When I signed up for an upgrade offer to the American Express Platinum Card, I knew there were several things I’d need to do to maximize the card’s benefits. I mean, back in 2018, I cancelled my card because I was tired of playing credit games. So when I jumped back into the pool, I knew full well what was in store. I didn’t get back because of the card’s benefits but because AMEX gave me 75,000 Membership Rewards to upgrade from the Gold Card.
It’s taken only a few months to remind myself that AMEX credits are not the same as cash and I’m questioning if I’ll keep the card when the renewal comes up.
One of the AMEX Platinum benefits is a twice-yearly $50 Saks Fifth Avenue credit. I knew about the benefit but also how hard it is to find anything under $50 at Saks. Fortunately, Nick at Frequent Miler wrote in Mid-June about how you can spend the $50 without going much over the limit. This encouraged me to look at the Saks website and find something, anything, I could use that would only cost a bit over the minimum.
I found a nice set of four Reidel glasses which, after tax and shipping, totaled $53.64. Perfect!
I received the email confirmation immediately, saying I would receive a confirmation when the item shipped. I waited and waited. Eventually, I received the item in July.
It wasn’t until today that I realized what this meant when I received an email from AMEX about my Platinum Card benefits. It congratulated me on using my Saks $50 benefit.
I went to the AMEX website and chatted with a pleasant rep who confirmed that since the charge didn’t post to my account until July 5th, it was applied to my July-December credit. Even though I ordered the item in June, the delay from Saks meant I wasn’t charged until the item was shipped.
I don’t blame AMEX because they weren’t the ones who delayed shipping the item. I blame myself for waiting until near the deadline to make a purchase, knowing that something like this could happen.
However, my cynical side knows that the item showed as in stock when I placed the order. The delay in shipping the item (and not posting the charge until after July 1st) could have been designed to keep the charge from posting until July.
I don’t know what deal Saks has with AMEX but I’m sure AMEX isn’t footing the bill for everything. If Saks can find a way to only pay $50 instead of $100 in credits, that’s extra money on their bottom line.
So here’s a reminder if you have an AMEX Platinum Card with a $50 Saks credit for July-December. Spend it NOW! They can’t delay a shipment for 4 months 🙂
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