membership Rewards points that I transferred from my Amex Corporate Card when I left my last employer, plus all the points I earned since then.

The points aren’t as useful as a I thought. They can be converted to airline miles to get free frequent flyer travel (which is harder and harder to get), or you can shop by points (e.g., turn in 10,000 points for a blender or for a store gift card), or turn them in Amex gift cards–kinda like preloaded credit cards.

In the end, the biggest bang for the buck, er, point is for the store gift cards, especially if you can sell them for close to face value on eBay. A $100 Gap gift card costs half as many points as a $100 Amex (use it anywhere) gift card. Or hey, just get a bunch of jeans and crap at the Gap!

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