I have been considering getting the Amex Gold card. Looking at the restaurant credit the only restaurant I frequent is the Cheesecake Factory. I'm wondering if buying Cheesecake Factory gift cards qualify for the $10 dining credit? Out of the places listed I know I will probably only go to Cheesecake Factory and don't know if I will realistically go there 12 times a year. Wondering if anyone has found success getting a gift card to meet eligibility for the $10 dining credit?
@Jordan23ww wrote:I have been considering getting the Amex Gold card. Looking at the restaurant credit the only restaurant I frequent is the Cheesecake Factory. I'm wondering if buying Cheesecake Factory gift cards qualify for the $10 dining credit? Out of the places listed I know I will probably only go to Cheesecake Factory and don't know if I will realistically go there 12 times a year. Wondering if anyone has found success getting a gift card to meet eligibility for the $10 dining credit?
I had the same idea @Jordan23ww. Earlier this year, I got a great 75K UR point SUB to open the Gold card but am disappointed in how easily I'll be able to get redeem any credits. AMEX does tell you in the fine print that Cheesecake Factory gift cards can't be used for the credit but I had expected that might be bypassed if you purchased in-store as others mentioned. I was traveling recently and looked at the Ruth Chris menu online but their prices appear to be so inflated that the $10 credit would be meaningless compared to dining at a comparable local steakhouse. Long term, I'd like to keep the Gold card open but not sure if it makes sense for me. Still, the 75K MR points pays the AF for at least the short term.
@simplynoir wrote:They do but not to your benefit if you want to avoid going the Cheesecake Factory every month. Believe it only works for gift cards purchased physically at the restaurant itself, online gift card purchases do not qualify
Oh ok, thank you! I guess this would be better than flat out just losing the credit! There are 2 Cheesecake Factories within driving distance to me but one is on the other side of town about 30 minutes away, the other is in a neighboring city about 50 minutes away (I have family that stays 5 minutes away from this one).
While not being able to get them online will be an inconvenience at least I have another alternative to still maximize getting this credit every month. With some careful planing I could once a month head over to get a gift card and save it for a future meal there. Thanks again!
@Anonymous wrote:You know I once though as you, out of all the places on their list only Cheescake Factory is close enough to even go there. Yet every time I go to the City I've usually already gotten my monthly alotment from GubHub(KFC) close to home, or I never end up going for some reason.
And a whole Cheesecake is definitely not going to make it home before spoiling.
That said GC's do not trigger the credit, only purchases inside the restaraunt so you would have to buy it there.
Thank you so much for letting me know! When you use the Grubhub credit do you go pick up your food or have them deliver? I still haven't used any delivery services yet. I always found it quicker (and cheaper🙈🙈🙈) for me to just go. With the new Uber Cash and Uber Eats offers on the Gold Card I may cave and try them.
@Anonymous wrote:You know I once though as you, out of all the places on their list only Cheescake Factory is close enough to even go there. Yet every time I go to the City I've usually already gotten my monthly alotment from GubHub(KFC) close to home, or I never end up going for some reason.
And a whole Cheesecake is definitely not going to make it home before spoiling.
That said GC's do not trigger the credit, only purchases inside the restaraunt so you would have to buy it there.
If you don't mind me asking I'm curious do you use both your BCP and Gold card for groceries? I'm looking for ways to continue to get value from my BCP when I get the Gold card.
@Aim_High wrote:
@Jordan23ww wrote:I have been considering getting the Amex Gold card. Looking at the restaurant credit the only restaurant I frequent is the Cheesecake Factory. I'm wondering if buying Cheesecake Factory gift cards qualify for the $10 dining credit? Out of the places listed I know I will probably only go to Cheesecake Factory and don't know if I will realistically go there 12 times a year. Wondering if anyone has found success getting a gift card to meet eligibility for the $10 dining credit?
I had the same idea @Jordan23ww. Earlier this year, I got a great 75K UR point SUB to open the Gold card but am disappointed in how easily I'll be able to get redeem any credits. AMEX does tell you in the fine print that Cheesecake Factory gift cards can't be used for the credit but I had expected that might be bypassed if you purchased in-store as others mentioned. I was traveling recently and looked at the Ruth Chris menu online but their prices appear to be so inflated that the $10 credit would be meaningless compared to dining at a comparable local steakhouse. Long term, I'd like to keep the Gold card open but not sure if it makes sense for me. Still, the 75K MR points pays the AF for at least the short term.
Thank you so much for your feedback! That has been a concern for me. Of all the places we can use the credit for I really only eat at the Cheesecake Factory. We don't even have a Shake Shack! We have a Ruth's Chris but since I don't eat steak I haven't ever tried them. Looked at them online Saturday and had a feeling I'd have to overspend the $10 credit a lot just to eat there. I wouldn't mind it if I already liked them but we've had our Ruth's Chris restaurant for over 10 years and not once have I wanted to go there.
I know it's a moot point but I wish you could use all $120 of the dining credit at once or save them up and use them as needed until all $120 has been used. Before now I've probably only eaten at the Cheesecake Factory 4 to 5 times a year but with the pandemic going on I haven't eaten there once this year so far.
@Jordan23ww wrote:
@Aim_High wrote: I had the same idea @Jordan23ww. Earlier this year, I got a great 75K UR point SUB to open the Gold card but am disappointed in how easily I'll be able to get redeem any credits. AMEX does tell you in the fine print that Cheesecake Factory gift cards can't be used for the credit but I had expected that might be bypassed if you purchased in-store as others mentioned. I was traveling recently and looked at the Ruth Chris menu online but their prices appear to be so inflated that the $10 credit would be meaningless compared to dining at a comparable local steakhouse. Long term, I'd like to keep the Gold card open but not sure if it makes sense for me. Still, the 75K MR points pays the AF for at least the short term.Thank you so much for your feedback! That has been a concern for me. Of all the places we can use the credit for I really only eat at the Cheesecake Factory. We don't even have a Shake Shack! We have a Ruth's Chris but since I don't eat steak I haven't ever tried them. Looked at them online Saturday and had a feeling I'd have to overspend the $10 credit a lot just to eat there. I wouldn't mind it if I already liked them but we've had our Ruth's Chris restaurant for over 10 years and not once have I wanted to go there.
I know it's a moot point but I wish you could use all $120 of the dining credit at once or save them up and use them as needed until all $120 has been used. Before now I've probably only eaten at the Cheesecake Factory 4 to 5 times a year but with the pandemic going on I haven't eaten there once this year so far.
Yes, that's a frustrating thing about AMEX and how they make their credits more difficult to reach. I guess the industry term is "breakage" or "spoilage" which is intentional to try to make full use of credits difficult. But they can still advertise them.
Here is a Ruth Chris dinner menu. Looks like everything is ala carte, so you'd pay around $30 to $60 per entree (and up) and then another $11 to $13 each for salads, soups, or sides. Add an appetizer or dessert, drinks, tax, and tip and you're looking at probably an easy $75 or even much more per person. Not that I'd never do that but I don't do that kind of dining every month and many people never do. DW and I could afford to do this but even though we dine out often, we have better places to put our money than on regular expensive meals.
