^. Exactly. We fly first class 5-10 times a year all over the country (2-4 of us). We spend about $20-$40 per ticket each time and that's just ONE of our cards. As far as taking credit cards, we're not retarded and realize that consumers spend 15-50% MORE with a card than with cash. I don't like paying the fees but will gladly accept them over the loss of business.

4/3/2011 7:06:46 PM

^^ You could even factor those rewards in as the cost of doing business.

(negative cost?)

[Edited on April 3, 2011 at 7:07 PM. Reason : ]

4/3/2011 7:06:53 PM

Brilliant. You guys play right into their trap.

That's what they want you to do. So they and the government can track everything you do.


The world is going to end because you guys can't think 1 move ahead of the game.

4/3/2011 7:25:26 PM

lol

4/3/2011 7:29:00 PM

^^ your stupidity is so beyond anything that I can imagine that I can't tell if you're trolling right now. You are, right? Please tell me that you're really not THAT far gone...

If you're serious then shit, I guess the government can have fun figuring out which employee is where and buying what. PS, I hear black helicopters coming....

[Edited on April 3, 2011 at 7:30 PM. Reason : .]

4/3/2011 7:29:37 PM

Freedom is what separates us and the rest of the world.

The fact that you are unaware of the how many freedoms you DON'T have anymore is stupidity.



If you want everyone to obey the speed limit, all the have to do it put a sensor in people's cars to externally control people's speed. Do you know why they don't do it?

Would you be mad if the government searched your house....daily? You don't have anything illegal in your house, so why worry about it?

Would you like if someone listened to your phone calls? You don't have to worry about it if you're not saying anything you're not supposed to.

Would you like it if the government tracked your every move and controlled what you saw on the internet? Why worry, you're not doing anything you're not supposed to.


Don't respond to this post, because you're lying if you say yes to any of these.

[Edited on April 3, 2011 at 7:52 PM. Reason : .]

4/3/2011 7:42:42 PM

So we're going from credit cards being evil because of the credit card companies to credit cards being evil because the government is tracking everything that we do? Can't you just pick an excuse or crazy ass theory and stick with it?

Seriously man, there's been MANY studies done that show how much more consumers spend when they have credit available to them. It far far far outweighs the charges that we have to pay. We all bitch a bit because we don't like to give up ANY money but we're all smart enough to know that the positives far outweigh the negatives. Well, make that most of us. Some of "us" are paranoid idiots that blame everyone else for our business failings.

Is it good for the consumer? That's debatable. Some people can handle it and benefit greatly from it (like my business and many of the people here). Some others can't handle it and get in over their heads. Is that the fault of the credit card companies. Hell no. Credit has existed for centuries and some people have always had problems with it. That's really beside the point though. You don't really care about a credit debate. You just want to whine a bit more about how it isn't your fault that you opened a store in a town that's already overrun and how you're completely clueless on how to run a successful company regardless of what it is.

4/3/2011 8:02:39 PM

Well if you don't want to follow your own argument, just keep your own arguments to yourself. good day sir.

4/3/2011 8:45:29 PM

Quote :

"You just want to whine a bit more about how it isn't your fault that you opened a store in a town that's already overrun and how you're completely clueless on how to run a successful company regardless of what it is."

4/3/2011 9:42:16 PM

Lol you have to be trolling now to make a jump from evil credit cards to 'Big Brother is in control of everything'.

Either that or we're witnessing firsthand a Sheen-worthy mental unravelling from the inability to cope with personal failures.

Regardless, I'm making some popcorn, this is great stuff.

4/3/2011 9:57:24 PM

Genius you are making a fundamental error in your assumption.

If I am so enamored with the convenience of using credit cards and the rewards points I get, then its likely I will be willing to pay a 3% markup to use my card.

Mark the card purchases up and give customers incentive to pay cash or mark all prices up 3% and screw the people who are using cash already.

Just stop bitching and adapt to the real world. Be a grown man or just cut your losses now before you go bankrupt.

[Edited on April 3, 2011 at 10:29 PM. Reason : a]

4/3/2011 10:28:49 PM

^^I suppose you live in some utopian society where everyone is fat and happy.

Ignorance is bliss.

Quote :

"Genius you are making a fundamental error in your assumption. If I am so enamored with the convenience of using credit cards and the rewards points I get, then its likely I will be willing to pay a 3% markup to use my card. Mark the card purchases up and give customers incentive to pay cash or mark all prices up 3% and screw the people who are using cash already. Just stop bitching and adapt to the real world. Be a grown man or just cut your losses now before you go bankrupt."

