@RichardHorpe underrated? Most people live in an area where the credits are not organic spend. Major metro is required. All the annual fee and credit game earns you part of the year x1 more than free no annual fee cards, and 1 to 2 quarters of the year other no annual fee cards could get you x1 more than this expensive card. . Underrated it's not.
@@billwright2176 i think it's well established that if you live in some trailer park in west virginia, don't use amex at all. your stores won't accept it anyway.
I had the Gold card for 1 year at $250. Year 1 is always a slam dunk. I was going to cancel now with the $325 fee but got a 15k point retention bonus, I doubt I’ll get a retention bonus next time so then it’ll be gone
I've seen the 100k offer almost everyday. Our Family spends about 18k a year in groceries and dining and I can use all the credits. Seems like a no brainer to me....at least for year 1 and maybe 2 if I get a retention offer.
if you just want groceries, theres plenty of other cards, even free no annual cards that might benefit you more. unless you prefer the reward systems/pool in Amex
Used an Amex offer today. Getting $100 back from Amex for buying a watch and paired it with Rakuten to get 15% or another $105 on top of the normal points. Amex offers IMO provide more value than offers from my other CCs. Makes paying the fees easier and I use their normal credits. No brainer card for me.
This also works if you link a different card Like a chase or Capitol one and their offers. You will get you miles/cash back with the card then the Amex points with Rakuten.
As someone who doesn't eat out the Amex Gold seems like a huge waste of money to me, I'd rather go for the Venture X and use the Savor One for groceries
Exactly. Eating out frequently enough to benefit from the AMEX perks feels like a huge waste of money unless you're making well into 6 figures. Otherwise, meal prep at home is 100% the way to go. I get 100% cashback on the money I don't waste on dining.
Venture X is more than the gold. Limited to 2x and also requires you to tap into their credit system to offset the annual fee, regardless you’re paying that $395. If you spend 10k on groceries and food in a year that’s 20k points for the venture X.. vs 40k points on the Amex gold.
People complain that its a "coupon book" as if Amex is going to write you a check for $350... You have to work for it. Going out to get food once a month, using uber eats once a month and getting 2 doughnuts once a month isnt that hard.
My P2 and I are doing Chase Trifecta + Capital One Duo and it seems to be working really well. Got Freedom Flex Year-Round and then we alternate between Unlimited+Sapphire Preferred or Savor and Venture X depending on which points we're prioritizing at the moment. Savor also gets used year-round for in-store groceries cause Chase doesn't offer that. Then Chase points would tend to go towards hotels cause Hyatt and Capital One would then go towards flights
Ugh. Everytime You use it's benefits, it costs an extra 10 or twenty bucks to fulfill the couponish bennie. You go I got my fee back but I spent like 4 or 500 more than I would have if the friggen card would have just given a flat cash back, say 250, for stuff for the year.
Then that's how you know the card isn't for you. My wife and I eat out three or four times a month, and we'd be doing it with or without the card, so it serves us well.
@@LookingAway359 Yeah. True. I think I don't make enough scratch to really appreciate these cards. I think my post hating on this card is I don't make enough money to appreciate it whereas normal spends of people who are CAREFUL but have a little larger amounts of mildly disposable income can find true value and actually make money here. Be well, Amigo.
@@alexr9490 Good to know, i’m considering cancelling but am stressed about how it will affect my credit history since closed cards don’t fall off until after 10 years. Atleast I know it wont affect my FICO score heavily. Im having a hard time justifying this new annual fee
Yeh only 60K points, is what’s killing me!! I got the chase earlier this year and got 100k and don’t pay as much annual fee!! That I’m like ahhh idk, I’ll wait
@ not only that but five guys is overpriced. A burger with fries and drinks is like $25. The super small burger without cheese and toppings is still like $12.
Honestly the Dunkin Credit is underrated imo. Dunkin sells whole beans or K-cups packs so the amex gold credit basically pays for half of your coffee for the month if you make coffee at home.
Amex gave me 100K to switch from Gold to Platinum. 5% on the Citi Custom Cash for groceries and 3% on the Citi Strata for dining have replaced the 4% on the Gold.
