American Express Upgrade Blue Cash Everyday Card to Blue Cash Preferred

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Investor1319
Posts: 58
Joined: Mon May 28, 2018 12:58 pm

American Express Upgrade Blue Cash Everyday Card to Blue Cash Preferred

Post by Investor1319 »

Hi,

I've had the AmEx Blue Cash Everyday Card for a couple of years and am thinking about upgrading to the AmEx Blue Cash Preferred Card. In my AmEx account, they have offered me $75 in the form of statement credit if I spend $1,000.00 in the first three months of upgrading. I have to pay an annual fee for the Preferred card of $95 which is not waived for the first year.

Have any AmEx Blue Cash Everyday cardholders received better targeted offers to upgrade to Blue Cash Preferred?

Thanks so much!

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beyou
Posts: 4621
Joined: Sat Feb 27, 2010 3:57 pm
Location: If you can make it there

Re: American Express Upgrade Blue Cash Everyday Card to Blue Cash Preferred

Post by beyou »

I get Amex offers to upgrade my card all the time.
I don't respond because :

1) The blue cash card I have had better rewards when first received and they cut the rewards. Does not breed brand loyalty.

2) I simply wont pay annual fees

3) I have many good cards without annual fees.

4) Don't like to play the bonus game for new cards unless it's a card I think I would use for many years. Given these banks change the rewards program whenever they feel like it, this has discouraged me from changing cards often (that and impact on fico).

Have not closed the account as it's an old card and sometimes they have nice discounts on specific purchases. But this went from my primary card to gathering dust.

Topic Author

Investor1319
Posts: 58
Joined: Mon May 28, 2018 12:58 pm

Re: American Express Upgrade Blue Cash Everyday Card to Blue Cash Preferred

Post by Investor1319 »

Thanks so much for all the information. The main thing I like about the Preferred Card is 6% cash back on groceries up to $6K per year although I am already getting 3% cash back with the Everyday Card so the savings isn't as big as it seems plus there's an annual fee with Preferred. If I do upgrade, I just wanted to make sure I'm getting the best offer possible.

UNCHEEL
Posts: 32
Joined: Fri Dec 18, 2015 9:36 am

Re: American Express Upgrade Blue Cash Everyday Card to Blue Cash Preferred

Post by UNCHEEL »

I've had the Blue Cash Preferred card for years because of the 6% back on groceries (and 3% on gas). Now that I'm retired, the payback on the annual fee is a bit tighter, since my grocery spending is down, and since they raise the annual fee to $95. But, there are a couple additional angles you can play - anything you might buy elsewhere is effectively on sale at the grocery store. That can include stamps and gift cards. My local grocery store also give gas discounts that vary based on your spending. I bought a couple of Amazon gift cards to max out my monthly benefit and got $35 off when I filled up the cars.

tomd37
Posts: 3867
Joined: Thu Mar 01, 2007 10:39 pm
Location: Middle Tennessee

Re: American Express Upgrade Blue Cash Everyday Card to Blue Cash Preferred

Post by tomd37 »

Investor 1319,
AMEX is not as generous on your offer for the new Blue Cash Preferred as they were one year ago for mine. At that time, they were offering a $300 credit and waiver of the first years $95 fee. I took the offer and in essence the $300 given me will pay three years fees. I had the original Blue Cash card from way back when it was originally issued. The old card had 5% on groceries, gas, and drugstore purchases (my most expensive category was groceries) where the new one has 6% on groceries per calendar year. I just started the new clock on January 1st. I did keep the old card but put it away and do not use it.

That said, I only use two cards in form of the new Blue Cash Preferred and my Navy Federal CU VISA card which offers a 1.75% rebate on any type of purchase. I like to keep things simple.

Tom D.