Mastercard. Priceless?

[Horse with no Name]

I know everyone has seen the commercials where people live their "priceless" dreams via Mastercard.
But I do believe that I have now seen EVERYTHING.
The new Mastercard commercial.
Has the Jolly Green Giant, Charlie Tuna, et al having dinner.
At the end, it says broccoli $1.79...etc..with the "punchline" being basically to ENCOURAGE people to put their groceries on their Mastercard.
:wow:

[av8rdave]

1. I LOVE putting almost everything on my credit card

Then paying it off every month...the credit card companies hate that. You know what they call people like me? Freeloaders! I'm not making this up!

[Horse with no Name]

2. Not everyone can do that

And THOSE aren't the consumers they are targeting.

[physioex]

5. That's correct...

They rigged the system to work to their advantage. But for the few who are smart enough, there are many advantages.

[Gormy Cuss]

9. Actually, they are targeting both groups.

Consumers who charge everything on their cards allow the cc companies to create pretty sophisticated marketing databases for targeted campaigns by product vendors.

[physioex]

12. The "Sweet Spot" is definitely not the ones who pay their bills....

Anyways you can register yourself at this site to reduce your junk mail.

https://www.optoutprescreen.com/?rf=t

[Gormy Cuss]

18. No, but data mining is big business.

Opt-outs may reduce the volume for individual consumers but the aggregate data are still valuable for targeted marketing to like groups in a geography for example.

[av8rdave]

11. I agree with you

I am VERY careful about what/how much I put on mine, btw, but I do understand that there are many who have little choice.

[physioex]

3. Yes ofcourse....

I hope you watch the moved Maxed Out on Google Video. Also there was an excellent piece on Frontline a few years back. Anyways back to the topic. For those DUers who CAN pay in full their balances, I do encourage the use of credit cards. There are several advanatages like cash back rewards and the convenience. But you must be disciplined with your spending. It's a great way to stick it to the man.

[Taverner]

4. Yep me too - get the points but don't pay the fees

[Frustratedlady]

6. I do the same. That way, I can carry the card in my pocket, as they are stealing

purses out of the grocery cart while you have your back turned.

Besides, I get money back in the bonus dollars.

I heard they called us deadbeats. Freeloaders sounds more accurate.

[physioex]

8. It's only fair...

Their business model is built on being lone sharks to the poor. Just like the Payday loan services. It's only appropriate that the few people in a position to take advantage do so.

[Boojatta]

13. The merchant pays the credit card company.

[Pab Sungenis]

17. Exactly.

I used to get docked 2% of each purchase at my theater by people who used credit cards. I made that difference up, however, because people using cards tended to spend more.

[MadHound]

19. Actually you're still generating revenue for the CC corporations

Since most CC's charge businesses fees on a per diem basis. So while you may not be paying interest, the grocery store is paying a fee.

[jwirr]

7. What a commentary on our economic mess brought to us by the

creators of this mess.

[physioex]

10. Thats only part of the equation....

Don't forget the assholes in Wall Street that engineered the financial scheme of selling mortgage backed securities sliced and diced all over the world.

[graywarrior]

14. I just saw that ad

lol

[rainbow4321]

15. Our local store now gives the option "do you want this all on one card?"

when you swipe your card to pay...
As in, I assume, "maxxed out one of your cards half way thru check out? Wanna use the other one that you haven't maxxed out..yet"

[Horse with no Name]

16. Sad, isn't it?n/t

[Contrary1]

20. I'm fortunate that we can pay our balance off every month...

It wasn't always like that for us, so I am not without sympathy for those the credit card companies target.

The grocery store credit card we use pays us back with checks that are used for groceries. We end up getting back about $250. a year. Works well for us, since it is the only "reward" we can actually use.

[regnaD kciN]

21. It's ironic, because...

...from what I understand, the credit-card companies are checking everyone for potential bad credit risks, so they can raise your interest rate and minimum payment, lower your credit limit, etc., etc.

I understand that one of the things they look at to determine if you're in trouble is if you're using your card for "necessities." So, in other words, using the plastic for meals out, vacations, and big-screen TVs is fine, but, if you start using it to pay for groceries or utility bills, you will be singled out as "at-risk." So, putting that Jolly Green Giant broccoli or Starkist tuna on your Mastercard might wind up getting you a notice telling you your interest rate is being raised to 30%.

Priceless. :grr: