American Express Membership Rewards - VERY Angry at Centurion... did not get any $500 gift cards

I am really really fuming at the kind of service Centurion provides. I thought they were adept at getting whatever Centurion members are looking for ANYWHERE in the WORLD. Well, now I know, there are items even THEY cannot get and it is within AMEX Centurion Marketing department. Apparantly, they are the UNTOUCHABLES!!! I have requested for and receive ZERO cards so far with Centurion...BOTH the Mikimoto and the Barney's gift cards.
Sometimes I wonder what they are trying to prove?? There are more IMPORTANT Centurion members than others?? I, for one, planned on using the cards. Some Centurion members toss it in the trash because they don't... How does Centurion Marketing department determine who gets what?!? I live near the United States of America nation's capital. I don't think location is a problem because afterall, I am close to all the major metropolitan areas in the East Coast. I spend over $300K on the card per year... I guess it's my ethnicity then... how ironic being a black card and all.

Have you, perhaps, opted out of third-party mailings?

How would AMEX's CRM determine your ethnicity, let alone discriminate based on it?

Wow...settle down. Because you didn't get the gift cards AmEx must be racist? That's a pretty strong accusation.

Not all cardholders got them. It happens. Maybe they know (or have reason to believe) that you would be using them so they they didn't send them to you since they felt there was a chance you'd shop in those stores anyways; for others they are trying to entice them in to the store.

And I haven't heard of anyone successfully "requesting" the cards rather than just receiving them in the mail.

They are not a part of the basic card member benefits so the sense of entitlement seems a bit much.

...I guess it's my ethnicity then... how ironic being a black card and all.

Yeah, I'm sure it's your ethnicity! :rolleyes: No doubt a directive from their CEO.

I guess it's my ethnicity then... how ironic being a black card and all.

:rolleyes:^∞

Lamest. Thread. Ever.

Lamest. Thread. Ever.

you must be new to the amex forum. :D

how long have u had the card? id imagine they dont start throwing money at customers untilll they have had the card for a couple years....

I am really really fuming at the kind of service Centurion provides. I thought they were adept at getting whatever Centurion members are looking for ANYWHERE in the WORLD. Well, now I know, there are items even THEY cannot get and it is within AMEX Centurion Marketing department. Apparantly, they are the UNTOUCHABLES!!! I have requested for and receive ZERO cards so far with Centurion...BOTH the Mikimoto and the Barney's gift cards.
Sometimes I wonder what they are trying to prove?? There are more IMPORTANT Centurion members than others?? I, for one, planned on using the cards. Some Centurion members toss it in the trash because they don't... How does Centurion Marketing department determine who gets what?!? I live near the United States of America nation's capital. I don't think location is a problem because afterall, I am close to all the major metropolitan areas in the East Coast. I spend over $300K on the card per year... I guess it's my ethnicity then... how ironic being a black card and all.

More than your ethnicity, I think it may be your spending habits. They will not send you a card for a place where they think you'll be spending anyway -- the idea is to entice you to spend in a place where you wouldn't normally.

I think you should just cancel the card and show them, discriminating a-holes! I also think you should cancel because it's just not worth it to get so worked up about not receiving gift certificates. :rolleyes:

http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=762596

Your profile lists that you have both personal and business Centurions. Is that still the case?

If you're only rocking a business Cent, don't expect any certificates. It's been well documented on here that business Centurions don't get nearly the same perks in terms of gift certificates and gifts as personal ones do. If you do have a personal, perhaps you should check if you've opted out of mailings. It may also be partially based on spending on the card - do you spend on the personal?

do you spend on the personal?

dont you have to do get the card? or can u get a personal one for "free" when you have a Business one already?

I know the feeling...I have a business CENT, and have had it for several years, and last "gift" of anything significant was a Mont Blanc pen a couple of years ago. I read of promotion after promotion after promotion for personal CENTS and nada for business CENTS. hhmm.

Otherwise - dead silence from good ol' AMEX.

They absolutely differentiate between personal and business, to their detriment. Just like the double MR point promotions...rarely, rarely are offered to business CENT accounts. So be it.

