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After the email last month, I just got the fancy US mail "invitation to apply" with brochure (50K points). What I found interesting is that under travel there is no mention of transfer, instead talking about pay with points, and that this offer is worth up to $500. Maybe the transfer stuff is considered too difficult to explain in a marketing brochure?
@longtimelurker wrote:After the email last month, I just got the fancy US mail "invitation to apply" with brochure (50K points). What I found interesting is that under travel there is no mention of transfer, instead talking about pay with points, and that this offer is worth up to $500. Maybe the transfer stuff is considered too difficult to explain in a marketing brochure?
I think it's that they make less. But also, yeah, too hard to explain.
@Anonymous wrote:
@longtimelurker wrote:After the email last month, I just got the fancy US mail "invitation to apply" with brochure (50K points). What I found interesting is that under travel there is no mention of transfer, instead talking about pay with points, and that this offer is worth up to $500. Maybe the transfer stuff is considered too difficult to explain in a marketing brochure?
I think it's that they make less. But also, yeah, too hard to explain.
Not just that; but also difficult to moderate.
Suppose you (as AMEX) had the ability to explain; but then by putting a number (1cpp, 1.5cpp, 1.8cpp etc.) you are subjecting yourself to potential complaints. Transfers - that you control - are 1:1 (sometimes more or less depending on contracts and bonuses), but the value derived from that is essentially outside your control, completely. All other redemptions, cash, gift cards, travel credit etc. are within your control as in it happens on your interface (and easy to put a value to). Once points are transferred, AMEX could not possibly take any responsibility of that number. Which number would you put? Up to $625? (Chase can, because it's on their interface, UR travel). Up to $800?
What if, I, as a potential customer, saw "up to $800" and thought, okay, best valuation is 1.6cpp so I go ahead and redeem whenever I got that rate. Then I log on to FT and see crazy people getting 3cpp and the like. I'll blame AMEX. On the flipside, advertising say 2.5cpp which is very difficult to get will cause consumers to complain too, saying all this is false advertising as 2.5cpp happens once in a blue moon.
So AMEX would rather keep probabilistic redemptions out of the equation and market the product as "great" anyway. The $500 number is straightforward - you either redeem gift cards and you get it or you redeem as statement credit and you get <$500.
Now, with their 1:1 transfer also coming under a cut, I believe they thought it's better not advertised. That way, they can go ahead and slash transfer rates whichever way they want.
@Ghoshida wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
@longtimelurker wrote:After the email last month, I just got the fancy US mail "invitation to apply" with brochure (50K points). What I found interesting is that under travel there is no mention of transfer, instead talking about pay with points, and that this offer is worth up to $500. Maybe the transfer stuff is considered too difficult to explain in a marketing brochure?
I think it's that they make less. But also, yeah, too hard to explain.
Not just that; but also difficult to moderate.
Suppose you (as AMEX) had the ability to explain; but then by putting a number (1cpp, 1.5cpp, 1.8cpp etc.) you are subjecting yourself to potential complaints. Transfers - that you control - are 1:1 (sometimes more or less depending on contracts and bonuses), but the value derived from that is essentially outside your control, completely. All other redemptions, cash, gift cards, travel credit etc. are within your control as in it happens on your interface (and easy to put a value to). Once points are transferred, AMEX could not possibly take any responsibility of that number. Which number would you put? Up to $625? (Chase can, because it's on their interface, UR travel). Up to $800?
What if, I, as a potential customer, saw "up to $800" and thought, okay, best valuation is 1.6cpp so I go ahead and redeem whenever I got that rate. Then I log on to FT and see crazy people getting 3cpp and the like. I'll blame AMEX. On the flipside, advertising say 2.5cpp which is very difficult to get will cause consumers to complain too, saying all this is false advertising as 2.5cpp happens once in a blue moon.
So AMEX would rather keep probabilistic redemptions out of the equation and market the product as "great" anyway. The $500 number is straightforward - you either redeem gift cards and you get it or you redeem as statement credit and you get <$500.
Now, with their 1:1 transfer also coming under a cut, I believe they thought it's better not advertised. That way, they can go ahead and slash transfer rates whichever way they want.
Right, I wasn't expecting them to provide a figure, just something very generic like "and points can also be transferred to the rewards program of our partners". Otherwise it looks very much like Venture or Arrival without even the 1.2 boost of CSP/TYP etc.
@longtimelurker wrote:Right, I wasn't expecting them to provide a figure, just something very generic like "and points can also be transferred to the rewards program of our partners". Otherwise it looks very much like Venture or Arrival without even the 1.2 boost of CSP/TYP etc.
You're right. On their website, they highlight (not a lot, unlike Chase) the transferability of their points, but not on their snail mailer that otherwise looks pretty cool. This is from the PRG online ad.
Membership Rewards® Program
Use your Card everyday and you can get points fast - points have no expiration date. However, points may be forfeited as described in the program terms.‡Transfer points to our selection of frequent traveler programs‡ or use them for gift cards and merchandise.‡
I just received my card and called Amex to see if I can get the better intro offer than what I got which was 25k pts for $2k spent in the first 3 months. They put in a request and said they would get back to me. Anyone ever try this?
@Anonymous wrote:I just received my card and called Amex to see if I can get the better intro offer than what I got which was 25k pts for $2k spent in the first 3 months. They put in a request and said they would get back to me. Anyone ever try this?
i havent, but many others have. If it was chase bank, or citi, it would probably be a 99% yes. Amex, 99.999999% no.