what's the new platinum card?

[rhaig 0]

The other night at dinner I saw 2 guys arguing over the check with their amex platinum cards. I used to have a plat card. Back when having one meant something I had one. Now, they're everywhere (cancelled mine as part of my debt payoff plan).

I thought to myself... "what's the next platinum card". The answer (I thought) was obvious.

what do you think?

--
Rob

[quade 3]

It goes by various names, one actually is "The Black Card".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centurion_Card

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[nanook 1]

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I used to have a plat card.

Was it American Express? they were the ones that created the concept, i believe. I think they still hold the same standards required to hold that card, whereas other companies give it out as a false status.

There's the Centurian card as said, but the standards are stricter.

_____________________________

"The trouble with quotes on the internet is that you can never know if they are genuine" - Abraham Lincoln

[kelpdiver 2]

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I used to have a plat card.

Was it American Express? they were the ones that created the concept, i believe. I think they still hold the same standards required to hold that card, whereas other companies give it out as a false status.

There's the Centurian card as said, but the standards are stricter.

The standard was certainly not very high for Visa/Mastercard. I jumped past Platinum to Titanium when I was still in college.

Visa Signature is now the new equlivant - still not particularly restrictive. And they have their own black card.

[rhaig 0]

yeah. it was an amex. They started mailing them out to everyone it seemed like.


I think the new status symbol is going to be cash. (or maybe it always was)

--
Rob

[nanook 1]

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I think the new status symbol is going to be cash.

It's only a status symbol in the 'hood/barrio/trailor.
Status symbols have always meant to show how much their expendable income can buy due to the fact that their assets give them enough return or credit. You can't flash more than $10,000, which is definitely a lot less than most "status symbol" credit limits or too small a difference between luxury autos and lower end models (as another example).

Some credit cards/charge cards are still status symbols. In this economic downturn, it is probably a higher status since more people can't make the monthly payoffs to thier charge cards.

_____________________________

"The trouble with quotes on the internet is that you can never know if they are genuine" - Abraham Lincoln

[rhaig 0]

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it is probably a higher status since more people can't make the monthly payoffs to thier charge cards.

and that right there is part of what got us into this mess.
"look at me! I have lots of credit!" likely followed by the thought "if I pay the mortgage off a cash advance from card x, and pay the cash advance from card Y's transfer, I think I can make the benz payment."

--
Rob

[SkyDekker 1,147]

The Black Card is really not that exclusive anymore and no longer by invitation only. You just need the cash to be able to keep the spending limits going.

The Coutts purple card is much more exclusive in my opinion, but not as cool to whip out in a night club in LA, cause nobody would recognize it.

[kelpdiver 2]

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it is probably a higher status since more people can't make the monthly payoffs to thier charge cards.

and that right there is part of what got us into this mess.
"look at me! I have lots of credit!" likely followed by the thought "if I pay the mortgage off a cash advance from card x, and pay the cash advance from card Y's transfer, I think I can make the benz payment."

I don't think it helps that we have a credit scoring model that punishes you for using more than 1/3rd the balance on a given card, or more than 10% of your overall limits. Even for those of us that pay in full every month, spending 1-3000/month requires 2 cards with 15k limits. This sets people up with a lot more credit than they need, or probably should have.

[quade 3]

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The Black Card is really not that exclusive anymore and no longer by invitation only. You just need the cash to be able to keep the spending limits going.

I dunno if a lot of folks have the $5,000 initiation fee, $2,500 membership fee and spend $250,000 per year on a regular basis via a single CREDIT CARD, but to me that sounds pretty fuckin' exclusive.

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The Coutts purple card is much more exclusive in my opinion, but not as cool to whip out in a night club in LA, cause nobody would recognize it.

Uh . . .

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[SkyDekker 1,147]

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I dunno if a lot of folks have the $5,000 initiation fee, $2,500 membership fee and spend $250,000 per year on a regular basis via a single CREDIT CARD, but to me that sounds pretty fuckin' exclusive.

If you read properly, you would have noticed that i said it is not that exclusive anymore, since it no longer is by invitation only. If you match those spending patterns on a current Amex you can just ask for one.

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Uh . . .

Hard to respond to a "grunt", maybe if you could formulate a question I can clarify it for you.

[nanook 1]

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it is probably a higher status since more people can't make the monthly payoffs to thier charge cards.

and that right there is part of what got us into this mess.
"look at me! I have lots of credit!" likely followed by the thought "if I pay the mortgage off a cash advance from card x, and pay the cash advance from card Y's transfer, I think I can make the benz payment."

A very true statement.
though, I think that now after the downturn, those that still whip out the cards are either exceedingly stupid or legitimately can support those charges.

_____________________________

"The trouble with quotes on the internet is that you can never know if they are genuine" - Abraham Lincoln

[SkyDekker 1,147]

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though, I think that now after the downturn, those that still whip out the cards are either exceedingly stupid or legitimately can support those charges.

I pay everything by credit card and have several cards with what most would consider very high limits. I never carry a balance and haven't paid interest in years.

I prefer paying by credit card for the protection it offers with regard to fraud. And, I generally only have cards with some type of rebate or points associated with it, so why not charge absolutely everything I can to them?

[pirana 0]

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The other night at dinner I saw 2 guys arguing over the check with their amex platinum cards. I used to have a plat card. Back when having one meant something I had one. Now, they're everywhere (cancelled mine as part of my debt payoff plan).

I thought to myself... "what's the next platinum card". The answer (I thought) was obvious.

what do you think?