So, my response...I use the CENT card very, very little. I do still use my spg/amex card in 6 figures each year, but then I used to use it for 7 figures and have ramped that down as well (similar reasons - AMEX seems to non-target me for double spg point promotions so why send them the business)...ultimately it costs AMEX faar more of my "lost and redirected" business than they can possibly know.

Plus, who wants lame MRewards points anyway ?

So, tit for tat. AMEX plays their games; I as a discerning consumer play mine.

I know the feeling...I have a business CENT, and have had it for several years, and last "gift" of anything significant was a Mont Blanc pen a couple of years ago. I read of promotion after promotion after promotion for personal CENTS and nada for business CENTS. hhmm.

Otherwise - dead silence from good ol' AMEX.

They absolutely differentiate between personal and business, to their detriment. Just like the double MR point promotions...rarely, rarely are offered to business CENT accounts. So be it.

So, my response...I use the CENT card very, very little. I do still use my spg/amex card in 6 figures each year, but then I used to use it for 7 figures and have ramped that down as well (similar reasons - AMEX seems to non-target me for double spg point promotions so why send them the business)...ultimately it costs AMEX faar more of my "lost and redirected" business than they can possibly know.

Plus, who wants lame MRewards points anyway ?

So, tit for tat. AMEX plays their games; I as a discerning consumer play mine.

I don't think Amex has down double points promotions on the personal cent for over a year, either (unless I'm the only one who hasn't gotten them)

Get over it, they've taken 9 years to send me my first freebie which turns out to be useless, as I can only use it in the States !

Wow what a silly thread. I don't think AMEX is profiling you. A better question is why do you have both business and personal cent? Why not just have personal Cent, and maybe a business Plat. That's like giving yourself a $2500 gift card every year, and you lose no benefits (Plat still has the Regalis membership).

you must be new to the amex forum. :D

Hardly. This is the worst of the worst, though.

I know the feeling...

You, too, feel you're being discriminated against because of your race? :(

1) I've been a Business Centurion AND Personal Centurion member for over 5 years... so I don't think seniority is an issue in this matter
2) For those forum members that think this is not outrageous, I submit to you that you were able to receive FULL benefits from Amex and thus, you think I have a beef with them because of that...well, how would you feel if YOU did not receive any cards and everyone else is getting gift cards left and right. Let's see how you would feel...
3) I am not saying this is a race issue or imply it...it's just IRONIC how some members are treated by AMEX, especially when it comes to minorities. Do you think they have access to the report on "subprime mortgages and impact on the minority community"?? Just the other day, a congressman wanted a full investigation into the lending practices of subprime mortgage lenders to minority borrowers during the housing boom. All I'm saying is, Amex is cutting on credit lines, saving dollars (cancellation of domestic companion program), etc. I BELIEVE THEY ARE NOW DISCRIMINATING AGAINST CERTAIN CARD HOLDERS!!

Just cancel the damn thing.

AND I'd try to sue, if I were you.

3) I am not saying this is a race issue or imply it...it's just IRONIC how some members are treated by AMEX, especially when it comes to minorities. Do you think they have access to the report on "subprime mortgages and impact on the minority community"?? Just the other day, a congressman wanted a full investigation into the lending practices of subprime mortgage lenders to minority borrowers during the housing boom. All I'm saying is, Amex is cutting on credit lines, saving dollars (cancellation of domestic companion program), etc. I THEY ARE NOW DISCRIMINATING AGAINST CERTAIN CARD HOLDERS!!

You're a real piece of work. You're say that this is not a race issue but then all you do is rant about race. Get a life and move on! Yeah, everyone's out to discriminate against you. :rolleyes::rolleyes:

If you don't like it, cancel your account and sue AMEX. While you're at it, why not sue CEO Ken Chenault personally because he discriminates against minorities. That'd be a good one to follow.

http://www.naacpldf.org/images/content/TLewis_KChenault.jpg

As a straight white man, I think I'm being discriminated against, too.

I've been a personal Cent holder since they first became available in the states and have never received any sort of gift. Surely the only answer for this kind of "oversight" must be because I'm a Straight White Man. Obviously "Black" is somehow more prestigious to them, so my quite vanilla "white-ness" is not worth their scraps.

