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In the past several years, the Saturday after Thanksgiving was like Christmas to those with a handful of American Express cards. Each year, on that day (dubbed “Small Business Saturday”), Amex would offer statement credits for purchases made at small businesses. By splitting transactions it has been possible to buy things for free.
This year, though, it looks as though the party is over. In the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for Small Business Saturday, Amex displays the following:
Is there an American Express Statement Credit Offer for Card Members for Small Business Saturday this year?
As in years past, American Express will continue to drive awareness of Small Business Saturday and encourage consumers to shop small through local and national advertising.
This year we are not offering a statement credit offer for Card Members on Small Business Saturday, but are instead increasing the support and resources we provide to help small business owners market the day within their communities and truly make it their own. Learn about the materials we make available at ShopSmall.com/GetReady:
- Customizable marketing materials
- Free online ads
- Shop Small merchandise kits (while supplies last)
- Educational event guides
We are also significantly expanding our grassroots advocacy efforts, such as the Neighborhood Champion program, to facilitate more community events and activities to engage local communities to shop small on Small Business Saturday.
The important part, is this: “This year we are not offering a statement credit offer for Card Members on Small Business Saturday.”
Nooooooo!!!!!
Hat Tip: Yeshu via Twitter
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Sorry to hear this. I looked forward to using my Amex cards on Small Business Saturday. I thought it was a great promotion for both the small business and prompted me to circle that date on my calendar to shop! It was a win win for both. Too bad for Amex since now I’ll be using my Visa cards for all my holiday shopping!
[…] H/T: Frequent Miler […]
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Well, if the purpose of this promotion is to promote the AMEX card among small businesses, eliminating the financial incentive for cardholders to show up that Saturday isn’t going to help. 🙂
I’m guessing AMEX didn’t like folks with 50 companion cards going nuts. I don’t blame them, even if I was sort of one of those folks. But there are ways to prevent people from being piggy. Like limit a statement credit to the primary cardholder. Easy peazy, and keeps the program intact.
Like most credit card companies, though, AMEX doesn’t seem to know how to close loopholes without a sledgehammer.
The only reason I have kept my gold amex is sbs offsets the annual fee. When they jacked the fee up to 175, I still said , meh, i’ve got sbs with au x8. Now, as soon as the fee hits-done. Change me to no annual fee card asap. Had 22 cards total (BB too). Sad, sbs had me out of the house all afternoon last time getting $10x3x22.
[…] H/T: Frequent Miler […]
[…] H/T: Frequent Miler […]
Hilarious that many of those worst abusers now express their outrage and threaten to close their Amex cards. News flash for you: Amex will be laughing, “great, see ya! – don’t let the door hit you on the way out!” Amex doesn’t need you, doesn’t want you – why the heck would they?
Given the kind of abuse that is promoted and celebrated here, anyone who is surprised they closed this loophole is an idiot. You think Amex employees don’t have access to the internet, and they don’t mind being played for chumps. Riiiiight.
Chalk up another loophole closed thanks to the blogs driving bottom-feeders to abuse it.
Blogs like this are the best thing that ever happened to Amex and the other card issuers. The exposure of loopholes here points their way straight to what they should close next.
Happy Thanksgiving!
I agree that there was some logic and calculation behind this move by AmEx. At the same time, it will definitely reduce my interest in keeping some of their accounts open, especially those with annual fees. And I’m also relieved that there’s one less chore to do around the holidays. 🙂
Well, my shopping just got a lot easier for that Saturday.
Really bummed…. just ordered cards for other family members last week. Wondering if Amex will do any analysis on what was spent last year vs. this year. I can tell you that I used my amex card all over that Saturday, not just at participating small businesses because it was “top of wallet” as Gary says.
This was my favorite holiday! My wife and I would turn it into a big date day, going out for all 3 meals and doing some shopping. Sad to see it go.
[…] learned from Frequent Miler this morning that Amex Small Business Saturday 2015 will not have any statement credits. From the official […]
I really like how they made it known this annual small business day would continue as usual. Then weeks later an “oh by the way we’re not giving statement credits anymore.”
I understand the spirit of SBS but I cannot see any allocation of resources towards small businesses increasing the likelihood of small businesses doing better than years past with motivated buyers. And isn’t that what this day is about anyways? Make no mistake this was a money saving move. Perhaps a knee-jerk one at that. How else could they justify not telling customers sooner?
I find it sad that some were forgoing vacations in order to get a handful of $10 credits
And newsflash everyone – SBS wasn’t meant as a benefit for the consumer, but rather was more for the business.
Who says they’re mutually exclusive? The influx of spending was heavily subsidized by Amex. BOTH consumers and small businesses lose here.
I’m pretty sure a large amount of the people commenting on this blog spent only the bare minimum of $10 or so for each card so the businesses aren’t suffering a big loss.
I spent 3 x $10 per card and then x 20 cards, so I gave that business $600 I would not have spent otherwise buying their gift cards to spend on pizza at their restaurant. I got to enjoy free pizza all year long. I think most people would have gone that route. Then again maybe people that read this blog aren’t into maximizing free cash…So, my guess is that $600 probably did matter at least somewhat to that particular small business…
He didn’t reference any particular subset of amex customers.
Yes, the readers of this blog no doubt purchased closer to the minimum than the overall amex user. My opinion on this remains the same. Amex dropping the statement credits will have a net negative impact on both the consumer and the small business.