Can you request increase in sign up bonus time?

[sarge12]

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@Anonymous wrote:
Sarge - That means prepaid debit cards ones that you're able to get cash from, purchasing Amex giftcards you cannot get cash from them.

I can personally confirm that you DO earn rewards on purchases of Amex giftcards DIRECTLY from American Express, and they DO count towards spend requirements.

As for purchasing from a 3rd party like a grocery store I cannot confirm it but I do suspect that if you purchase a "giftcard" with a Visa/MC/Amex logo that is NOT a "prepaid card" meaning it is reloadable, then you will also earn rewards.

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That is good to know, but really surprising to me. 

[Anonymous]

Sarge - From the Mod on another thread:

Irish80 - "They absolutely do not code as cash advance and you'll earn any rewards on whatever Amex card that you are using just as if it was a 'normal' purchase"

http://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Cards/So-American-Express-offers-gift-cards/m-p/4889896/highl...

[sarge12]

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@Anonymous wrote:
Sarge - From the Mod on another thread:

Irish80 - "They absolutely do not code as cash advance and you'll earn any rewards on whatever Amex card that you are using just as if it was a 'normal' purchase"

http://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Cards/So-American-Express-offers-gift-cards/m-p/4889896/highlight/true#M1427446

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Once you said that you had done it, in my mind it was settled. I originally did not know if you were speaking from experience or not. No further proof was needed, as I had no reason to doubt your word Matt4200. I was surprised that Amex allows this though, and it may come in handy to know. Thanks for the info.

[NRB525]

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@Anonymous wrote:
Sarge - That means prepaid debit cards ones that you're able to get cash from, purchasing Amex giftcards you cannot get cash from them.

I can personally confirm that you DO earn rewards on purchases of Amex giftcards DIRECTLY from American Express, and they DO count towards spend requirements.

As for purchasing from a 3rd party like a grocery store I cannot confirm it but I do suspect that if you purchase a "giftcard" with a Visa/MC/Amex logo that is NOT a "prepaid card" meaning it is reloadable, then you will also earn rewards.

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AMEX Giftcards purchased from AMEX, yes, they would count toward spend. And you would pay a significant fee for them

The last paragraph is confusing. And I doubt it is rewardable. I have encountered grocery clerks who won't sell such cards to a purchaser (me) using a credit card. It could have been a manager who knew his stuff, but generally those gift cards or MC/VISA/AMEX cards with variable values are not really advisable to try in this situation.

[Anonymous]

NRB - That's why I said can't confirm it but I suspect it should be the same. Some stores will not allow it just because or fraud concerns if someone steals a CC and buys that as a means to get money. But if a store does allow you to buy them, as long as they aren't the prepaid cards that are reloadable you should get the rewards points.

But just to be safe I'd recommend buying directly through Amex.

Sarge - Yeah I just like to have some backing so other readers can be certain this process is legitimate.

[longtimelurker]

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@Anonymous wrote:
NRB - That's why I said can't confirm it but I suspect it should be the same. Some stores will not allow it just because or fraud concerns if someone steals a CC and buys that as a means to get money. But if a store does allow you to buy them, as long as they aren't the prepaid cards that are reloadable you should get the rewards points.

But just to be safe I'd recommend buying directly through Amex.

Sarge - Yeah I just like to have some backing so other readers can be certain this process is legitimate.

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Yes, I do this every year to meet the $6.5K threshold on the OBC.    As Amex directly offers $3000 gift cards (for the same $3.95 fee as a $25 card!) this is generally the cheapest way even taking into account postage.

There is also usually no problem from Amex buying standard  V/MC/A cards from a supermarket.    But, if the OP is anywhere close to a $1000, consider buying one or more safe retail cards from a supermarket or drugstore, such as for Amazon or actual stores, that they can actually use.   No extra fees.

[Anonymous]

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@longtimelurker wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:
NRB - That's why I said can't confirm it but I suspect it should be the same. Some stores will not allow it just because or fraud concerns if someone steals a CC and buys that as a means to get money. But if a store does allow you to buy them, as long as they aren't the prepaid cards that are reloadable you should get the rewards points.

But just to be safe I'd recommend buying directly through Amex.

Sarge - Yeah I just like to have some backing so other readers can be certain this process is legitimate.

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Yes, I do this every year to meet the $6.5K threshold on the OBC.    As Amex directly offers $3000 gift cards (for the same $3.95 fee as a $25 card!) this is generally the cheapest way even taking into account postage.

There is also usually no problem from Amex buying standard  V/MC/A cards from a supermarket.    But, if the OP is anywhere close to a $1000, consider buying one or more safe retail cards from a supermarket or drugstore, such as for Amazon or actual stores, that they can actually use.   No extra fees.

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I have no idea whether this would work, but since Amazon takes Amex directly what about a gift card reload right on Amazon?

[Mattopotamus]

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Matt4200 wrote:
Subexistence- No, they will not give you more time for any reason.

My best suggestion is spend as much as you can to get close. Then purchase an Amex Giftcard through American Express to fulfill the rest, that is kind of an extension.

Occasionally there will be a bonus offer to purchase Amex GiftCard in your Offers Section.

And

If you google Amex giftcard promo codes you can find a code for free shipping. Right now the code is: Freeshp17a

That's my best advice

What a ninja idea!

[Anonymous]

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@Subexistence wrote:

I have a dining plan at my college so I don't buy groceries until the summer. I'm also pretty cheap. I guess adding AU or paying someone else's bill works.

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 For future reference, when you want to get a new card with an initial spending bonus, it's a good idea to get the card when you expect to be able to spend enough for the bonus. In your case, I probably would have waited to get the BCE until the summer when you know you'll be buying groceries. 

In the meantime, offering to get groceries for your friends and family and have them pay you back would probably generate enough spending. You're doing them a favor since you're getting their groceries for them, and at the same time you're meeting your spending requirement for the bonus. Everybody wins.

[Anonymous]

For sure wish I knew about how to get these best offers before I took the regular one.