Saks Fifth Avenue World Elite Mastercard
Apr 28, 2007, 1:00 am
#46
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: BOS
Posts: 3,534
Apr 28, 2007, 5:03 am
#47
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,952
Wall Street Journal artcle published April 26 Posh Retailers Pile on Perks for Top Customers summarizes loyalty program updates by Nordstrom, Saks, Neiman/Bergdorf, Bloomingdales, and Barneys. All are tied to their credit card, but primarily based on purchases from their own stores.
...growing emphasis by luxury retailers on getting a "greater share of wallet" from their 100,000 or 200,000 top spenders, rather than trying to attract new customers. With department stores overall losing market share, their goal is to increase the profits generated by their best customers. At Neiman Marcus, for instance, the top 100,000 customers each spend more than $12,000 a year at the store, while other shoppers spend an average of about $600....the more than 100,000 shoppers in its In Circle loyalty program spent $1.3 billion last year, accounting for almost half of its business...It's also testing a credit card that lets shoppers earn points on dollars spent outside Neiman stores
Nordstrom restructured its program following six months of focus-group study and surveys. Its conclusion: People are less interested in discounts and more interested in perks, such as attending Nordstrom grand opening celebrations, being pampered during private shopping parties, concierge services and free alterations and shipping.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1177...N=wsjie/6month
...growing emphasis by luxury retailers on getting a "greater share of wallet" from their 100,000 or 200,000 top spenders, rather than trying to attract new customers. With department stores overall losing market share, their goal is to increase the profits generated by their best customers. At Neiman Marcus, for instance, the top 100,000 customers each spend more than $12,000 a year at the store, while other shoppers spend an average of about $600....the more than 100,000 shoppers in its In Circle loyalty program spent $1.3 billion last year, accounting for almost half of its business...It's also testing a credit card that lets shoppers earn points on dollars spent outside Neiman stores
Nordstrom restructured its program following six months of focus-group study and surveys. Its conclusion: People are less interested in discounts and more interested in perks, such as attending Nordstrom grand opening celebrations, being pampered during private shopping parties, concierge services and free alterations and shipping.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1177...N=wsjie/6month
Apr 28, 2007, 8:35 am
#48
Join Date: Mar 2007
Programs: DL Plat, AA Plat, HH Diamond, Marriott Gold, SPG Gold, AMEX Plat, Merrill+, Citi AMEX Chairman
Posts: 463
I have never really thought about Saks rewards. I earn Saks Rewards and get gift cards through my American Express. Frankly, I never understood the AMEX Saks benefit very well. What does WEMC offer beyond AMEX?
Apr 28, 2007, 8:44 am
#49
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,268
It is almost as if you had used the Saks Amex Plt benefit, you get more value if you used Saks World Elite MasterCard, and ditch the Amex Plt. for Saks purchases.
Apr 28, 2007, 9:47 am
#50
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,952
We do not shop at Saks, but my understanding is that if you use American Express Platinum or Centurion at Saks you earn one Membership Rewards point per dollar plus one SaksFirst point; but that's all, you do not earn any credit toward the status levels in SaksFirst. If you use a Saks card (including the World Elite Mastercard) you earn two SaksFirst points per dollar, up to $5,000 but then you earn more as explained here...
https://www.saksfifthavenue.com/Saks...t_to_point.jsp
The Saks elite levels, which are based stictly on spending at Saks with a Saks card, are explained here..
https://www.saksfifthavenue.com/Saks...s_overview.jsp
The benefits of the World Elite Mastercard which are unrelated to Saks are explained here...
https://www.saksfifthavenue.com/Saks...e_benefits.jsp
https://www.saksfifthavenue.com/Saks...t_to_point.jsp
The Saks elite levels, which are based stictly on spending at Saks with a Saks card, are explained here..
https://www.saksfifthavenue.com/Saks...s_overview.jsp
The benefits of the World Elite Mastercard which are unrelated to Saks are explained here...
https://www.saksfifthavenue.com/Saks...e_benefits.jsp
Apr 28, 2007, 10:33 am
#51
Join Date: Mar 2007
Programs: DL Plat, AA Plat, HH Diamond, Marriott Gold, SPG Gold, AMEX Plat, Merrill+, Citi AMEX Chairman
Posts: 463
We do not shop at Saks, but my understanding is that if you use American Express Platinum or Centurion at Saks you earn one Membership Rewards point per dollar plus one SaksFirst point; but that's all, you do not earn any credit toward the status levels in SaksFirst. If you use a Saks card (including the World Elite Mastercard) you earn two SaksFirst points per dollar, up to $5,000 but then you earn more as explained here...
https://www.saksfifthavenue.com/Saks...t_to_point.jsp
The Saks elite levels, which are based stictly on spending at Saks with a Saks card, are explained here..
https://www.saksfifthavenue.com/Saks...s_overview.jsp
The benefits of the World Elite Mastercard which are unrelated to Saks are explained here...
https://www.saksfifthavenue.com/Saks...e_benefits.jsp
https://www.saksfifthavenue.com/Saks...t_to_point.jsp
The Saks elite levels, which are based stictly on spending at Saks with a Saks card, are explained here..
https://www.saksfifthavenue.com/Saks...s_overview.jsp
The benefits of the World Elite Mastercard which are unrelated to Saks are explained here...
https://www.saksfifthavenue.com/Saks...e_benefits.jsp
Apr 28, 2007, 10:45 am
#52
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,952
I hope I'm right 
. I recall investigating the Saks and Neiman programs at the time I registered my Platinum card with both, and I'm pretty sure Saks is the one that merely awarded points. Mrs Mia favors Nordstrom with her business, and it doesn't really mater what is on offer at the others. We may consider the Nordstrom Signature VISA (1% foreign currency fee) now that Merrill+ has added a 2% fee.
