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The Amex Gold Card is about to change. In this episode we’ll review the current details for this card, the changes we predict to see, and whether those changes are good or bad.
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Coffee Break: Rumored Amex Gold Card Changes: Good or Bad?
(01:05) – Current card details
Learn more about the Amex Gold Card here
(02:13) – What’s (allegedly) changing?
(04:50) – What might be good about these changes?
(07:51) – Is it still worth recommending?
(15:20) – Which card do we recommend instead for good rewards on grocery and dining?
Read more about the Capital One Savor One card here and the Citi Strata Premier here
(18:09) – But don’t necessarily go out and cancel the card after you hear this…
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Music Credit – Beach Walk by Unicorn Heads
If another bank introduced a no annual fee card that required hours of work for a $325 bonus, very few of us would bother. Amex credits feel a lot like that.
In general I’d agree, but if you have a great restaurant/grocery rewards card that you’re already putting heavy restaurant spend on then something like $50 from Resy twice a year is really automatic. Like I’ve already used resy six times in the last 6 months, it’s totally reasonable I’d use it at least twice a year. When the credits involve 0 behavior changes I’m ok with that.
That isn’t a lot of people though, I realize. But as a now non-churner I’m usually using Amex Gold and Samsung Pay with US Bank Reserve in person, the AT&T Access More card for online retail spend, and the Barclaycard Priceline Rewards grandfathered card for everything else. Generally carrying two credit cards with me around town is just fine.
Good point. If you liked the card before and spent a lot on Resy type restaurants then the change is a net positive. I’m biased as someone who didn’t much care for the Gold card ( and its monthly credits ) to begin with.
Yeah, I think it comes down to what you can get out of it without a lot of work. I spend enough brain power on the Amex Pt coupons (not to mention not throwing up while browsing the Saks site) so I don’t need another card that is a lot of work. But I spend enough on groceries that the gold card is (barely) worth the $250 fee over a 3x card. And I have a college kid who goes to Dunkin’ regularly so if I give her an AU card I will get the $7 credit without having to work for it. And I will probably stumble on a Resy credit here and there. It does help that the new coupons are in the food category so I don’t have to think about using a different card than usual to trigger them. Not like the Delta Pt ride share credit where I have to remember to use a different card. But I can imagine for a lot of people this card will no longer make sense, unless white gold is worth something to you…
Totally agree. I’ll have no problem using Resy/Dunkin without changing habbits much so its a net positive for me.. In general I don’t want to have to think about using 75% of the countless different credits to justify the fee, but there’s some mental clarity of “this is the restaurant/grocery card” that will probably still make the Amex gold feel a little less of a hastle for others (if they dont have the Citi Prestige).
Chad and Jimmy really hit the nail on the head. If a person is using the card for its intended purpose and not going out of one’s way to clip the coupons, then the card makes absolute sense. And, if you think about it, that philosophy might apply to any card.
My guess is that many want the 4x but must go out of their way to capture the credits. Which might create a.level of resentment. I’ll settle for 3x, no frustration, and one less card.
Agreed, if the credits are going to waste it takes a lot of spend to make the extra 1X worth it on a $325 annual fee card vs a $0 or $95 fee card.
Having run the gamut on Amex SUBs, my little world only includes keeper cards. And, given the rising breakage, my wallet is moving towards two Amex cards and no more.
No one discussing these rumors ever mentions the “white gold” card option. What is white gold? Is it prettier than rose gold?
Actual white gold is an alloy of gold that is pure silver in color. Platinum is a blond-ish silver.
Caroline, I know that podcasts are popular but PLEASE don’t ever get rid of the written blog. There are some of us who actually don’t like listening to podcasts…