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Old May 31, 2013, 3:32 am
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: mia
For discussion of retention bonuses on Starwood Amex cards, see Annual fee retention bonus for Starwood Amex card.

Retention's department:
(800) 452-3945

Everyday Preferred
10/13/15
2.5K points not to cancel, and 5k points for 1K spend within three months, Total 7.5K points, or in the alternate, a $75 statement credit or gift card.
1/15/16 - 16k spend - first renewal - offered $50, no MR offer - accepted
3/14/16 - 98k spend - first renewal - offered $100 or 15k MR - took the 15k.
11/18/16 -50k spend - first renewal - offered $100 or 15k MR - took the 15k.

Platinum OPEN/Business
6/11/15 - 8.5k spend - 2nd renewal - offered $100 or 10k MR - deferred on offer (see post #314)
8/18/2015 - 90k spend - 2nd renewal - first two times I called, no offer. Final time I asked explicitly to cancel, was offered $350 statement credit.
12/18/2015 - 10k spend, first renewal. Offered 10k MR, cancelled.
1/6/2016 - 10K spend, about 8 weeks after account opening - offered $50 credit or 7.5K MRs, took MRs.
4/29/2016 - 15k spend, 3 months after opening. No offer other than downgrade to BGR.
6/16/2016 - 15k spend to get signup bonus (in Jan 2016). Minimal spend after. Took a lot of nudging - including explicit request to cancel card -- but was offered 10k MR to keep open. No spend requirement.
9/29/2016 - offered $100, didn't catch whether there was a spend requirement, i canceled as I have a personal Platinum card and the go-go passes weren't worth having two.

Business Gold Rewards
10/10/15 - Offered 10K MR. declined and closed
12/26/15 - Offered 10K MR or $100 Credit, counter offered $150 or 15K MR. They offered me 15K MR..accepted.
1/26/16 - Offered 15k MR, counter offered $150 and 15k MR, offered either but not both. Accepted 15k MR. $20k annual spend. Opened account 1/2015.
2/2/16 Offered 15k MR. Accepted 15k MR. $40k annual spend. Opened account 3/2015.
2/4/16 Offered 15K MR. Accepted 15K. About a $15K annual spend.
3/5/16 Offered 15K MR or $100 credit. Took the 15K MR. Minimal spend.
5/23/16 Offered $50, then $100, then 15k MR. Accepted 15k MR. Also let me change the 3x category in the middle of the year.
6/9/16 7500 MR offer, even pushed for 10k or 15k. Minimal spend. AF just posted. Left as-is, going to wait till closer to 60 day mark.
6/11/16 7500 MR offer, about 30k spend. AF due in two weeks. Took it.
6/20/16 No offer. ~$10k spend. Wanted to close the card anyway so did it.
9/30/16 Offered $50 statement credit. (<$5K spend) That was all. Didn't take it and cancelled card
10/04/16 Offered $50 statement credit or 7,500 points or pay the annual fee of $175 with 17,000 points instead of 25000 points. (<$9K spend) Didn't take it any of them and cancelled card

