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Annual fee retention bonus for Starwood Amex Card (Pre-May, 2019)

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Old Sep 12, 2014, 8:20 am
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Last edit by: MDtR-Chicago
Direct Retention number is following.... 1-800-452-3945 (better success in getting a bonus points)

SPG Personal
---------------
9/12 - 3K points offered with no spending-rubu
9/14 - 7k points $110k annual spend
10/3/14 - 7k points $40k spend
10/6 - $50 statement credit (had $27k of YTD spend)
10/8/14 - 3K points or $25 with very little spend. Took points.
10/27/14 no offer except to close.
10/28/14 - 3K points to keep open ($24k spend)
1/15 - 7k points. This in addition to the 7k points I recived in Aug, so 14k points within 5months. Just asked.
1/27/15 - 7k points or $50 statement credit (~$30k spend)
2/8/15 - 7k points or $50 statement credit
2/10/15- 1k points + 500 if I charge $1000 in next month. Canceled.
2/11/15 - 7k points (~$60k spend)
2/15/15 - 3k points ($20k spend)
2/23/15 - 1K points + 500 if I charge $1000 in next month
2/24/15 - 7k points or $50 statement credit (~$90k spend)
3/6/15 - 3k points
3/12/15 - 3k points...yawn. Might cancel
3/16/15- 7k points or $100 statement credit (over $300K spend)
4/3/15 - 1.5k points or $50 statement credit (less than $2k spent YTD)
5/1/15 - no offer
5/2/15 - $100 statement credit or 7K points. ~50K spend.
5/4/15 - 3k points (>100k spend)
5/5/15 - $50 or 100 points with 1K points w/ $1K spend... lol no thx ($65K spent last year)
5/11/15 - $50 or 500 points + 1K points w/ $1K spend (~$90k spend)
5/26/15 - $50 or 500 points + 1K points w/ $1K spend in 90 days (~$30k spend)
5/30/15 - $100 statement credit or 7K points. ~10K spend. Took $100.
6/16/15 - Nada. Was told that an offer is only given every other year. I got 7K last year. (~40k spend)
7/8/15 - $10+K spend last year, offers $25 credit or 500 points + 1K points w/ $1k spend. Will HUCA.
7/13/15 - $9K spend in 1st year; offered and took 7K points, still at $65 AF for the year ahead.
8/20/15 - Offered 10K points or $100...chose the points. 250K annual spend.
9/3/15- Offered 7K points or $50 credit, accepted credit, 30K annual spend
9/26/15 - Offered 10K points took it; 3rd year card member; ~40K spend, 3K retention offers previous years
10/17/15 - Offered 10k points or $100. Chose the points. ~30-40k spend. Have had the card for 3 yrs, first time asking for retention. 15yr amex customer.
1/10/16 - Offered 500 points for $1k spend or $25 credit. Took $25 credit. 12 year amex customer, 1st year of SPG card.
2/1/16 - Offered 10k points to keep the card open, no minimum spending requirements ^ $11000 YTD spending in 2015. Accepted 7k points for retention in Oct 2014.
2/18/16 Offered 10k points to keep the card open, no minimum spending requirements. $100k spending in 2015
3/22/16 - Offered $25. $5k spend last year. Did not accept.
4/3/16 - Offered $25 or 7K points. $25K spend last year. Took points. Same as last year as well
5/25/16 - Offered $25 without any spend, or 1.5k points after $1k spend. Took the $25. About $13k of spend in the last year, but only $900 2016 year to date.
6/14 - offered 500 points now and another 1000 after $1k spend. Took the offer. $5k spend last year.
6/14/2016 - Offered $25 or 500 SPG points. Asked for Supervisor - Increased offer to $25 plus 3,000 SPG points with no addl. spend.
6/22/16 - Offered $25 or 1500 points (500 immediate + 1000 additional after spending $1K on the card). Didn't want to deal with supervisor so just took the $25. ~$20K spend on the card in 2015
7/4/16 - Called in January and offered nothing. Called again in July offered 7,000 SPG points on $125k spend
7/7/16- Offered $100 or 10000 points on 140K spend. Took the points.
7/13/16 - Offered $50 or 7,000 SPG points, took the points.
8/3/16 - Offered $50 or 7,000 SPG points on 50K spend, took the points.
8/14/16 - nothing on first call; second call offered 2000 SPG points.
8/16/16 - Offered $50 or 7,000 SPG points, $48K spend, took the points.
8/17/2016- 15 yr customer with typical balances ranging from 20-30K, this year about 7K to date. "Nothing to offer you on yr account" Cancelled
8/25/2016 - No offer. Had card for one year, $3.5k spend.
8/29/16 - 3rd year of the card. $25 credit or 500 Starpoints now and 1000 points after $1k spend in 90 days. Took the points offer and kept the card.
9/7/16 - since 2006, $30-40K spend. $95 annual fee. Offered $100 credit. Took it.
10/17/16 - Roughly $15K annual spend for several years. $95 annual fee. Offered $50 credit or 7K SPG points. Took the points.
10/14/16 - $50k annual spend. $95 fee, offered $100 or 7K SPG points. Took the points
10/27/16 - $10K annual spend. With much difficulty, was eventually offered 1500 pts for spending $1000 in 3 mths. (Had been offered 1000 pts by the Indian call centre a few weeks ago which I was dissatisfied with.)
11/03/16 - $200k spend (MS) - $95 fee. Originally offered $50 but didn't jump on it. Offered $100. Took the money.
12/10/16 - third time calling, offered same deal of either 25 towards fee or 1500 SPG points - 500 now, 1k after spending 1k in 3 months. Took the points option. 20k spend YTD, had retention offer 2 years ago
12/23/2016: ~2.5k spend YTD (mostly AMEX Offers). Offers were $25 or 500 pts now and 1k pts after $1k spend in 3 months. The AF was charged several months ago.
1/22/17- $15K spend. Called retention and offered either $80 statement credit or 7,000 SPG points. Took 2nd option. Amex member since 2012.
4/22/17 - ~60K spend. $100 statement credit or 10K SPG points. Took the points.
4/23/2017 - 10K spend. Called the retention number and they offered 100 or 10K. I took 10K and many thx to all of u here!
5/3/2017 - 53k spend. Offered 10K points and took it
5/11/17 - $100 statement credit or 10k points. Took the points.
5/18/2017 ~30000 spend, offered 100 statement credit or 10000 points
5/18/17 - Nada, $0, zilch for an offer. ~$4k spend in past year and first anniversary.
5/22/17 - ~30k Spend. Offered $100 Statement Credit or 10k Points. Took the Points
6/08/2017 - $15k spend annually and was offered either $100 statement credit or 10k points. Took the points
6/13/2017 - Had card for 14 years. Low spend due to using Chase Reserve. No offers told me pay or cancel. No product change available. UPDATE: Called for past 2 days. Nada. Cancelled. bye bye AmEx, Hello CSR.
6/30/2017 - First anniversary, little spend on the card but a significant portfolio of Amex cards. 10k points.
7/14/17 - spent 20k, got 7k points with $1500 spend in 3 months required. Accepted. Last year got nada but had spent very little.
