I had an excellent experience with AMEX Membership Rewards today. I had my eye on getting enough points for the BOSE WAVE CD/Radio. I already have a regular WAVE which I have loved for years. The new one will go into my home office. I had about 49,000 MR points, and about 6,000 points pending - to be transferred to my MR account at the end of the month. I was still short about 5K+ points from the necessary 60,000 MR points to get the BOSE CD. I called MR and talked to a Rep who looked at my account, then congratulated me on my great AMEX history. He then said I had obviously never had points forfeited or delayed. Then he said he would immediately credit me the 6K points not yet transferred, then I could have the BOSE if I bought points now - or I could wait. Points cost $25 per 1000 - I bought $125 worth of points, charged the Card, then the Rep asked me if I wanted the BOSE in gray or white - I chose gray. (YES, I could have waited another couple of months for new AMEX charges to accumulate points, but I wanted the device ASAP - I have a new sofa and leather chair being delivered and my place is getting all new hardware, and software.) I have been using the AMEX for literally every expense I can - except SAFEWAY - which does not take AMEX! You generally get 1 MR point for each dollar you spend; many times there are offers for increased points - FTD.com offers 10X points for dollars spent. I have to say, its a nice incentive to use the AMEX Card! I know there are many types of rewards cards out there; rewards cards are great - but are expensive if you carry a balance. I know many people who still love frequent flyer miles and use their air cards constantly. I still recommend AMEX highly! aarrfff - soon to be doing the BOSE A NOVA ---- Dogman
Dog - Another "plus" of the RewardsPlus card is that they'll let you "borrow" up to 10k points per year. Just for those impulse moments like you just had !! Enjoy- mj (who lives in Bose country)
That's really expensive... considering they only credit your account $100 for 20,000 points! You can spend $100 and buy 4,000 points--yet if you want $100 credited to your account, you have to use 20,000 points. FIVE times is not a good ratio..
you are right - hello! but again, different offers sharply reduce the cost of point - to redeem on MERCHANDISE. They do clip you bigtime for a $100 cash bonus - yup - you have to go through the catalog. 60K for the BOSE is expensive - but I would not have spent $500 +tax outright. best regards, dogman
Don't want to spend $500? Then you have to come to my hometown, find someone who works at Bose making those nice WAVE radios and get the employee to get you one at half price (employee discount).
I think membership rewards is a good program, but the merchandise is expensive. Considering the $40/yr program free, they should cut us some slack. I think the best use of MR points is transferring points to airlines for free tickets/upgrades. Do you know anything about membership rewards plus? I've read about that somewhere, but don't know exactly what it is... just like membership rewards options for blue cardmembers.. what exactly is that? I can't seem to find it on their website.
