Amex D-Day Approaching (14/4/19)!

[MsTee]

Welcome MsTee. Generally it is easier to find flights with a Singapore, and the cash component will be lower, however this is offset by higher point cost and longer flight time to many destinations, especially east coast USA.
It really is each to their own.

Thanks, maccaisking. I'll think about this some more over the next day or so. Travel time is something I hadn't considered. Shorter travel time (and direct flight availability) is definitely worth taking into account.

 

[maccaisking]

Thanks, maccaisking. I'll think about this some more over the next day or so. Travel time is something I hadn't considered. Shorter travel time (and direct flight availability) is definitely worth taking into account.

Glad to help. For me, if I can travel business (which I only do in reward seats or work funded) I am willing to add around 50% travel time to my trip, a little more if the first leg is overnight from Aus. I know others who would prefer to fly economy direct, it really is each to their own.

 

[Kevin Chan]

Deposit on a tesla (refundable)

Interesting idea... but doesn't Amex reverses the point earned on refunds?

I suppose you can earn the more valuable points today and convert them to FF program. Then refund after deval date and you owe them less valuable points.

 

[albyd]

Unless you've cancelled that card and Tesla might allow you to refund to a different card … such as your debit MasterCard or Visa …

That's an interesting one. How much would this be?

 

[SOPOOR]

Interesting idea... but doesn't Amex reverses the point earned on refunds?

I suppose you can earn the more valuable points today and convert them to FF program. Then refund after deval date and you owe them less valuable points.

You can try the refund to a different card but it's a very ymmv situation.

And yes refund means minus points, but its pre deval points vs post deval.....It's worth more , ymmv

 

[SOPOOR]

Unless you've cancelled that card and Tesla might allow you to refund to a different card … such as your debit MasterCard or Visa …

That's an interesting one. How much would this be?

$1000 or $1500 If i recalll

 

[SOPOOR]

It's $5000. Or, you could put down a deposit on the 2021 Roadster, which is $7000. Or you could do both, haha.

Are you sure. I swear it was $1500 abput 4 months ago when i did a test drive

 

[Saltywings]

Are you sure. I swear it was $1500 abput 4 months ago when i did a test drive

Check the site, it's 5k for a Model S/X deposit and 7k for a roadster deposit.

Edit: only the Roadster (and Model 3) deposits count - the 5k for the S/X is non-refundable as it locks in production.

 

[SOPOOR]

Check the site, it's 5k for a Model S/X deposit and 7k for a roadster deposit.

Hmm maybe things have changed

Edit: coming up as $1500 for me
Model 3 Reservation Deposit

 

[Kevin Chan]

Not sure if Tesla is a good idea (unless you want the car). There are plenty of stories out there from people who have had to wait a long time to get their money back (3 months or more). To mention Tesla is burning cash at a ferocious rate...

 

[Saltywings]

Hmm maybe things have changed

Edit: coming up as $1500 for me
Model 3 Reservation Deposit

Deleted my previous post as I conflated a non-refundable pre-payment vs a reservation deposit.

Indeed, I believe only the Roadster (7k) and Model 3 (1.5k) deposits are refundable.

 

[SOPOOR]

Deleted my previous post as I conflated a non-refundable pre-payment vs a reservation deposit.

Indeed, I believe only the Roadster (7k) and Model 3 (1.5k) deposits are refundable.

Thanks for clarifying.
If i was doing the deposit for refund, I would have definitely unknowingly gone down the non refundable option

 

[Saltywings]

Thanks for clarifying.
If i was doing the deposit for refund, I would have definitely unknowingly gone down the non refundable option

It would certainly be quite the story you tell people in the future...in your brand new Tesla

 

[SOPOOR]

It would certainly be quite the story you tell people in the future...in your brand new Tesla

Yeah, all 3 of them!!!!!!

 

[Kevin Chan]

Other family members bills,
School fees
Council rates
Deposit on a tesla (refundable)
Ato

I must say that it is rather disappointing to see that the ATO amex credit card fee is still 1.45%. They claimed that they are passing this through at cost. But given that the reason for MR deval is that the fees amex can charge are lower, shouldn't ATO's fee have come down?

 

[MathNerd]

I must say that it is rather disappointing to see that the ATO amex credit card fee is still 1.45%. They claimed that they are passing this through at cost. But given that the reason for MR deval is that the fees amex can charge are lower, shouldn't ATO's fee have come down?

You're right, it should have. Looks like the ATO might just be making a profit on the surcharge here!
No way to tell though, unfortunately, without direct access to the CFO at the ATO (if there even is one)?

 

[albyd]

I'm a little confused as to whether Amex are devaluing given they've already lowered their merchant fees (was my original readying) or are planning to lower their fees and thus have to reduce rewards (impression I've got from reading various threads including commentary re RP to have something to report and letter posted for Amex merchant fee reduction from a retail landlord). If it is yet to decrease its fees on a more widespread basis, will be interesting to see if ATO (dependant on Optus as their payment processor) will reduce their fee.

 

[Saltywings]

You're right, it should have. Looks like the ATO might just be making a profit on the surcharge here!
No way to tell though, unfortunately, without direct access to the CFO at the ATO (if there even is one)?

I somehow doubt this unless one adopts a particularly cynical mindset! That and the fact that someone could probably FOI the process that leads the ATO to determine the 1.45% surcharge. My guess is that it really is the best they'll get to with Amex.

But I wouldn't rush to judgement so soon - I wouldn't be surprised if the rates change in the next 6 months or so. But even if it doesn't I'd put that down to Amex's greed rather than that of the ATO's.

 

[SOPOOR]

I somehow doubt this unless one adopts a particularly cynical mindset! That and the fact that someone could probably FOI the process that leads the ATO to determine the 1.45% surcharge. My guess is that it really is the best they'll get to with Amex.

But I wouldn't rush to judgement so soon - I wouldn't be surprised if the rates change in the next 6 months or so. But even if it doesn't I'd put that down to Amex's greed rather than that of the ATO's.

My assumption, happy to be corrected is that

If mister small busienss negotiates hard and can only get 1.6% merchant fees from amex,
If Mr multi national comes along, then they would get a ridiculously good deal such as 0.8% because of the sheer scale .
One sme would be doing 10k a week , whilst mr mnc would be doing 10million a week

So thats why when i see 1.6% surcharge from ato or 2.2% from JBHiFi , i assume it's a gougr

 

[Saltywings]

My assumption, happy to be corrected is that

If mister small busienss negotiates hard and can only get 1.6% merchant fees from amex,
If Mr multi national comes along, then they would get a ridiculously good deal such as 0.8% because of the sheer scale .
One sme would be doing 10k a week , whilst mr mnc would be doing 10million a week

So thats why when i see 1.6% surcharge from ato or 2.2% from JBHiFi , i assume it's a gougr

You mean 1.45% for the ATO, right?

The problem is, I can't think of a merchant whose Amex surcharge is 0.8%.

But even that aside, it's impossible to know whether a merchant is charging a certain surcharge because that was the best deal they got, or whether because they chose to absorb some of the shortfall. So that 0.8% might still be 1.45% behind the scenes.