7/21/17 - Spouse's card; <$3,000 spend in 3rd year; she called in to cancel, they offered $100 credit (no strings); she is keeping the card
8/24/17 - Little spend, usually on Amex offers only. Most spend goes to Biz version. No offers available. Kept the card since I make up for the AF on Amex offers.
9/16/2017 - $20K per year; $50 credit or 10,000 points for $2K spend in 3 months - took latter
9/16/2017 - $6k/yr. 7 yrs holding card. $100 credit no strings. Accepted. Calendar reminder set to cancel next year.
9/18/2017 30 year Amex history, $34K spend, offered and took $95 credit
10/1/2017 13 years with this card, min annual spend for last 2 years, no offer so moved cl to DL Plat AMEX and closed SPG.
10/3/2017 12 year amex history, probably 6 with SPG card, $15-20K annual spend. Annual fee hit account back in June but forgot to call until today. Offered 7K bonus points for $1000 in spend over 90 days. Accepted
10/10/2017 Offered 10K SPG points for $3k spend over 3 months. Offer accepted!
10/13/2017 Offered 10K SPG points for $3k spend over 3 months. Original offer by SPG and Accepted. Took me less than 5 minutes.
10/26/17 Offered $100 credit for $2500 spend in next three months and declined! Fee isn't until early January so didn't have much leverage. Said if you offer me a point deal I'd commit to the spend, but no dice. Will call back when annual fee hits.
12/22/17 30-year member. $10k spend. Offered $100 credit for $2k spend in 3 months or 10k SPG points for $3k spend in 3 months.
1/17/18: Personal Card. Offered 7000 SPG points for $1,500 spend in 3 months. Took offer.
2/23/2018: 7k points for 1k spend in 90 days. 7.5k annual spend
3/27/2018: 7k points for 1k spend in 90 days. Took offer.
3/30/2018: no retention offer. Got 10k last year, minimal spend since then. Would not allow product change.
4/13/2018: 7k points for $1.5k spend in 3 months
4/20/2018: 7k points for $1k Spend in 1 month. Accepted.
4/26/2018: 7k points for $500 spend in 1 month. Accepted.
4/28/2018: 10k points for $1k spend in 1 month. Accepted.
5/1/2018: 40$ to offset annual fee. Accepted
5/6/2018: 7k points for $500 spend in 1 month. Rejected.
5/9/2018: 7K points for $500 spend in 1 month. Accepted. ($15K spend in 2017)
5/22/2018: 7k points for $500 spend in 1 month. Accepted. First renewal, ~$6k on card over first year, no activity for 4 months.
6/8/2018: 7k points for $500 spend in 1 month. Accepted.
7/25/18: $100 statement credit after $2500 spend in 3 months. Accepted.
7/30/18: $75 statement credit after $2000 spend in 3 months. Accepted.
8/24/18: Offered $100 statement credit after $2500 spend or 30k points after $3000 spend in 3 months. Took the points.
9/4/18: 20k points for $2k in 3mo offer Received and accepted.
9/6/18: $75 statement credit or 20K points after $2K spend, took the points.
9/20/18: $95 fee waived, no other offers - accepted
1/31/19: $75 statement credit or 20K points after $2K spend, took the points.
2/1/19 No offer, not even Af waiver for the first time since I've had the card.
4/3/19: No offer
4/3/19: 20K points after $2K spend. A nice deal. Card remained open after taking the points.
5/1/2019: 20K points after $2K spend. A nice deal. Card remained open after taking the points.
5/18/2019: 20k points after $2k spend in 3 months

