03 March 2009

Snarky Dissection

I don't know why, but a full page ad in today's Times jumped out at me and slayed me with its inanity. Visa is flogging a "Black Card".

First, they claim that it's "not just another piece of plastic", it's "made with carbon". Well, credit cards are generally made out of polyvinyl chloride acetate, which in turn is made of vinyl chloride and vinyl acetate, and guess what? There's carbon in both vinyl chloride and in vinyl acetate, and therefore there's carbon in every damned credit card out there!

Second, they claim that it's "not for everyone. In fact, it is limited to only 1% of U.S. residents to ensure the highest caliber of personal service is provided to every Cardmember." Um, when I checked earlier, the population of the United States was over 300 million people. One percent of 300 million is three million people! A tiny, little, exclusive club of only three million of your dearest friends!


And, to add insult to injury, it costs $495 a year!

Who are they kidding?

At least they're buying newspaper ads and keeping the good grey lady afloat.


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Edited to add: Colbert skewered the black card recently - the clip is here - thanks Julia!

13 comments:

Gwen said...

I wouldn't even let Visa pay me to apply for that stupid credit card. I hate Visa. And not just because I owe them a shitload of money either.

Julia said...

I don't suppose you saw Colbert use that card and that ad in a bit the other week? It was funnnnny. :)

Anonymous said...

I saw that today and I had a flash of anger. What a stoopid time to do this. Most people don't qualify and are having a hard time paying off their "normal person cards." Why alienate your customers for the sake of a few rich people (who are tightening their belts anyway)? Morons.

Mayberry said...

$500 a year! good gravy.

San Diego Momma said...

What crappy timing too.

Hawk your upscale credit card with its $500 annual fee at a time when layoffs and bankruptcies are epic.

Stupidness.

Catherine said...

...and a card at that price at a time like this will limit it to way fewer than 1%!

Awesome Mom said...

Amazingly appallingly awful. Like the world needs yet another credit card.

Debbie D said...

Just what I want to pay $500 a year to use a charge card so I can pay that company interest. No thank you!

Anonymous said...

Carbon? Ugh. My Visa is made out of diamond. That's ONE diamond cut to size. So there. I really don't associate with carbon in it's undeveloped state.

heidi said...

that kind of crapola will NOT fly in this economy. Seriously!

meno said...

They can kiss my lily white butt if they think i would pay $495 for a credit card.

Woman in a Window said...

I'm confused, not by you, but the world.

ConverseMomma said...

It's totally lame, but you know there will be people who buy them just so they can feel important. I mean, come on, people buy Hummers who live in the flat suburbs, and use them to transport their kids to soccer. Same type will get this card.