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Cashback on Amex GC through TopCashBack, BigCrumbs, etc.

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Old Oct 25, 2013, 7:07 pm
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: ericdabbs
Please read the wiki before posting a question.

UPDATE 01/17/15

BeFrugal: 1.5%
Big Crumbs: 0.9%
TopCashBack: 1.5%


For other cash back or airline portals, check here: http://www.cashbackmonitor.com/Cashb...erican+express

Public Service Announcement: Do NOT use fee-free codes if you want portal cashback / miles. CB/Miles will post and then be clawed back.

FAQ

Will it post as a cash advance (CA)?

Citi - Yes.

Cards from Chase, BoA, FIA, Barclay, AMEX, CapitalOne, US Bank, Discover, HSBC, etc., have posted as purchase. PNC Visa Cashbuilder - posts as purchase but does not earn CC rewards

Note: Some issuers (Discover, US Bank, etc.) will decline the authorization if it exceeds your CA limit. This does NOT mean it will post as CA. It simply means you need to lower the purchase amount below your CA limit for authorization, but it ultimately posts as a purchase.

How do I set PIN on AMEX Gift Cards and use as debit to load Bluebird, buy MOs, etc.
You cannot set PIN or use them as debit to load Bluebird, buy MOs, etc. You can only use them as credit where AMEX is accepted.

How do I cash out AMEX Gift Cards?
Use manufactured spend techniques (load RB, buy Visa/MC GCs, VRs, AP, AFT, etc.) or normal spend where AMEX is accepted.

Why buy AMEX Gift Cards then?
To reduce the cost of manufactured spend, to mask your manufactured spend (i.e unusual high spend at Target or CVS), earn additional cash back on spend, or meet minimum spend targets faster.

Next day shipping that isn't?
The next day shipping is from when they ship the cards to UPS, which can be as long as 10 days from the order submission if you order personalized cards (more recently this has been under a week). For next day shipping, you are notified late night (once your card finishes processing, see above) and the package arrive that same morning before 10:30AM in your area.

What is with the charge disappearing from my credit card?
Once the order is placed you will see a pending charge on your CC account. Quite often once the card ships this pending is removed but does not show as a charge. Don't panic (or celebrate) it will show up as a charge within a day or so.

Personalized GCs?
Either Biz or Personal GCs can be personalized with your name. This helps when shaky cashiers who demand to see your card are prevalent. These take approximately 4 biz days to arrive compared to the non personalized which arrives as quickly as the next day.

UPS Tracking?
If you logged in to your AMEX account when placing the order you can get tracking info by logging in to your AMEX account and clicking on cards > gift cards > order history > order details. Unfortunately tracking information may not appear until well after your order has shipped so it's best to sign up for UPS My Choice to get faster tracking info and reroute your package if needed. Since UPS may drop your package off at the door if you're not home, it will be useful to know when your package will arrive.

The portal terms indicate that coupon codes will invalidate cash back. Is this true?
Yes (as of July 2014)

What are the purchase limits? (Updated Dec 2014)
10K personal every 14 days
100K business every 14 days

Do declined orders count toward the purchase limits?
YMMV

Do fees and shipping count toward the purchase limits?
No

Why was my purchase declined by AMEX?
There are several possibilities:
- Your billing address does not match 100% with what the credit card company has on file. This could be anything from apt/suite/condo # on the wrong line to zip code requiring 9 digits instead of 5. If your first purchase does not go through, call your bank or login to your acct to verify that this matches what you used.
- You have gone over the $10k every 14 day limit on personal gift card purchase.
- Even if you are sure the first two are correct as you have ordered before on that card and it's been more than 14 days, you might still get declined. No one has any idea why.
- You placed a business order and you don't really have a business (at some point AMEX does a background check for a valid business) or you have exceeded the 14 day limit for business orders.

My order was declined but my credit card still shows a pending authorization. How long until this falls off and my credit line is freed up?
I typically takes 1 week for the pending authorization to fall off after a declined order.

Can I order from the business side using a personal card? Or does it need to be a business card?
You can use whatever credit card you want to pay for business or personal orders. About the only restriction is you can't use an AMEX GC to buy another AMEX GC.

How long will it take the portal to track my order and confirm the pending cash back or points?
For non-Cartera portals (TCB, BC, Befrugal, etc) your order will usually track within a day or two.
For Cartera portals (Barclay Reward Boost, Lucky Rewards, USAA, Alaska, Delta) it will take 3-4 weeks to track.

My orders are not tracking. How can I maximize the chances the portal will track my order properly?
Use a browser you do not normally use (Chrome, Firefox, Opera), reset all browser settings to defaults, clear all browser cookies, disable all browser add-ons, and close/re-start your browser before navigating to the portal and placing your order. Do NOT use promotional coupon codes. The vast majority of tracking issues result from use of coupon codes, a bad browser cookie, improperly configured browser settings, or add-ons that interfere with cookie tracking.
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Cashback on Amex GC through TopCashBack, BigCrumbs, etc.

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Old Sep 3, 2014, 8:13 am
  #8431  
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: CVG
Posts: 15
I ordered $2K via BF yesterday morning at 9am and my cash back is showing as of this morning with confirm date of Nov 2. Glad I got that one in under the wire.

My free shipping on AMEX expires 9/12

Last edited by LMR67; Sep 3, 2014 at 8:14 am Reason: add
LMR67 is offline  
Old Sep 3, 2014, 8:13 am
  #8432  
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 407
Damn, I just paid for the 1 year shipping too...

