Taking my Discover it to Japan

[C316]

Hope you had a great time, thanks for taking the time to give us a rundown so that we may plan what cards to take with us when we go. It's one of those things that crosses your mind, but never really think about in depth. I will for sure when we go this fall. So this helps me a lot.

[hegemony]

pics pics pics!!!

[mendelssohn]

The last thing I was looking into was the exchange rates used by Discover. Although all of the cards that I took with me don't have any foreign transaction fees, they do NOT use the same exchange rates.

 

Here is an old article on TPG that shows the varying exchange rates used at the time for the major issuers:

 

http://thepointsguy.com/2015/02/avoid-a-nasty-surprise-on-international-trips/

 

Chase and Amex lead the pack, and Cap1 is last. Calculating based on the current exchange rates, Discover comes in just ahead of Cap1.

 

I'm not going to assign any more points or make adjustments, because things are very clear. I knew when I started this thread that Discover does not offer any travel benefits. At a very minimum, you can use the concierge service with Visa Signature and W(E)MC for some benefits.

 

What I did NOT know going into this is that Discover would have issues being run on the JCB network. Japan was the perfect opportunity to test Discover outside North America, and it failed miserably.

 

Would I still recommend you take your Discover card with you to Japan? Unless you have a JCB, which has very limited geographical availability, yes. I still think it's a good idea to take payment options on as many networks as possible. Just plan on it being a last option.

 

American Express acceptability really was incredible, and I found that it was accepted in many places where Visa and MC were not accepted as well, and also instances where even JCB was not accepted.

 

So the final ranking of the cards on my list:

 

1. Amex Platinum

2. CSP

3. Amex SPG

3. Barclaycard M&M MC

5. Cap1 QS

6. Discover it

 

Amex Platinum wins with CSP a very close second. Amex SPG and Barclaycard M&M tie (Amex SPG moved up to tie based on the exchange rate), Cap1 comes in second to last and Discover is the big loser here.

[mrjuggalo9er]

 

So, what we have learned is that Discover is basically a worthless travel card outside of the US, even in Japan where it is supposed to work the best, and as PotO has pointed out also in China now where they have had inroads for a decade.

 

Limited acceptance, issues where it is actually accepted, no travel insurance (cancelled last year), no concierge, no lounge access benefits

1% cash back on regular spending, though.

Just like my credit unions

[TheVig]

I think Amex wide acceptance outside of the USA is because of global relationships they built up going back to the 1960's. Amex Travelers Cheques were king back in the day for many. Just a thought.

[mendelssohn]

I think Amex wide acceptance outside of the USA is because of global relationships they built up going back to the 1960's. Amex Travelers Cheques were king back in the day for many. Just a thought.

 

In Europe they are not accepted as much as they are in Japan. I think Amex is a status symbol in Japan like it used to be years ago in the US.

[PotO]

 

I think Amex wide acceptance outside of the USA is because of global relationships they built up going back to the 1960's. Amex Travelers Cheques were king back in the day for many. Just a thought.

 

In Europe they are not accepted as much as they are in Japan. I think Amex is a status symbol in Japan like it used to be years ago in the US.

They do heavily advertise in Japan. And they give good offers and, IIRC, have lower fees.

[mendelssohn]

 

 

I think Amex wide acceptance outside of the USA is because of global relationships they built up going back to the 1960's. Amex Travelers Cheques were king back in the day for many. Just a thought.

In Europe they are not accepted as much as they are in Japan. I think Amex is a status symbol in Japan like it used to be years ago in the US.

They do heavily advertise in Japan. And they give good offers and, IIRC, have lower fees.

 

 

In the First Avenue Tokyo Station shopping area, I noticed an American Express kiosk (don't kill me, CV). They are more widely accepted than I previously thought.

[PotO]

I'm surprised to, but im glad that through your experience we can see the reality.

 

I wish AmEx was as accepted in China. Few merchants take even Visa or MC and far, far fewer accept AmEx. ATMs are another story, but who in their right mind uses AmEx for a cash advance?

Edited June 9, 2016 by PotO

[generallissimo]

 

 

 

I'm curious about this because my DO wants to go to Japan for a weekend while I'm visiting her in South Korea a few months from now.

