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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 8, 2014, 10:00 pm
  #8596  
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Join Date: May 2014
Location: ILG/PHL
Programs: Amex Plat, AA Gold, SPG Gold, Hyatt Gold, HHonors Gold, Carlson Gold
Posts: 1,075
Originally Posted by MilesDavis11
If anyone is an expert on law - is there any recourse if the merchant falsifies information (in this case, the screenshot)?
You want to start legal proceedings against a cash back portal because they botched a cash back listing? You seriously need to get a grip dude.
payeco is offline  
Old Sep 9, 2014, 1:42 am
  #8597  
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: USA
Programs: Any and All
Posts: 198
Originally Posted by payeco
You want to start legal proceedings against a cash back portal because they botched a cash back listing? You seriously need to get a grip dude.
Question posed for discussion based on curiosity not serious intent to take legal action. If you read the rest of my post(s), you'd see the overarching theme is that I believe they handled the mistake poorly. No need to be disrespectful, thanks.
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Old Sep 9, 2014, 1:54 am
  #8598  
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Originally Posted by MilesDavis11
Question posed for discussion based on curiosity not serious intent to take legal action. If you read the rest of my post(s), you'd see the overarching theme is that I believe they handled the mistake poorly. No need to be disrespectful, thanks.
I did read all your previous posts. I'll reiterate-you seriously need to get a grip dude. You appear to have spun off in to some other dimension.

Safeway changed the terms of a gift card rebate after the fact last month. Maybe I should consult a lawyer. I want my $10 off a $10 purchase dammit! Let's sue the .......s!
payeco is offline  
Old Sep 9, 2014, 8:08 am
  #8599  
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: WAS
Programs: SPG Plat. Marriott Plat. Hilton Diamond. Hyatt Diamond. IHG Plat.
Posts: 2,580
Originally Posted by payeco
You want to start legal proceedings against a cash back portal because they botched a cash back listing? You seriously need to get a grip dude.
lol.
Thanks for trying to keep sanity in this subforum.
f0xx is offline  
Old Sep 9, 2014, 8:30 am
  #8600  
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 72
I don't think the question removing cashback from the portal but instead the guy was asking about his cashback that was promised to him at the time he bought the cards. Nothing In-Sane about that guys!
Originally Posted by f0xx
lol.
Thanks for trying to keep sanity in this subforum.
agharaibeh is offline  
Old Sep 9, 2014, 8:44 am
  #8601  
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 407
1) There was no cash back offered. If I tell you my terms are that I get to give you a dollar, vs I get to give you only a dollar, the difference is that I get to choose if I want to give you more or less than $1 in the first, but only agree to give you exactly one dollar second term, if you really wanted to signify the "only".

2) there was no contract signed, so don't be silly.

3) Nobody should have honestly expected 40%, or even a token of that, and then start a whine-fest. Move on, you're not gonna get your money. You probably never shopped with them before, and you probably never would again, so whats it to them?

However they handled it is up to them. They possibly changed it after you took your screen shot, but yours still doesnt state that they will pay on all purchases, it leaves the discretion up to them, and they're choosing not to.

Last edited by VizeL; Sep 9, 2014 at 8:55 am
VizeL is offline  
Old Sep 9, 2014, 11:35 am
  #8602  
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: New York
Posts: 391
Originally Posted by Yaoyao
Dear Member,

Welcome to Hoopla Doopla! We hope this email finds you well.

It has been brought to our attention that on Thursday, September 4th, an internet message board post had stated that our website, www.hoopladoopla.com, was offering 40% cash back on American Express Gift Card purchases.
I'm famous

Also, rabble rabble rabble!
smoothmunkey is offline  
Old Sep 9, 2014, 1:20 pm
  #8603  
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: SAN
Posts: 234
What is a media buy?
Chris92128 is offline  
Old Sep 9, 2014, 1:28 pm
  #8604  
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Join Date: May 2014
Location: ILG/PHL
Programs: Amex Plat, AA Gold, SPG Gold, Hyatt Gold, HHonors Gold, Carlson Gold
Posts: 1,075
Originally Posted by Chris92128
What is a media buy?
You purchase $10,000 worth of advertising with American Express Publishing (Platinum and Centurion card holders will recognize their free Departures magazine subscription as coming from them) and you get $4,000 back.
payeco is offline  
Old Sep 9, 2014, 2:44 pm
  #8605  
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 4,166
Originally Posted by MilesDavis11
I'll chime in as a member of the entitlement crowd. I think they missed the mark with their published statement. Obviously they couldn't admit a mistake - that would stoke the fire.

In their e-mail explanation, they write that terms and conditions were, "cash back is only paid on media buys." My screenshot clearly shows the words, "cash back is paid on media buys."

This does NOT exclude gift cards.
And it also DOES NOT include gift cards either. Move along and stop whining. And if you thought they were actually going to pay out 40% I've got a bridge to sell you.
Superorb is offline  
Old Sep 9, 2014, 2:52 pm
  #8606  
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 319
ordered through mrrebates 1% right before they removed AGC and it tracked today
Pecan Pie is offline  
Old Sep 10, 2014, 6:37 am
  #8607  
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,273
AGC are listed on Extrabux as 80% cb on cb monitor.

I just laughed.

Come on holidays!
ZzzzX is offline  
Old Sep 10, 2014, 6:58 am
  #8608  
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Programs: AA
Posts: 2
Originally Posted by ZzzzX
AGC are listed on Extrabux as 80% cb on cb monitor.

I just laughed.

Come on holidays!
Extrabux disclaimer:
American Express Giftcards Restrictions Apply :
Cash back is not available for Gift Cards. Cash back is only available for Media Buy.
Points4Wine is offline  
Old Sep 10, 2014, 8:32 am
  #8609  
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 149
Ugh Amex is refusing to pay me for my TCB purchase. I wish I could call TCB about this rather than deal with their awful claim system.

I guess I'll never use their website again. BF came through at least.
workaccounttoday is offline  
Old Sep 10, 2014, 9:00 am
  #8610  
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 203
Originally Posted by agharaibeh
I don't think the question removing cashback from the portal but instead the guy was asking about his cashback that was promised to him at the time he bought the cards. Nothing In-Sane about that guys!
Sigh, it's completely insane to actually expect them to honor what is clearly a mistake. There is no contract because there is no viable consideration. A rational person would not believe a company would offer 40% cash back on an AMEX GC purchase.

I find your point of view incredibly disturbing, that you clearly believe one is entitled to benefit from a blatant mistake.
theacolyte is offline  


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