Black Card Offers Luxury to the Masses. Hmm...

The Black Card has been the ultimate status symbol of late. VIP shoppers from hotel tycoons and rappers flash their limitless plastic (oh, sorry, no plain ol' plastic for these guys - the Black Card is made from carbon. Fancy.) and order up some more Dom.

Funny this is, it seems now everyone can get in to this elite club. Or at least 3,000,000 of us. And how do we know this? They are advertising the exclusive privilege in magazines. I think the Black Card has, how do you say, "jumped the shark."

via Seth's Blog.

Discover Card Shows Their Softer Side

Apparently, Discover Card has been telling us they care since 2006, but it's only in their recent commercials that I've really gotten the message.

Though I think what they are trying to do is pretty cool, I'm not sure I buy it. I just have a hard time believing that a CREDIT company legitimately wants me to pay down my debt, thereby not having to pay them any more interest. Though they do counter this a bit by reassuring me that it's that we are "a nation of consumers."

So, even though Discover Card does have a lot of innovative features like great cash back programs, a hearty online interface with many options for personalization and a Pay-On-Time bonus that actually -gasp- refunds you interest if you make six consecutive on-time payments, all I see is a commercial that seems to convey a fake sentiment.

It is the same feeling I get when I know anti-smoking ads are sponsored by tobacco manufacturers. It just doesn't sit right.

Image via discovercard.com