It's all just marketing BS for thosae that like to put on for others. Gold card, platinum card, clear card, black card. It's the constant chase for superficial cool. The target keeps shifting, by design, so that (in the approximate words of The Onion), you have to get the next really cool piece of fucking shit so everybody doesn't think you are a fucking toothless hillbilly living in a fucking cardboard shack.

" . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

[pirana 0]

Interesting poll results. Possible indicator of heavy X class representation.
The tool of choice for the truly unpretentious is simply cash. They do not give a shit about airline miles, bonus points, or that end of the year report that tells you where you spent every last fucking dime.
The uppers of course use none of the above. They have people that handle that kind of trivial nonsense for them so they can focus on sex orgies and their Illuminati membership.

" . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

[nanook 1]

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though, I think that now after the downturn, those that still whip out the cards are either exceedingly stupid or legitimately can support those charges.

I pay everything by credit card and have several cards with what most would consider very high limits. I never carry a balance and haven't paid interest in years.

I prefer paying by credit card for the protection it offers with regard to fraud. And, I generally only have cards with some type of rebate or points associated with it, so why not charge absolutely everything I can to them?

Actually, I put you in the "can legitimately support those charges" category.
What I meant to say is: in this time, it's definitely not smart to live outside one's means. Also, there is a more easily defined line between responsible and irresponsible use today.

_____________________________

"The trouble with quotes on the internet is that you can never know if they are genuine" - Abraham Lincoln

[Krip 2]

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The other night at dinner I saw 2 guys arguing over the check with their amex platinum cards. I used to have a plat card. Back when having one meant something I had one. Now, they're everywhere (cancelled mine as part of my debt payoff plan).

I thought to myself... "what's the next platinum card". The answer (I thought) was obvious.

what do you think?

It's all just marketing BS for thosae that like to put on for others. Gold card, platinum card, clear card, black card. It's the constant chase for superficial cool. The target keeps shifting, by design, so that (in the approximate words of The Onion), you have to get the next really cool piece of fucking shit so everybody doesn't think you are a fucking toothless hillbilly living in a fucking cardboard shack.

Damn I thought my weekly payday loan was a status symbol.

Now i got to get some sissy colored credit card to show how some very shallow people how I want to be.

BTW cash is very dirty. Just ask some one who works in a bank how many times they wash their hands every hr.

One Jump Wonder

[rhaig 0]

buddy of mine got booted from a jury in a drug case once. they found "trace amounts" of coke in a guys car. My buddy asked the judge if he had a $20 in his wallet that wasn't new. (this was 1992) He suggested to the judge that any 20 dollar bill in circulation in the late 80's probably had "trace amounts" of coke on it.

so yes... money is very dirty.

--
Rob

[Shotgun 1]

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I used to have a plat card. Back when having one meant something I had one.

I guess I have been oblivious to the fact that any particular credit card meant anything. So, what did the platinum card mean when you had one?

[Shotgun 1]

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The tool of choice for the truly unpretentious is simply cash.

?

I use my credit card for a lot of things, because it is more convenient than using cash. It has absolutely nothing to do with being pretentious.

[Krip 2]

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buddy of mine got booted from a jury in a drug case once. they found "trace amounts" of coke in a guys car. My buddy asked the judge if he had a $20 in his wallet that wasn't new. (this was 1992) He suggested to the judge that any 20 dollar bill in circulation in the late 80's probably had "trace amounts" of coke on it.

so yes... money is very dirty.

I think this may be still true today for all demoninations of cash

The banks use counting machine's so there's cross contamination

We recently got a couple of bricks of new $2 bills and the ass wipe teller insisted on running the NEW, CLEAN, $2's thru the counting machine.

"Sorry sir its bank policy to insure that your not short changed"

The previous teller didn't count the bills and only touched the bundles on the wrappers.

Gotta find a new source for clean, virgin, DNA free money.

To get back on topic New uncirculated money is a status symbol to some folks.

One Jump Wonder

[airtwardo 6]

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buddy of mine got booted from a jury in a drug case once. they found "trace amounts" of coke in a guys car. My buddy asked the judge if he had a $20 in his wallet that wasn't new. (this was 1992) He suggested to the judge that any 20 dollar bill in circulation in the late 80's probably had "trace amounts" of coke on it.

so yes... money is very dirty.

I think this may be still true today for all demoninations of cash

The banks use counting machine's so there's cross contamination

We recently got a couple of bricks of new $2 bills and the ass wipe teller insisted on running the NEW, CLEAN, $2's thru the counting machine.

"Sorry sir its bank policy to insure that your not short changed"

The previous teller didn't count the bills and only touched the bundles on the wrappers.

Gotta find a new source for clean, virgin, DNA free money.

To get back on topic New uncirculated money is a status symbol to some folks.

Wanna talk 'dirty money'...?

The manager of a strip club I know, counts the evening's take with rubber gloves on!

And as far as thinking any color credit card shows 'status', some of the richest people I know use whatever plain Jane card the bank they keep their $$$ in offers.

The only reason we have a platinum card is the travel benefits it offers, it gets you into most any 'executive lounge' at airports around the world.

Comfortable couches, free snacks & drinks are a god-send during a 4-5 hour layover, and if ya need a room anywhere in the world call AE travel...they'll make the reservation and give directions within minutes of the call.

'Status' isn't measured with plastic these days.

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[pirana 0]

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Now i got to get some sissy colored credit card to show how some very shallow people how I want to be.

BTW cash is very dirty. Just ask some one who works in a bank how many times they wash their hands every hr.

I'll bet I can out-sissy you. Mine's pnk, with kittens, and is scented.

" . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley