Too many benefits ?

[ashleyn]

How many of you suffer from 'benefit overload' ? I'm talking about the myriad of 'benefits' that come with credit cards, loyalty cards and so on. For example there is the Qantas restaurant bookings, Citibank free bottle of wine, Amex, too many to list, travel insurance, bonus on this and that. I'm finding it is all too much and I don't take advantage of most of them. Missed some points today because I used card X instead of card Y. I've just been through a fairly serious points gathering period so plan to flick a lot of cards and that will help. Do others have this problem ?

 

[Mr_Orange]

How many of you suffer from 'benefit overload' ? I'm talking about the myriad of 'benefits' that come with credit cards, loyalty cards and so on. For example there is the Qantas restaurant bookings, Citibank free bottle of wine, Amex, too many to list, travel insurance, bonus on this and that. I'm finding it is all too much and I don't take advantage of most of them. Missed some points today because I used card X instead of card Y. I've just been through a fairly serious points gathering period so plan to flick a lot of cards and that will help. Do others have this problem ?

In a word, 'yes'. I don't think I use even 25% of the benefits my credit cards offer. For instance, I have never once called the concierge service.

 

[defurax]

I never felt I had to take advantage of ALL the benefits. I'm sure having a wide array of benefits make sense for people with different needs. I don't need the AMEX concierge to do my groceries:mrgreen:

 

[kpc]

The only time I used the AMEX concierge service was to secure a booking at Quay as they told me they were fully booked when I rang....and this was 6 months out!! The AMEX concierge secured me a table while I waited for about 5 minutes on hold.

 

[Virgin Bart]

The only time I used the AMEX concierge service was to secure a booking at Quay as they told me they were fully booked when I rang....and this was 6 months out!! The AMEX concierge secured me a table while I waited for about 5 minutes on hold.

I wonder how they actually did this!

 

[AdMEL]

The only time I used the AMEX concierge service was to secure a booking at Quay as they told me they were fully booked when I rang....and this was 6 months out!! The AMEX concierge secured me a table while I waited for about 5 minutes on hold.

Good to know it has some benefits! Do you know who Amex use for their concierge? Is it in house or a third party? I wonder if the Westpac Black concierge is as useful?

 

[kpc]

This was with the AMEX platinum charge card....I think AMEX have an arrangement with Quay so that a couple of tables are kept for AMEX customers.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

At least its there for those with REAL real credit cards... the benefits of 1/1.5/2 points per $1 spent vs the pitiful earn rate of QCC or VGW.
QCC or the VGW cards masquarading as benefiting me cards, 0.5 points per $1 spent In Australia is so slow to make headway, amassing FF wise.

 

[JohnK]

Do vanilla credit cards come with benefits?

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Is it ME bank that comes with a purplelish coloured credit card?
Edit: nope, its Beyond Bank that has a purple coloured card.
BankWest vanilla yellowish colour?
Bit off, ciderish.
Ooh, never knew that there is indeed a Vanilla Mastercard Gift Card.
Apologies.
Edit: duex, aye, but the Vanilla is not available in Australia, there is a reward system to it.
https://www.vanillamastercard.com/home.html?locale=en_US&product=rewardcard&csrfToken=

 

[Mr_Orange]

Is it ME bank that comes with a purplelish coloured credit card?
Edit: nope, its Beyond Bank that has a purple coloured card.
BankWest vanilla yellowish colour?
Bit off, ciderish.
Ooh, never knew that there is indeed a Vanilla Mastercard Gift Card.
Apologies.
Edit: duex, aye, but the Vanilla is not available in Australia, there is a reward system to it.
https://www.vanillamastercard.com/home.html?locale=en_US&product=rewardcard&csrfToken=

Late at night AP..... Just in from the pub maybe?? .

 

[Spongbob]

Is it ME bank that comes with a purplelish coloured credit card?
Edit: nope, its Beyond Bank that has a purple coloured card.
BankWest vanilla yellowish colour?
Bit off, ciderish.
Ooh, never knew that there is indeed a Vanilla Mastercard Gift Card.
Apologies.
Edit: duex, aye, but the Vanilla is not available in Australia, there is a reward system to it.
https://www.vanillamastercard.com/home.html?locale=en_US&product=rewardcard&csrfToken=

AP, I think the "vanilla" comment refers to standard credit or charge cards rather than those with more costly annual fees (and the accompanying benefits), and not the colour of the card itself.

 

[yohy?!]

there is a lot of 'window dressing' with credit card benefits (the world elite mastercards are full of 'it') - I do however try to drill down into things that will materially lead to monetary benefits such as insurances, points earning and bonus offers like amex statement credits

 

[MarkD]

I only use one cc, which is repaid in full each month and it rewards me well. I do have a fly buys and EDR card in my wallet as well, no weight to carry. I was once in the situation of overload, having 8 cards, which was madness

 

[clazman]

Everything you buy is overloaded with stuff that you will never use. Marketers say it is "value add", I say it is more adding in the cough no one wants to buy.

Foxtel - how many of you watch every channel?
Mobile phones - use all the functionality?

 

[JohnK]

I was once in the situation of overload, having 8 cards, which was madness

I have.... let's just say I have a few more than that.... total madness.