Personal Platinum
1/11/16 - 5K points immediately, 15K points for 3K spend within three months. $22K spend in 2015.
1/17/16 - 5K points immediately, 10K points for 2K spend within two months. $560 spend in 2015.
1/26/16 - $200 "loyalty credit" without requirements. $18k spend in 2015 (~50k total Amex spend in 2015). Cardholder for 3 years.
1/27/16 - 5K points immediately + 10K points for 2K spend within 60 days, or $100 credit. Took the points.
1/29/16 - 5K points immediately + 10K points for 2K spend within 60 days, or $100 credit. Took the points. Cardholder 3 years; $17k spend last year.
2/3/16 - 5K points now and 10K points after $2K spend in 60 days. Rep had to "dig deep" into my account to find this "unique and very special" offer (Yeah, right). Accepted.
3/31/16 - Only offer was $100 statement credit. $15k spend last year.
04/19/16 - $200 statement credit for being loyal to amex (cardholder for 2 years $65k spend).
4/29/16 Initial offer $200. HUCA 5k MR immediately, 15k MR after 3k spend in 60 days.
8/12/16 - 40K MR immediately. Card holder for 7 year, $55K spend in 2015 (Post #1015)
8/19/16 - 5K points immediately, 15K points for 3K spend within three months or 200$ statement credit. Card holder only for 1 year but amex customer for 8 years
8/19/16 - called before AF hit, offered $200 credit, accepted, not a ton of spend after hitting minimum spend for signup bonus, Amex customer since 2013 with 3 other cards but generally don't spend that much on Amex (maybe $10k/year)
8/25/16 - $200 Statement credit or 20k points for 3k spend within 3 months. Amex for 6 years, plat for 1 year. 40k spend across all amex.
9/9/16 - $200 Statement credit, $20k spent on this last year
9/9/16 - $200 Statement credit. ~$14K spend this year.
9/10/16 - 25k MR (no spend req). $11k in spend last yr. Tough sell from AX.
9/12/16 - 15k points after $2k spend in 3 months. ~$7k in spend
9/21/16 - 25k points or $200, no spend req. ~5k spend
9/29/16 - 25k points, no spend req. ~$20k in spend during past year
10/6/16 - 40k points, no spend req. ~$35k in spend during past year
10/7/16 - 25k points, no spend req. ~$22k T12 spend
10/8/16 - 25k points or $200, no spend req. ~$10k spend during past year
10/17/16 - 25k points or $200, no spend req. ~$5k spend during past year. took the points.
10/29/16 - 25k points or $200, no spend req. ~$11k spend during past year. took the points.
11/14/16 - 25k points or $200, no spend req. ~$15k spend during past year. took the points.
11/19/16 40k points or $400, no spend req. ~$45k spend during past year.

Platinum Mercedes Benz
9/30/15 - 5K points immediately, in addition to 15K points for 3K spend within three months. 20K points Total to retain card.

Platinum Ameriprise
7/21/16 Offered $200 or 20k MR. Accepted $200 statement credit to offset the $450 AF for all 4 cards in the account. 35K spent

SPG Personal
12/4/15 - $25 loyalty statement credit
2/3/16 - $25 loyalty statement credit but did allude to a potential bonus when the SPG card goes away; referenced the $200-300 bonus offered to Costco Amex holders being asked to convert to Sams Club Amex products
3/1/16 - $25 loyalty statement credit
6/14/2016 - $25 plus 3,000 SPG points - Had to ask Supv for the addl. 3,000 pts.
7/6/2016 - $25 or 1500 points after $1000 spend. Canceled card. $25k spend last year.
7/15/2016 - $25 loyalty statement credit. HUCA, HUCA, declined, cancelled card. $10K spend last year, less recently.
8/10/2016 - Paltry $25 or 500 points + additional 1000 points after $1000 spend (total of 1500) in 3 months. I have another ~60 days for af to lock in, so will call again in ~30 days. $35k spend last year, but less than $1000 / month this year.
8/16/16 - Offered $50 or 7,000 SPG points, $48K spend, took the points.
8/24/16 - Offered $50 or 7,000 SPG points, $13K spend YTD, took the points.
8/25/16 - $25 loyalty statement credit, $5K YTD spend. HUACA resulted in the same offer (even with a symethic agent that noted my 15 years of membership).
9/13/16 $95 credit with +- $40K spend. Fast & easy
9/17/16 $25 or 1500 SPG points after $1K spend. Cancelled the card
9/17/16 Called after renewal fee posted. Offered 5,000 SPG points - $40K spent on this card.
9/18/16 $50 or 7k. ~$80k spend.
10/1/16 $25 offer ~$15k spend. Cancelled card.
10/7/16 $50 or 7k. ~$76k T12 spend.
10/27/16 ($7K spend in last 12 months, first renewal) $25 statement credit OR 500 Starpoints + 1,000 Starpoints for $1,000 spend in next 3 months
11/11/16 ($4k spend this year) We respect your decision. Goodbye.
12/16/16 Member since 1995, spent $25k in 12 months, was offered 7k points. Love SPG points so didn't enquire about any of the other credits.

SPG OPEN/Business
8/3/15 - called with intent to cancel, $18k spend last year, offered $100 one-time statement credit - accepted.
8/12/15 - called with intent to cancel, $15k spend last year, offered only $50 one-time statement credit - accepted
12/14/15 - called with intent to cancel, $15k spend last year, AF hit 90 days ago with $0 spend since then. Offered $100 one-time statement credit.
1/14/16 - called with intent to cancel or product change to no fee Simply Cash card, $10-12k spend last year, $65 AF hit 30 days ago with $0 spend since then. Offered $100 one-time credit to keep card.
8/29/16 - called to cancel & they didn't offer any retention bonus so we canceled it. Only had min. spend last year.
10/1/16 - retention offered 5K SPG pts.
10/19/16 - offered $25 credit. Spend last year ~$15k.

