About while ago, John Chow posted an article The Ultimate Bling Bling - Black Centurion Card on his Make Money Online Blogwhere he posted a photo of his friends American Express Centurion Card. I got in touch with John Chow and he was kind enough to introduce me to his friend Tyler Dikman, the holder of the American Express Black Card and who currently is with Cooltronics. I got on the phone with Tyler and spent one and a half hours with him. He gave me all the details of the Centurion Card. I normally “review credit cards” in a certain format. However, I do not think that I can really call this a review because firstly, the details of this card is only available for those who have the card (with a special password to access American Express website). Secondly, given that I do not have the card, it is really hard to put a value judgement, especially when the annual fee is $2,500. But without wasting any more time (or space), let’s get down to the details of this card.

Firstly, we have to point out that like the American Express Green, Gold and Platinum Card, the Centurion’s Card reward program is based on the membership rewards program. But this card obviously comes with tons of extra perks. So here is the long list :

Travel Perks

Gold Status for Delta, Continental and US Airways

Centurion cardholders qualify for Gold status for Delta Skymiles, Continental Onepass and US Airways Dividend Miles program automatically without having to fly the required miles or number of flights. Gold status brings its perks like check in at First Class counters, double miles when you fly, free upgrades.

New : Gold Elite Status with Virgin Atlantic Airways

Centurion has just announced that cardholders will now automatically qualify for Gold Status in the Virgin Atlantic Flying Club program. Being a Gold member allows you to earn 50% extra Virgin miles and other extra perks. Secondary cardholders also get this benefit.

Centurion Airport Lounge

Cardholders can also access Continental’s Presidents Lounge, Delta Crown Room Club and NorthWest Airlines World Club when you are flying on their airlines. You also get access to Priority Pass Lounges regardless of which airlines you fly. Priority Pass has over 450 airport lounges worldwide.

Elite Car Rental Program

Complimentary memberships are available to centurion holders for both Avis and Hertz.

Elite Hotel Status

The elite status available to centurion members has been the latest controvesy among cardholders. When the centurion card was first marketed, cardholders automatically qualified as Diamond (Elite) status for Hyatt, Gold Status (mid-tier) for Hilton HHonors program, Platinum status for Starwood Preferred Guest Program, and also elite status for Intercontinental Hotels and Resorts.

The perk that was coveted by centurion members was the Platinum Status of the Starwood Preferred Guest program. That was because Starwood has probably the best hotel frequent guest program with no blackout dates and suite upgrades for platinum members. Centurion cardholders often sited the room upgrades from Starwood Hotels essentially cover the cost of the card. Starwood also allows members to transfer points into airmiles at very favorable terms.

However, there has been some changes (or rather reduction) to the elite status perks that cardholders now get that has infuriated many centurion members. Firstly, Hyatt is no longer a partner with the centurion program. Hence, cardholders no longer get Gold status membership with Hyatt. But the most important changes are that from February 2007, centurion cardholders will no longer be automatically qualified for platinum status for the Starwood Preferred Gues Program. Instead, they now only qualify for gold status. Gold status can be easily gotten just by having a Starwood Preferred Guest credit card and just charging it in one calendar year. It is harder to get room upgrades and many centurion members are upset about this.

Fine Resorts and Hotel Program

Centurion has over 550 hotel partners around the world. When you make a reservations through centurion travel service, you will receive room upgrades at check-in when available, continental breakast for two, guaranteed 4pm late checkout and complimentary amenities depending on the hotel property.

But the most important perks under this program comes from the Mandarin Oriental and Ritz Carlton. When you book a room at the Ritz Carlton, you will get a room upgrade at the time of your reservations and you will also get a $50 spending credit. For any reservations at the Mandarin Oriental, you will get a room upgrade upon reservation and also another room upgrade at check-in (ie 2 upgrades). You will also receive from centurion a “Buy One Get One Free Night” coupon for each and every Mandarin Oriental Properties (except Mandarin NY). So, if you travel a lot and stay at the Mandarin Oriental, you will get a fantastic deal for each Mandarin Hotel that you stay in.

