Jan 9, 2022, 12:55 pm
Last edit by: mia
Previous thread is HERE.
$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:
$50 statement credit for purchases made at Saks. Enrollment required prior to purchase.
- 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...)
Personal Platinum (USA) Saks 5th Ave $50 credit Jan-Jun and Jul-Dec each year.
Jan 1, 2022, 7:08 am
#1
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: RSW
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Posts: 14,185
Personal Platinum (USA) Saks 5th Ave $50 credit Jan-Jun and Jul-Dec each year.
Last year, I forgot until late December, charging an item for shipping that posted as early January, so lost out on the second 2020 credit - seems to something that happens to even veteran travelers
sometimes.
Posting to ask how to access the meter (Saks, airline, etc.)?
sometimes.
Posting to ask how to access the meter (Saks, airline, etc.)?
Jan 1, 2022, 1:19 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IAH
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt Ist-iest, Stariott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,790
I'm making my twice a year pilgrimage tomorrow. I get wanting to max out Rakuten/shopping portal bonuses but buying a $50 GC in store is just so easy, doesn't rely on shipping issues, and can be used online to buy stuff from Off 5th. I don't get why some people make their lives so unnecessarily difficult by leaving things until Dec. 30.
Jan 1, 2022, 2:25 pm
#4
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Los Angeles, CA; Philadelphia, PA
Programs: OZ Diamond
Posts: 6,134
I'm making my twice a year pilgrimage tomorrow. I get wanting to max out Rakuten/shopping portal bonuses but buying a $50 GC in store is just so easy, doesn't rely on shipping issues, and can be used online to buy stuff from Off 5th. I don't get why some people make their lives so unnecessarily difficult by leaving things until Dec. 30.
LAX
Jan 1, 2022, 5:35 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Toledo, OH
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No saks near me so that’s why I made my $50 gift card purchase today while in Chicago Fortunately I visit Chicago and NYC a few times a year and usually go to Chicago for New Years so make it a habit to go to Michigan avenue New Year’s Day to buy my first half gift card.
Jan 1, 2022, 8:41 pm
#7
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: NW Iowa
Programs: Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold Elite, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum Elite, Delta Silver Medallion
Posts: 378
Time to add a new Tumi item to my collection. Luckily I’ve found Saks to have some pretty decent deals throughout the year on Tumi items. Last year picked up a small toiletry kit on sale as well as a larger hanging toiletry kit for when the family is along.
Just so had it that Saks had a very nice Tumi alpha backpack on sale for $212 today so picked that up. Not too shabby for $162 out of pocket.
Just so had it that Saks had a very nice Tumi alpha backpack on sale for $212 today so picked that up. Not too shabby for $162 out of pocket.
Jan 2, 2022, 4:08 pm
#8
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: PBI
Programs: DL 2.8 MM/PM, AA MM/GLD, Marriott LT Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,746
Ha- I was burned (by Saks, not Amex) as well. Their Black Friday sale included a $75 gift card with $150 purchase, so I added a few items to my planned purchase and my total well exceeded the requirement. But one item was shipped directly from the merchant, which split up the charge into two transactions...so the purchase didn't qualify. Sigh.
Jan 2, 2022, 5:24 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Pacific Northwest
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Posts: 16,846
534 miles for me, apparently (using PDX as a proxy for my hometown).
I could probably manage to swing by the Vegas location twice a year, but even that would really be not very convenient since we are generally in the ‘burbs away from the strip to visit friends/family. Not worth the hassle, so I just send my wife online shopping twice a year for some kitchen stuff.
I could probably manage to swing by the Vegas location twice a year, but even that would really be not very convenient since we are generally in the ‘burbs away from the strip to visit friends/family. Not worth the hassle, so I just send my wife online shopping twice a year for some kitchen stuff.
Jan 3, 2022, 12:01 am
#11
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Los Angeles, CA; Philadelphia, PA
Programs: OZ Diamond
Posts: 6,134
Ha- I was burned (by Saks, not Amex) as well. Their Black Friday sale included a $75 gift card with $150 purchase, so I added a few items to my planned purchase and my total well exceeded the requirement. But one item was shipped directly from the merchant, which split up the charge into two transactions...so the purchase didn't qualify. Sigh.
LAX
PS: Sorry for going OT.
Jan 3, 2022, 6:41 am
#12
Join Date: May 2002
Location: EWR/JFK/LGA
Programs: DL Silver, AA, UA Silver, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 389
Ha- I was burned (by Saks, not Amex) as well. Their Black Friday sale included a $75 gift card with $150 purchase, so I added a few items to my planned purchase and my total well exceeded the requirement. But one item was shipped directly from the merchant, which split up the charge into two transactions...so the purchase didn't qualify. Sigh.
Jan 3, 2022, 7:27 am
#13
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: PBI
Programs: DL 2.8 MM/PM, AA MM/GLD, Marriott LT Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,746
It sounds like you already spoke to customer service but did you ask to speak to a supervisor? In my experience, SFA customer service is much better than average and anytime I have had a problem, it has been resolved in my favor. I mentioned before, a couple of years ago my Black Friday $75.00 promotional gift card arrived after the expiration date and SFA replaced it with a $200 gift card with no expiration date. Some of the customer service reps are not very helpful but the supervisors have always provided great assistance.
Jan 5, 2022, 6:51 am
#14
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: DFW
Programs: AA (Lifetime Gold, 1MM),UA(Premier Silver), Hilton(Diamond), Marriott (LTT), Hertz (PC)
Posts: 230
I just placed an order and the paypal merchant is now saksoff5th instead. It was still working before September 2021.
At least I didn't buy any expensive item, not a big loss. It was good while lasted. One more reason to get rid of the PLT card upon renewal since there is no physical Saks store near me.