Just got the card with 100k point offer. As a New Englander, I have no compunction about using the Dunkin credit. 4x on dining and groceries will be great if I can redeem at anywhere near 2 cpp.
I had this card for 3 years I just upgraded to platinum 4 months ago and glad I did bcoz am traveling a lot and platinum makes more sense to me with lounges and other travel benefits. But you are right during my transition from gold to platinum I was told that the welcome offer would be up to 80,000 but after getting accepted the offer I was given was 50,000. I tried to call and escalated the issue but didn’t get any positive feedback. The only things they suggested was “if you are not happy with the bonus you can just return the card”.
Just got the gold card with the 100K SUB offer. A bit confused by the "no present spending limit" thing. I've never seen any RUclipsr's talk about it and the best way to navigate it. Any input would be appreciated! I got it because I have some big spend coming up - I put my grad school payments on a card and pay off next day. Each payment is like $1,500 but right now it say's im not even approved to spend that much so I'm a bit confused.
Debt to income plays a factor in that I believe. I don’t have a preset spending limit but I went to the tab to put in an amount (20k) and it said I was good to go. Kinda odd honestly that 1500 wasn’t approved. Not sure if there’s a minimum.
I receive near weekly “propaganda” in the mail saying I’m pre approved for this card. Absolute junk card for me personally. I am particularly interested in the Amex Blue Cash Everyday though
No Resy where I live now. The only restaurant locally I can get the dining credit at is Five Guys, and honestly it’s way overpriced. Not using Uber much or ordering uber eats anymore except to use the credit, and there is only one grocery store that I shop that the 4x credit works, the rest I buy at big box stores that don’t count as grocery. I will use the Dunkin credit for coffee eventually but I don’t go there much, I’ve just been banking the credit on a Dunkin gift card. Yeah I’m dropping this card when the renewal comes up. I don’t think it’s even worth keeping if they gave me a retention.
@@Daniel_Braun My terms clearly state in store or online. But the closest Ray Ban store is about 30-90mins away depending on traffic. But I can walk to a Sunglass Hut. Current strategy is find what I like at SH and just order online 🤣
@@anthonyjames4319 Reviewed the terms a bit closer and it does clearly state that it excludes "eye exams, and authorized retailers" which pretty much summed it up for me. Here's the funny part: The offer is valid at RayBan USA online, but you can get them shipped to a Sunglass hut 🤣
Great video as always! Something I didn't expect with this card was how much more useful I find the amex offers than those from other issuers, like you said. Definitely was a pleasant surprise since I didn't really factor it into my decision in getting the card in the first place, I just see it as an added benefit
I agree, Daniel. After my next year of holding the Gold card at the old annual fee rate, I plan to cancel. With the fee hike, I’m not feeling it any longer.
The thing is that you get the same back in value, even 10x in travel spend points , if you use the card for groceries on an annual basis, or maybe I'm speaking for myself since I spend $700 on supermarkets per month in NYC
The Resy credit is weird. I looked at restaurants on the website and non looked appealing. I paid for an order at epic wings and randomly got the resy credit for that transaction? Some secret restaurants the credit works for perhaps?
Been on blue cash for about three years doing 80-90k a years of charges. I’m getting about 1200$ a year in cash back credits. My groceries max capped by June so six months a year the largest percentage cash backs category kind of miffed me having that 6k cap on supermarkets. I’m really not sure if jumping to gold is worth it.
I have the Venture X, if my wife gets the Savor card and adds me as an authorized user, anyone know if I can see both cards on my same Capital One account, or do I need to sign out and sign into another account to view both?
I’m in the same situation. If the Social Security numbers are the same, the accounts are linked, and you can view them all in the same account. Transfers are also possible in my case.
I never go to Dunkin. Don't even have one in my area. So every month I add $7 to my digital gift card on the app. Someday when I am traveling somewhere that has a Dunkin, I'll use all that money to buy a bunch of coffee beans and take them home. Done and done.