New : Relais & Chateaux Club 5C

Centurion has also just announced that cardholders can enroll in the Relais & Chateaux Club 5C program without fulfilling the standard spend and stay requirements. But firstly, what is Relais & Chateaux? It is an association of 460 independent luxury hotels and restaurants with an average capacity of 30 rooms in 51 countries in 5 continents. Their properties are known for their charm, exclusivity and great culnery experience. Relais Gourmands, which is a group within the association, consists of the world’s finest dining establishments.

The Club 5C is Relais & Chateaux royalty program. Its main benefits are the VIP Welcome and Discovery Privilege. The VIP Welcome is a special welcome from the staff of the property. The Discovery Privilege is a customize experience prepared for members during their stay. It includes thngs like a perfume customized specially for you, behind-the-scenes tour of the kitchen, fine wine tasting, and sybaritic spa treatment.

Annual Travel Benefit

Centurion cardholders will get a $100 statement credit when they book a qualifying vacation package with Centurion Travel service. This benefit can also be combined with other centurion travel benefits like the Cruise Privileges Amenities and Centurion Destination Vacations. This benefit is also available to Platinum Cardholders.

Centurion Cruise Privileges and Centurion Destination Vacations

Cruise privileges simply mean you will get a $500 shipboard credit when you book a cruise through Centurion Travel service. You can also earn up to 50,000 membership reward points when you book a one-of-a-kind taylored vacation through centurion travel to one of their exclusive resorts.

Baggage Insurance

If you book your travel tickets using your centurion card, you have up to $1,250 in baggage insurance for your carry-on luggage and $500 in checked-in luggage in addition to the insurance provided by the carrier. Tyler found this feature very helpful as he has had a few experience where he had a couple of damaged items on board a plane with his carry-on bags. American Express promptly reimbursed him the amount to replace his damaged items.

New : Domestic Companion Airfare Program

Both the Platinum and Centurion Card have just announced a new domestic companion airfare program. Under this program, you can get a free companion airfare when you use your centurion card to buy a ticket (which cost at least $299) on any of the big six carriers. You can request up to four complimentary tickets a year. You have to book through Airlines Promotion South Inc (API) and you have to meet a few restrictions. These include :

1. Ticket having to be roundtrips (multi-city, one-way and open jaw does not count)

2. 7 days advance booking

3. Saturday night or 2-night midweek stay.

4. A few fare restrictions and blackout dates

International Airline Program

This feature is actually also available to Platinum cardholders. This is how it works. For every full fare business or first class ticket that you purchase using the centurion card (using centurion travel service), you will get a free companion ticket. Tyler has not used this feature so far. On surface, it looks like a great benefit, but there are many occasions where 2 discounted business class tickets will cost cheaper than one full fare business class tickets. If you always book your tickets last minute and travel business class, you may find this a useful feature.

Centurion Villas

Centurion has partnered with a few very exclusive partners which enables cardholders to stay at the following exclusive places. They include the Four Seasons Residence Club, LaCURE, The Mansion at MGM Grand in Vegas (you cannot book at stay there even if you wanted to) and other Villas of distinction throughout the world.

Exclusive Resorts

Centurion has also partnered with many exlusive resorts in over 25 worldwide destinations. These can be booked through centurion travel service.

The Limousine Program

Booking a limousine through centurion travel service allows you to earn 3 membership reward points for every dollar that you spend on the service. The Limousine can be booked at 1-800-AXP-LIMO or through the centurion travel service.

International Communications Solutions

This program allows you to receive special pricing when you buy a GSM cellphone (GSM works in more international countries) and use phone plan from Vodafone (at reduced rates). You also get to rent a GSM phone for free is you use the centurion card for 60 days when you are going overseas. I don’t think this is a feature that will be used too often by cardholders though.

Private Jet Service

The Centurion program has partnered with six leading private jet companies. If you decide to enroll in any of them either through charter, membership or fractional use, you will get extra benefits when you enroll with the centurion card.

