Jul 3, 19, 8:56 am
Last edit by: rrgg
$50 statement credit for purchases made at Saks. Enrollment required prior to purchase.
Online orders do not charge until shipped. Many items are carried in-stock by Saks and eligible for ShopRunner shipping - data points suggest that these will charge and ship quickly.
However, many other items on Saks(dot)com drop ship from the manufacturer. For these, expected delivery dates may not be reliable, are not guaranteed, and orders cannot be cancelled easily.
If you place an online order close to the end of an Amex credit period, there is a risk that your item may not ship (and Amex will not be charged) until after the end of the credit period.
Note on shipping & billing times: If a product shows that ShopRunner shipping is available, it is shipped by Saks and is likely to ship and bill quickly. If there's no ShopRunner option, it is likely drop-shipped from the manufacturer meaning the shipping date and actual charge date will be further out.
Things known to count for the credit:
- This benefit is available twice a year, once from Jan-Jun and once again from Jul-Dec.
- Use it or lose it, does not rollover or accumulate. There is no "meter" to track how much you've spent. Check your statement for credits.
- Per AMEX CS chat the transaction date is what determines whether a purchase is reimbursed from the Jan-Jun benefit or the Jul-Dec benefit.
- Actual experience from 2019: first-half purchase submitted only 6/27, shipped 6/29, went from pending to posted on 7/1 (but dated as 6/29), credit posted on 7/1, was able to use second $50 credit a week or two later
- Purchases by Additional Card Members (both the $175 Plat-colored and free Gold-colored) will be reimbursed also, but only up to an aggregate $50 per Account.
Online orders do not charge until shipped. Many items are carried in-stock by Saks and eligible for ShopRunner shipping - data points suggest that these will charge and ship quickly.
However, many other items on Saks(dot)com drop ship from the manufacturer. For these, expected delivery dates may not be reliable, are not guaranteed, and orders cannot be cancelled easily.
If you place an online order close to the end of an Amex credit period, there is a risk that your item may not ship (and Amex will not be charged) until after the end of the credit period.
Note on shipping & billing times: If a product shows that ShopRunner shipping is available, it is shipped by Saks and is likely to ship and bill quickly. If there's no ShopRunner option, it is likely drop-shipped from the manufacturer meaning the shipping date and actual charge date will be further out.
Things known to count for the credit:
- Merchandise purchased in Saks stores or online
- Physical gift cards purchased in-store
- Physical gift cards purchased online (min $150)
- e-gift cards (these are fulfilled by a different vendor)
- anything bought at "Saks Off 5th" (however, you can use a Saks gift card at Off 5th...)
$50 credit at Saks 5th Ave every 6 months with Plat card (2018 - 2021)
Oct 31, 18, 7:32 pm
#181
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: DCA
Programs: Free Agent (former AA PLT/US GLD)
Posts: 1,678
A dress shirt, if you'll believe it. I had to really go hunting through the sales section of the website, but it was there.
Thanks for the heads up. Given how it feels, I don't find that the least bit surprising.
I'd prefer to get $50 candies for Halloween! The Saks shirt can rip in the shoulders. 
Nov 1, 18, 7:13 am
#182
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 16
If I understand this correctly, so far, we can buy $50 gift cards in store (Saks Fifth only) and get the Saks credit?. Online is a $150 min and nobody has confirmed that the credit applies for online gift cards?
Thanks
Thanks
Nov 1, 18, 7:25 am
#183
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Washington, DC, USA
Programs: Amex Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards
Posts: 191
Nov 1, 18, 7:48 am
#185
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Washington, DC, USA
Programs: Amex Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards
Posts: 191
Is the Platinum really for high net worth demographics? $150 effective annual fee doesn't sound like it is for someone who shops at Saks.
Nov 1, 18, 8:41 am
#186
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend; Moderator: American Express, Capital One, Citi, Chase, Credit Card Programs, Diners Club, Signatures
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 47,206
American Express markets Platinum as a $550 product, and does not see benefits as fee reductions in the way we do. They are not concerned about individual cases, and in the aggregate benefit utilization is probably far less than $400 per account.
Nov 1, 18, 8:53 am
#187
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Washington, DC, USA
Programs: Amex Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards
Posts: 191
I can see this being true, I don't care about the Saks credit at all... maybe others see the Uber credits and airline fee credit as such.
Nov 1, 18, 8:58 am
#188
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend; Moderator: American Express, Capital One, Citi, Chase, Credit Card Programs, Diners Club, Signatures
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 47,206
Another consideration is that if American Express does not fund the Uber or Saks benefits (or shares the cost with the merchant), there is not a dollar-for-dollar revenue reduction.
Nov 1, 18, 9:11 am
#189
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: SFO
Posts: 3,654
Much of this thread is intriguing to me.
If Amex Plat offered $50 worth of dog sh*t, I'm certain that many here will go to great lengths to extract the $50 of dog sh*t and then complain about it.
If Amex Plat offered $50 worth of dog sh*t, I'm certain that many here will go to great lengths to extract the $50 of dog sh*t and then complain about it.
Nov 1, 18, 10:48 am
#190
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 87
Correct. If you find yourself in a city that has a Saks Fifth Ave. I'd highly suggest buying a giftcard. Off Saks (outlet store) prices are much much better and you can use that giftcard there.
Nov 1, 18, 11:04 am
#192
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 11
I use the credit to buy my sunscreen/moisturizer, I definitely use the $200 airline credit, $200 Uber Credit (through UberEATS) $100 Saks fifth credit. $50 for centurion lounge / 5x travel and cheaper premium economy seats? easy deal.
Nov 1, 18, 11:25 am
#193
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 6,841
It is confirmed that you can spend your credit online, never having to go to a physical store. And, never having to take the intermediate step of purchasing gift cards. Just click what you want to buy, pay with your Plat card, and the discount will be applied.
Nov 1, 18, 11:56 am
#194
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IAH
Programs: DL DM, AC 50K, Hyatt Ist-iest, Starriot Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,241
That's exactly what I've done with my $50 GCs. I already do much of my clothes shopping at Off 5th, so the Saks credit is just a $ for $ fee reduction for me.
Nov 1, 18, 1:10 pm
#195
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 87
Yes, there are data points on this thread that show people are refunded through online purchase. You also get free shipping through shoprunner which is nice.