You guys do know that I'm explaining my side of the equation. You all know the differences between discussing points and whining right?


[Edited on April 3, 2011 at 10:41 PM. Reason : .]

4/3/2011 10:38:53 PM

Dude you're in the wrong.

Credit cards push prices up a tiny percentage. In the long term they nearly eliminate the problems that cash businesses deal with and in the short term they smooth out the booms/busts in the economy as you receive business you would not otherwise in recessions.

If I am happy using my card for convenience and 1% cashback then that means you are already charging 2-3% more than I would pay otherwise.

Its built in man. Have you ever taken microeconomics? Everything is built in.

4/3/2011 10:47:49 PM

Back on topic plz...

Need some input on what card to get. My wife and I want to get credit cards. We do not travel a lot so I think a cash back card would work best for us. I was looking at the chase freedom and the amex blue cash. We do spend a lot on gas each month due to my commute and her driving a small bus (yukon xl). Looking back at our last few bank statements we spend 5k-6k a month combined. Any input would be appreciated.

4/3/2011 10:56:42 PM

You can get any credit card if you pay off the balance every month. Find the one with the highest rewards. Avoid any cards that charge an annual fee. That's all you really need to know. Visa is the most popular and you can use it virtually everywhere except paying taxes and at Sam's club. Sams club is master and discover only. The city taxes are master, discover, and amex but they charge a fee for using them. amex is the least accepted card. mastercard is the second most popular card. I'd get a visa, master, and discover because there is nothing you can get with amex that you can't get with the first three cards. amex is more of a business oriented card.


If you plan on not paying off the cards every month, then you look for the card with the lowest APR because the APR will swamp any rewards you get back by at least 15%.

4/3/2011 11:32:53 PM

I just got the Chase freedom. They have a pretty sweet promotion going on now. I have two other cards with Chase and have always been quite pleased.

4/4/2011 12:08:35 AM

can anyone recommend a card with good rates/terms on cash advances?

4/4/2011 12:16:45 AM

I highly recommend not getting cash advances from cards.

Please seek friends or family first.

4/4/2011 12:31:08 AM

I plan on paying mine off each month so the interest rate is not really an issue.

4/4/2011 7:45:50 AM

if you spend a lot of money on gas each month on gas, then get a gas card. I have a Citi Shell card, that have 5% cash back on gas purchases, 1% everything else.

4/4/2011 8:03:06 AM

^ in order to maximize rewards/cashback, that's the way to do it...i have a target redcard, which gives me 5% off my target purchase automatically (no cashback, just like having a 5% coupon that never expires)...if i drove more, i'd get a gas card, too

i don't trust myself to keep up with too many cards, though...i'm a big fan of all-in-one solutions and while there aren't any, i don't want to carry around half a dozen cards

in other news, i got my $150 from chase

4/4/2011 8:41:51 AM

Most my cards are "general" rewards. I don't spend enough on gas to worry about getting a gas card. Plus, where I live the gas is 10c cheaper if you use debit so I usually do that. 5% cash back on the credit side is still slightly cheaper than getting 10c off but I don't have a card that is regularly 5% cash back on gas.

I do only carry 2 of my cards with me though. My other cards all stay at home. I really only use 1 of my cards (Freedom). The other cards I use ~every other month just to keep them active since they are older cards with a lot of account history or something specific like my Amazon card that I only use on Amazon.

4/4/2011 9:11:26 AM

AMEX Blue cash gives back 5% for groceries/gas/drug store and 1% on everything else if you want cash back. You have to spend a certain about (I think $6500) to get those cash back levels, which isnt a problem for most.

http://www201.americanexpress.com/getthecard/learn-about/BlueCash

4/4/2011 9:48:22 AM

^ yeah, but you don't get that cashback until AFTER you hit that point, right? so it's 5% on everything PAST $6500?

sure, i can hit that level, but 5% on $6500 is $325 and that's a lot to pass up

4/4/2011 9:55:15 AM

That's my delima right now. I think I can hit 6500 in a month based on our current spending habits so im leaning more to amex blue cash than the freedom. I guess I should check to make sure that all the places we normally shop will take amex.