. I recall investigating the Saks and Neiman programs at the time I registered my Platinum card with both, and I'm pretty sure Saks is the one that merely awarded points. Mrs Mia favors Nordstrom with her business, and it doesn't really mater what is on offer at the others. We may consider the Nordstrom Signature VISA (1% foreign currency fee) now that Merrill+ has added a 2% fee.
Apr 28, 2007, 12:50 pm
#53
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,797
IMHO NM is better than saks - their awards are great, and include UA and AA transfers, as well as offering bonus opportunities regularly. (plus when you reach thresholds you get additional benefits / awards)
amex gets you NM point + MR point.
saks points only get you saks GC.
amex gets you NM point + MR point.
saks points only get you saks GC.
Apr 28, 2007, 10:19 pm
#54
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 302
First, I would check to make sure you have received World Elite Mastercard and not Platinum (it says on the front of the card, otherwise the cards look identical) They have been known to issue a lot of Platinum which do not come with those benefits.
Also Welcome to Saks credit card customer service. If you have not found this out, you probably will realize that your card is actually 2 cards in one. Saks charge with it's benefits and HSBC Mascercard with it's benefits. PP is actually the benefit of Mastercard as far as I know, so I would call HSBC directly.
I have found that Saks customer service is terrible and not even worth dealing with and as for World Elite Mastercard, HSBC does not have that great of customer service either.
Even though some of the benefits are good, we had to cancel our account because we could not get right answers or answers received form either customer service reps did not coincide with T&C listed.
I also think it is ridiculous to get 2 statements for one card (makes things more confusing then they are already)
Welcome to Saks World Elite!!!
Also Welcome to Saks credit card customer service. If you have not found this out, you probably will realize that your card is actually 2 cards in one. Saks charge with it's benefits and HSBC Mascercard with it's benefits. PP is actually the benefit of Mastercard as far as I know, so I would call HSBC directly.
I have found that Saks customer service is terrible and not even worth dealing with and as for World Elite Mastercard, HSBC does not have that great of customer service either.
Even though some of the benefits are good, we had to cancel our account because we could not get right answers or answers received form either customer service reps did not coincide with T&C listed.
I also think it is ridiculous to get 2 statements for one card (makes things more confusing then they are already)
Welcome to Saks World Elite!!!
May 9, 2007, 10:27 pm
#55
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: BOS
Posts: 3,534
I just got my Priority Pass membership card, a couple weeks after getting my actual Saks card. It expires in two years and came with the letter informing me of the $24 charge per visit and per guest. Still, as a bonus to a credit card without an annual fee I'm quite satisfied and I think with my pattern of lounge use it'll still cost less to pay per visit than buy a membership.
May 11, 2007, 11:41 pm
#56
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 9
I just got my Priority Pass membership card, a couple weeks after getting my actual Saks card. It expires in two years and came with the letter informing me of the $24 charge per visit and per guest. Still, as a bonus to a credit card without an annual fee I'm quite satisfied and I think with my pattern of lounge use it'll still cost less to pay per visit than buy a membership.
Jun 30, 2007, 10:58 am
#58
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: PHL
Posts: 877
I got this card primarily for the free Priority Pass, which I received, IIRC, about a month after the card. I figure it's nice to have, just in case, especially if it doesn't cost me anything. There is also apparently some sort of concierge service, though I haven't used it.
Recently, they randomly sent me a free $25 gift card to Saks, even though I rarely use the account (it's my backup card for where Amex isn't accepted). So far, so good.
Recently, they randomly sent me a free $25 gift card to Saks, even though I rarely use the account (it's my backup card for where Amex isn't accepted). So far, so good.
Jun 30, 2007, 11:06 am
#59
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: USA
Posts: 3,945
Keep us posted if you will get charged.
Jul 1, 2007, 8:13 pm
#60
Join Date: Jan 2007
Programs: CO Onepass, Amex MR
Posts: 39
I would say this is one of the better no fee cards to pick up in terms of benefits. Ive used the concierge service alot. The women in their call center are a gem. The virtuoso service gives benefits for using their version of FHR. The benefits arent amazing and they vary by property but the properties are all rather high end.
Also, it appears that saks is giving double pts this month. All in all, a good card especially with the priority pass. I use it when amex isnt accepted or where the saks card is preferred.
Also, it appears that saks is giving double pts this month. All in all, a good card especially with the priority pass. I use it when amex isnt accepted or where the saks card is preferred.