Space Adventure Spaceflight Club

Centurion members receive a complimentary membership with Space Adventures, the world’s premier space tourism company (according to Amex - and probably the only one!). This club is obviously for space enthusiasts, where you get private tours of launch facilities and other perks. Plus you get annual credits that you can use to pay for a suborbital flight!.

New : Tour GCX Membership

Tour GCX is a membership that provides individual and corporate members with unique access to private golf clubs and other golf experiences. They are able to provide this service because of marketing and business relationships with various prestigious private golf clubs.

Centurion cardholders who purchase the membership is allowed to reserve up to 5 tee times (foursomes) at select private golf clubs. The membership cost $3,125. Members also have special access to unique golf experiences like tournaments, pro-ams, clinics, outings and travel packages. Most of the courses are located at the New York Metropolitan areas like Long Island, New Jersey, Weschester County. Courses are also available at Florida, Las Vegas and D.C.

Lifestyle Perks

Centurion and Departure Magazines

Centurion members will get two magazines. The first is the Centurion magazine which is published four times a year. This is kinda like a Robb’s Report on the world of travel, food, wine, fashion and culture. You also get the Departure magazine, which is published seven times a year. Platinum Card members also get the Departure magazine, which is a magazine on luxury lifestyle.

Equinox Fitness Club

Centurion members who purchase a membership at the Equinox Fitness Club get a centurion preferred rate and receive a package of additional benefits like complimentary personal training sessions, spa treatments, guest passes, Kids’ Club certificates. Platinum members also get this benefit.

By Invitation Only, Destination Shopping, Premium Seats and Luxury Seats, Gold Card Events

As a centurion card member, you will be getting lots of mails and invitations to exclusive events. Firstly, there is an By Invitation Only which apparantly has access to exclusive once-in-a-lifetime events. In their brochure, amex mentions events like sports, performing arts, epicurean delights, business symposium with distinguish speakers, private vineyard tours during harvesting season! According to Tyler, an example would be a semi-private meal with chef Thomas Keller at Per Se in NYC (I believe it was $1300 per person), or VIP tickets to Sting and backstage passes to meet him (Tyler can’t remember the pricing).

Members will also get access to premium seats and luxury suites for sports, entertainment and live events at venues in Los Angeles and New York. You can also have access to the Platinum Lounge from Amex at the STAPLES Center in LA.

Centurion has also partnered with many high end retailers where you will receive unique in-store amenities and perks like personal shoppers, VIP rooms, exclusive in-store events, private viewings of collections, trunk shows and private sales. Partners include Bergdorf Goodman, Bulgari, Ermenegildo Zegna, Gucci, Harrods, Harvey Nichols, Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue.

You will also get access to Gold Card Events where you will be given a chance to buy tickets to sports and entertainment events before tickets go on sale to the public. Amex Gold Card members already have this privilege and perk.

Personal Concierge Service, Dining Reservations, Centurion Travel Service

While the Platinum Card and other credit cards offer concierge service, the Centurion goes one step further by assigning you your own personal concierge. Tyler told me that all you have to do is to tell them what time are you most likely to call and Centurion will arrange for a concierge personel who works in the same time zone shift to be your personal concierge. That way, you will most likely to be speaking to the same person who will get to be familiar with your special requests, needs and querks! This is part of the package that Tyler likes the most because he says they are really good. For example, he mentions that on numerous occasions, he was able to get seats in very hard to get restaurants. They may not be the best seats, but at least, he got a table when normally there was no way that was going to happen. He also mentions another occasion where he had a show ticket in Vegas cancelled for no good reason, and conturion concierge managed to get him center seats on the eighth row!. On occasions where his personal concierge was not available, he did experience a couple of incidents where he felt the concierge personel could have done better, but these occasions (according to him) were rare.

Other Improved Features from Gold Card

The Centurion card also has features that are found in the regular gold card and even the Platinum Card. However, you get slightly better perks with the Centurion Card. For example, on the Buyers Assurance Plan, centurion cardholders get double the manufacturers warranty for up to five years. For the Gold and Platinum Card, the extention for warranty is only for one year.