AmEx offers really do shine. I’ve had some really good ones on CSR but the AmEx ones tend to be more lucrative even for the same retailers. Just this month I have $260 in statement credits on my Plat card from spend I already needed to make. Could have had another $40 but my car insurance company doesn’t take AmEx.
Why value Grubhub $0? I feel like it can be easily used. Btw, I’m in Philly as well. I have noticed an expansion of Resy restaurants in the past year, which is good.
I'm one of the rare ones that actually liked the refresh. though I'm leaving on the table being the dining credit I do not use often if at all, wish it was with door dash/eats over over priced grub hub. did use it for a burger at five guys though. the ones who dislike the resy credit I think are not looking to far into it. I've found a restaurant that was priced real reasonable.
it is quite odd that the topic you spend the most time on, in your "review after 4 years" is the sign-up bonus this video feels way more like a "my Amex strategy" rather than a review of just the card
The credits on the gold now just aren’t good imo. The old non refreshed card was definitely WAY better than the current card and with the AF only at $250 then it was REALLY good. Now this iteration is just not good at all.
Currently, in my wallet is the American Express Business "Plum" card. However, if my renewal annual $250 fee is not waved, I might downgrade to the lower annual fee American Express Business "Green" card. (smile ... smile).
I like the credit I get with every flight with Delta ,free second bag, money back at car rental , extra insurance overseas.oney back on rental fee,s . But to be honest all I keep it for us the free second bag free TSA PRecheck .AND CARD CREDIT FOR the flight.
The Resy aite needs more restaurants where I live and it’s only 8 places and half of them are same restaurant just different location and the other half don’t even look appealing smh
I live in Puerto Rico, there are no dinkins here, no ressi restaurants and on top of theres theres only 1 cheesecake factory in the whole island so yea. Amex screwed me.
i wouldn't use any of the credits, other than Dining. So $120 of one useful credits does not justify $325 Annual Fee. And Experian is begging me take this card! no!
I really like the AMEX Gold but, those 3 monthly credits can be challenging for most IMO. Great overview of the card and things to consider before getting it Daniel! Keep up the great work!🫵
so many people criticize this card it's now an underrated card
Fact
For the right person, this is a great card, but with the change, that person changed.
It’s really not. The marginal benefit to this card compared to the Venture X, Sapphire Preferred, or even blue cash everyday is nonexistent
@RichardHorpe underrated? Most people live in an area where the credits are not organic spend. Major metro is required. All the annual fee and credit game earns you part of the year x1 more than free no annual fee cards, and 1 to 2 quarters of the year other no annual fee cards could get you x1 more than this expensive card. .
Underrated it's not.
@@billwright2176 i think it's well established that if you live in some trailer park in west virginia, don't use amex at all. your stores won't accept it anyway.
I had the Gold card for 1 year at $250. Year 1 is always a slam dunk. I was going to cancel now with the $325 fee but got a 15k point retention bonus, I doubt I’ll get a retention bonus next time so then it’ll be gone
I've seen the 100k offer almost everyday. Our Family spends about 18k a year in groceries and dining and I can use all the credits. Seems like a no brainer to me....at least for year 1 and maybe 2 if I get a retention offer.
if you just want groceries, theres plenty of other cards, even free no annual cards that might benefit you more. unless you prefer the reward systems/pool in Amex
Used an Amex offer today. Getting $100 back from Amex for buying a watch and paired it with Rakuten to get 15% or another $105 on top of the normal points. Amex offers IMO provide more value than offers from my other CCs. Makes paying the fees easier and I use their normal credits. No brainer card for me.
This also works if you link a different card Like a chase or Capitol one and their offers. You will get you miles/cash back with the card then the Amex points with Rakuten.
I just got this, perfect timing (I haven’t watched the video yet)
Nice, congrats on the new card! Hopefully the video will give you some good info that I've learned from having it for so long 👍
Same
Daniel, I've been watching for awhile and your videos are too good. Love your content and editing!
As someone who doesn't eat out the Amex Gold seems like a huge waste of money to me, I'd rather go for the Venture X and use the Savor One for groceries
Exactly. Eating out frequently enough to benefit from the AMEX perks feels like a huge waste of money unless you're making well into 6 figures. Otherwise, meal prep at home is 100% the way to go. I get 100% cashback on the money I don't waste on dining.
