Credit Card Theories... This was posted up earlier... http://thesims2.ea.com/getcoolstuff/credit_card.php Now what the heck could be going on?
I see no mystery, Josh. Looks to my like EA is palnning to cash in on one of its top brands by issuing a credit card carrying the Sims logo & artwork. Many credit cards, these days, have reward schemes, where purchases translate into points that can be redeemed for stuff you wouldn't ever consider buying. But the tantalising draw of a simmie freebies will ensure that a goodly number of optimists will sign for a card. They will then use the card (but only in an emergency ) until it is maxed out, at which point the 29.78% annual interest rate (cunningly disguised in an attractive, but sneakily compounded, monthly rate of 1.8%) will start to bite more than a sharp frost on ones tender bits and pieces. People who fail to keep up with their repayments will have their goods and chattels seized by the repoman. Typically the repoman goes for computers, not because they are worth money, but because it is well known that nothing stimulates the memory of a forgotten stash of cash like the sight of one's simmies being carried out your door by a muscle-bound legalised robber .... Sorry, what was the question, again?
I don't think EA is getting into the banking/credit card business. I've noticed banks pushing credit cards with all sorts of pictures on them, like your favorite charity or your favorite sports team. I'm guessing a credit card company approached EA and offered to put Sims pictures on credit cards. Maybe a deal comes along with it, like perks for EA and anyone who applies for a credit card through EA.
What Mirelly said, except I still don't EA is actually doing the banking part. It'll be MBNA or some such.
Ugh. If it's MBNA aka Bank of America, I'm staying away from them like the black plague. As my friend just pointed out to me, why are we voting for Credit Card Designs? We should be voting for the rewards and benefits!!!! 10% cash rebate on all purchases sounds wonderful
They are a plague. Just when you think you've escaped them, they buy up the credit card company that you signed up with in order to escape them. However, I've managed to get my spending under control. I now pay off the full balance every month. So it doesn't matter what the interest rate is. But a cash rebate on all purchases of sims EPs would sure make me smile.
I go with Mirelly on that...just jumping onto the something for nothing Bandwagon. Issuing Credit Cards as a franchise for any Bank will give you revenue without putting too much efford into it. Why else would every Shop, every airline and every club offer their own card (which in most cases is just a plain ole' VISA card anyways) That might even be another try to dip into the unaccessed honeypots of minors (just remember pre-paid Credit cards) -le
It's branding, fyi. Respective Companies who have such programs do NOT issue the cards; they are signing an agreement with an issuing bank to issue the cards on their behalf but with certain additional benefits. Example: JP Morgan Chase issues the following branded cards: Starbucks Borders Amazon AOL Southwest Airlines British Airways United and so forth
Well, if Wal-Mart tried to, it's not completely unreasonable to think EA might not pull such a stunt...
I think that it is time for EA to get more creative with their designs for the packages. Those options they had for the credit cards were all the base game pictures. They should have had more options. I bet if someone gets a sim credit card they will be able to use it anywhere but they will get special discounts when they use it on EA stuff.
Replied to the thread RE: Debit Cards While debit cards are nice and all, they are in fact rebranded as merely Check Cards. Check Cards are tied and issued directly by your bank. For example if you have a Visa Check/Debit Card from Washington Mutal, you must have an account with them to take advantage of this. Moreso, I do not like debit/check cards because you do not get adequate protection from unauthorized purchases. Federal law protects you with credit cards, as if your card gets stolen in any point time, you are at MOST responsible for $50.00 of the purchase. Debit/Check cards, you are held responsible for all charges regardless if you made them or not. So if someone made a 10k charge on your credit card, you aren't responsible. If someone made a 10k charge on your debit card, you are basically left with the charge. Moreso, having a Credit Card is easier to issue en-mass. A branded Sims 2 Check/Debit card would have to be issued independently by each bank respectively and would entail EA or whoever is behind this project to approach major banking institutions to carry this card. This however would leave out a vast majority of people who prefer to bank with smaller banking institutions. RE: Rewards For myself, these would be a few key points that would make me consider taking a card (even though i'm a fansite owner and hard-core sims fan). First and foremost, I'd need an EXTREMELY good reason to take on another credit card such as this. Many cards offer Rewards like Airline Miles, Reward Points, Cash Rebate, etc. Take a stroll around Chase.com, CitiCards.com and AmericanExpress.com. They all more or less offer such rewards. -Annual Fee I ABSOLUTELY REFUSE TO PAY AN ANNUAL FEE. -Interest Rates. What are they? (I generally don't care since I don't carry a balance, but I still would like to know). -Issuing Bank. I'm going to go on a limb here and guess JP Morgan Chase as they are the largest VISA Issuer. I don't mind them, but I do mind a few companies that I totally hate with passion. Plus Chase offers a variety of branded cards like Amazon credit cards, Southwest, and so forth. -Rewards Now this is a tricky one. Personally, I prefer a decent cash rebate. None of this wimpy 1% on all transactions. I want a really strong cash rebate, like 10% all transactions, with minimum spending to qualify for the 10%. I hate cash rebates that do exclusive for like 3% cash rebate at gas stations or grocery. I'm not too keen on VISA Gift Cards, Redeeming Points for Gift Cards, Airline Miles, and such. It's just not worth it in my opinion. It's better to have cash in hand personally. -Payment I hate credit card companies who try to pull stunts in terms of payment tricks. I've had that happen to me before and let's say I wasn't too fond of this. I promptly cancel cards who do these sorts of tricks. See http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9156929 -Sims 2 Benefit: I'd like to see some sort of DECENT Sims 2 Reward Benefit. T-Shirt, Keychain, not really my thing. Again, you are going to have to offer something VERY good in order to convince me to take on another credit card. -Customer Service This is usually the defining point for myself. I want excellent customer service. None of this garbage of trying to sell me unnecessary items or calling me at all hours of the day/night trying to get me to buy credit protection and such. Customer service has got to be friendly, willing to go the extra mile for me, and wanting to do the right thing to earn my business. This is why I'm a major American Express holder. (Mute point, but why no American Express? I'd be the first customer signed up for this Sims 2 branded credit card if it's American Express.)
I find it hilarious that they are proposing a Sims 2 credit card. Isn't the target audience preteens and teenagers (I can imagine all the teeny bopper BBS people now..."MOM CAN I HAS THIS!?")? I guess they're trying to appeal to the adults who play the game (and there's a lot of 'em, as we know darn well! ) but who would wield a card that essentially admits that you're a gamer? Isn't that a private pastime thing? Even the casual Simmers might not want to pull this one out of the wallet. My folks have debit cards from their bank, so I have no idea how this'd work. I wouldn't want to get another card with a ridiculous interest rate and fees in order to get a discount on a game I buy expansions two times a year for. That's what coupons and rebates are for.
ROTFL, Chee-Z. I've told my MIL that I play with dolls, although they happen to be on the computer. Honestly! I told her that when my husband watches football, I go upstairs and play with my dolls. She thought it was very funny, although I was serious. But you're right. I would not get sims on my credit card.