DL Skymiles Platinum OPEN/Business
5/28/15 - called with intent to cancel, card opened 9 months, initial min spend (1.3k) only - offered simply cash open, declined, closed.
03/10/15- the date is date of miles post, do not remember original request date, no offers until reaching the retention department, 15k miles offered with 50k spend
11/4/15 - called to see what retention offer would be $60K spend offered nothing. sm
12/10/15 - Called again to actually cancel, got 25K skymiles. Kept card open. sm
04/26/16 - Called again, 3k bonus as good will to keep open. Will HUCA for 3rd time.
10/23/16 - called to cancel told me they have nothing to offer as I took advantage of the 25K miles last year. Said also they will remove the companion travel cert in my account if I cancel. I have until mid Nov and will call again

Premier Rewards Gold
6/12/15 - 1st renewal. Called 5 days after fee posted stating not happy about losing 15k bonus. Offered 10k MR now and 10k after $3k spend in 60 days. Accepted. $40k spent last year.
11/2/15 - Offered 20K MR. $130K spend in previous year.
1/14/16 - Offered $50 statement credit + $50 credit if meet $500 spend in 60 days. ~$8k spend previous year.
1/21/16 - Offered 5k MR + 15k MR with $3k spend in 60 days or $75 credit + $75 credit if $1k spend in 60 days. ~$25k in spend last year
2/11/16 - Offered 2.5k MR + 5k MR with $1k spend in 60 days or $50 credit + $50 credit if $500 spend in 60 days. ~$25k in spend last year
2/23/16 - Offered 5k MR + 15k MR with $3k spend in 60 days . ~$33k in spend in my first year
4/12/16 - Offered $50 statement credit + $50 credit if meet $500 spend in 60 days. ~$10k spend previous year.
4/22/16 - 1st offer - $50 statement + $50 credit after $500 spend in 60 days. 2nd offer - 2.5k MR + 5k MR with $1k spend in 60 days (took 2nd offer) ~10k spend previous year.
6/9/16 No offers. Minimal spend. AF just posted. Left as-is, going to wait till closer to 60 day mark.
6/26/16 - Offered $175 or 25k MR. $135k spend.
6/20/2016 Phoned and requested transfer to retention dept. After a brief explanation of benefits, I was offered $50 statement credit and $50 additional statement credit after $500 spend in 60 days. Took the offer.
7/25/2015 1st anniversary, 25k spend. Offered upgrade to platinum with 10k + 50k MR. Lengthy talk with Retention who finally offered only 7.5k MR for $1k spend in 92 days. Very disappointed. Declined. HUCA. 2nd call on the 60th day: offered and took the 50+50 offer.
8/19/2016: Presented with 2 offers: (1) $50 statement credit now and $50 statement credit after spending $500 within 60 days (2) 2,500 MR points now, and 5,000 MR points after spending $1,000 within 90 days.
11/2/2016: $100 credit no spend needed

DL Skymiles Gold
6/2015 - Have had card since 1991 and have never asked for a retention offer. $30k spend annually except for the last year with $1k spend. Flat out denied hard for any retention. Paid AF b/c my oldest card.
1/2016 - Have had card for ten years+, usually around $10,000/year spend. Never asked for retention bonus before. Given two choices: 1) 1000 miles immediately and 2000 more miles for $1000 spend in 60 days or 2) $75 statement credit. Took the $75.
5/2016 - Had card for 3 years, never asked for a retention. Spend is probably only around $2K/year. Was not offered any miles or credit.
6/15/2016 - 15k offer. Have had card since 1995. <1k spend last year. Took 15k

DL Skymiles Gold Business
9/24 - under $1k spend in last 12 months, no offer. They said they don't have a retention department.
4/18/2016 - Had card for 1 year with 2K spend. Asked for the nature of my small business, what expenses and travel requirements I have for my business. Given two choices: 1) 7,500 miles immediately to offset $95 AF or 2) switch to a generic no fee Amex. Took the 7,500 miles.


