When will be a good time to downgrade from the BCP to the BCE?

2 years ago

Mon Jun 13, 2022 6:34 pm

BrutalBodyShots

Senior AdministratorGoodwill Saturation Technique Author

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I downgraded mine after a year and didn't lose the SUB. You can pay the AF, then a month later or so downgrade and they'll refund the portion of the AF that wasn't used... in this case 11/12 of it.

TU8 799/EX8 786/EQ8 805 EQ5 770/EX2 757 8/18/2023

2 years ago

Mon Jun 13, 2022 6:47 pm

Saeren

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Tinkegrrl wrote: ↑Mon Jun 13, 2022 6:31 pm I just got the BCP, but i largely did it for the $400 sign up bonus I ran across, plus knowing the first year there’s no annual fee. At the end of the day, I’d probably be better off with the BCE considering I’ve got 2 cards that give 5% back on groceries quarterly. Those should cover half a year. Although, technically, I could use Discover’s 5% back on grocery strictly for gift cards since they don’t seem to mind that… Hmm…. Anyway, should I desire to downgrade this card, I assume I will need to at least pay the annual fee for the second year or they’ll claw back my sign up bonus? Is this correct?

You just wait til they post the AF and then downgrade and they'll refund it. They don't mind as long as you don't downgrade before the AF posts and they'll even give you upgrade offers every so often to earn like $150 after $1K spend with a waived AF for another year (I'm on such a deal right now).

2 years ago

Mon Jun 13, 2022 6:54 pm

Tinkegrrl

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BrutalBodyShots wrote: ↑Mon Jun 13, 2022 6:34 pm I downgraded mine after a year and didn't lose the SUB. You can pay the AF, then a month later or so downgrade and they'll refund the portion of the AF that wasn't used... in this case 11/12 of it.

Excellent. It will all depend on how much I actually spend in groceries this year. What with inflation it may wind up being worth paying the $95 annual fee. While I do order out often, I have 2 kids to feed so groceries are kinda necessary. That bill just keeps getting higher and there’s not a lot I can cut from it.

TU8 799/EX8 786/EQ8 805 EQ5 770/EX2 757 8/18/2023

2 years ago

Mon Jun 13, 2022 7:35 pm

Saeren

Rebel Administrator

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Level0 Last INQFriday, August 23, 2024 Gardening For24 days, 13 hours, and 18 minutes Next Level in6 days, 10 hours, and 42 minutes on September 23rd INQ 1yr onSaturday, August 23, 2025 INQ 1yr in11 months, 6 days, 10 hours, and 42 minutes INQ 2yr onSunday, August 23, 2026 INQ 2yr in1 year, 11 months, 6 days, 10 hours, and 42 minutes Goal6 months Goal DateSunday, February 23, 2025 Goal In5 months, 6 days, 10 hours, and 42 minutes

Tinkegrrl wrote: ↑Mon Jun 13, 2022 6:54 pm
BrutalBodyShots wrote: ↑Mon Jun 13, 2022 6:34 pm I downgraded mine after a year and didn't lose the SUB. You can pay the AF, then a month later or so downgrade and they'll refund the portion of the AF that wasn't used... in this case 11/12 of it.
Excellent. It will all depend on how much I actually spend in groceries this year. What with inflation it may wind up being worth paying the $95 annual fee. While I do order out often, I have 2 kids to feed so groceries are kinda necessary. That bill just keeps getting higher and there’s not a lot I can cut from it.

The math basically is if your total streaming+groceries equals $264 or more each month, it's a keeper card vs the BCE. Keep in mind the 6% on streaming includes ALL purchases on iTunes, App Store, and Play Store.