If I were a black man, no wait, a black gay man, no wait, a black, gay woman, I'd be dancing around with gift cards falling from every pocket.

Obviously Amex hates straight, white men. It's the _only_ possible answer.


Sheesh... I hope that first post was in jest...

I sympathize with the OP, as I also know what it feels like to be left out. I had a platinum card, with big annual spend and never received anything. I saw all my friends and family receive gift certificates from Ruth Chris, Capital Grille etc. Many of these friends never even patronized these restaurants, unlike myself.

One day I was pretty upset and called Amex to find out why I never received any promotions. (Maybe they think no one talks about this?) I confirmed that I was already signed up for marketing and promotions, and told the representative that I wanted to find out why I was being overlooked.
I spoke to a supervisor who told me that Amex does not send out these gift certificates, they come directly from the merchant. Amex supplies Ruth Chris, or whomever with a list of people that they think would benefit from their promotion, then it is up to the merchant to chose and mail out.

It is possible for Amex to include you on the list for the promotion, but the merchant may decide not to send you the offer based on their own criteria.

OP have you tried contacting the merchant directly?? Perhaps if you called and said you were a good customer, and explained the situation, maybe they would send something out to you.

For the record let me state that I never felt discriminated against. I think part of my initial frustration was the fact that I paid to have this card, and felt that I was not receiving all the benefits. I have since switched my card to Starwood Amex and Hilton Amex. I find that I use the points more, and pay no hefty annual fee. Also from what I understand no one with these cards receives promotions or gift cards, so I never worry about feeling slighted.

Just to get the facts out there... I am not saying I didn't receive anything from Centurion. Last year, I did get the Van Cleefs and Arpel $1000 gift card, I did receive the Canon digital camera, and this year I did get the Wynn $500 promo and the Dominica Vacca $500 card...So, I am enrolled and have been enrolled on the marketing/promo for the Card. I made sure of that when I called Amex years ago.
All I am saying is, Amex TARGETS offers and not ALL Centurion members are treated equally. What do they target you may ask? Well, let's see the Wynn offer was for pretty much 99.9% of all Centurion members, I'm pretty sure the Dominica Vacca offer was received by over 95% of card holders. But, who are the elusive members that get to have $1000 Mikimoto cards and $500 Barney's of New York cards... THAT is the million dollar mystery that even CENTURION CSR cannot solve. Like I said in the very first post, the only ppl Centurion CSR cannot reach and get anything from is the AMEX Marketing department! How IRONIC!!!

And finally, I am not out there trying to put blame on anyone. I'm venting my frustration against Amex and their Marketing dept for not treating ALL Centurion members the same. I mean, afterall, WE ARE PAYING THE SAME annual fees and WE WERE selected for these cards. I thought it takes the top of the top to get these cards...I guess there is another level WITHIN Centurion and only AMEX knows about it. We're just dumb folks at the base supporting a pyramid that one day will crumble...

If I recall last year's thread correctly, you called in and requested that Van Cleef cert be sent out to you, because you haven't received it initially. This question is not only for you, but for all of the people on FT who have done this: do you not feel silly doing this? What do you say when you call Amex, "Um, hi, I heard that some people got gift certificates and I didn't, so please send one to me"? Do you sound angry/upset/demanding, threatening to "take your business elsewhere" when you're doing so, or you're more on the nicer side, trying to reason with the rep and letting them know that you're important because you spend $300k annually and deserve one?

As to you constantly saying how it's IRONIC, the only irony I see in this, is that you still haven't cancelled the card, when they are CLEARLY discriminating against you ;)

I spoke to a supervisor who told me that Amex does not send out these gift certificates, they come directly from the merchant.

I think they do come directly from Amex. Envelopes usually say it's from Amex & gift certificates always have Amex logo.

I have requested for and receive ZERO cards so far with Centurion...BOTH the Mikimoto and the Barney's gift cards.

Huh?