Hilton HHonors Surpass
1/2016 - spend > $40k, 2nd year had card, offered $50 statement credit or 5000 points
4/2016 - Offered $75 statement credit or 10k points. Took the credit.
6/2016 - Offered 500 HH points now and another 1K after spending 1K or $25. Took the $25.
9/2016 - spend > $40k, 2nd year had card, offered $50 statement credit or 5000 points. Took the credit.
11/2016 - Spend $5k on this card, $55k in last year across all Amex accounts. 1st anniversary, offered $25 statement credit or 1,000 points. Cancelled.
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American Express retention offers [2008 - 2016]

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Old Nov 21, 2015, 11:32 am
  #2056  
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 309
Offered $200 credit to keep a Platinum with $12,000 spend.
GarlicFlyer is offline  
Old Nov 21, 2015, 1:03 pm
  #2057  
formerly sahiljain22
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: BOS;NYC;YVR;YYZ;DEL;BOM
Programs: Amex Plat; HH Diamond; SPG Plat; Hyatt Diamond; United 1K; National EE; HSBC Premier
Posts: 532
amex plat: called and got 5k points and another 10k after 2k spent.

spg biz: nothing offered, will likely close card
sj22 is offline  
Old Nov 21, 2015, 10:44 pm
  #2058  
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: USA
Posts: 1,084
Originally Posted by sahiljain22
amex plat: called and got 5k points and another 10k after 2k spent.

spg biz: nothing offered, will likely close card

How long have you had your plat and what was your most recent year's spend? Thanks.
slivrflyr is offline  
Old Nov 25, 2015, 6:30 pm
  #2059  
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Chicagoland/ORD
Programs: UA Million Miler (Gold), Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,458
SPG business card

Called amex and said I want to cut down on cards with annual fees and asked if I could get the fee waived or get starpoints to offset it. The rep I talked with said they can't negotiate the fee and I would have to call Starwood about getting points to keep the card.

I may try amex again in a day or two and hope for an accommodating rep. If not, I'll cancel the card. I've had it since 2006; and until this past year, it was my most-used business card.

Last edited by linsj; Nov 25, 2015 at 6:37 pm
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Old Nov 28, 2015, 3:25 pm
  #2060  
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 3
AMEX Gold, 10k point for third year, no much use.
wealth is offline  
Old Nov 29, 2015, 1:19 am
  #2061  
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 182
Delta Gold AMEX offered a statement credit of $75 or 7,500 Skymiles with $2,000 in spending. I spent roughly $30K this year on the card.
Robbyb03 is offline  
Old Nov 30, 2015, 7:45 pm
  #2062  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Hilton Contributor Badge
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IAH
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt Ist-iest, Stariott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,824
Originally Posted by linsj
Called amex and said I want to cut down on cards with annual fees and asked if I could get the fee waived or get starpoints to offset it. The rep I talked with said they can't negotiate the fee and I would have to call Starwood about getting points to keep the card.
When did your AF hit? My AF hit on the SPG Biz late summer and when I called at that time they said there was nothing they could do. I didn't cancel it at the time because I was waiting on a referral bonus to hit my account.

I called today planning to cancel and they offered me a $100 statement credit to keep it. Somebody else posted a similar offer in the dedicated Starwood thread (link in the wiki) so maybe it just depends on when you call, how far you are from your AF, etc.
krazykanuck is offline  
Old Dec 1, 2015, 6:50 am
  #2063  
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Chicagoland/ORD
Programs: UA Million Miler (Gold), Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,458
Originally Posted by krazykanuck
When did your AF hit? My AF hit on the SPG Biz late summer and when I called at that time they said there was nothing they could do. I didn't cancel it at the time because I was waiting on a referral bonus to hit my account.

