American Express Membership Rewards - Redeeming MR Points for a Digital Camera

I received the MR holiday guide late last week and was wondering about any experiences redeeming MR points for merchandise like a digital camera. Although the holiday guide does not provide the model numbers for the merchandie, one can easily determine which model is being referenced in the guide by the features listed (and doing some research).

For anyone who has redeemed points for merchandise, especially digital cameras, how was the process? Did the merchandise come packaged up OK or was it damaged? Was it what you expected to receive after reviewing the features and pretty much figured out the model? Any insights would be appreciated.

Snowcap

[This message has been edited by Snowcap (edited 10-27-2003).]

I've found the merchandise offerings to be a complete rip off. If you assume that frequent flyer miles are worth 2 cents each, you will see that nothing compares in value - gift certificates are offered up at a 1% value, and merchandise offerings are even below that level if you know how to shop for the best price.

This would be more around the $0.01 ($0.0075 to be exact) level as the camera is 56,000 points and the cost is $424 (tax included) at Circuit City and Best Buy.

Snowcap

Yeah...I remember that years ago (more than 10) the value of the reward is about 2%. Actually before MR the award is even better, remember back in the 80's only need to spend like 8,000 within 6 month for 4 full course dinner at Lawry's Prime Rib.

so if I earn about 15,000-20,000 MR pts a year, would it be stupid for me to keep paying the annual fee. I usually earn enough for 1 ticket a year though. I am having a hard time deciding whther to cancel my gold or not. Trip to BNA from LAX 6 months in advance on Southwest is 309$. Annual fee for amex card 130$(will probably downgrade to green next year sop 110$), means I am earning 279$ and only spending ABOUT 14,000-16,000 TO GET A FREE TICKET BECAUSE OF ALWAYS DOUBLE PTS, AND THEIR DOUBLE PTS offers, amI coming out pretty good still or should I cancel it? I don't mid paying the annual fee as long as I am not getting ripped. I don't mind paying 130 or 110 to get a free RT ticket a year, it is like prepaying for a ticket I am going to fly anyways and getting it cheaper. But would I be better witha cashback card. I don't want a starwood because of how uncertain everyone is about the rules being changed about points expiring and whatnot, so...any recommendations?

[This message has been edited by ero2 (edited 10-28-2003).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Snowcap:
I received the MR holiday guide late last week and was wondering about any experiences redeeming MR points for merchandise like a digital camera. Although the holiday guide does not provide the model numbers for the merchandie, one can easily determine which model is being referenced in the guide by the features listed (and doing some research).

For anyone who has redeemed points for merchandise, especially digital cameras, how was the process? Did the merchandise come packaged up OK or was it damaged? Was it what you expected to receive after reviewing the features and pretty much figured out the model? Any insights would be appreciated.

Snowcap

[This message has been edited by Snowcap (edited 10-27-2003).]</font>

I had a friend who ordered the Nikon 3 meg pixel and it was out of stock so Amex upgraded him to the higher pixel at no additional reward point charge and they promptly delievered. He ordered by phone

Merchandise is not the best value ... but I understand some FT'ers have plenty of miles/points from actual travel so don't need to spend their MR points on more travel! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Anyway, you might also want to consider just buying whatever camera you want and then you can pay for the charge using points ... it's like .5 cents per point, not a great deal, but considering you can get the exact camera you want and shop around for the cheapest price, it might be a good way to go.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by ero2:
so if I earn about 15,000-20,000 MR pts a year, would it be stupid for me to keep paying the annual fee. I usually earn enough for 1 ticket a year though. I am having a hard time deciding whther to cancel my gold or not. Trip to BNA from LAX 6 months in advance on Southwest is 309$. Annual fee for amex card 130$(will probably downgrade to green next year sop 110$), means I am earning 279$ and only spending ABOUT 14,000-16,000 TO GET A FREE TICKET BECAUSE OF ALWAYS DOUBLE PTS, AND THEIR DOUBLE PTS offers, amI coming out pretty good still or should I cancel it? I don't mid paying the annual fee as long as I am not getting ripped. I don't mind paying 130 or 110 to get a free RT ticket a year, it is like prepaying for a ticket I am going to fly anyways and getting it cheaper. But would I be better witha cashback card. I don't want a starwood because of how uncertain everyone is about the rules being changed about points expiring and whatnot, so...any recommendations?

[This message has been edited by ero2 (edited 10-28-2003).]</font>


It really depends upon your lifestyle, and whether there are other benefits you get for your $130 - ie do you have this card JUST for the rewards or not? If so - probably not a good idea to keep the card, and just donwgrade to green. If you travel quite a bit, the insurances are quite good (baggage, car rental, travel insurance to $100k), but green card gives you all of this except the baggage insurance. Also, if you're hyper-sensitive about longer-term sustainable quality of things you buy, the Buyer's assurance might come in handy (but alos in the green card). If you're a bargain hunter the Best Value guarantee may come in handy.
It also depends what you're planning on redeeming for, if it's just air tickets, then I get your point on Starwood, but I've had great experience with Starwood, and they regularly upgrade me etc.

I love the fact that if I buy something and I lose it, break it, and or it is stolen, they will replace it, they extend the warranty, and if I am NOT ALLOWED by a store to return something they will let me.