Credit cards, prestige and snobbery

Afahmaep

About 18 months ago I had a Rainbow wallet

RED HSBC Mastercard
ORANGE Abbey Visa [Alright it was pink)
YELLOW Shell Visa
GREEN Egg Visa
BLUE Egg Money
INDIGO Nationwide Classic
VIOLET Nat West Mastercard

CopperPlate_2

Stompa wrote: »

I have to say I find that utterly bizarre!

I suppose it's difficult to express 'wryness' in a comment - but I did try. I used the example because they are two - apparently - opposite ends of a spectrum (in my own experience anyway). I have been in John Lewis stores where the staff have been the snottiest, most dismissive and down right rude - and who would take any opportunity given to look down their nose at you. Yes, my money is as good as the next person's, but my perception of Asda is that they are a cheap and cheerful retailer - we could get into the hierarchy of things like this with the other big retailers like Sainsbury's, etc but that's not for here - and by proxy that, to me reflects on their financial products, i.e. their credit card. In contrast I have no issue with shopping in Asda or the like, no issue using any method of payment there or type of card as I know that I'm not likely to be judged or treated differently. I have been in John Lewis and it's a perceptible difference - anyway, I'm off topic.

Stompa

CopperPlate wrote: »

I have been in John Lewis stores where the staff have been the snottiest, most dismissive and down right rude - and who would take any opportunity given to look down their nose at you.

You must be visiting different shops to me - I've never seen that in any store (John Lewis or otherwise) ever in my entire life!

CopperPlate_2

Stompa wrote: »

You must be visiting different shops to me - I've never seen that in any store (John Lewis or otherwise) ever in my entire life!

Well, I suppose it really just depends on the staff they employ doesn't it? I find John Lewis staff - in the main - to be overly 'efficient' to the point of being brusque and at times curt. As I said, that's just in my experience. You may - and clearly have - had different experiences.

chinbergs

By bizarre coincidence, the cashier in Sainsburys today went "Oo, that's a fancy card" to me.

And having received my new design Morgan Stanley card today I'm inclined to use it simply because it's new and looks different to my old one!

CopperPlate_2

Which design is that - has it changed from the one that's shown on the current site (albeit you can't now actually apply for it, but I'd be surprised if they changed the design of a discontinued card)?

chinbergs

Oh I'm a man of simple pleasures.. it simply changed from black to silver! but my old one had been chewed by my dog and was all beaten up, so it was good to get something new.

Zebedee69

Its realy funny, I posted a thread about someone thinking a Cap 1 card was posh lol! I think Credit Cards mean different things to different people. Some feel its a mark of creditworthyness. Others feel its a mark of living over your means and then of course there are the different sectors. Subprime like Aqua or Capital One and the higher end like Morgan Stanley or AMEX

Guess its a bit like cars.... Mind you can get a HP deal now with a fairly rubbish history so its no guarantee anymore. Perhaps cards are the new cars.... well be judged on the plastic we used and not what we drive......

System

Zebedee69 wrote: »

Its realy funny, I posted a thread about someone thinking a Cap 1 card was posh lol! I think Credit Cards mean different things to different people. Some feel its a mark of creditworthyness. Others feel its a mark of living over your means and then of course there are the different sectors. Subprime like Aqua or Capital One and the higher end like Morgan Stanley or AMEX

Guess its a bit like cars.... Mind you can get a HP deal now with a fairly rubbish history so its no guarantee anymore. Perhaps cards are the new cars.... well be judged on the plastic we used and not what we drive......

I dont think people in shops really think cards are one way or the other.
I see people who say that people don't like them because they use Solo or Capital One etc. With Chip and Pin, the type of card is really irrelevant.

I personally find that shop assistants look at your clothes etc and make a decision on that basis. Sad, but true.

MABLE

QUOTE
I personally find that shop assistants look at your clothes etc and make a decision on that basis. Sad, but true.[/quote]


Based on the above statement I now why whenever I go into Marks and Spencer and I ask about a particular item they always show me the cheapest in that range. When I point to a the more expensive item, twice it has been pointed out to me that is is very expensive. Surely it is up to me to decide whether I can afford it and just because I often go there in my old clothes they should not assume I can not afford the better quality.