Car purchase on AMEX

[Alanslegal]

A 3% surcharge on $96,333 = cost $2,890 approx + taxes $1,100 = Total $3,990

How much is paid J flt on SQ? Aprox $9,200 is it not?

I'll cop 3% anytime.

I'll avoid the surcharge and wait for the next round of US DM mileage promo's, at 100% bonus, I can get that AUS-EUR J return and have enough spare change to by three bottles of Grange

 

[trblvb]

Buying closer to the end of month is also usually good!

Yes end of the month (according to sales rep.) played a big part in securing the deal

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Such an interesting range of responses - all informative and helpful - but please guys never lose sight of the fact that each individual who enters the great FF pts accumulation challenge do so with differing needs, wants and desires.

No 2 people will make the same decision on how, why, where and at what cost they will choose to accrue pts.

Earlier this year I personally indeed did purchase a new car and paid a surcharge of 3% to use AMEX. Each year I need to accumulate sufficient FF pts to fund 10 x ret J savers on SQ to China (or F if I can) / at least 1 return J flt to USA and 2 x ret J savers MEL-EUR for vacation.

I have to work the coughs off my CCs to do that - jeez I hate paying real hard $$s to buy flts. It's all an averaging game - unfortunately I do not have the huge ATO pmts some have to accumulate these funds - but somehow I get there - occasionally I need to pay 3% surcharge - and as noted earlier this is tax deductible - but so be it.

Again there is no right or wrong in this - imagine if we all liked the same girl - wouldn't that cause a problem.

 

[Ric]

I work for a motor dealer in Sydney that is a Qantas partner. You get 1 point for every $2 spent. We've issued 500,000+ points for people who have purchased a Rolls-Royce Phantom! Amex purchases are charged at 3%.

Trivett Motors?

 

[cove]

Our personal circumstances can be so different and that is why responses vary so much.
We currently have QF,SQ and VA points so I have less need to chase extra points that may be available but at what I perceive as a high cost.
Using points that cost 2 cents or more can still save a lot if you are chasing the best redemptions.

 

[sumthinfornuthin]

The most I consider paying as a surcharge is 1 % which provides 100,00 points got a $ 1,000, if Amex then maybe 1.5 % which still gives the earn rate, above that I would rather haggle for a cash discount which in effect still gives a bonus. The worst they can say is NO and most businesses don't as they want the deal too.

 

[airbridge]

Trivett Motors?

Yes it is.

 

[burmans]

Another potential consideration is that if the vehicle is being purchased by a business then the 3% (or whatever) surcharge on the vehicle purchase will most likely be tax deductible.

If the purchase was made using a card that accrues FF points in a personal name then it's a case where an additional tax deductible business expense (the surcharge) accrues personal benefits (the flight) without those benefits being taxed as personal income. This means that the 'cost' of the FF points should be discounted by the person's marginal tax rate to get a true value comparison with the other ways of obtaining FF points.

Yes, a good point. That does bring value to closer to what I would consider.

 

[burmans]

I'll avoid the surcharge and wait for the next round of US DM mileage promo's, at 100% bonus, I can get that AUS-EUR J return and have enough spare change to by three bottles of Grange

US DM mileage promos are pretty much my benchmark. Sometimes I can get cheaper and of course jump on those (Tax is the best as it's a reasonably big earner), but even US DM I try and use only for top ups. But yes, if tax deductable then even a 3% surcharge might creep in. Having said that I'm trying to keep my average cost closer to (or under) 1 cent per mile!

 

[casanovawa]

I guess the thing is, if people put out their thoughts on whether its a good deal or not, the person posting might see something they haven't thought of which might change their view... Just as long as its done in a helpful, thoughtful manner...

I myself would be loathe to pay a 3% surcharge on Amex (although at 1.5pts/$1 it comes down to less than that) simply becoz my redemption patterns mean i value my points at more around the 1 cent mark or slightly above, but yes everyone is different... For J travel US DM redemptions are going to be my benchmark and probably pretty much the only way i will fly unless i can accumulate 280,000 QFF points for a OW J award, but that is going to take some time... But then none of my trips are tax deductible so that doesn't get factored into my equations at the moment anyway...

But yes everyone is different...

 

[burmans]

i value my points at more around the 1 cent mark or slightly above, but yes everyone is different.

Agree with your post except that I for one think that if you are only getting getting 1 cent in value per point you aren't getting enough value out of your points! If I can only get this level in most cases I'd be paying cash rather than using my points.

 

[deft]

Did anyone buy a Subaru BRZ online without an AMEX surcharge?

 

[mike47]

dont know about Qantas points but plat amex issued card is:-
[h=4]Your new points earn structure[/h]

You'll Now Earn...	At...[SUP]1[/SUP]	When You Spend...
3 points	Tens of thousands of restaurants in Australia.	$1
2 points	Airlines, accommodation, major cruise and tour operators paid directly or through travel agencies Spend in foreign currency when overseas and online	$1
1 point	Everywhere else, excluding the providers below	$1
0.5 points	Utilities which are gas, water and electricity providers. Insurance (except insurances offered by American Express) Telecommunications providers which includes goods and services purchased from phone, mobile and internet service providers. Government bodies including the Australian Taxation Office, Australia Post, federal/state and local government bodies.	$1

To search for businesses, restaurants and major cruise and tour operators where additional points can be earned, visit americanexpress.com.au/earnrate
And because you’re earning points faster, we’ve changed your earn rate threshold from $100,000 to a threshold of 150,000 points per year of membership, after which your earn rate will revert to 1 point per $1 spent (except for spend at merchants where you earn 0.5 points per $1 spent). Points earned on spend in your current year of membership will go towards your new 150,000 points threshold.

 

[get me outta here]

This was interesting thread that I'd like to resurrect to get some recent stories being in the market for a new car preferably on a cc. I reckon about 25K's worth.

Anyone got any recent advice plse? I'm happy to bargain hard and go maybe to SYD if necessary ... possible a Ford Focus as they seem to get good (albeit a bit boring car reviews).

Is it likely to be cheaper to buy in an 'end of f/y' deal, or at the end of the calender year when the plates become a year older. Not much experience buying new cars.

It may need to be on WQEDR card.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

FWIW - last week of month / last week of quarter / last week of financial year - most dealerships have targets to meet - this is generally when best deals can be done.

Visit dealership or call – tell them one chance and one chance only – drive away price including CC fee – you will need to be forceful and reiterate it’s once and once only chance - once you have those – select most suitable 2 then negotiate again – but at all times stress price MUST include CC fee.

Not that difficult – you just need to be direct and don’t let them sidetrack you. Best of luck.

 

[lovestotravel]

My trick is to leave a business card and walk away if needed.

You will generally get a call back if they want the sale

 

[paultiffen]

Why not buy Westfield XS gift cards in this case and pay 0.5% effectively.

 

[get me outta here]

Sorry, I don't know anything about Westfield gift cards, but what has it to do w' Westfield, or should I just go off and find out!?

 

[paultiffen]

I just looked at the title and didn't read the thread. I'm suggesting buying EFTPOS cards to use to buy a car instead of paying directly on CC as retailers generally don't charge a surcharge for EFTPOS

 

[Masonic Phantom]

I just looked at the title and didn't read the thread. I'm suggesting buying EFTPOS cards to use to buy a car instead of paying directly on CC as retailers generally don't charge a surcharge for EFTPOS

Not sure, BUT I think the idea of using the C.C. is to get POINTS... but then again I could be wrong??

M.P.