AMEX reward points: 3DS half off from 56000 to 28000
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Punisher138
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it went from impossible to highly unlikely
[quote name='kevgret']So instead of paying the equivalent of $56,000 in purchases you only need to pay $28,000![/QUOTE]
To be honest, those reward programs don't really work out for people that are seeking particular gifts and have to up their spending to meet them. However, if you are a business traveller/etc. and have to spend the money anyways, throwing it on the AMEX for a free 3DS is a nice deal. Given an average 3% rate on purchases, they are giving you about a third of their profits ($750) back, ignoring fees/discounts they get/higher rates on smaller businesses.
Rewards programs are good, as long as you don't adjust your spending levels to get rewards. Who can argue with getting something when you would otherwise get nothing?
To be honest, those reward programs don't really work out for people that are seeking particular gifts and have to up their spending to meet them. However, if you are a business traveller/etc. and have to spend the money anyways, throwing it on the AMEX for a free 3DS is a nice deal. Given an average 3% rate on purchases, they are giving you about a third of their profits ($750) back, ignoring fees/discounts they get/higher rates on smaller businesses.
Rewards programs are good, as long as you don't adjust your spending levels to get rewards. Who can argue with getting something when you would otherwise get nothing?
Thanks for the info OP, this might be useful for the people that received the "spend $500 get 50k AMEX points" offer posted last week on slickdeals.
http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?t=2924895
http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?t=2924895
[quote name='AceSam14']Thanks for the info OP, this might be useful for the people that received the "spend $500 get 50k AMEX points" offer posted last week on slickdeals.
http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?t=2924895[/QUOTE]
or cashout 25K amex points to get 250 in landsend/sears/kmart GC's and buy the 3DS for 249.99 in GC's.
http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?t=2924895[/QUOTE]
or cashout 25K amex points to get 250 in landsend/sears/kmart GC's and buy the 3DS for 249.99 in GC's.
[quote name='defpally']as long as you don't adjust your spending levels to get rewards[/QUOTE]
This.
The idea that "I need to spend more so I get more rewards" is exactly the kind of thing credit card companies want you to do and exactly the kind of thing that ends up getting people into debt.
Rewards programs can really get you a lot. It wasn't that long ago that you HAD to choose from a "gift catalog" including ridiculous stuff like cheap telescopes for $800 equivalent and so forth. These days Discover (and perhaps others) lets you just credit your account.
The key is to find a rewards program that either allows this or has a good deal on something you know you'll want (such as a gift card to a major retailer), has a good rate, and then spend only what you would've spent anyway.
This is true. No sense in getting a 3DS for 28,000 points if you can get $280 in gift cards to a retailer and just get it there.
This.
The idea that "I need to spend more so I get more rewards" is exactly the kind of thing credit card companies want you to do and exactly the kind of thing that ends up getting people into debt.
Rewards programs can really get you a lot. It wasn't that long ago that you HAD to choose from a "gift catalog" including ridiculous stuff like cheap telescopes for $800 equivalent and so forth. These days Discover (and perhaps others) lets you just credit your account.
The key is to find a rewards program that either allows this or has a good deal on something you know you'll want (such as a gift card to a major retailer), has a good rate, and then spend only what you would've spent anyway.
This is true. No sense in getting a 3DS for 28,000 points if you can get $280 in gift cards to a retailer and just get it there.
bread's done