Is There a Way to Purchase a Physical Debit Card with AmEx?

navegante88 on 19/02/2021 - 09:45

Good morning fellow ozbargainers,

I am wondering if there is a place that sells a physical /online debit cards (MasterCard / visa) (with little to no fees) that I can purchase using an AMEX.

Seems like US has a service called privacy.

Reason being I want to get something from Costco but they don't accept AMEX. My normal card doesn't generate points and it is a fairly significant purchase.

Do you guys think it's worth the effort? A lot of my bills don't accept AMEX

Does anyone have experience?

Thank you in advance!

Financial Gift Card

Comments

  • blueyez on 19/02/2021 - 10:02
    +1

    You can buy prepaid Visa or Mastercard cards from a supermarket. Alternatively, apply for a Visa or Mastercard that earns you points.

    Coles sometimes has bonus point specials which negates the $6 fee.

    Bankwest offer a bank account that earns you Qantas points with each purchase is another alternative;
    https://www.bankwest.com.au/personal/bank-and-save/bank-acco…

    • kerfuffle on 19/02/2021 - 10:13

      Are Costco going to let you do split payments with your five $250 Coles prepaid Mastercards though?

      • blueyez on 19/02/2021 - 10:16
        +1

        Unfortunately I don't shop at Costco, so can't answer that part.

        Also I think it would make more sense to get a Mastercard/Visa credit card if OP is chasing points as most Amex are linked to flyer points. Unless OP is just building up Amex reward points…

      • hashtagbargain on 19/02/2021 - 13:05
        +1

        yes it is possible.

        source: personal past experience splitting the bill and paying through multiple cards at costco.

  • pharkurnell on 19/02/2021 - 10:07
    +3

    Do you guys think it's worth the effort?

    No.

  • Hugh G Rection on 19/02/2021 - 10:11

    what are u buying from costco?

  • tomclancy on 19/02/2021 - 10:13
    +3

    The boat sailed last week. You missed it

  • navegante88 on 19/02/2021 - 10:47

    Thanks for the replies everyone, do Visa gift cards work like normal credit cards? I was hoping to buy something around the $700 mark. But if it's too much effort then probably won't bother…

    • stirlo on 19/02/2021 - 11:26
      +4

      Yes they do. There are some restrictions on gambling and other cash equivalent services but for Costco you will be fine (provided they accept multiple cards).

      That said on a $700 purchase it hardly seems worth it. You're probably getting around 1 point per dollar so 700 points which at the standard 1c per point is worth about $7 which will barely offset the fee (particularly if you have to buy multiple cards).

      If you're looking at earning points from card spend you are doing points wrong. The way to get ahead is to apply for a new card every 3 months and collect the bonus points from each one, cancel the card and reapply in 12 months. I have earned 1 million bonus points this way but probably only around 50k from actual spending

      • navegante88 on 19/02/2021 - 15:04

        You're right, I'll need to use your strategy. Been earning points for past 10 or so years and have very little to show for it.

        My old CommBank credit card was linked to Amex and was able to earn triple points. Got around $1500 of gift cards from that.

        Next was a Citibank rewards which netted me some points, converted all to velocity and have around 100

        Now have Qantas amex with 75k QFF points.

        Haven't redeemed anything since the initial commbank card and 100k in velocity is probably worth not much…

    • blueyez on 19/02/2021 - 11:49

      Yep they work like normal cards. Out of curiosity - which Amex do you have? Are you trying to reach a minimum spend on it or just chasing points? Which rewards program? Need more info to help suss it out.

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