--------------
SPG Business
---------------
1/19/2015 - $100 Statement credit (didn't ask if points were available) $14k spend
8/6/2015 - $9K spend in 1st year; offered and accepted $50 statement credit.
8/24/2015 - $30k annual spend. 2nd anniversary. Offered 10k points, statement credit was not an option available to me. Took the points.
9/8/2015 - $51k annual spend. 2nd anniversary. No offers at all. I did get a $50 statement credit last year though.
09/20/2015 - $50 statement credit (on $65 card)
9/22/2015- $100 Statement credit. Didn't ask about points. 6K Spend.
9/25/2015 - $5k spend in the first year. No offers. I cancelled.
10/2/2015 - $35K annual spend. 2nd anniversary. Offered $100 statement credit.
10/6/2015 - $8k spend over last 12 months, much of it at Target for Redcard reloads. Offered and accepted $100 statement credit. More details here.
11/30/2015: $15k spend in past year, offered $100 statement credit. Accepted. My AF was a couple months ago and was told there were no offers when I called initially.
12/14/2015 - $100 Statement Credit. $15k spend since 2014 AF, but $0 spend since 9/14/15 when AF hit (90 days ago). I asked how much prorated fee if I cancelled. He said "$71, or I can just give you $100".
6/10/16: No offer. Less than $2k spend in past year.
7/19/16: No offer on first call but $25 statement credit after HUCA. Only 3k in spend in last 12 months. Accepted offer.
8/14/16: no offer on 2 calls. $3000 spend in the last year.
8/28/16: Offered $25 on first call, bringing fee down to $40. Keeping card.
10/10/16: Offered $25 first call by calling # above. Accepted
10/16/16 - Offered $25 first call, same offer HUCA two weeks later. $20k spend YTD. Accepted. (Received $100 offer in 2015 for $14k spend)
10/3116: seldom use this card-was NOT offered any bonus to keep card
11/3/16 - No offer. $135k spend. I'll wait a couple of weeks and try again.
12/10/16: No offer... $60k spend. $95 annual fee was just posted. said they offered me $100 last year, nothing to offer now. will try again in the near future. called again (03/05/2017), spent 70k in 2017 so far, still no offer
1/19/17: No offer after multiple tries. Approx. $10K spend. Closed card
2/8/17 Had card replaced due to fraud January, $35K spend 2016, Fee due March, called about another matter and offered $95 credit and 6K points.
2/28/17: Called twice after $95 fee posted for SPG Biz card. $120k spend in 2016. After several years of getting offers, none were forthcoming. Card closed.
3/5/17: Called retention no in wiki after 2 unsuccessful attempts on regular no. Offered $25 credit and I took it. Had not charged anything the whole year but used Club lounge access many times with family.
4/13/17: first renewal, fee posted - 6k spend prior 12mo - retention line in wiki called - $25 credit offered, closed
4/22/17 - ~10K spend. Called 3x over a couple of weeks, no offers.
5/22/17 - ~20k Spend. Offered $25 Statement Credit. Closed account.
7/21/17 - ~$10k spend. No offers, keeping card since I have the $65 AF still.
7/21/17 - ~$150k spend. Took $50 credit.
8/23/17 - ~$30k spend. Offered $25 credit off of $65 AF. Accepted.
8/30/17: Virtually no spend. No offers. Kept card because of the lounge access benefit.
10/2/17- ~10k Spend. Offered $25 Statement Credit.
10/14/17 - $30K+ spend. No offers. Rep mentioned $25 credit in 2016 is the reason. Canceled card.
10/23/17: Second annual fee posted October 1; paid first year AF in 2016 without requesting a retention offer; ~$10K spend; received $25 statement credit offer; no points offers available
12/22/17 - ~10k Spend. Offered $25 Statement Credit. Rep mentioned no points offer avail, only the $25 statement credit.
4/13/17 - Basically no spend other than what was needed on card open. Overall AmEx member for 18 years, but this card for only one. Offered 10k points for no spend. Took it.
3/13/2018: Offered 10,000 SPG points & accepted. Pts will be posted in 8-12 weeks. Didn't ask for further offers. Card since 2013. $80k spending in 2017, annual fee was charged in September. Last yr received $95 credit.
4/12/2018: 2nd call. Offered 5K SPG points, no minimum spend. No further offers. Accepted. ~20K spend in 2017. Last year no offers, multiple calls.
4/18/2018: AF posted 4/17. 1st call no offer, ~100K spend in first year.
4/26/2018. AF just posted. Essentially no spend over last year. Offered 10K points with no spending requirement. Accepted.
4/27/2018: AF posted 4/26. $8k spend in past year. No offer on first call 4/27. Plan to call again in 2 and 4 weeks (then cancel); will update wiki with results.
4/28/2018: AF Posted 4/13. Minimal spend beyond what was needed to get new account bonus. No offer, card cancelled.
4/28/2018: AF date in Aug; ~40k annual spend (all SPG hotels); offered 5k starpoints + another 5k after 2k in spend within 30 days (Total 10K for 2k spend); accepted, will re-evaluate in Aug
4/28/20218: AF posted 4/17. just called...no offer, closed the card to free up one Amex slot for applying for other cards.
4/30/2018: 10k no requirements
4/30/2018: AF posted 4/20/18, first renewal. Spent $43K in last 12 months. No offer.
5/4/2018 First renewal, minimum spend, no offer.
8/2/2018: AF posted 7/16, ~$10k spend past year, no offer.
8/3/2018: AF posted in July, offered 20,000 starpoints for $2000 in spend in 3 months.
10/11/18: AF posted 9/16, pays today (10/11). Spent $793 YTD in 2018. No offer. Closed card. Had been open for 5 years.
10/12/18: AF in January, Offered 10k immediately with a further 20k points after spending $6,000. Kept card open.
12/18/18: AF in any day now. Called twice and each time was offered nothing.
1/11/19: AF on Dec 26, called and nothing was offered, closed the card.
5/18/2019: 5k points now plus 10k points after $1k spend in 3 months
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Annual fee retention bonus for Starwood Amex Card (Pre-May, 2019)

