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)
#166
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Truth or Consequences, NM
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#167
Join Date: May 2011
Location: NYC (LGA, JFK), CT
Programs: Delta Platinum, American Gold, JetBlue Mosaic 4, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond,
Posts: 4,888
I work a block away from the original Saks Fifth Avenue, so this benefit is very easy to use. I bought a $100 gift that I usually buy once or twice a year, credit showed up within 48 hours. Super simple. IMO it is much simpler to use the credit for $50+ purchases you already have in your regular spending.
#168
Please refrain from offering common sense rationale in this thread.
In case you hadn't noticed, this thread is reserved for FTers to bemoan the tragic ordeal they've had to overcome to order a simple $50 item from a department store website.
In the majority of first hand accounts, Saks has no reason to be in business and AMEX is a co-conspirator in this outrageous scam to offer their cardholders department store goods for no additional cost (other than minimal shipping charges for chocolate, apparently), and your blatantly biased viewpoint is damaging to the overall sub-forum zeitgeist. /s
In case you hadn't noticed, this thread is reserved for FTers to bemoan the tragic ordeal they've had to overcome to order a simple $50 item from a department store website.
In the majority of first hand accounts, Saks has no reason to be in business and AMEX is a co-conspirator in this outrageous scam to offer their cardholders department store goods for no additional cost (other than minimal shipping charges for chocolate, apparently), and your blatantly biased viewpoint is damaging to the overall sub-forum zeitgeist. /s
#169
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,952
Moderator observation
Be assured, common sense is still welcome. Sarcasm, irony and dry humor can have unintended consequences on The Internet.
#170
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 1,012
In the majority of first hand accounts, Saks has no reason to be in business and AMEX is a co-conspirator in this outrageous scam to offer their cardholders department store goods for no additional cost (other than minimal shipping charges for chocolate, apparently), and your blatantly biased viewpoint is damaging to the overall sub-forum zeitgeist. /s
#171
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 542
I have an Off 5th right by my office, but no convenient real Saks. Do I have it right that the only way to use the Amex credit at my Off 5th is buy gifts cards at an actual Saks and then use them at Off 5th?
#172
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHX, SEA
Programs: Avis President's Club, Global Entry, Hilton/Marriott Gold. No more DL/AA status.
Posts: 4,421
Yeah. You might be able to buy a GC on the website but the minimum is $150. If you shop at OFF Fifth normally, that might not be a big deal - and if you try do report back!
#173
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Everywhere and Nowhere
Programs: DL GM
Posts: 515
You have it correct, that's what I did as I never shop at Saks but stumble into an Off 5th a few times a year to grab some ties and shirts at a huge discount. If you would spend $150 there easily, I'd just order the $150 Saks GC online. In my case, I was in Chicago and I was able to just slip inside the Saks a few blocks from my hotel to grab a GC.
#174
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS
Posts: 67
I expect to visit NYC soon, and I already have my $50 Saks gift card. I recall hearing that there are restaurants/cafes in some locations. Do they accept Saks gift cards?
#175
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: SAN
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, American Air, National Car
Posts: 1,131
#176
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 542
Data point: made a purchase at Saks store o Oct 17, credit $50 posted October 20.
#178
Purchased a shirt online for $51.94 with tax (Shoprunner provided free shipping) on 10/13, $50 credit posted on 10/15.
The shirt is Saks brand and fits badly in the shoulders, but at $1.94 I guess I can't complain.
The shirt is Saks brand and fits badly in the shoulders, but at $1.94 I guess I can't complain.