On their purchase protection plan, centurion members are covered for any product that they purchase on their card for up to 90 days if they are lost, stolen or even damaged by accident or vandalism. You are covered up to $10,000 per occurance and up to $50,000 per year per cardholder account.

Their return policy is similar to the Platinum and Gold Card in that you can return an item you bought and if they retailer or manufacturer refuses to accept it, Amex will refund you for up to $300 per item. You have to return within 90 days. You are allowed to claim up to $1000 a year.

Is this worth $2,500?

Well, is this card worth the $2,500 annual fee. At first glance, I would say that if you made use of the business class companion ticket (if the price makes sense), if you stay regularly at either the Ritz Carlton or the Oriental Mandarin, I would say that airline flight and hotel room stay upgrades can easily cover the cost of the annual fee.

Tyler got this card when it was first launched the he has been grandfathered at the original annual fee of $1,000. He likes the card, the very good customer and concierge service that he gets. He thinks that Amex probably has the best customer service for any big company (you might get better service from your own personal concierge for example, but no big company comes close to beating American Express, in his opinion). Previously, when centurion cardholders were automatically platinum (or gold) members of the Starwood Preferred Guest program, Tyler said that room upgrades alone on that program more that paid for the annual fee.

How to Get the American Express Centurion Black Card?

So how do you get the American Express Centurion Black Card? Well, you can’t apply for one. It is by invitation only. You need to get the American Express® Preferred Rewards Gold Card first (you get 10,000 bonus points). If your credit is not exactly stellar, try the American Express® Preferred Rewards Green Card. Or you could jump right into the American Express Platinum Credit Card.

Word has it that if you spend $250,000 a year on the card, a centurion card in a fancy box will be sent to you. If you really want to get your hands on this card and are a business owner, perhaps getting the The Gold Card from OPEN^SM from American Express and charging all your business expense on it (and paying your bills in full off course) will get you this card sooner than you think. Furthermore, you get 25,000 bonus points, which is enough for a free airline ticket. (Note : you do not need to have a business to apply for this card. Use your name as the business name and your social security as the tax id and you will be treated as a sole proprietor)

Latest Update

Tyler just received a letter the other day that stated beginning in May of 2007, all charter members (including him) will receive a fee increase from $1000 primary/$500 secondary to $2500 primary/$1500 secondary per year. Any new members into the program will pay the $2500/$1500 rate + a $5000 initiation fee. Tyler hasn’t made up his mind yet, but he is leaning towards dropping the Centurion Card and moving back to the Platinum Credit Card.
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Followers of my blog know that I have just got an American Express Platinum Card. A few weeks ago, I had my first experience using the concierge service. So here is the story.

I was at the Philadelphia International Airport going to Orlando for a conference. My flight was on Southwest Airlines (I paid for it because it was cheap and did not warrant during any membership reward points or using my Chase Flexible Reward Points). It turns out that there was a flight delay and that it was going to take a few hours.

So while my friend Jim, who was travelling with me, and I sat at the terminal, a thought suddenly came to my mine. Since I had just got my Amex Platinum Card, I should call the concierge service and check if they could get me into an airport lounge to chill out the next few hours.

As it was my first call, the concierge operator (whatever you call them) kindly took down my details and told me to wait while she checked to see if she could help me. After a few minutes, she told me that there was a Delta Crown Room just outside the security check point and I should be able to use it by just “flashing my Amex Platinum Card”. I asked her if she was sure as I am not flying with Delta. She said she was positive and even checked with her colleagues!

So Jim and I made our way out and went into the Delta Crown Room. We told the receptionist our situation but we were politely told that it was not possible to use their lounge. It was only possible if we were flying on Delta. We said that American Express told us it was possible. She then said that everyday, about 20 Amex Platinum or Centurion Cardholders come in thinking they could use the lounge without a Delta ticket. She took out the rules and showed them to us.

