Shop Small is ON – Get Out There!

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SmallBusinessSaturday-ShopSmallCircle-smallerAmerican Express’ VERY GENEROUS Small Business Saturday promotion is happening right now – November 29th. If you have already registered your cards, remember, they have juiced the prize! You can get up to three $10 statement credits per registered card.

I really like this promotion because it is a win-win for small businesses and consumers. Basically, Amex is buying you something at your local businesses.

Check out the map of participating shops at ShopSmall.com.  Get all the nitty-gritty here. Spend $10 or more in a single, in-store transaction at a qualifying small business location on Saturday, November 29, 2014. Do that three times per card for three $10 credits.

If you don’t have time to shop the Mom & Pops

Do what I do. Walk into your favorite participating restaurant that has gift cards. Have them charge each of your registered Amex cards three times for $10 per transaction. Total up the transactions and have them throw it on one gift card for future use.

You give business to the businesses – AND YOU GET FREE STUFF. It’s a win-win!

Double, Triple… Gazillionize the Promotion

Authorized users on your account can register for the promotion as well. Amex makes it easy to add a card member to your account. Sign in to your Amex account online, click “More Options” then “Additional Card Member” to request an additional card. Additional cards are free. As long as the person is 15 or older, they can get one. They don’t have to be a family member. As Amex says, “Whether it’s your spouse, child in college, nanny, or personal assistant, you can all benefit when you give Additional Cards.”

If a husband puts his wife and two kids on his account, that’s four cards x $30 (3 x $10) = $120. If the wife does the same on her card, that’s another $120.

If you don’t have a Consumer (personal) American Express card, you still have time to get in on this hot credit-card-action. C’mon… All the cool kids are doing it. Be included in American Express’ AWESOME promotion that helps businesses and consumers!

Which Cards Work?

I’m a fan of the Starwood & Delta cards. Click on “Chip’s Favorite Credit Card Offers” at the top right side of this website for more info. Email me if you have any questions. Some of the cards that qualify are:

  • Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card
  • Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card
  • Amex EveryDay Credit Card
  • Amex EveryDay Preferred Credit Card
  • Blue Cash Everyday® Card
  • Blue Cash Preferred® Card
  • Platinum Card® from American Express
  • Premier Rewards Gold Card
  • TrueEarnings® Card from Costco

My Experience

I’ve been helping out small businesses in this way for years. I hope you will as well. About a minute after one of my cards gets charged on Small Business Saturday, I would get an email from American Express thanking me for participating in the promotion. The statement credits usually showed up that day, or by the next business day.

Stay with the Brick and Mortar Joints

Note, Amex says: “In addition, in most cases, you will not receive the statement credit if your transaction is made with an electronic wallet or through a third party or if the merchant uses a mobile or wireless card reader to process it.” So break out the plastic and start swiping.

Another Wrinkle

Some of the cards I mentioned have an annual fee that they waive for a year while you try out the card. The statement credits you can get on Small Business Saturday can easily cover those annual fees. This is good to know in case you are on the fence about whether or not to keep a card once the annual fee hits after a year.

SmallBizSat2014

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