@@taekwondodude8 That's kind of a silly take. Eating out once or twice a month requires 6 figures?
Venture X is more than the gold. Limited to 2x and also requires you to tap into their credit system to offset the annual fee, regardless you’re paying that $395. If you spend 10k on groceries and food in a year that’s 20k points for the venture X.. vs 40k points on the Amex gold.
@@taekwondodude8are you telling me you never shop for groceries. Ever? It falls into your spend. If you go to Costco, Amex ain’t for you.
The way you gently slipped that rocket money promo in was soooo nice. I didn't realize what you were doing until it was over.
Woah…
People complain that its a "coupon book" as if Amex is going to write you a check for $350... You have to work for it. Going out to get food once a month, using uber eats once a month and getting 2 doughnuts once a month isnt that hard.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts Dan. It's all about the value and credits.
Can you make a video on what to do after you finish the Chase Trifecta. Love your videos!!
My P2 and I are doing Chase Trifecta + Capital One Duo and it seems to be working really well. Got Freedom Flex Year-Round and then we alternate between Unlimited+Sapphire Preferred or Savor and Venture X depending on which points we're prioritizing at the moment. Savor also gets used year-round for in-store groceries cause Chase doesn't offer that.
Then Chase points would tend to go towards hotels cause Hyatt and Capital One would then go towards flights
@@HspncAt7heDiscoI’ve been highly debating capital one duo or Amex duo. Your review helped. Been debating the Citi custom cash as well though
Great breakdown!!
Amex credits are like a coupon book, not worth it. Maybe for young adults in a city fit the mold for the card 🤷♂️
For me, the USBAR and Amex Hilton Surpass are a good blend of cash back and benefits for occasional travel with family.
Youre just prepaying for coffee 😅
Still better than Chase FF and unlimited cash cards. Don’t even get me started about rotating categories.
that's how it seemed to me tbh, the VX seems like better value I don't care about dunkins
@@newagain9964but those chase cards are free
Ugh. Everytime You use it's benefits, it costs an extra 10 or twenty bucks to fulfill the couponish bennie. You go I got my fee back but I spent like 4 or 500 more than I would have if the friggen card would have just given a flat cash back, say 250, for stuff for the year.
Then that's how you know the card isn't for you. My wife and I eat out three or four times a month, and we'd be doing it with or without the card, so it serves us well.
@@LookingAway359 Yeah. True. I think I don't make enough scratch to really appreciate these cards. I think my post hating on this card is I don't make enough money to appreciate it whereas normal spends of people who are CAREFUL but have a little larger amounts of mildly disposable income can find true value and actually make money here. Be well, Amigo.
I canceled my gold card last month. The coupon book and fees just weren't worth it for the added weight in my wallet
Same here
Did it greatly affect your FICO score?
@@jasmineestrada2190 My fico went up 28 points
@jasmineestrada2190 No, not at all
@@alexr9490 Good to know, i’m considering cancelling but am stressed about how it will affect my credit history since closed cards don’t fall off until after 10 years. Atleast I know it wont affect my FICO score heavily. Im having a hard time justifying this new annual fee
Gold recently had an Amazon offer where 1 point was worth $80
Assuming this happens once a year, that's a big deal.
Yeh only 60K points, is what’s killing me!! I got the chase earlier this year and got 100k and don’t pay as much annual fee!! That I’m like ahhh idk, I’ll wait
You can find referral links for 100k.
I hate that they got rid of shake shack
Brooo fr shake shack is actually good, five guys is soooo bad
@ not only that but five guys is overpriced. A burger with fries and drinks is like $25. The super small burger without cheese and toppings is still like $12.
Honestly the Dunkin Credit is underrated imo. Dunkin sells whole beans or K-cups packs so the amex gold credit basically pays for half of your coffee for the month if you make coffee at home.
This is the way I use mine.
