Jamie Feldman

Lenders like to claim that their business is risky. But over time, they've turned their business into more than a sure bet.

Lenders like to claim that their business is risky. But over time, they've turned their business into more than a sure bet.

In the late 90s, when MasterCard debuted the Priceless campaign, they had been suffering as a company. People were concerned about debt, and there was a backlash.

In the late 90s, when MasterCard debuted the Priceless campaign, they had been suffering as a company. People were concerned about debt, and there was a backlash.

There are plenty of things that money can't buy. But this ad makes us question, do we need to buy a $45 autographed baseball to have a real conversation with our 11-year-old son? Certainly suggests that it would be helpful and a lot more fun.

There are plenty of things that money can't buy. But this ad makes us question, do we need to buy a $45 autographed baseball to have a real conversation with our 11-year-old son? Certainly suggests that it would be helpful and a lot more fun.

When we're choosing a card, most of us ignore the fees, the interest rates, the long-winded terms and penalties. Instead, we zero in on rewards. Like 0% APR for 18 months. Or triple points for every dollar spent at the gas station. Or best of all, a nylon drawstring backpack emblazoned with JPMorgan Chase. I signed up for a Chase Sapphire card because I heard they were giving out nylon backpacks.

When we're choosing a card, most of us ignore the fees, the interest rates, the long-winded terms and penalties. Instead, we zero in on rewards. Like 0% APR for 18 months. Or triple points for every dollar spent at the gas station. Or best of all, a nylon drawstring backpack emblazoned with JPMorgan Chase. I signed up for a Chase Sapphire card because I heard they were giving out nylon backpacks.

Really? No. I did hear, though, that they were offering people 100,000 points. And I knew a bunch of people getting married at the time, and they were all using those points to upgrade their flights and accommodations for their honeymoons.

Really? No. I did hear, though, that they were offering people 100,000 points. And I knew a bunch of people getting married at the time, and they were all using those points to upgrade their flights and accommodations for their honeymoons.

No.

No.

No, I was a broke journalist. I barely had $4,000 to cover the amount I'd have to spend on the card in the first three months to get the points in the first place. You see where this is going? Yeah.

No, I was a broke journalist. I barely had $4,000 to cover the amount I'd have to spend on the card in the first three months to get the points in the first place. You see where this is going? Yeah.

So many of us are not cashing in on these points, but somebody is. How do the credit cards pay for giving away all this free stuff?

So many of us are not cashing in on these points, but somebody is. How do the credit cards pay for giving away all this free stuff?

No. Interchange fees. Sounds like pieces of shit to me.

No. Interchange fees. Sounds like pieces of shit to me.

Even those of us who don't use credit cards?

Even those of us who don't use credit cards?