Why the hell would I pay for Centurion Card?

[parksie]

Hi to all,

Just wanted to ask who is their right mind would pay $4,300.00 for the Black Amex card?

I think it is a very bad marketing ploy to reward a big spender with an invitation to Centurion and at the same time request $4,300.00 for the privilege!

Qantas rewards you with the Platinum card for free because you are a loyal customer.

Doesn't Amex have an idea about what an insult this is when you are invited to an exclusive reward and they ask you to pay for it.

I have a very bad taste in my mouth about it!

 

[oz_mark]

I think it is fair to say, then, that you are not really in their target market.

There are some that value the card for various reasons.

 

[simongr]

Why pay for a mercedes when a honda will get you from A to B in the same time? There are lots of hard and soft benefits to Centurion membership above the platinum benefits - not worth $4300 on my current income.

Also some people like people to know how special they are...

 

[parksie]

I think it is fair to say, then, that you are not really in their target market.

There are some that value the card for various reasons.

Mark, who do think is their target market?

If I'm not, I'd certainly be interested to know who is?

And BTW, why would they invite me if I am not their target market?

 

[parksie]

Why pay for a mercedes when a honda will get you from A to B in the same time? There are lots of hard and soft benefits to Centurion membership above the platinum benefits - not worth $4300 on my current income.

Also some people like people to know how special they are...

I just don't get why someone would spend that much money to get the card?

It is really quite beyond me.

 

[ejb]

Mark, who do think is their target market?

If I'm not, I'd certainly be interested to know who is?

And BTW, why would they invite me if I am not their target market?

I would say that your spend has put you in the $ range for membership and they have offered you the card but as you don't feel the card is a worthwhile spend you are not in the target market.

ejb

 

[simongr]

I believe there are a range of criteria - people who spend a lot on discretionary items/travel/hotels rather than people pushing $200K of bunnings expenditure get targetted.

I put through 90K one year which included quite a lot of hotel expenditure (Conrad/Waldorf), travel and Tiffany's and got targetted. I have put through more in recent years and not been targetted.

 

[parksie]

I would say that your spend has put you in the $ range for membership and they have offered you the card but as you don't feel the card is a worthwhile spend you are not in the target market.

ejb

I think you are missing my point.

The point is: why be rewarded for your spend and loyalty with an exclusive invitation and then be asked to pay for it.

My comment has nothing to do with perceived value or being worthwhile.

 

[parksie]

I believe there are a range of criteria - people who spend a lot on discretionary items/travel/hotels rather than people pushing $200K of bunnings expenditure get targetted.

I put through 90K one year which included quite a lot of hotel expenditure (Conrad/Waldorf), travel and Tiffany's and got targetted. I have put through more in recent years and not been targetted.

Thats quite interesting.

I wonder why Amex cares about where you spend your money?

That's another weird one!

 

[oz_mark]

I think you are missing my point.

The point is: why be rewarded for your spend and loyalty with an exclusive invitation and then be asked to pay for it.

My comment has nothing to do with perceived value or being worthwhile.

Bottom line is that Centurion is an invitation only card, and invitations are not thrown around willy nilly.

Now, American Express have identified you as someone that has spending patterns aligned with what they are looking for (large descretionary spending). So they make you an offer.

Some people will not blink at paying the money, some will analyse it and make a decision, and some will reject it out of hand.

 

[parksie]

Bottom line is that Centurion is an invitation only card, and invitations are not thrown around willy nilly.

Now, American Express have identified you as someone that has spending patterns aligned with what they are looking for (large descretionary spending). So they make you an offer.

Some people will not blink at paying the money, some will analyse it and make a decision, and some will reject it out of hand.

I understand that this card seems to be an 'EGO' purchase for some people and for others it may not be.

IMHO however, I feel that Amex would do more good than harm if they actually gave the card to their loyal customers as 'Reward' with no charge.

In this instance I feel that Amex is 'gouging' and and going for the 'dollar' and since receiving the invitation all I have done is pass on negative comments about the invitation as opposed to positive ones.

I actually don't see it as a reward at all because of this.

 

[haydensydney]

I'm exhausted from trying to justify the annual Centurion fee. Search the site and you will see many of the same conversations over the years.

 

[drewbles]

I understand that this card seems to be an 'EGO' purchase for some people and for others it may not be.