Amex gave me 100K to switch from Gold to Platinum. 5% on the Citi Custom Cash for groceries and 3% on the Citi Strata for dining have replaced the 4% on the Gold.
Citi trifecta is slept on.
Just got the card with 100k point offer. As a New Englander, I have no compunction about using the Dunkin credit. 4x on dining and groceries will be great if I can redeem at anywhere near 2 cpp.
Anybody else like Daniel’s video before even watching it?
Great video 📹 👍
I had this card for 3 years I just upgraded to platinum 4 months ago and glad I did bcoz am traveling a lot and platinum makes more sense to me with lounges and other travel benefits. But you are right during my transition from gold to platinum I was told that the welcome offer would be up to 80,000 but after getting accepted the offer I was given was 50,000. I tried to call and escalated the issue but didn’t get any positive feedback. The only things they suggested was “if you are not happy with the bonus you can just return the card”.
Just got the gold card with the 100K SUB offer. A bit confused by the "no present spending limit" thing. I've never seen any RUclipsr's talk about it and the best way to navigate it. Any input would be appreciated! I got it because I have some big spend coming up - I put my grad school payments on a card and pay off next day. Each payment is like $1,500 but right now it say's im not even approved to spend that much so I'm a bit confused.
Debt to income plays a factor in that I believe. I don’t have a preset spending limit but I went to the tab to put in an amount (20k) and it said I was good to go. Kinda odd honestly that 1500 wasn’t approved. Not sure if there’s a minimum.
This is because it is a charge card. No credit limit.
I receive near weekly “propaganda” in the mail saying I’m pre approved for this card. Absolute junk card for me personally. I am particularly interested in the Amex Blue Cash Everyday though
No Resy where I live now. The only restaurant locally I can get the dining credit at is Five Guys, and honestly it’s way overpriced. Not using Uber much or ordering uber eats anymore except to use the credit, and there is only one grocery store that I shop that the 4x credit works, the rest I buy at big box stores that don’t count as grocery. I will use the Dunkin credit for coffee eventually but I don’t go there much, I’ve just been banking the credit on a Dunkin gift card.
Yeah I’m dropping this card when the renewal comes up. I don’t think it’s even worth keeping if they gave me a retention.
What watch is that?
Anyone know if buying Ray Bans at Sunglass Hut will be credited as the "In Store" offer
My guess is most likely not because the terms usually say that you have to buy directly from the Ray Ban website. Thats where I bought mine
@@Daniel_Braun My terms clearly state in store or online.
But the closest Ray Ban store is about 30-90mins away depending on traffic. But I can walk to a Sunglass Hut.
Current strategy is find what I like at SH and just order online 🤣
It’s a Ray Bans offer, not a Subglass Hut offer.
@@anthonyjames4319 Reviewed the terms a bit closer and it does clearly state that it excludes "eye exams, and authorized retailers" which pretty much summed it up for me.
Here's the funny part: The offer is valid at RayBan USA online, but you can get them shipped to a Sunglass hut 🤣
Great video as always! Something I didn't expect with this card was how much more useful I find the amex offers than those from other issuers, like you said. Definitely was a pleasant surprise since I didn't really factor it into my decision in getting the card in the first place, I just see it as an added benefit
Thank you 🙏🏾
I agree, Daniel. After my next year of holding the Gold card at the old annual fee rate, I plan to cancel. With the fee hike, I’m not feeling it any longer.
Go birds. That Saquon jersey is the best value in this video!
ca=what camera do you use
I feel like this card has become more targeted toward college kids. That's why I got it, at least, it is perfect for how I spend.
Lmao. College kids with money for resy and 5 guys etc. must be hard
More like young adults starting their career.
The thing is that you get the same back in value, even 10x in travel spend points , if you use the card for groceries on an annual basis, or maybe I'm speaking for myself since I spend $700 on supermarkets per month in NYC
The Resy credit is weird. I looked at restaurants on the website and non looked appealing. I paid for an order at epic wings and randomly got the resy credit for that transaction? Some secret restaurants the credit works for perhaps?