We felt a little embarassed and made our way out. I then called concierge again and told them my experiences. This time, the lady who answered my call was more experienced and told me that the earlier information I was given was wrong and she apologized for the error and confusion. She told me it was a common error made by a new members of the team!

Jim and I then actually took a walk all the way from terminal E to I believe terminal B where the Marriott was. We chilled out at the Marriott for a while before heading back for our flights.

Well, it sure wasn’t the best impression that Platinum Concierge made with me. Having said that, I am not going to get upset or anything like that. Having been a American Express® Preferred Rewards Gold Card for the last 13 years, I have been satisfied with the service. I have lost a card overseas (and a new card arrived within one day), got Amex not to accept a bill in which I felt I was ripped off and did not have to pay for car rental insurance whenever I rented a car. I will overlook this incident, but will report to you all any of my new adventures with this card.

OK - here is the latest from me. After being an American Express Gold Card member for 12 years and after a couple of years of getting offers in the mail and on the phone, I finally bit the bullet and got the American Express Platinum Card.

When I received my card in a nice package, I finally got on thinking as to why I decided to get the card? I felt slightly guilty. Why did I have to get a card with a $395 annual fee? Was it a prestige thing? Was it my ego? Afterall, I was pretty happy with my Gold Card ($150 fee - so I wasn’t exactly starting from $0). I used my membership reward points for airmiles and it has worked pretty well for me for the longest time. Perhaps I was intrigued by their other perks like their concierge service and other stuff. But deep down inside my, I have to admit the card looks cool and it is probably an ego thing for me. It is nice knowing you can afford the card without blinking an eyelid.

But I also convinced myself that since I am Mr Credit Card, how can I not have the Amex Platinum? After all, I review credit cards (lots of them), and this is one card you cannot really do a proper review unless you actually have the card! (I’ll probably write off the $395 annual fee as an expense of running this site!). So unlike any other credit card site, a review of the Amex Platinum will actually come from someone who actually has one!

So I’ll start using this card from now on and my Blue Cash and other cash rebate cards will take a back seat for a while. I will certainly use the concierge service and all the other perks and reports here and the forum my experiences with this card. So watch out this space for more banter on the American Express Platinum Card. A full review will soon be published.

I know many friends who are immigrants and expatriates. Many come from Europe and Asia. When they hear that I review credit cards, the first question is always “What is the best credit card to earn miles for their overseas travel home on my domestic airline?”

Having reviewed lots of credit cards, I know the perfect card for these friends. The card I am referring to is the Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express . At first glance, this is just another affinity card for Starwood Preferred Guest Members. However, if you are familiar with the Starwood program, you will know that Starwood allows you to transfer points into air miles for many airlines at a very favorable rate. You can transfer 20,000 points into 20,000 miles for many airlines and furthermore, Starwood Preferred Guest Program gives you an additional 5,000 miles for that program! The Starwood Card allows you to earn one point for every dollar that you spend on the card. Hence, you can earn 25,000 miles with just $20,000 in spending on your card. (Remember that most airlines frequent flyer program requires 25,000 miles for one roundtrip restricted economy ticket).

But the real beauty of the Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card is that there are over 30 airline partners. As I mentioned earlier, these friends of mine come from Europe and Asia and their number complaint is that there are no airline credit cards for their favourite foreign airline. But by getting the Starwood card, their problems were solved. Below is a list of Starwood’s airline partner.

Aeroplan Air Canada,
Air China Companion,
Air New Zealand and Air Points,
Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan,
Alitalia Mille Miglia,
All Nippon Airways (ANA) Mileage Club,
American Airlines AAdvantage,
Asiana Airlines,
British Airways Executive Club,
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles,
Continental Airlines OnePass,
Delta Airlines Skymiles,
Emirates and Sri Lankan Airlines Skywards,
Flying Blue,
Hawaiian Airlines,
Japan Airlines (JAL) Mileage Bank,
KLM Air France Flying Blue,
LAN LANPASS,
Lufthansa Miles and More,
Mexicana Frecuenta,
Northwest Airlines Worldperks,
Qantas Airways Frequent Flyer,
Qatar Airways,
Saudi Arabian Airlines Alfursan,
Singapore Airlines Krisflyer,
Swiss Travel Club,
Thai Airways International Royal Orchid Plus,
US Airways Dividend Miles,
United Airlines Mileage Plus,
VARIG Smiles,
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club.

