After a few years’ hiatus, I upgraded to the American Express Platinum card following a targeted offer. I knew from experience that for the move to make financial sense in the long run, I’d have to take advantage of as many of the statement credits that the Platinum Card offers.
It’s easy for me to use the travel credits and the media credit, but I’m not as good about using the shopping credits (Note from Joe’s wife: Guess who in the family hates to shop? Hint: it’s not me!). In particular, I’m lax at using the credit at Saks Fifth Avenue. In fact, I’ve previously waited so long to buy something from Saks that I lost out on the $50 credit for the first half of the year. That post was about 2022, but I almost repeated the same mistake in 2025.
In the words of George W. Bush:
There’s an old saying in Tennessee — I know it’s in Texas, probably in Tennessee — that says, fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can’t get fooled again.
My first mistake last time was waiting until the last minute to buy something from Saks. But I knew this time not to purchase something that might not ship for a week or two. That’s especially important because your card usually isn’t charged until the item actually ships — and if you buy something that ships from a vendor, it may not be in stock, which can delay shipment past the credit’s expiration window. At least when you’re buying directly from Saks, their website typically lets you know right away if an item is unavailable.
My first choice was to get a new frying pan. Not exciting, but we needed a new one, and why not save $50 on a good one?
I was ready to complete the order until I saw the message “Ships from vendor, shipping time may vary.”
I put the item on my wish list and searched for something that would ship directly from Saks. Since they’re a clothing store, I found a Polo Ralph Lauren shirt I liked. I’m not sure of the size, which is why I prefer not to order clothes online. However, I can return the item within 30 days if it doesn’t fit.
If the shirt fits, I’ll keep it and order my frying pan in July to get my $50 credit for the last half of 2025. If I need to return the shirt, I can use that credit to help pay for the fry pan instead.
Final Thought
If you’re trying to maximize the value of your American Express Platinum Card, don’t wait until the last minute to use your Saks credit. Stick with items that ship directly from Saks to avoid delays that could prevent the charge and the credit from hitting in time. And make sure the item is in stock so you’re not caught off guard by backorders or slow shipping from the vendor.
It took me a couple of tries, but I finally learned how to play the Saks credit game right. Hopefully, this helps you avoid making the same mistake. Got a favorite go-to item for using your credit? Let us know—we’re always looking for ideas that don’t involve cologne or overpriced socks.
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