Your Premium Shipping Plan enrollment will end in 350 days.
VizeL is offline  
Old Sep 3, 2014, 8:34 am
  #8433  
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 226
Originally Posted by VizeL
Damn, I just paid for the 1 year shipping too...
Ouch. That reminds me, need to cancel my 90 day free trial ASAP, since it's about to roll-over to a paid plan for the rest of the year.
dboston1 is offline  
Old Sep 3, 2014, 8:43 am
  #8434  
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 194
Originally Posted by canyoncar
Going to hope that we see them back on boost after this...
This.

Would love to get them back on Barclays at 4x like before.

4.4% was nice. 6.6% if using Arrival.
bu08usc11 is offline  
Old Sep 3, 2014, 9:01 am
  #8435  
 
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 571
And now the buffet fantasies of the starving. hahaha

To put my fantasy on the record, I hope everything is back in October, just in time for my return to the States.
carpentry4thought is offline  
Old Sep 3, 2014, 9:07 am
  #8436  
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: 212
Programs: Marriott Titanium, Hilton Gold, UA Silver
Posts: 502
Originally Posted by payeco
Back in June, you could use a loophole in the FSGRAD free shipping code to get next day shipping for free for a year.
I used the FSGRAD promo code in June to get the $99 premium shipping for 1 year waived. I received the email confirmation then that it was good until June 2015. Today, I received an email stating my 90 trial period is over on Sept 17, 2014.

If anyone has experienced this already, can you let me know what happened to you post Day90?
Songer5 is offline  
Old Sep 3, 2014, 9:21 am
  #8437  
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: New York
Posts: 283
Originally Posted by Songer5
I used the FSGRAD promo code in June to get the $99 premium shipping for 1 year waived. I received the email confirmation then that it was good until June 2015. Today, I received an email stating my 90 trial period is over on Sept 17, 2014.

If anyone has experienced this already, can you let me know what happened to you post Day90?
I got that exact same email - same date too. I thought it would last a year.
GH83 is offline  
Old Sep 3, 2014, 9:34 am
  #8438  
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Midwest U.S.A
Programs: Too many to list. Since the early 90's.
Posts: 1,407
Originally Posted by dboston1
Ouch. That reminds me, need to cancel my 90 day free trial ASAP, since it's about to roll-over to a paid plan for the rest of the year.
I never heard of anyone's free trial rolling over into the paid program. I thought I had to cancel to, but then forgot. I was never charged once the free trail expired and when I wnet to order I was given the option to purchase the $99 plan. I understand it doesn't roll into the $99 program automatically, but then again I wasn't using an Amex cc when I originally got the free trial with an order I placed in the past.

And yes, most people who thought they were getting the free 1 year didn't really get a full 1 year, but only a few months.

Warning: If you call to cancel the ship program you will get to speak with a CSR in India.
Churnman is offline  
Old Sep 3, 2014, 9:40 am
  #8439  
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Programs: DL DM-1MM HH Diamond
Posts: 361
CBH is still showing 1%
2B or back in coach is offline  
Old Sep 3, 2014, 9:41 am
  #8440  
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 84
I called and canceled premium shipping after having paid $99 for 1 year. Told to expect refund in 15 business days.
digital330 is offline  
Old Sep 3, 2014, 10:04 am
  #8441  
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: United MP, American AAdvantage, Chase UR, AMEX MR
Posts: 211
Originally Posted by andres17
Today is my 14th day. What a luck I have
Same here, what luck right? Secondly, i signed up for the premium shipping of $99 back in July, too.
vfdfs2 is offline  
Old Sep 3, 2014, 10:38 am
  #8442  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Upper Sternistan
Posts: 10,047
Originally Posted by Churnman
I never heard of anyone's free trial rolling over into the paid program. I thought I had to cancel to, but then forgot. I was never charged once the free trail expired and when I wnet to order I was given the option to purchase the $99 plan. I understand it doesn't roll into the $99 program automatically, but then again I wasn't using an Amex cc when I originally got the free trial with an order I placed in the past.

And yes, most people who thought they were getting the free 1 year didn't really get a full 1 year, but only a few months.

Warning: If you call to cancel the ship program you will get to speak with a CSR in India.
I've always had them roll it over. They offer a $25 GC for letting it roll typically.
josephstern is offline  
Old Sep 3, 2014, 10:41 am
  #8443  
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 54
I logged into my amex account on the gift card page and I clicked at "View Your Order History"

When you go down about halfway, under "Shipping Addresses" there's a link to cancel premium shipping.

I signed up for it a few months ago and I was still on the 90 day free trial.

You can just click cancel and it'll ask you to confirm then it should be good to go...
dannyboy888 is offline  
Old Sep 3, 2014, 11:07 am
  #8444  
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 1,337
Originally Posted by HikerT
No way is AMEX getting 2.7% on swipe fees. Probably closer to 1.5%. At best their swipe fees offset the CC fees they pay on the AMEX GC purchase, so they are coming out out behind by the CB% paid to most MSers.
That's flat out wrong as many have posted. Why else do you think not all merchants take AMEX? It's because of the 3%+ swipe fees. And what are you talking about regarding the CC fees AMEX pays on AMEX GC purchase? AMEX is issuing their own GCs.
MileageGoblin is offline  
Old Sep 3, 2014, 11:23 am
  #8445  
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: SEA
Posts: 1,887
Who do you think pays the CC fees when you buy AMEX GCs with your CC? And do you really think large merchants like Kroger, RiteAid, CVS, Walgreens, etc. pay 3%+ swipe fees to AMEX? Large merchants negotiate lower rates, presumably south of 2.05% to the extent the average AMEX rate is 2.05% per this article.

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money...-22-amex_x.htm
HikerT is offline  


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