Post #401,813
5/16/15 10:47:06 AM
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On cash.
I went out to dinner with a group from work along with a Nobel prize winner who was visiting on Thursday. There were 11 of us. Cash was handy then, but it was a bit shocking to me that the total was close to $500! That used to be a big stack of cash money. I generally hate "loyalty cards" but some places do them right IMO (e.g. we get a $10-$20 coupon and 10% off coupons from Balducci's in the mail every month). Cheers, Scott. (Who remembers when Coca-Cola was $0.10 so please get off his lawn.)
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Post #401,816
5/16/15 1:48:13 PM
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Youngster!
I remember when 6 1/2 oz Coca Cola bottle was 5 cents! (circa 1950) But, you had to drink it there and leave the empty bottle.
I use a Discover credit card pretty much for everything I can. I get 1% cash back automatically accessible on Amazon or when it's time to pay it off. Also use it for buying gas during the time (3 months) it's 5% kickback. There is a limit on that.
I use my Costco American Express card for buying gas to eventually (once a year) get 3% back. There's a $4K limit on purchases of gas with the 3% back. Card also gives 2% back on restaurants and travel, and 1% on all else.
There is never a remaining credit card balance, so I think of it as a discount on my purchases.
Just recently, SC insisted on giving me the income tax refund as a Visa value card. I hate paying full price with it! :) Alex
"There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there has always been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that "my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge."
-- Isaac Asimov
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Post #401,894
5/19/15 1:18:10 PM
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Costco and AMEX
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Post #401,895
5/19/15 2:04:12 PM
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Yep, parting of ways is a sad event.
You can't beat AmEx service if and when you need it.
But, I'm not going to pay an annual fee. So, I'll be parting ways with AmEx as well.
It will be interesting to see what kind of kick-back scheme, if any, Citi will have. Alex
"There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there has always been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that "my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge."
-- Isaac Asimov
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Post #401,896
5/19/15 3:35:50 PM
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I get free bags on delta, evens the fee
Any opinions expressed by me are mine alone, posted from my home computer, on my own time as a free American and do not reflect the opinions of any person or company that I have had professional relations with in the past 59 years. meep
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Post #401,828
5/16/15 8:09:32 PM
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Speaking of which...
You're out in the DC-ish area, if I recall. I'm presently working in Herndon/Reston. If you're up for dinner some Mon-Wed night, let me know. :) -Mike
@MikeVitale42
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
- Benjamin Franklin, 1759 Historical Review of Pennsylvania
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Post #401,829
5/16/15 8:27:52 PM
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I'd get lost going out there...
Hi Mike, I'm not a very social person person in real life, believe it or not. I keep weird hours too, so I'll have to pass. Thanks though! The A&S museum annex out at Dulles is supposed to be good, if you've got time to get out there (I still haven't seen it yet). Enjoy your time in NoVA! Cheers, Scott.
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Post #401,832
5/17/15 12:34:17 AM
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No worries.
Enjoy your weird hours. I'll wave in your direction flying into Dulles next week, at least. :) -Mike
@MikeVitale42
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
- Benjamin Franklin, 1759 Historical Review of Pennsylvania
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Post #401,833
5/17/15 6:22:30 AM
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Yep - some places do them right.
I have a Starbucks stored-value card that functions a bit like a loyalty card. That works well and is usually faster than cash. I have one for a pet-supplied chain. They do a discount on everything if you have one.
I won't use the one for the local supermarket, though. Big duopoly and it's known they want to get into _everything_. And I only get petrol discounts with it which is more hassle to redeem than they're worth.
Wade.
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Post #401,837
5/17/15 11:16:19 AM
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huge difference around here
The supermarkets discount seriously if you are willing to use their card. They give you one in person while you are filling out the registration, and don't check anything. So give fake info.
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Post #401,879
5/18/15 10:17:33 PM
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Different market.
Each of our two biggest supermarket chains have more market share in Aus than any chain anywhere else in the world. The only incentives they really have are competing with each other.
Wade.
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