Been on blue cash for about three years doing 80-90k a years of charges. I’m getting about 1200$ a year in cash back credits. My groceries max capped by June so six months a year the largest percentage cash backs category kind of miffed me having that 6k cap on supermarkets. I’m really not sure if jumping to gold is worth it.
If I use Rakuten for points on AMEX, how do I get those points on my AMEX card and off the Rakuten account?
You get paid out in points every 3 months after linking your Amex account 👍
I have the Venture X, if my wife gets the Savor card and adds me as an authorized user, anyone know if I can see both cards on my same Capital One account, or do I need to sign out and sign into another account to view both?
I’m in the same situation. If the Social Security numbers are the same, the accounts are linked, and you can view them all in the same account. Transfers are also possible in my case.
And you need to be added as an authorized user with the Account Manager level. Your wife can change the settings for your accessibility.
I never go to Dunkin. Don't even have one in my area. So every month I add $7 to my digital gift card on the app. Someday when I am traveling somewhere that has a Dunkin, I'll use all that money to buy a bunch of coffee beans and take them home. Done and done.
AmEx offers really do shine. I’ve had some really good ones on CSR but the AmEx ones tend to be more lucrative even for the same retailers. Just this month I have $260 in statement credits on my Plat card from spend I already needed to make. Could have had another $40 but my car insurance company doesn’t take AmEx.
Why value Grubhub $0? I feel like it can be easily used. Btw, I’m in Philly as well. I have noticed an expansion of Resy restaurants in the past year, which is good.
I'm one of the rare ones that actually liked the refresh. though I'm leaving on the table being the dining credit I do not use often if at all, wish it was with door dash/eats over over priced grub hub. did use it for a burger at five guys though. the ones who dislike the resy credit I think are not looking to far into it. I've found a restaurant that was priced real reasonable.
I’ve seen up to 120,000 point offers.
I can use any card when redeeming my $10 uber cash on uber eats. Just did it last Friday.
it is quite odd that the topic you spend the most time on, in your "review after 4 years" is the sign-up bonus
this video feels way more like a "my Amex strategy" rather than a review of just the card
The credits on the gold now just aren’t good imo. The old non refreshed card was definitely WAY better than the current card and with the AF only at $250 then it was REALLY good. Now this iteration is just not good at all.
2 years with gold, no longer renewing. I don't need a coupon book.
At this point, I think amex is just trying to filter out optimizer and people that thinks 695 dollar is a big deal.
Saquon = the real MVP
Currently, in my wallet is the American Express Business "Plum" card. However, if my renewal annual $250 fee is not waved, I might downgrade to the lower annual fee American Express Business "Green" card. (smile ... smile).
I like the credit I get with every flight with Delta ,free second bag, money back at car rental , extra insurance overseas.oney back on rental fee,s . But to be honest all I keep it for us the free second bag free TSA PRecheck .AND CARD CREDIT FOR the flight.
The Resy aite needs more restaurants where I live and it’s only 8 places and half of them are same restaurant just different location and the other half don’t even look appealing smh
I live in Puerto Rico, there are no dinkins here, no ressi restaurants and on top of theres theres only 1 cheesecake factory in the whole island so yea. Amex screwed me.
i wouldn't use any of the credits, other than Dining. So $120 of one useful credits does not justify $325 Annual Fee. And Experian is begging me take this card! no!
if you use dining then you should be able to use resy and uber (through uber eats) - sounds like you’re just not using it right
gift cards are your friend
Most people the answer is no. Don't get this card.
I use the Dunkin credit for 10 pc munchkins.
😊
First comment as always! Thank you! 🥇
US Bank Altitude go is literally superior to Amex Gold in every way possible. But continue wasting $325 a year for clout lol
Dunkin is like McDonald in nyc….
What's the sub?
Not telling.
I'm out
Too long, just get to the point.
I might transfer all my points to my ANA airlines account and cancel this shit
Go birds 🦅
I really like the AMEX Gold but, those 3 monthly credits can be challenging for most IMO. Great overview of the card and things to consider before getting it Daniel! Keep up the great work!🫵
What do you think of the amazon credit cards for people who buy a lot there?