Tentative plan was to take CSP, Amex SPG, Discover IT, US Bank SKYPASS Visa, and maybe C1 QS Visa. I do not have a no-FTF Mastercard yet...

What's DO?

I've heard of SO (significant other) and DS (dependent spouse), but DO? Dead Other?

dear other! I could say GF but that's what all the young people say and the farther away my 20's get the more I feel like I need to use big people words. Like extrapolate or intrinsic. Or...utilization?

Sounds good.

 

I was just curious. In my neck of the woods I always hear SO, HO, DB, DW, DH, DS, DD, DK, (M)FW, (M)FH, (M)*Admin removes vulgarity*, (M)FS, (M)FD and even EPB, but first time to hear DO.

 

 

hey PotO, I think we need to add all of these to Master Acronyms for SO Thread.

[hegemony]

Mine does not have a chip. Will I have more luck in Asia this summer without the chip?

[mendelssohn]

Mine does not have a chip. Will I have more luck in Asia this summer without the chip?

Yes.

[generallissimo]

 

Mine does not have a chip. Will I have more luck in Asia this summer without the chip?

Yes.

 

 

I thought it helps to have a chip on your shoulder in asia.

[PotO]

Mine does not have a chip. Will I have more luck in Asia this summer without the chip?

In China, if your Disco is chipped it will fail at least 70% of the time.

[hegemony]

 

Mine does not have a chip. Will I have more luck in Asia this summer without the chip?

In China, if your Disco is chipped it will fail at least 70% of the time.

 

that's rather specific data there. what is the confidence interval. TIA.

[PotO]

 

 

Mine does not have a chip. Will I have more luck in Asia this summer without the chip?

 

In China, if your Disco is chipped it will fail at least 70% of the time.

that's rather specific data there. what is the confidence interval. TIA.

Even ICBC dual-currency chipped cards fail 50% of the time when used domestically. That's why they are starting to eliminate dual-currency cards and moving to dual-currency accounts each with a separate card per currency.

[Konrad2012]

I wish AmEx was as accepted in China. Few merchants take even Visa or MC and far, far fewer accept AmEx. ATMs are another story, but who in their right mind uses AmEx for a cash advance?

BofA has an agreement with China Construction Bank for no ATM fees. Schwab debit refunds foreign ATM fees.

[PotO]

 

I wish AmEx was as accepted in China. Few merchants take even Visa or MC and far, far fewer accept AmEx. ATMs are another story, but who in their right mind uses AmEx for a cash advance?

BofA has an agreement with China Construction Bank for no ATM fees. Schwab debit refunds foreign ATM fees.

That agreement died long ago when BOA shed their CCB shares.

[mendelssohn]

My statement just closed and one of the restaurants where I used my Discover did not post the 5% bonus. It has to be a problem with running it on the JCB network. It posted as "merchandise." I ate at that same place twice (OK, I lied. I drank there twice. ) and my CSP posted it as a restaurant.

[credidimus]

All the more reason to avoid using discovery...

[cv91915]

My statement just closed and one of the restaurants where I used my Discover did not post the 5% bonus. It has to be a problem with running it on the JCB network. It posted as "merchandise." I ate at that same place twice (OK, I lied. I drank there twice. ) and my CSP posted it as a restaurant.

 

WHAT? Look again. Your eyes must be tired. Discovery would NEVER short you on rewards.

[Konrad2012]

I brought my crappy Discover card (non-chip) to use in my crappy Chinese city this trip for amusement purposes. Ill give it a run in Cambodia or Vietnam also.

[Konrad2012]

 

 

I wish AmEx was as accepted in China. Few merchants take even Visa or MC and far, far fewer accept AmEx. ATMs are another story, but who in their right mind uses AmEx for a cash advance?

BofA has an agreement with China Construction Bank for no ATM fees. Schwab debit refunds foreign ATM fees.

That agreement died long ago when BOA shed their CCB shares.

There's a 3% forex fee, but the $5 non BofA fee and the ATM access fee are still waived.

[cv91915]

On 6/27/2016 at 6:21 AM, mendelssohn said:

My statement just closed and one of the restaurants where I used my Discover did not post the 5% bonus. It has to be a problem with running it on the JCB network. It posted as "merchandise."

I've said this 100 times.  Do not eat merchandise.

[cv91915]

Just swapped out my Discovery for a new design!!