I just got an Apple Card \u2014 just what I need \u2014 another credit card. The first credit card I ever had was American Express. I got my first American Express card sometime around 1960\u2026 there wasn\u2019t very many places that accepted it back then. I got the card because of work \u2014 it apparently helped with accounting and it proved useful when traveling \u2014 something I was doing a lot of in those days. The card wasn\u2019t free, but my employer(s) always paid the annual fee.<\/p>\n
In 1972, a friend had dropped his car off for service at the Dudley-Martin Chevrolet dealership in Manassas, Virginia. I picked him up in the morning as we were attending a training class in a neighboring town. When we went back to pick up his car that afternoon, I went into the showroom, while he was dealing with the service department. In the middle of the showroom floor sat a shiny gold Corvette. I was looking at the car and a salesman approached and asked if I would be interested. It turns out that in 1972, Dudley-Martin was located outside of Manassas proper, and Manassas itself was a \u201csmall town.\u201d The salesman told me that they had had the car on the showroom floor for several months and no one had shown much interest in it. (Manassas was basically a farming community back then.) Anyhow, the salesman said he\u2019d make me an extremely good deal, because they wanted to get rid of the Corvette. The \u201csticker\u201d price was just slightly over $6,000. I offered, and he accepted $4,400. While he was filling out the paperwork, I gave him my American Express card. He looked at it, and said, \u201cWhat\u2019s this?\u201d I told him it was my American Express card. He said he understood that, but why was I giving it to him? I told him that I had just agreed to buy a car and I was using the American Express card to purchase it. He said, \u201cYou can\u2019t buy a Corvette with an American Express Card.\u201d I said, \u201cWhy not? The sticker on your door says, \u2018American Express Accepted Here.\u2019\u201d He said, \u201cBut that\u2019s for parts or accessories \u2014 not for cars!\u201d I said, \u201cYou sell cars, and the sticker says American Express accepted here. I don\u2019t want the car.\u201d Since I hadn’t signed anything, I picked up my card and started for the door. The salesman said, \u201cWait \u2014 I\u2019ll talk to my manager.\u201d The manager came over and we had the same conversation all over again and I started toward the door. The manager and salesman stopped me again and said I could put half the cost of the car on the credit card. Again \u2014 I started to leave. By this time my friend had paid for his service and was waiting on me. I told them my ride was leaving and I had to go. The manager asked that I wait for him to make a phone call\u2026 while we were waiting, they actually gave me and my friend a beer. This was 1972 in Virginia, so I figured they must be serious if they give you a beer. (I\u2019m pretty sure that may have been illegal in Virginia in 1972.)<\/p>\n
To make what\u2019s already become a long story, at least a little shorter \u2014 they called American Express and they charged my credit card $4,400. When I got my statement, the charge was listed as \u201cCorvette.\u201d
\nI wonder what I can buy with my Apple Card\u2026..
\n\u2014 30 \u2014<\/p>\n
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I just got an Apple Card \u2014 just what I need \u2014 another credit card. The first credit card I ever had was American Express. I got my first American Express card sometime around 1960\u2026 there wasn\u2019t very many places … Continue reading