4/4/2011 10:09:35 AM

Anyone have experience shopping around for a CC with not so great credit? I've googled a couple of things, but so many results come up I'm not 100% sure who or what to trust. I'm just looking for a basic card, no frills. Can someone point me to a good site?

4/4/2011 10:29:29 AM

^^ what is your current situation where $6500 is regular/normal month of credit card totals?

Now I will say that we don't charge our mortgage and mortgage/rent is obviously a lion's share of many monthly budgets so that probably skews our spending if you are putting your mortgage/rent on a credit card (or if you have lots of expended business charges or something I guess)

4/4/2011 10:39:54 AM

yeah, jeebus...i was saying i could hit $6500 per YEAR without any trouble

4/4/2011 10:43:53 AM

[Edited on April 4, 2011 at 10:55 AM. Reason : tmi]

4/4/2011 10:52:44 AM

We only use debit cards right now and it all comes from 1 checking account. This does not include mortgage. So that's where im getting my info. Looking at the total debits on my statement. Im basically wanting to stop using the debit card and put all of those purchases on a rewards card and pay it off each month.

4/4/2011 10:58:13 AM

yeah that's pretty much what my wife and I do. I charge absolutely everything that doesn't have a fee or higher price associated with using a credit card vs cash/debit. We just don't come close to reaching $6500 of total expenses in a month even including things we can't charge like our mortgage and both of our monthly Roth IRA maxing contributions so I was mainly just being curious/nosey

[Edited on April 4, 2011 at 11:22 AM. Reason : .]

4/4/2011 11:19:06 AM

I avg a little over 1K per month just for myself. I can't imagine spending $6500/month.

4/4/2011 11:20:51 AM

my cashback for this month is $450

4/5/2011 7:31:59 AM

^ you just killed a small business

douchebag.

4/5/2011 8:01:00 AM

^^what card are you using?

4/5/2011 8:26:36 AM

Chase AARP (5% for first 6 months). And no, I don't typically spend $9k/month... only on special occasions (like when i'm offered 5% cashback)

4/5/2011 9:00:45 AM

you mean you don't normally spend $9k on credit? Or did you buy stuff you are planning to turn for a profit that will cancel out spending more just for rewards?

4/5/2011 9:04:28 AM

...something like the latter. Let's just say most of that $9k is already back in my bank account.

[Edited on April 5, 2011 at 9:12 AM. Reason : d]

4/5/2011 9:12:27 AM

dude probably bought a bunch of ipads

4/5/2011 10:56:38 AM

I showed up on release date, ready to max out my credit line, but they would only let me buy 1

4/5/2011 11:11:31 AM

Hehe, and hear I was stoked to have earned 9,000 points legitimately in one month.

4/5/2011 12:55:48 PM

Anyone else being bothered by Wachovia to get their credit cards? They called me like 2-3 times. They always call me when I am in a busy meeting.

[Edited on April 9, 2011 at 10:12 PM. Reason : a]

4/9/2011 10:11:10 PM

So can someone briefly explain how gas cards work? I drive a LOT and was thinking about getting one, but I want to be a lot more knowledgeable about them than I am right now before deciding.

4/11/2011 10:12:11 PM

Usually you can get 5% cash back for certain gas stations if you get a credit card through them.

4/11/2011 10:28:40 PM

Anyone ever look at http://www.zag.com/?

You get access if you have AmEx or BofA membership (plus a few others). Seems like a pretty good way to get a deal on a new car, whether it's through the site or by challenging a dealer to beat the price.

4/11/2011 10:34:11 PM

Hmmm, maybe its not worth it for me. I would probably spend like double in gas JUST because I had a gas card which would kind of defeat the purpose

4/11/2011 10:43:00 PM

They make their money back because you're much more likely to give them all of your business if they give you an incentive.

I don't understand how a gas card would make you drive twice as much. It's not like giving a woman a Saks card.

4/11/2011 10:45:56 PM

Ohhh but you do not understand. I love to drive.

4/11/2011 11:09:39 PM

try treating the gas card like cash (as in, don't spend it unless you have it).

PenFed Platinum gives 5% back at ANY gas station, and 2% on groceries. That'd be my pick.

[Edited on April 12, 2011 at 7:51 AM. Reason : d]

4/12/2011 7:51:18 AM

^whoa! thank you so much, im going to look into that

[Edited on April 12, 2011 at 2:20 PM. Reason : sp]

4/12/2011 2:20:15 PM