“Shop Small” Is On… Sort Of

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YogiBerracatchercoachOne of the greats is making for the exit. It’s like Pete Rose, Yogi Berra or an even older reference becoming a player/coach. The end is near.

For the past five years, American Express card holders could get statement credits when they “Shop Small” on Small Business Saturday (the Saturday after Thanksgiving). I’m talking $25-$30 per registered card. It was like being given a shopping spree worth hundreds of dollars. We’d buy stuff from small businesses and Amex footed the bill. Pretty sweet!

This year, the offer has been gutted. It is a shadow of its former self. The offer is not available to all. It is targeted to certain people. And… it’s only one $10 statement credit per registered card.

I received an email saying that one of my cards has been targeted. In the past, I could register authorized user cards as well, but this targeted offer is only for the primary card holder.  $10 is still $10, but…

AmexSBS2015Banner

If you are not aware of receiving a targeted offer, sign into AmericanExpress.com to see if you received the offer on any of your cards.  I found the offer on a total of TWO cards.

There’s a catch with Amex Offers.  If you accept the offer on one card, it goes away on your other cards.  To get the offer on BOTH cards, the easiest thing to do is to open two internet browser windows and sign in at both windows.  Have a different card open in each window.  Scroll down to “Amex Offers & Benefits”.  Then, in quick succession, click “Add to Card”.  Don’t dilly-dally or you may get an error message.  Then you will have the offer on both cards.

AmexSBS2015Offer-cropped

The glass half-full take is “Get a one-time $10 statement credit by using your enrolled Card to make a single purchase of $10 or more in-store at a qualifying small business on the Shop Small Map by 11/28/2015.”

Alas, like a soap actor’s character getting a cough, the end is nigh.

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