Get $20 off at Amazon after you make a single purchase of $50 or more using your AMEX card.
There is a new AMEX offer available for cardholders when you spend at Amazon! Use an American Express card to make a single purchase of $50 or more on Amazon and get $20 off a future purchase. This offer is available from Amazon using their link, rather than an Amex offer activated on their site. The $50 spend required under this limited-time Amex offer can be on anything shipped and sold by Amazon except Amazon gift cards. Below are the steps you earn and use your credit.
Here are the Steps
Purchase $50 or more using your American Express Card on Amazon.
Receive a confirmation email with the reward link once your order has shipped.
Follow instructions on the redemption link to purchase from the Moments store.
What does the FINE PRINT SAY?
The offer can only be redeemed once per customer/account and expires on July 22nd.
You will have until August 22nd to make use of the $20 credit.
If you return any of the items involved in the promotion, Amazon reserves the right to remove the promotional credit.
The $20 off will only work on purchases made on the Amazon Moments store.
What is the AMAZON MOMENTS STORE?
The Amazon Moments store is a curated list of items with 4 stars or above”. The list includes over 60,000 items so you’ll have a nice variety to choose from.
BOTTOM LINE:
Take a browse through the Amazon Moments store before taking up this offer. If you see any items that interest you, then this deal would be worth it.
Annual Fee increase for the Chase Sapphire Reserve from $450 to $550
Photo by CNBC
It’s confirmed! Chase has raised the annual fee for the Chase Sapphire Reserve from $450 to $550. Although this seems like bad news, Chase has added additional benefits to Sapphire card holders. Lets take a look to see if it’s worth it.
Increased Annual Fee increase starts on January 12
Rumors of the increase were confirmed by The Points Guy, which learned that the increase will start on January 12. If you already have the card and are due to renew before April 1, 2020, you’ll be able to renew at the $450 rate; after April 1, everyone will pay the $550 annual fee.
Apply before January 12 to pay the $450 annual fee for the first year. This is an incredible opportunity, since you’ll not only recieve the lower annual fee for the first year, but you’ll get both the old and new perks.
Added Benefits to Chase Sapphire Reserve Users.
With the increased annual fee come a few extra perks for users to take advantage.
DoorDash DASHPASS Membership
Free DashPass for up to 2 years, immediately upon activation. Normally $9.99/month.
Save an average of $4 - $5 per order
Enjoy zero delivery fees and reduced service fees on orders over $12.
Up to $120 in statement credits, $60 through 12/31/20 and $60 through 12/31/2021, on DoorDash purchases. No activation required.
Lyft Pink
Free Year of Lyft pink membership (actual cost $19.99 per month)
15% off unlimited car ridesSave on every car ride you take — any time, anywhere.
Priority airport pickups Get picked up faster at the airport when it’s busy.
Relaxed cancellations We’ll cover three cancel fees per month if you rebook within 15 minutes.
Surprise offersGet seasonal discounts and exclusive savings.
Waived lost and found feesWe’ll take care of the return fee every time.
Bikes and scootersEnjoy 3 free 30-min. bike or scooter rides per month (in select markets).
So is it Worth it?
Bottom line, this isn’t good news for Chase Sapphire Card holders. The perks seem to be very identical to American Express Platinum Uber credit and the American Express Gold Door Dash credit, but does it justify the $100 annual fee increase? No, unless you already use Lyft & DoorDash on a regular basis.
Even though the annual fee will increase, we still find incredible value through the Chase Sapphire Reserve earning potential and redemptions for the UR portal and transfer partners.
Are there other options?
Yes! If you feel like the annual fee increase doesn’t justify your expenses and you’re getting a negative ROI, here are some options for you.
Downgrade to the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
The Annual fee is still $95 and you have 25% increase value in the UR portal and the same transfer partners as the Reserve.
Move to American Express.
American Express has a great network of cards that can yield just as much or more than the Chase card system. You also pay a bit more for better travel partners and travel perks.
Move to Citi Bank
Why?? because the CITI trifecta is an amazing point yielding system that has been under the radar the last few years. The newly changed benefits to the Citi Thank you card to 2x back, the ability to combine CITI ThankYou points, and CITI’s transfer partners makes the ROI for first class flights even better than the Chase Trifecta! (We go over this in the Credit Hacker Mentorship)
How to get Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite in 2019
Is Marriott Gold Elite worth it? in my opinion, it is! Marriott has a 5 tier reward system: Silver, Gold, Platinum, Titanium & Ambassador, but the reals perks start when you qualify for Gold Elite? Marriott Members enjoy all the benefits of Gold Elite status after completing only 25 eligible nights in a calendar year — including redemption nights, but if you don’t stay at Marriotts too often? GET A CREDIT CARD!!
Listed below are the credit cards that give you an Gold Elite status with Marriott
Penha Longa Hotel & Resort in Portugal.
1. The Platinum Card® from American Express provides automatic Gold Elite status.
2. The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card provides automatic Gold Elite status.
3. The Ritz-Carlton Rewards Credit Card (no longer open to new applicants) provides automatic Gold Elite status.
4. The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card allows you to earn Gold Elite status when you spend $35,000 on purchases each account year.
5. The Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card allows you to earn Gold Elite status when you spend $35,000 on purchases each account year.
6. The Marriott Premier Plus Business Credit Card (no longer accepting applications) allows you to earn Gold Elite status when you spend $35,000 on purchases each account year.
What value does Gold Elite status give you? (info from @thepointsguy)
25% point bonus ($90): As a Gold Elite member in the new program, you’ll earn 25% more points than a regular member, which works out to 2.5 additional points per dollar spent at most hotels. Since I’m assuming 30 nights with an average rate of $150 per night, that works out to an additional 11,250 points, worth $90.
Kauai Marriott Resort - Kalapaki Beach
Priority late checkout ($50): Gold members also enjoy a priority late checkout of up to 2pm, though it is subject to availability. Since there’s a stated time (in contrast the the aforementioned Silver perk), I’ll bump the value up slightly.
Elite phone line ($25): Same benefit, more frequent utilization
Complimentary enhanced internet ($30): Even though all members enjoy free internet when booking through a Marriott channel, Gold members can take advantage of faster speeds with complimentary enhanced internet access. I typically find that hotel Wi-Fi is decently fast, though if you like to stream videos or engage in other high-bandwidth activities online, the faster speed can make a difference. I’ll use the same value for this perk from previous posts: $1 per night.
Upgrades to enhanced rooms ($600): Gold members are also eligible for space-available upgrades to enhanced rooms at check-in. This may include rooms on higher floors, rooms with special amenities or rooms on the Executive Floor, but it explicitly excludes suites (per the terms & conditions). Since this perk is similar to what Hilton Gold members receive, I’ll use the same valuation of $20 per night.
Welcome gift ($50): If you’re a Gold Elite member, you’ll receive a welcome gift of extra Marriott points at check-in, either 250 points for limited-service properties or 500 points for full-service locations. Given the assumed split above, you’d earn an average of 375 points (worth ~$3.38) for each of your 15 stays.