Amex Shop Small is on [Oct/Nov 2016]

[Mr_Orange]

Wow, you guys show some serious dedication to this. I had a potential for $600 in credits, but think I didn't even clear $60.

I definitely missed a trick with Go Card top-ups for Mrs_O.

 

[Dr Ralph]

143 out of 150 and a stack of duplicated transactions. Need to lift my game in tracking where the cards were used.

I thoroughly recommend a spreadsheet, which you fill in every time you make a purchase. It's the only way I was able to knowingly and successfully get all of my 120 credits over November.

 

[Happy Dude]

Yep. A spreadsheet is the way to go.

I managed about 50 out of 60 without too much effort at all. It was nice to stack a few with Amex/Under Armour or Entertainment Book offers too.

I had some initial resistance occasionally here in CBR to splitting payments. Eventually they'd relent as I made it clear that the purchase depended on it, but the sighing and rolling eyes didn't make for a pleasant experience. The smart ones embrace it, even after explaining why. I was surprised by how many stores didn't even know about shop small.

 

[Happy Dude]

That's been my dilemma with the pharmac_ option this time. I usually go to Priceline which is understandably not in Shop Small. For some small pharmacies, the $10 rebate brings them into line with 'market' price so thinking it's a waste of the credit. Did buy a fancy electronic thermometer at one pharmac_ though - nice to get it for half price.

Interested in the thoughts and experiences of others in relation to the pharmac_ pricing issue.

My experience was similar Albyd.

At a chemist in CBR, the after-credit was still 50% more than the chemist warehouse price I usually pay. Other items on special, like hayfever tablets were last week, can be good buys though with the shop small promo.

 

[albyd]

Thanks for your feedback Happy Dude. I did look at some allergy pills $40 for 30 pack of Claratyne vs $30 at Priceline for a 60 pack. Gave it a miss. Now to reconcile all of mine. I think I did about 133 credits with only one card going over 10 (no credits obviously for excess) and still some cards not fully utilized. I hope they continue running it like this next year. A very valuable benefit.

 

[penegal]

I did okay in the end - could have done better, but hard to find the time to fully optimise it all when travelling...

I also had a few surprise benefits where I didn't realise the merchant was participating.

 

[SydneySwan]

Managed about 40 transactions possible out of 140, need to lift up my game next year

I believe that Dr Ralph will be running an online masterclass for Shop Small next October. Be sure to sign up.

Wow, you guys show some serious dedication to this. I had a potential for $600 in credits, but think I didn't even clear $60.

I definitely missed a trick with Go Card top-ups for Mrs_O.

Another one for the Dr Ralph masterclass.

 

[exceladdict]

I believe that Dr Ralph will be running an online masterclass for Shop Small next October. Be sure to sign up.

He should register a small business, accept amex, charge $20 for the class, and refund all scholars $10 on completion of the course.

Sidenote: would be a good way to pay for AFF membership renewal

 

[Dr Ralph]

He should register a small business, accept amex, charge $20 for the class, and refund all scholars $10 on completion of the course.

Sidenote: would be a good way to pay for AFF membership renewal

You forgot that there could be a wine tasting incorporated with the master class

In all seriousness, I feel like writing AMEX a letter thanking them for the more than $5000 in credits I've had back from them in just the last 4 months. How long can they keep up all these deals????

 

[PLANT]

As long as uncle TRUMP wave of optimism continues!

 

[mini2]

I thoroughly recommend a spreadsheet, which you fill in every time you make a purchase. It's the only way I was able to knowingly and successfully get all of my 120 credits over November.

Yep, running Google Sheet on my phone. That already reduced the amount of duplicates compare to the previous years but still managed to have duplicates. It all comes down to how quickly the spreadsheet is updated/tracked and need a little tweaking to the spreadsheet formatting for next year but it's more refined than previous years.

 

[drross]

Couple more last minute credits in the bag. No more eating out till Christmas now

really?? what about the AMEX Dimmi offer? $20 back after $50 spend

 

[lovetravellingoz]

. How long can they keep up all these deals????

That is what I used to think about when they used to run lots of points promos. It used to be great fun, and very lucrative, racking up 50k, 100K, 250K and even 1 million plus points runs. But now they mainly only run these cashbacks promos, and while yes the cash is nice it is only a fraction of what value used to be available from the points promos.


All one can do is make the most of whatever types of promos are at play at any given period....and at the present it is cashbacks and signon bonii.

 

[moa999]

but during shop small I go out of my way to use all 90 cash backs available to me.

90. How do you get that many??

 

[N860CR]

90. How do you get that many??

9 Amex cards between us including the supplementary ones.

In the end we hit about 85 which I thought was a decent effort.

 

[JohnK]

All one can do is make the most of whatever types of promos are at play at any given period....and at the present it is cashbacks and signon bonii.

Even with the cashbacks promotions the game has changed. It used to be fun. Now it's stressful because everyone tries to milk to the fullest.

I only have 1 Amex card. I quickly changed plans to get to Myer yesterday before it goes out of control but can't get to a Westfield until tomorrow.

 

[andye]

What is interesting is that the tendency to milk hasn't caused the offers to dry up-if anything they are more frequent

 

[Kangol]

Even with the cashbacks promotions the game has changed. It used to be fun. Now it's stressful because everyone tries to milk to the fullest.

I only have 1 Amex card. I quickly changed plans to get to Myer yesterday before it goes out of control but can't get to a Westfield until tomorrow.

As long as you activate the offer before it reaches capacity, you have until the end of the promotional period to make the spend.

 

[JohnK]

As long as you activate the offer before it reaches capacity, you have until the end of the promotional period to make the spend.

Sure but not purchase gift cards such as what happened with Harvey Norman recently? I'd expect Westfield may run out of gift cards quickly at the current rate.

 

[N860CR]

The Westfield one is a bit unique in that it actually is for the purchase of gift cards. The folk at Westfield really can't get the ****s with anyone as all we're doing is actually 110% complying with the promo.

As for myer, HNs etc well yes that's a bit different. It is what it is...