By the way, I never received the Wynn offer. But that's most likely because Chenault is an anti-semite :D

Just to get the facts out there... I am not saying I didn't receive anything from Centurion. Last year, I did get the Van Cleefs and Arpel $1000 gift card, I did receive the Canon digital camera, and this year I did get the Wynn $500 promo and the Dominica Vacca $500 card...So, I am enrolled and have been enrolled on the marketing/promo for the Card. I made sure of that when I called Amex years ago.
All I am saying is, Amex TARGETS offers and not ALL Centurion members are treated equally. What do they target you may ask? Well, let's see the Wynn offer was for pretty much 99.9% of all Centurion members, I'm pretty sure the Dominica Vacca offer was received by over 95% of card holders. But, who are the elusive members that get to have $1000 Mikimoto cards and $500 Barney's of New York cards... THAT is the million dollar mystery that even CENTURION CSR cannot solve. Like I said in the very first post, the only ppl Centurion CSR cannot reach and get anything from is the AMEX Marketing department! How IRONIC!!!

And finally, I am not out there trying to put blame on anyone. I'm venting my frustration against Amex and their Marketing dept for not treating ALL Centurion members the same. I mean, afterall, WE ARE PAYING THE SAME annual fees and WE WERE selected for these cards. I thought it takes the top of the top to get these cards...I guess there is another level WITHIN Centurion and only AMEX knows about it. We're just dumb folks at the base supporting a pyramid that one day will crumble...

Hmm...You've gotten more than I have, and I'm a red-headed, freckle-faced white dude.


I'm venting my frustration against Amex and their Marketing dept for not treating ALL Centurion members the same.


I wonder what you would say if I said that there was some racial reason why you got the camera and I didn't, and then said I was just "venting". Shame on you. People are people.

I had a platinum card . . . I saw all my friends and family receive gift certificates from Ruth Chris, Capital Grille etc.

I wish I would get the Ruths Chris and Capital Grille gift cards rather than the Wynn and Domenico Vacca ones that I did receive. :D

Those I would use.

Susan

This thread is absolutely hilarious. They're racist for not sending you one card, but yet you've racked up like thousands of dollars in other benefits? You're rich in a non-monetary manner. Quite unbelievable. This thread is a shining example of the mess that has been allowed and encouraged to fester in this country.

Hell, I'm being discriminated against too now that I think about it. I don't have a Centurion card but still...that shouldn't matter because they are obviously targetting certain people and I am not one of them. They are clearly discriminating against Germans. Damned AMEX. I'm going to take this one to the streets people! To the streets!

I have to say, this is the most pathetically hilarious thread I've ever seen on FT.

oooh poor me, I've only received a digital camera and 3 gift certificates, if I wasn't black they'd send me more.

Lame.

I have to say, this is the most pathetically hilarious thread I've ever seen on FT.

oooh poor me, I've only received a digital camera and 3 gift certificates, if I wasn't black they'd send me more.

Lame.

I'll have to say you are pathetic in the "Equality" for all argument. Basically, you still think there should be a caste system where even within a certain select group, ie. Centurion members, that there are those priviledged and those that are just the bottom feeders that Amex decides to "appease" every now and then...
If that's your case then this thread is useless... nobody is willing to stand up for anything. Even to the unfair and unjust treatment from Amex...an "American" company.

I'll have to say you are pathetic in the "Equality" for all argument. Basically, you still think there should be a caste system where even within a certain select group, ie. Centurion members, that there are those priviledged and those that are just the bottom feeders that Amex decides to "appease" every now and then...
If that's your case then this thread is useless... nobody is willing to stand up for anything. Even to the unfair and unjust treatment from Amex...an "American" company.

I didn't realize that the rights afforded in the Constitution concerning equality, justice for all, and all that applied to direct marketing and such. But I am happy to hear that this is the case. I will sleep better at night now.

As a straight white man, I think I'm being discriminated against, too.

......

If I were a black man, no wait, a black gay man, no wait, a black, gay woman, I'd be dancing around with gift cards falling from every pocket.


You forgot to add a religious minority and a physical handicap to that list.....

Well, this white General Dentist got one - going into the city next week to use it.

As to my orthodontic colleague, I suggest you ask the moderator to close this thread. You will get no satisfaction and nothing more than continued abuse. I know you're frustrated but it sounded childish and you'd be better off making it disappear.

Moderator Hat On

And, with that, I think we've officially finished beating this horse.

[b[Moderator Hat Off[/b]