IMHO however, I feel that Amex would do more good than harm if they actually gave the card to their loyal customers as 'Reward' with no charge.

In this instance I feel that Amex is 'gouging' and and going for the 'dollar' and since receiving the invitation all I have done is pass on negative comments about the invitation as opposed to positive ones.

I actually don't see it as a reward at all because of this.

Look at the benefits the Platinum Amex provides, and make an assessment of the value of those benefits to you.

For some people, the benefits outweigh the price. If you use the BOGOF J tickets, you can instantly save your annual fee.

Then there's the lounges, hotel rewards and other things that may make it worthwhile for you.

If you think it's not for you, just don't accept it. Amex is a business. They're not a loyalty brand (if you want loyalty, they give you points to spend, and the Centurion gives you the ability to choose to move points to QFF, which 99.9% of cards on the market do not, so there's another benefit).

Quite simply really

They also do provide you a form of loyalty for Membership Rewards; the longer you stay with them, the more the price of rewards drop. Centurion is just another product, allbeit a by-invite product. Invites aren't sent to loyal customers, they're sent to customers who meet their criteria. Spending on luxury items and other goods and services that are considered discretionary spending in large amounts, will flag it. They want people with a high personal wealth for their cards. Spending at high-end retailers and on travel/hotels is in line with that kind of wealth.

 

[russ]

You do get a cheap bottle of wine!

I received the 2008 bottle... I hope it was the 2002 one but it's better than nothing i guess.

But only if you're lucky!

Hmmm. It seems that AMEX is ranking us by bottle. I’ve received nothing so where does that place me...

 

[parksie]

Look at the benefits the Platinum Amex provides, and make an assessment of the value of those benefits to you.

For some people, the benefits outweigh the price. If you use the BOGOF J tickets, you can instantly save your annual fee.

Then there's the lounges, hotel rewards and other things that may make it worthwhile for you.

If you think it's not for you, just don't accept it. Amex is a business. They're not a loyalty brand (if you want loyalty, they give you points to spend, and the Centurion gives you the ability to choose to move points to QFF, which 99.9% of cards on the market do not, so there's another benefit).

Quite simply really

They also do provide you a form of loyalty for Membership Rewards; the longer you stay with them, the more the price of rewards drop. Centurion is just another product, allbeit a by-invite product. Invites aren't sent to loyal customers, they're sent to customers who meet their criteria. Spending on luxury items and other goods and services that are considered discretionary spending in large amounts, will flag it. They want people with a high personal wealth for their cards. Spending at high-end retailers and on travel/hotels is in line with that kind of wealth.

Well I guess I will remain happy with Platinum because i can justify the $900.00 due to my annual travel insurance premium is off set against this charge.

As I travel alone for business the BOGOF tickets are no use to me.

But thanks for your reply.

 

[serfty]

I think Centurion also provides for CX MPC Diamond (Emerald) status.

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....centurion-2011-benefits-27783.html#post438611

 

[russ]

Well I guess I will remain happy with Platinum because i can justify the $900.00 due to my annual travel insurance premium is off set against this charge.

You pay $900pa??? I just ring each year and threaten to cancel the card and they halve the price.

(Probably explains why I haven't received a Centurion invite despite spending way too much pa!)

 

[parksie]

You pay $900pa??? I just ring each year and threaten to cancel the card and they halve the price.

(Probably explains why I haven't received a Centurion invite despite spending way too much pa!)

Hey, thanks for the tip!

Will certainly try to pull that one when it comes time to renew.

 

[yohy?!]

The annual fee is in line with their strategy for the highest value customers, this has been the case since the Plat was introduced 20 odd years ago in Oz.

That is, identify your highest value customers and create a product exclusively for them to further enhance the relationship. The features offered attract an annual, in line with their perceived value and what the market will bear.

I'm unsure where the confusion lies over why a fee is payable, this us standard in the industry is it not?

Also how is QF platinum comparable as this is a frequent flyer program?

Sent from my HTC Legend using AustFreqFly App

 

[NYCguy]

Just wanted to ask who is their right mind would pay $4,300.00 for the Black Amex card?

Anyone who realises that it looks and feels cool, and costs less than a bottle of DRC at Per Se.

I guess it's all relative.