Can You Take Card Ratings Seriously?

This is a follow up to the prior post about the online travel card resources. Such sites are fairly straightforward presentations of what the cards offer. There is no attempt made to editorialize over the perceived value of the cards. However, there are also sites which provide ratings for the various cards. Such a directory is not unbiased. It is projecting personal opinions into reviews of the cards. Sometimes, these reviews come with ratings which point out which cards are better than others. If you are relying on this type of system to make a selection, there are a few things to be aware of.

First, there is nothing inherently wrong with a ratings system. In fact, it can be good means of communicating whether a card has any value. However, one must realize personal preferences may factor into a review. Remember, a reviewer does not have to be objective. So, opinion and commentary can comprise the bulk of a review. While this has value it is not academic. That is, no matter how well written t remains opinion.

That is way it is important to scrutinize the good points and bad points in the review. For example, the reviewer may consistently knock American Express cards due to his belief that the annual fees on the cards are too high. (Discussion on the travel rewards are almost after thoughts in these reviews) For many people, this is a legitimate criticism. However, for many others, the annual fee is worth it due to the various benefits American Express provides. So, with this review, one needs to truly ask whether they agree with the expressed opinion or not. You want a card you will be happy with and not what necessarily appeals to someone else. After all, it is your card we are talking about.