I called today planning to cancel and they offered me a $100 statement credit to keep it. Somebody else posted a similar offer in the dedicated Starwood thread (link in the wiki) so maybe it just depends on when you call, how far you are from your AF, etc.
The AF is on the latest statement due next week. I haven't had time to call again but will try once more before I have to pay the bill. Haven't decided yet if I want to keep the card or cancel if I don't get a retention offer.
linsj is online now  
Old Dec 1, 2015, 3:30 pm
  #2064  
She
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 181
Originally Posted by krazykanuck
How much spend did you have in the past year?
About $7k. Not very much at all as I only use this card at Costco
She is offline  
Old Dec 2, 2015, 9:18 am
  #2065  
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Chicagoland/ORD
Programs: UA Million Miler (Gold), Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,458
SPG business

Told twice: "We do not do retention offers." I decided the card isn't worth the AF to me anymore.
linsj is online now  
Old Dec 8, 2015, 9:17 am
  #2066  
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: LGA/JFK
Programs: AA PL, DL Gold, Hyatt Dia, SPG Gold, HH Gold
Posts: 220
Amex Plat. Literally didn't get any offer. 100K spend this past year and absolutely nothing. Went all the way to cancellation. What to do what to do...

Update: Apparently nothing to do. Got to disclosures and attempted to go back. Told account was already closed and had to pay off bill and then call to reinstate. Maybe this is a sign that my time with Amex has come. I will miss the Cent lounges but maybe my absence will free up some space (yeh right, I visit like 10x a year mostly alone). What do folks think I should do? I do get a value prop from this card, but likely not worth the $$ in the long run as I wouldn't be using the benies as much if I didn't get them (e.g. coupons that make you shop more). If this isn't the appropriate place for the discussion mods, please feel free to cut off or ask me to edit.

Last edited by heatheresq; Dec 8, 2015 at 10:04 am Reason: Needed to add additional detail.
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Old Dec 8, 2015, 11:42 am
  #2067  
Formerly known as jlars77
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: ORD
Posts: 361
Well that is disappointing. If you haven't had the Mercedes or Ameriprise version and received the bonus prior I would look into these cards if you want lounge access.

Originally Posted by heatheresq
Amex Plat. Literally didn't get any offer. 100K spend this past year and absolutely nothing. Went all the way to cancellation. What to do what to do...

Update: Apparently nothing to do. Got to disclosures and attempted to go back. Told account was already closed and had to pay off bill and then call to reinstate. Maybe this is a sign that my time with Amex has come. I will miss the Cent lounges but maybe my absence will free up some space (yeh right, I visit like 10x a year mostly alone). What do folks think I should do? I do get a value prop from this card, but likely not worth the $$ in the long run as I wouldn't be using the benies as much if I didn't get them (e.g. coupons that make you shop more). If this isn't the appropriate place for the discussion mods, please feel free to cut off or ask me to edit.
2Tall4Y is offline  
Old Dec 8, 2015, 1:47 pm
  #2068  
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: LGA/JFK
Programs: AA PL, DL Gold, Hyatt Dia, SPG Gold, HH Gold
Posts: 220
Thumbs up

Originally Posted by 2Tall4Y
Well that is disappointing. If you haven't had the Mercedes or Ameriprise version and received the bonus prior I would look into these cards if you want lounge access.
Excellent idea that had slipped my mind. I think I am going to let it ride for a bit and maybe I will re-up mid year or so. I think I need a bit of a break from all of this.
heatheresq is offline  
Old Dec 8, 2015, 11:30 pm
  #2069  
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: AA MM PP, MR LT Plat, Globalist
Posts: 1,006
Fully intended to cancel my Business Gold, having spent $13.5k on it in the past year. Lady was anxious to describe all benefits. - I listened but cut her off rather curtly. She kept going so I offered to keep the card w/ the annual fee waived. She offered 15k and I accepted.

When Amex assesses your value as a customer, how far back do they look? For example, my YTD spending was only 3k, so am surprised they considered $10k I spent end of last year.
eethan is offline  
Old Dec 9, 2015, 11:13 pm
  #2070  
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Somewhere over the rainbow
Programs: Airline Free Agent, Bonvoy Platinum, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 3,815
Family member called AMEX to see if they would offer anything for the AMEX Plat (he had it for two years w/ around ~$15K spend this year). He didn't ask them to cancel the card, instead he said he was thinking about it and if they would offer anything. CSR just cancelled the card and told him it was cancelled. He spoke to someone else and a supervisor who listened to the recording of phone call, they said they couldn't do anything as "thinking" is the same as "want" in that situation. They declined reinstating the card unless they do a another hard pull and wouldn't offer any MR points as compensation (he has the PRG too).

I would've expected better from AMEX. *thumbs down*
Jimgotkp is offline  


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