<p>Received a very nicely packed invitation for the ultimate creditcard - a Black Visa. Only 1% of the US comsumer use it, according to the invitation. </p>
<p>Some where a computer must have made a mistake - sorting out me as a rich person. </p>
<p>I was excited for about 30 seconds until I read the section about the fee - $495 a year and $195 for each additional card. </p>
<p>O.k. Now I know why only 1% of the people use it. Who spends $700 a year just to carry a card?</p>
<p>Yikes! Does it carry some kind of concierge service?</p>
<p>It’s one of those if you have to ask you can’t afford it things. The premier Amex cards are the same way. I couldn’t be bothered. My Costco Amex with cashback is good enough for me.</p>
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<p>"According to AdSavvy, the card’s real perk lies in its concierge service:</p>
<p>For the ultra-rich, buying whatever you want can get boring; they need the ability to actually do something that other people can’t. A good concierge can do that. You need 12 Arabian horses for your daughters wedding? Call up the concierge, he’ll have them flown in from Dubai…The ability to get difficult things done is what sets these cards apart from just a card with a very high limit. Just the knowledge that cardholders have that ability, 24-hours a day, keeps them happy." </p>
<p>[The</a> VISA Black Card: A Smart Strategy in Trying Times | Business Pundit](<a href=“http://www.businesspundit.com/the-visa-black-card-a-smart-strategy-in-trying-times/]The”>The VISA Black Card: A Smart Strategy in Trying Times)</p>
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<p>O.k. we might have a couple months of $4K+ bills but definitely not $50K a year.</p>
<p>I think I am more like in the “have average credit scores and low income” catagory:</p>
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<p>I think I would rather spend $700 to get me some old Maker Mark than a piece of plastics to make me feel good.</p>
<p>[Visa</a> Black Card: 1% Cash Back, 0% APR Balance Transfers, Concierge, and Luxury Gifts - Consumerism Commentary, personal finance since 2003](<a href=“http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2009/01/09/visa-black-card-1-cash-back-0-apr-balance-transfers-concierge-and-luxury-gifts/]Visa”>http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2009/01/09/visa-black-card-1-cash-back-0-apr-balance-transfers-concierge-and-luxury-gifts/)</p>
<p>We received the same invitation in the mail a few days ago. It went right into the garbage.</p>
<p>Sorry, I get it all the time (nothing big deal about Black Visa). The big deal one is the Black AmEx. If you call AmEx, they disvow having such product. It is invitation only. I am still waiting for my invite. I was with a girfriend in a store when she whipped out hers, salespeople did stop short.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/19/science/19tier.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=Message%20in%20What%20we%20buy&st=cse[/url]”>http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/19/science/19tier.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=Message%20in%20What%20we%20buy&st=cse</a></p>
<p>Reminds me that we should all read this article…very profound…</p>
<p>“The grand edifice of brand-name consumerism rests on the narcissistic fantasy that everyone else cares about what we buy”</p>
<p>I got the same “invitation” for the Black Visa yesterday. Right into the circular file. I’ll stick with my Southwest Airlines “regular” Visa, thank you.</p>
<p>I’ve never seen a black credit card.</p>
<p>That article was interesting. When I see conspicuous consumption, I assume the people are overextending, and I’m not impressed, I’m disappointed.</p>
<p>I have a free master card given by my bank - low rate because I am a good customer (?). There is no FX service fee when I use it overseas. Otherwise, it’s AmEx, no revolving.</p>
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<p>I have a friend (really, a friend of a friend) who has a Black AMEX and boy does it turn heads and get perks. Want to be treated like a movie star or royalty, carry one of those babies. But, as I understand it, you have to charge $250K (!!!) a year on the thing to keep it. That’s more than 3x my salary!!!</p>
<p>My guess is that you’re looked at like trash by salespeople if you happen to pay with that hated substance: cash.</p>
<p>Please do not trash those notices…shred them! It is a PITA, but necessary.</p>
<p>BCEagle - you know who pays with cash, right?(the ones with rolls of cash kept together with rubber band).</p>
<p>I don’t have a black Visa, but my Visa card is mostly black, and boy, is it a pain when you need to copy down the number!</p>
<p>I remember reading decades ago that a black Amex gets you perks like having Nieman Marcus open the store just for you to go shopping after hours. </p>
<p>Conspicuous consumption article: I’m bristling over equating buying fair trade coffee with buying a BMW. Harumph.</p>
<p>As noted above, it’s the black AMEX which is super special. The lower end for an invite used to be $250k a year in spending, if I remember correctly. The card itself is or at least used to be titanium.</p>
<p>It is the black Amex that was the ultimate card reserved for the wealthy, yet I don’t think many care unless they travel extensively. The black Visa is kind of an oxcymoron.</p>
<p>oldfort, I want to shop with your girlfriend once just for fun! We spend a lot on Amex due to business use but I have no interest in paying a ridiculous annual fee. The conceirge to me, is just like the Onstar for my car. I don’t need it. I have a cel phone and I’m not afraid to use it. When I get really stuck I call one of my kids who is always near a computer and voila, instant conceirge. (Although I’ll admit I’ve never asked them for 12 Arabian horses…usually it’s just directions to the nearest Starbucks).</p>