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Old Oct 17, 2014, 9:26 am
  #481  
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: EUG
Programs: AS MVP, AA MM, HH Diamond, MR Gold
Posts: 8,223
Over $300K spend for the last year.

Wow.
Eujeanie is offline  
Old Oct 17, 2014, 12:29 pm
  #482  
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 257
Just called the phone number, I'm a 3rd year cardholder with a 20K+ spend.
On my first year anniversary I was offered 2K bonus with very little spend. For my second anniversary I was offered nothing.
flyerfrog is offline  
Old Oct 20, 2014, 12:09 pm
  #483  
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,857
First anniversary, 6K total spend for the year. No offer at all. Glad I wasn't really too concerned with keeping the card.

Retention specialist did mention the other card I had opened most recently, by name. Not surprising, but they definitely do have access to your full list of accounts.
bobert24 is offline  
Old Oct 20, 2014, 2:10 pm
  #484  
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 4,166
I wanted to cancel my card, and they offered a $100 statement credit. But, the limit was a paltry $3,200 when my other Biz cards are closer to $20k. And I need that credit to buy inventory for my business. They tried, but there was nothing they could do to increase the line without an inquiry which I did not want due to a possible home purchase coming up. Canceled the card, SPG Biz.
Superorb is offline  
Old Oct 20, 2014, 11:28 pm
  #485  
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,738
Originally Posted by farwest101
From my experience, Amex, like others, tends to give second year card holders a retention offer at far higher rates that those with longer holds - they know if you keep the card for more than a couple of years that you are likely to continue (and hence, no need to incentivize you). The cards that I've had longer than two years tend not to get very good offers (if any at all) unless very high spend on them.

Just got 7K SPG or $100 credit offer - took the points. 1st year anniversary (beginning of second year). Over $300K spend for the last year.
I tend to have the impression that once they give you a retention offer they are less likely to do it two years in a row now. I would need to see more data points to say for sure, but it seems after your second year they are less likely to give another retention offer without a gap year between offers.
Astrophsx is offline  
Old Oct 24, 2014, 9:04 am
  #486  
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum
Posts: 3,727
First anniv. maybe $6K in spend. Offered 1K pts. Asked about converting to another no-AF card, not possible. Closed it.

Wanted to close it anyway given the stupid limit of no more than 4 open credit cards allowed by Amex. Also, I don't understand why they charge an AF. Compared to airline and other hotel cards that do, this one is awfully devoid of benefits. This should be a no-AF card.

