Jul 3, 2019, 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)
Aug 9, 2021, 2:33 pm
#1036
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: Hilton Plastic, Delta Silver Emeritus
Posts: 1,037
In chicago for the weekend so walked to says to buy my gift card. As soon as I said I wanted a gift card and the clerk saw it was an am ex she said “I bet. You want it for $50 and don’t care about type of card”. She said she has had a lot of $50 am ex gift card sales this month. She agreed with me it’s free money. Wish they still had the off fifth on state street so I could use these cards
You cannot convince the associates not to box and wrap the card. It must be a brand standard enforced by the management locally.
Sep 5, 2021, 1:28 am
#1037
Join Date: Nov 2020
Posts: 32
Yeah, I wound up disputing it after 2 months. Amex asked me to submit proof that Saks had promised me a refund. I attached a copy of the email Saks had sent, and Amex approved the dispute and removed the original charge. So all’s well that ends well. Saks could stand to take some customer service lessons from Amex.
Sep 7, 2021, 10:44 am
#1038
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: NYC
Programs: DL PM, Marriott Gold, Hertz PC, National Exec
Posts: 6,736
At the customer service desk on the main floor of the 5th Ave mothership, they don't even bat an eye at my buying three $50 gift cards in three transactions, all with Google Pay. Certainly no requirement that I get it boxed.
Sep 7, 2021, 11:10 am
#1039
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
Ditto. They just hand me the card and the receipt.
Sep 7, 2021, 11:35 am
#1040
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,774
I buy my gift cards online and the last two I received only came in an envelope, no gift box like the previous ones. These have all been for $250.
Sep 7, 2021, 12:29 pm
#1041
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: LAS ORD
Programs: AA Pro (mostly B6) OZ♦ (flying BR/UA), BA Silver Hyatt LT, Wynn Black, Cosmo Plat, Mlife Noir
Posts: 5,992
It just depends who you get. It seems like many are used to us Plat holders stopping by. My last two trips to the Chicago location they didn't even offer to box it.
Sep 7, 2021, 2:51 pm
#1042
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 72
Bought two $50 cards from the SF store, but they told me they couldn't split the charge for a $100 card.
Sep 7, 2021, 3:45 pm
#1043
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IAH
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt Ist-iest, Stariott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,795
Sep 7, 2021, 5:01 pm
#1044
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: California
Posts: 241
Looks like the party might be over for the PayPal workaround at Saks Off 5th. Just used PayPal for a few things there last week (that I thankfully would have bought anyway) and the charge posted as PAYPAL *SAKSOFF5THL 4029357733 NY. No reimbursement has posted and I don't expect one to but will update should it happen.
Sep 8, 2021, 7:54 am
#1045
Join Date: Sep 2011
Programs: Virgin Atlantic Silver, IHG Diamond, Bonvoy Gold, Hilton Diamond, AA Platinum Pro
Posts: 1,386
Looks like the party might be over for the PayPal workaround at Saks Off 5th. Just used PayPal for a few things there last week (that I thankfully would have bought anyway) and the charge posted as PAYPAL *SAKSOFF5THL 4029357733 NY. No reimbursement has posted and I don't expect one to but will update should it happen.
Sep 26, 2021, 6:48 pm
#1047
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: CT
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 429
Saks off 5th
Has anyone been able to get reimbursed for Saks off 5th purchases recently?
Sep 27, 2021, 4:50 am
#1048
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,188
I haven't been following this thread, but am I reading this correctly that I can buy $50 saks fifth ave gift card online using Amex Plat card and get reimbursed? In the past I have bought real items online, not gift cards.
Sep 27, 2021, 5:41 am
#1049
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Truth or Consequences, NM
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, UA Silver, Mobile Passport Unobtanium
Posts: 6,195
According to the wiki, physical gift card purchase on-line has a minimum of $150 (e-gift cards do not qualify for reimbursement.)
Sep 27, 2021, 10:52 am
#1050
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Toledo, OH
Programs: Delta DM & MM, Hilton DM, Marriott gold, Hyatt Globalist, Alaska 75K, Wyndham Diamond,
Posts: 15,399