Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Miles&Points > Credit, Debit and Prepaid Card Programs > Manufactured Spending
Reload this Page >

Cashback on Amex GC through TopCashBack, BigCrumbs, etc.

Community
Wiki Posts
Search
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.
Print Wikipost

Cashback on Amex GC through TopCashBack, BigCrumbs, etc.

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 20, 2014, 3:44 pm
  #2986  
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 139
+1

Also, use regular business hours so that I don't have to use my own personal time to put into my hobby of MS.

Originally Posted by cdancer20
Good info! I think I looked at Extrabux once but it doesn't load correctly on my work pc. I try to do most of my online purchases during normal business hours so they get approved and ship faster lol.
whitey4545 is offline  
Old Feb 20, 2014, 4:10 pm
  #2987  
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: KWI
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 806
Originally Posted by hitman1420
Just a thing I've noticed with BC tracking:

When using Chrome incognito, my tracking has been very hit or miss.
When using Firefox (with no private browsing on). I've gotten 2 of 2 to track with BC so far.

For those of you who get reliable tracking, what browser are you using and what portal?
Never had a problem with either BC or TCB. I've used Chrome, Firefox, and IE.
LoneTree is offline  
Old Feb 20, 2014, 7:03 pm
  #2988  
FTA
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 304
Can these cards be used to buy money orders at Walmart?
FTA is offline  
Old Feb 20, 2014, 7:07 pm
  #2989  
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 563
Originally Posted by FTA
Can these cards be used to buy money orders at Walmart?
Really? Just read the wiki.
Milezjunkie is offline  
Old Feb 20, 2014, 7:53 pm
  #2990  
FTA
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 304
Yes really, since its not in the wiki
FTA is offline  
Old Feb 20, 2014, 7:56 pm
  #2991  
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 563
Originally Posted by FTA
Yes really, since its not in the wiki
The very first FAQ says you can't set a PIN. How would you buy a money order if you don't have a PIN?
Milezjunkie is offline  
Old Feb 20, 2014, 8:31 pm
  #2992  
FTA
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 304
How can I know buying a MO requires a pin?
FTA is offline  
Old Feb 20, 2014, 8:35 pm
  #2993  
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 920
Originally Posted by FTA
How can I know buying a MO requires a pin?
It was assumed you knew how to buy a money order in the first place... Not trying to be insulting, but you should know how to do basic things before trying to involve more complicated financial instruments in that basic thing. Otherwise you'll really screw yourself up.

Read more.
hitman1420 is offline  
Old Feb 20, 2014, 9:11 pm
  #2994  
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist No More..., Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 4,375
Originally Posted by whitey4545
+1

Also, use regular business hours so that I don't have to use my own personal time to put into my hobby of MS.
^
cdancer20 is offline  
Old Feb 20, 2014, 11:30 pm
  #2995  
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: Hyatt Glob; AA ExPlat; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 317
Anyone know if I will be getting 3x from AS portal if I placed the order on 2/15 when it was 3x but it didn't get approved until 2/18 when it dropped to 1x?
SFOvacations is offline  
Old Feb 20, 2014, 11:33 pm
  #2996  
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: SEA
Posts: 1,887
You should be fine. It's based on whatever the payout was when you clicked thru and made the order.
HikerT is offline  
Old Feb 21, 2014, 12:04 am
  #2997  
Suspended
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORD
Programs: AA, UA, AS, DL, BA, F9, IHG Plat, HH Gold, CC Gold, SPG Gold, MR Silver
Posts: 1,786
Originally Posted by FTA
Can these cards be used to buy money orders at Walmart?
I would start with learning the basics before you get yourself into trouble
skibum7732 is offline  
Old Feb 21, 2014, 12:56 am
  #2998  
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: SEA
Posts: 1,887
Well, they can be used to buy MOs at WM. Just need to buy Visa/MC GCs with them first.
HikerT is offline  
Old Feb 21, 2014, 9:54 am
  #2999  
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 829
Arrival had changed Rewards on AGC from 4 points to 2
MaineCoon is offline  
Old Feb 21, 2014, 11:22 am
  #3000  
 
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 157
damn....just ordered 2k on arrival 2 days ago when it was 4x, came back for more and now its down to 2x
ranjanrocks is offline  


Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.