Last edited by italdesign; Oct 24, 2014 at 9:10 am
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Old Oct 24, 2014, 12:47 pm
  #487  
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Mission Viejo, CA, USA
Programs: Bonvoy Titanium, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 60
Wow, thanks for this thread. Called the 1-800-452-3945 number, got offer for either $100 or 7,000 points, since I spent over $60K this year already and had this card for 10 years now. Good deal! Thanks all!
nazca8 is offline  
Old Oct 27, 2014, 2:35 pm
  #488  
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend, Moderator, Information Desk, Ambassador, Alaska Airlines
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Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: FAI
Programs: AS MVP Gold100K, AS 1MM, Maika`i Card, AGR, HH Gold, Hertz PC, Marriott Titanium LTG, CO, 7H, BA, 8E
Posts: 42,953
No dice on a quick call.

Not sure if I phrased it poorly or what, but haven't used it much at all since I got Plat this year. Just can't justify the AF on it.

Rather disappointed by this, and will probably close out in November if nothing else arises. Sad as its my first AMEX account. I understand that closing a card can modify one's credit report, this is my 2nd oldest card, but have several other AMEX products that (should) have the same open date? Thanks.
beckoa is offline  
Old Oct 27, 2014, 8:19 pm
  #489  
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Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,767
Originally Posted by beckoa
No dice on a quick call.

Not sure if I phrased it poorly or what, but haven't used it much at all since I got Plat this year. Just can't justify the AF on it.

Rather disappointed by this, and will probably close out in November if nothing else arises. Sad as its my first AMEX account. I understand that closing a card can modify one's credit report, this is my 2nd oldest card, but have several other AMEX products that (should) have the same open date? Thanks.
It does NOT affect your AMEX history. Over the years we go in and out of AMEX countless time, it still "remembers" the original date of the first AMEX card.

Also, aside from the myth of account history on your credit profile, unless your profile is very thin, i.e. within 5 years or below - else, closing a long history card does NOTHING to your credit profile.
Happy is offline  
Old Oct 27, 2014, 9:09 pm
  #490  
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,607
I chatted with Amex about 2 months before my AF was due and asked for some points or the fee waived.

I was given 2k Points, I had the card 10 months and spent maybe $5500

As a tribute to AMEX for ending the personal churn I closed the card about 5 weeks later and before the AF was due, lol
flyer4512 is offline  
Old Oct 28, 2014, 3:49 pm
  #491  
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Programs: SPG Plat, DL Gold
Posts: 16
Thanks to the Board for all of the data points - received 7K points for renewal fee which made me happy. Then asked them to remove FX charges but that was a bridge too far.
Dansa is offline  
Old Oct 29, 2014, 12:58 pm
  #492  
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 783
7,000 SPG points to keep it open. So, I am keeping it open for a bit longer.
PedroNY is offline  
Old Oct 29, 2014, 1:15 pm
  #493  
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: EUG
Programs: AS MVP, AA MM, HH Diamond, MR Gold
Posts: 8,223
If they offer me 7,000 points, I will keep it open for at least one full year. Isn't that what the 7,000 pt part of their bargain was for? What possible reason would you have for canceling, since 7,000 points can get you a room at a Starwood that is worth way more than what the annual fee costs, and you have a whole year to accrue more points.

I don't get it.
Eujeanie is offline  
Old Oct 29, 2014, 5:34 pm
  #494  
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: UA 1K, AA EP, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Platinum, M life Noir
Posts: 1,279
SPG Personal: 7,000 SPG points or a $100 credit to keep the card open. Took the points. Annual spend ~$125k.

SPG Business: $100 credit to keep the card open (agent told me they cannot offer points as an incentive for the business card). Took it, no brainer since the AF is only $65. Annual spend ~$50k.
bribro is offline  
Old Oct 31, 2014, 10:40 am
  #495  
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 61
SPG Personal: 1000 Starpoints plus 500 more after $1k spending. I had mostly just done enough spending to reach the $5k minimum. I intended on using the card for regular spend to rack up Starwoods points right now anyway so why not? *shrug*. Better than nothing, just barely.

SPG Business: I downgraded to the SimplyCash with no annual fee just to keep the account open. Plus the 3% and 5% cash back options are pretty good.
SexyTurtle is offline  


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