2 years ago

Mon Jun 13, 2022 9:24 pm

Tinkegrrl

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Level14 Last INQSaturday, July 1, 2023 Gardening For1 year, 2 months, 15 days, 13 hours, and 18 minutes Next Level in14 days, 10 hours, and 42 minutes on October 1st INQ 1yr onMonday, July 1, 2024 INQ 1yr reached2 months, 15 days, 13 hours, and 18 minutes ago INQ 2yr onTuesday, July 1, 2025 INQ 2yr in9 months, 14 days, 10 hours, and 42 minutes Goal12 months Goal DateMonday, July 1, 2024 Goal Achieved2 months, 15 days, 13 hours, and 18 minutes ago

Saeren wrote: ↑Mon Jun 13, 2022 7:35 pm
Tinkegrrl wrote: ↑Mon Jun 13, 2022 6:54 pm
BrutalBodyShots wrote: ↑Mon Jun 13, 2022 6:34 pm I downgraded mine after a year and didn't lose the SUB. You can pay the AF, then a month later or so downgrade and they'll refund the portion of the AF that wasn't used... in this case 11/12 of it.
Excellent. It will all depend on how much I actually spend in groceries this year. What with inflation it may wind up being worth paying the $95 annual fee. While I do order out often, I have 2 kids to feed so groceries are kinda necessary. That bill just keeps getting higher and there’s not a lot I can cut from it.
The math basically is if your total streaming+groceries equals $264 or more each month, it's a keeper card vs the BCE. Keep in mind the 6% on streaming includes ALL purchases on iTunes, App Store, and Play Store.

If not for the 5x points on my Affinity Pure rewards card for at least a quarter and the 5% back for a quarter with Discover the math makes the the BCP a keeper for me. But, as together those cards make up half a year…. Not sure I should count Discover though, as Discover doesn’t mind when I buy gift cards from the grocery store. Makes that quarter essentially 5% back on whatever I want really.

TU8 799/EX8 786/EQ8 805 EQ5 770/EX2 757 8/18/2023

2 years ago

Mon Jun 13, 2022 9:47 pm

Saeren

Rebel Administrator

Recent HP or new account.

Level0 Last INQFriday, August 23, 2024 Gardening For24 days, 13 hours, and 18 minutes Next Level in6 days, 10 hours, and 42 minutes on September 23rd INQ 1yr onSaturday, August 23, 2025 INQ 1yr in11 months, 6 days, 10 hours, and 42 minutes INQ 2yr onSunday, August 23, 2026 INQ 2yr in1 year, 11 months, 6 days, 10 hours, and 42 minutes Goal6 months Goal DateSunday, February 23, 2025 Goal In5 months, 6 days, 10 hours, and 42 minutes

The BCP loses to my Custom Cash so unfortunately AMEX never comes out ahead for me. My Citi card gives me 5% on up to $500 a month on groceries and I get an extra .55% for having a Rewards+ while AMEX caps at about 4.4% after the AF is considered if you max out the $6K and goes down if you spend more or less. My Affinity Cash Rewards comes out ahead of Custom Cash when we have grocery quarters since the total ends up being 7% but that Custom Cash is just too damn good of a card.

2 years ago

Mon Jun 13, 2022 10:24 pm

BrutalBodyShots

Senior AdministratorGoodwill Saturation Technique Author

BrutalBodyShots has been gardening for over 2 years.
BrutalBodyShots has achieved the Garden Goal !!

Level27 Last INQMonday, May 23, 2022 Gardening For2 years, 3 months, 24 days, 13 hours, and 18 minutes Next Level in6 days, 10 hours, and 42 minutes on September 23rd INQ 1yr onTuesday, May 23, 2023 INQ 1yr reached1 year, 3 months, 24 days, 13 hours, and 18 minutes ago INQ 2yr onThursday, May 23, 2024 INQ 2yr reached3 months, 24 days, 13 hours, and 18 minutes ago Goal24 months Goal DateThursday, May 23, 2024 Goal Achieved3 months, 24 days, 13 hours, and 18 minutes ago

Yeah if you've got Affinity and they do a grocery quarter that means you'd have to increase your grocery spend the other 3/4 of the year to meet the minimum / break even point.

I personally think the BCP is a great card for limited card profiles, but once someone has a decent array of category cards its value is quickly eroded.