Credit cards, prestige and snobbery

wayoflife

I know what you mean copperplate

I have a nationwide gold card, which doesn't offer cashback but it does offer a years expended warranty on electrical items and £100,000 of travel cover. You only need a £3,000 limit to get this, I think the days of the prestigious 'gold card' are long gone

marksandsparksgal

Oh I am definetely shallow! I got the Tesco upgrade a while back and much prefer my hiny new platinum card, for the simple reason that silver is my fave colour.

*hangs head in shame*

That said, if there was a card giving stupid amounts of cashback / loyalty points I'd be there like a shot!

CopperPlate_2

It's nice to see that there's a definite split between those who do care about what the card looks like (and as a result might reflect the personality they might want others to see?) and those that couldn't care less if it was a cut out cereal packet they were using It's really funny to see how the marketers at these CC companies operate to try and tap into our subconscious feelings of worth or values innit?

juno

My sister picked her credit card as she could have a pciture of smarties on it. But then they changed it to a monkey, and she still has it.

Mozette

Just looking at the cards I have, I'm not keen on the green of my egg card, but I use the blue one anyway as it has cash back. The Nationwide one that I use abroad is fairly non descript, but as it is far cheaper to use abroad than my others, the fact that it's a bit dull looking isn't a factor. My HSBC card is again non descript, but is was solely for a 0% BT, so that's that. I suppose the nicest looking of my cards is the M&S card which is a nice smart matt black, but as that was for the low LOB deal, I don't use it. When I had a Goldfish card, people often commented on what a nice looking card it was, and I suppose the goldfish did look quite nice, but that was used for the Goldfish points.
The idea that someone would be 'impressed' by the use of a certain credit card type, I find completely tragic. They're a convenience, a financial tool and for buying on line etc, a virtual necessity. That's it as far as I'm concerned.
Really, is there anyone out there who is actually impressed by someone having a gold card, or a certain type of card? If so , WHY?

wyebird

I remember when gold cards were really rare when I was a Saturday girl in a shop. It was omething worthy of comment as you never had to ring up for authorisation if the transaction was over the floor limit. (That was long before EFTPOS lol).
Can't see the point of having a card with platinum of the front and a 29% apr myself. I would go for the best deal.

CopperPlate_2

Mozette wrote: »

The idea that someone would be 'impressed' by the use of a certain credit card type, I find completely tragic. They're a convenience, a financial tool and for buying on line etc, a virtual necessity. That's it as far as I'm concerned.
Really, is there anyone out there who is actually impressed by someone having a gold card, or a certain type of card? If so , WHY?

But that's my point. Do people take out cards like this - take for instance the Goldfish i24 card with the £200odd yearly fee. You can get one with just about the same bells and whistles from another provider without the fee, but just not with the 'perceived' exclusivity. It's not just that you as the individual know that you need to earn X to get it or pay Y to have it, the fact that others will know you do - is that the draw? And the card is milk-white too, again, a bit 'out of the ordinary' and noticeable?

michaels

I would love a nice balck card as I am sure there are places where you would be treated better - but not enought to give up a couple of hundred a year cash back - let alone pay a fee!

CopperPlate_2

Mmmm. There's also the little requirement of usually earning over 70 grand a year in order to even qualify for applying for these 'nice black cards' :rolleyes:

Lazy_Runner

I chose my first card (20 years ago) because they sponsored British rowing. TSB Trustcard I think. Didn't row at the time, but seemed like a worthy cause.

Then 10 years ago when I had a high(ish) paying job and the aspiration was to get a gold card. This was achieved within 3 years, but by the time I got it, I think banks were giving away gold cards.

Now after my lightbulb moment, no longer having a tv and having spent an awful lot of time on this site, I have got a card initially for the 0% BT and it gives me vouchers at Amazon. Now that I have paid off my debt, I am using it as my main card. Toying with changing this to a cashback card, but the rate of return is the same with both styles, i.e. one percent in the long term.

If there is a card that gives more than 1% cashback long term, then I would jump.

And yes I wouldn't mind a black card also as I have a little bit of aspiration left.:o