Why isn't AmEx promoting restaurant spend ?
Jul 24, 2017, 3:15 pm
#16
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: SFO
Posts: 266
Discover IT offers 5% cash back (up to $1500 in spending) on restaurants for 3mo, and 5% at Amazon for 3mo every year. The other two quarters are usually fuel and home goods. I get that those points aren't convertible to air miles as FT'ers often prefer, but they're good bonuses.
I can't answer why Amex isn't giving incentives on restaurants, if they even did 2 MR/$ I'd be more likely to spend on it (compared to 3% cash from Costco's Citi)
I can't answer why Amex isn't giving incentives on restaurants, if they even did 2 MR/$ I'd be more likely to spend on it (compared to 3% cash from Costco's Citi)
This with rotating gas categories is the major reason to hold both the IT and Freedom card.
The added benefits with both cards is the outsized redemption benefits. Chase Freedom is part of UR points systems, so it's a no brainer to hold as an "anchor card" to keep your points when you cancel your Sapphire and Ink cards.
The Discover IT redemptions have outsized gift card redemptions, usually $45 for $50 type redemptions. When you make big Home Depot or Williams Sonoma purchases these bonus redemptions adds up.
If earning 5% for half a year isn't good enough, another free card that'll give good dining bonus is the Citi Double Cash card to get 2% off all categories
customer service is important to me ... granted last time I had Discover was late 90s ... but I don't trust them to resolve problems without causing me big headaches ... one of the main reasons I still pay AMEX $550 , regardless of dilution of benefits each year ... AMEX will fix problems no hassle ...
I too have been paid out on a POS LG tv with Discover's purchase protection, IIRC, my coverage was good for up to 1 year.
Last edited by mdosu; Jul 24, 2017 at 3:28 pm
Jul 24, 2017, 3:22 pm
#17
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: SFO
Posts: 266
Technically five:
...plus Blue Business Plus which earns 2X everywhere.
- American Express® Gold Card for Ameriprise Financial
- Gold Card from American Express
- Premier Rewards Gold Card from American Express
- The Mercedes Benz Credit Card from American Express
- Morgan Stanley Credit Card
...plus Blue Business Plus which earns 2X everywhere.
Jul 24, 2017, 5:38 pm
#20
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: SFO
Posts: 266
As mentioned above, USA AMEX PRG, Gold, MB and MS versions do offer a dining bonus, just may not be on the 3x level. The PRG has it as a 2x for example.
Last edited by mdosu; Jul 24, 2017 at 5:45 pm
Jul 24, 2017, 6:53 pm
#21
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Prince Edward Island
Programs: Air Canada P25K, Hilton Honors Gold, Marriott Gold, MGM Gold
Posts: 1,582
Jul 24, 2017, 8:41 pm
#22
Join Date: May 2009
Location: EUG
Programs: AS MVP, AA MM, HH Diamond, MR Gold
Posts: 8,216
No, the Hilton Honors Amex Surpass card gives 6x (yes, 6) for restaurants. 12x at Hiltons, 6x at gas stations, restaurants and supermarkets (huge - covers almost every which way you can eat!), and 3x everything else.
Jul 24, 2017, 9:21 pm
#23
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Truth or Consequences, NM
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, UA Silver, Mobile Passport Unobtanium
Posts: 6,192
Divide by two (since Hilton points are generally valued at .05 cents apiece) and it becomes 3X dining, gas, and supermarkets.
Jul 25, 2017, 1:01 am
#24
Join Date: May 2009
Location: EUG
Programs: AS MVP, AA MM, HH Diamond, MR Gold
Posts: 8,216
Sure, but that's as good or better than any other card mentioned here, and it's for things I use the most. And it answers the title question of "why isn't Amex promoting restaurants spend?"
Jul 25, 2017, 6:47 am
#25
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: RDU
Programs: DL(PM), UA(Silver), AA(EXP) Marriott(Ti), HH(Gold), Hertz(PC)
Posts: 2,650
Jul 25, 2017, 7:53 am
#27
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Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
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Jul 25, 2017, 10:02 am
#28
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: RDU
Programs: DL(PM), UA(Silver), AA(EXP) Marriott(Ti), HH(Gold), Hertz(PC)
Posts: 2,650
customer service is important to me ... granted last time I had Discover was late 90s ... but I don't trust them to resolve problems without causing me big headaches ... one of the main reasons I still pay AMEX $550 , regardless of dilution of benefits each year ... AMEX will fix problems no hassle ...