There are a couple of caveats. All of the above airline partners allow one starwood point to be converted into one miles with the exception of United Airlines Mileage Plus (2:1), Varig Smiles (2:1), LAN LANPASS (1:2), Japan Airlines Mileage Bank (3:2) and Air New Zealand and Air Points (65:1). So please be aware.

Why do consumers choose an inferior product even though there are better deals in the marketplace. Well, there are a whole variety of reasons for that. What puzzles me is that it exist in the credit card world in the area of affinity cards. I’m not talking about 0% APR balance transfer deals, but rather am refering specifically to the Hilton HHonors Credit Card.

For many consumers who have been slapped with higher credit card fees, increases in interest rates without any notice, it seems like credit card companies have lots of pricing power in the market. Yes, even though there are more 0% APR Balance Transfer deals around, it seems like credit card issuers who figured ways to somehow trap consumers and impose all sorts of fees.

But when we look at the power that these companies have over big organizations that issue affinity cards, we find that they may not hold all the aces up their sleeves. The two classic examples are credit card relationships with Hilton HHonors and US Airways Dividend Miles.

Rather than letting just one credit card issuer issue their cards, these two organizations have introduced some sort of competition into the market place by letting two credit card issuers issue their credit cards.

Hilton HHonors was the first to let both Citibank and American Express issue their affinity credit cards. It is strange that both issuers allowed this situation to develop. Perhaps Hilton HHonors was a great program and popular when they struck those deals (I’m pretty sure Starwood has overtaken them). When there are two credit card issuers issuing the same credit card for the same organization, you would expect them to compete over features or at least be as competitive. However, you will be surprised that the two Hilton HHonors Credit Cards do not have the same features.

In fact, it turns out that the Hilton HHonors® Platinum Credit Card from American Express is actually the better version. It allows you to earn 5 points for every dollar you spend at Hilton Hotels, standalone supermarkets, gas stations, drugstores, selected dining establishments, US Post Office and Wireless Phone Bills. You also earn 3 points for every dollar you spend on other purchases.

In contrast, the Citi® Hilton Hhonors® Visa® Signature Card allows you to earn only 3 points for every dollar you spend at Hilton Hotels and 2 points for every dollar you spend at other purchases. You would think that Citibank would at least match American Express? But they haven’t. Why? Probably because people still apply for them or do not bother to do more research? Could it be that consumers are not aware that American Express has the better deal? I doubt it because frequent flyers are some of the savviest consumers around. Could it be that having a Visa is better than an Amex because more places accept them? Perhaps this argument held some weight years ago, but not now.

Despite me writing a post showing the differences among the two Hilton HHonors Credit Card, more of my readers applied for the Citi Hilton HHonors Visa than the American Express Hilton HHonors!

So what gives? I think it is really a combination of the above reasons. There are just so many credit cards out there in the market that very few people bother to do thorough research before getting a card. It just goes to show that you do not need the best product in the market place to be successful. In fact, I would argue that in a market with too much choices, consumers may simply not bother to do all the necessary research and comparison.

But if you are in the market for a Hilton HHonors Credit Card, then you definitely want to get the Hilton HHonors® Platinum Credit Card from American Express. And you heard it here first.

United has just announced today that they have a new expiration policy on United Mileage Plus Miles. From now onwards, miles are valid for only 18 months versus 36 months previously.

The rationale for this is that it will enable the “true frequent flyer” and loyal customers to compete with fewer people to get award seats. This will also reduce their operating costs.

Their website stated that Mileage Plus accounts that have not earned or redeemed miles since July 1, 2006 will have associated miles expire on Dec. 31, 2007.

However, like all airline frequent flyer programs, there are ways to “keep your account active and extend the life of your miles). You can do the following things :

1. Fly United or one of its 28 airline partners and earn UA miles.

2. Sign up for the United Mileage Plus® Platinum Business Card. And oh! make sure you use your card!

3. purchase products or services from more than 100 travel and retail partners (may be difficult if you do not know which are their partner merchants!)

4. use miles by taking a trip to one of the 841 destinations United and its partners serve (basically telling you to use up your miles)

5. use miles for merchandise, hotel stays and dining (ditto)

6. transfer miles to another Mileage Plus member (please redeem seats on someone else’s airplane!)

7. donate miles to the Mileage Plus Charity Miles program (good for your soul and good for UA as well!).

I see this trend continuing as airlines consolidate (US Airways still wants Delta Airlines). However, if you are not a frequent flyer, but occassionally want to use United Mileage Plus Miles to get a free airline ticket, there are credit cards that help you get around this. Here are your alternatives.

1. Get an American Express® Preferred Rewards Green Card. Yes, you have pay an annual fee plus $10 when you transfer points to miles. But Membership Reward Points do not expire and you can choose when to transfer miles. Even if you are not a frequent flyer member of any airline, you can always set one up before you book your flight, transfer membership reward points over and get your free airline ticket!.

2. Get the Chase Flexible Rewards Platinum Visa® Card. The flexible Rewards program allows you to transfer points into United Mileage Plus Miles. The conversion is slightly less than one for one, but with this card you do not pay any annual fee at all. (Note : this information cannot be found on Chase website. But I have this card and can vouch for it).

At 3pm EST today, I got into the My Wish List site and tried to get the 2007 Porsche Cayman Coupe, which was going for $5,000. Bear in mind that I use the Verizon FIOS fiber optic internet connection, had my credit cards ready. But it did not seem to help. I actually captured my hilarious attempt in a screencast! You can watch it below.

There will be another Porsche going for $5,000 at 7pm EST later this evening. I’ll be trying again and will report back!

Wouldn’t you like to get a Porsche Cayman Coupe 2007 Model for just $5,000?

If you are an american express cardholder, you may stand a small chance of landing one of these beauty for YES $5,000. At this moment, actually from November 18th till December 14th, American Express can participate in the My Wish List promotion.

This is how the promotion works. Everyday, there will be an item displayed on the My Wish List page. This item will sell for much less than the retail price. There are a limited number of these items and they will appear at certain times during the day.

The Porsche Cayman Coupe will appear on Monday (11th December) at 12pm, 3pm and 7pm EST. There are only 3 cars available. You will have to be in front of your computer, clicking in your details as soon as the items appear and hopefully have a fast enough connection to be the first! It is a long shot, but I will still give it a shot.

Below is a screencast on the My Wish List site.

American Express has just come up with a new cash back business credit card called the American Express SimplyCash^SM Business Card.

While all of American Express cash rewards credit cards have a tiered rebate formula, the Simply Cash has a simple formula. You earn 5% rebates for purchases of wireless telephone services, automobile gasoline, and office supplies and equipment and 1% rebates for all other purchases. You can earn unlimited rebates.

In my opinion, I think this card is better than the Advanta Platinum with Rewards because it has no caps on the amount of rebates you can earn. It is better than the Chase Business Rebate Card as it pays 5% rebates on certain business expenses versus Chases’ 3%. I also think it is slightly better than the Blue Cash for Business because you can earn unlimited 5% rebates on the specified categories.

If you are a small business owner looking for a cash reward business credit card, this will the the card to get.

I just received a postcard from American Express telling me to use my American Express Rewards Gold Card at BonusPointsMall.com and earn three points for every dollar I spend.

All of Membership Rewards merchant partners are on that site and if you make any purchase from these merchants from the bonuspointsmall.com site, you get your triple points.

This offer is valid from 15 November to 31st December. I will check this site out and do a little “comparison shopping”. I will report on my little shopping spree later on.