10,000 bonus points per 20 transactions

[straitman]

Two observations:

1. I like how people are posting "I am not cheating the system", long as you are sure you're not then you're not cheating the system.
2. I also like the fact people are obviously chasing the points if they are willing to go to the ACCC & cancel their cards.

One reason why people don't want to give in the world today is because people try to empty you out at every opportunity.

I'd like to see the 3 pages of T&Cs to cover every little loop hole in the next promotion after this circus.

netjock,

I agree. There is no real answer to some peoples stupidity :!: :shock:

 

[JohnK]

I did try to by a bus ticket with my Amex

I usually purchase my weekly Translink ticket with Amex. It is valid on buses. Does that count?

 

[Tiki]

It's probably already been mentioned, but:

The 5000pt/5 transaction promo applies to both Corporate cards and International transactions!

I just got my bonus 5000pts on my Corporate card (which I have responsibility for), and all transactions were from Mexico.

Cheers,
- Febs.

The very thought of this boggles my mind! We will be on a road trip in the USA in Nov so imagine for 12 days EVERY day the usual tourist things: hotel, breakfast, lunch, dinner, petrol............that's 5 transactions a day for 12 days without even trying! Not to mention admissions to attractions, parks, museums, shows, etc and shopping!

The sad thing is they will probably have fixed this bug well before Nov so it won't still be posting by then.

Still no bonus points since yesterday. We did the grocery shopping today instead of Friday because I don't want to have to wait the whole weekend to see what posts and what doesn't. Plus Monday is cutting it to close to end of month when the counter resets.

 

[Soundguy]

I think, though, that this is what they tried to do in a simple way. High transactors had the hurdle set at 20 transactions, mid transactors at 10, and low transactors at 5. If anything, I think the opt-in procedure was flawed, allowing high transactors to register for 5k per 5 transactions.

But this doesn't really make sense either. If that were the case why wasn't one of the various versions of this promotion offered to all customers?

Or perhaps they took a scattergun approach spread somewhat evenly across geographical Australia - hoping that some customers would stumble across the new AMEX enabled retailers or pressure other non-AMEX retailers in their area into joining.

On the other hand they could just be a bit stoopid and have no real goal in mind and no idea how to handle what they have started (like Rudd?).

 

[simongr]

Two observations:

1. I like how people are posting "I am not cheating the system", long as you are sure you're not then you're not cheating the system.
2. I also like the fact people are obviously chasing the points if they are willing to go to the ACCC & cancel their cards.

One reason why people don't want to give in the world today is because people try to empty you out at every opportunity.

I'd like to see the 3 pages of T&Cs to cover every little loop hole in the next promotion after this circus.

What loop hole are we exploiting?

The promo asid "no limit to the bonus points you can earn". Even if I didnt increase spending on Amex that is an average of 40 transactions per month.

Next time there is a promo are you going to look at what you could potentially and voluntarily say "Nope that is too much I will ask them to restrict the bonus"?

What point are you actually trying to make?

 

[NSWhere]

On the other hand they could just be a bit stoopid and have no real goal in mind and no idea how to handle what they have started (like Rudd?).

ROFL

Isn't it funny how much faith we put in large organisations such as American Express and the Government to get stuff right? I hope you've hit the nail on the head, because if they are like Rudd this promo should run for months at least while they discuss how to improve it.

 

[NSWhere]

netjock,

I agree. There is no real answer to some peoples stupidity :!: :shock:

netjock and straitman

While I respect your opinions, you seem to be playing the man and not the ball. With the exception of bill-splitting I have seen no evidence of abuse, nor stupidity. Perhaps you are coming from a slightly different idealogical perspective than some others on this forum (e.g., perhaps you believe that Amex customers all over Australia should self-impose new Ts&C so that the American Express marketing team can mitigate the consequences of their own mistake....if indeed it is a mistake), and that's great. However, if other members of AFF wish to debate the likelihood of their entitlements to MR points I would hardly deem that stupid.

And to prove I can be positive, here is a few statements with yes in them

Yes, they can change conditions (and the TPA implications of various options have been debated ad naseum already)
Yes, some people may even consider the actions of some cardholders immoral.. but
Yes, the T&C (or lack thereof) make it clear that the substantial majority of posters are indeed entitled to large MR bonuses though they are likely to be delayed 8-10 weeks from this point forward.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Two observations:

I also like the fact people are obviously chasing the points if they are willing to go to the ACCC & cancel their cards.
.

I think it needs to be remembered that the Amex Card is a REWARD card..and that yes a major reason while people have selected it in many, if not all cases, is due to the reward points it offers.

It is hardly surprising therefore that people are chasing points...they are meant to. It is what the card is for...and indeed virtually all the Amex marketing reinforces this.

Indeed this promotion was for the Maximiser Card......and why is the Maximiser named thus?????

It is because it MAXIMISES points earn...it is it's point of difference over other cards.

Is it really so surprising that people are chasing points??? Or is 1 + 1 = 2 surprising too??

 

[Soundguy]

ROFL

Isn't it funny how much faith we put in large organisations such as American Express and the Government to get stuff right? I hope you've hit the nail on the head, because if they are like Rudd this promo should run for months at least while they discuss how to improve it.

They have been moving fast to establish a 'Points Watch' committee which will produce green and white papers on the problem at a future date.

Shouldn't pay the guy out too much as he probably posts here; no-one else does as many meaningless OS tourist trips. Yeah, crank that CO2 out Kev! :arrow::arrow::arrow:

(And yes the other mob are probably equally stoopid too)

 

[oz_mark]

But this doesn't really make sense either. If that were the case why wasn't one of the various versions of this promotion offered to all customers?

Or perhaps they took a scattergun approach spread somewhat evenly across geographical Australia - hoping that some customers would stumble across the new AMEX enabled retailers or pressure other non-AMEX retailers in their area into joining.

On the other hand they could just be a bit stoopid and have no real goal in mind and no idea how to handle what they have started (like Rudd?).

I don;t really know what their intentions were, but I suspect that they never intended that you would sign up to multiple promotions and that you would sign up to the promotion that they sent you. They got done by the technology that didn't respect such limitations.

As for the promotion appearing on the website, I don't know what the intention was, but I do wonder if that was intended. Given the short time it appears to have been available online suggests a boo-boo.

All we know for sure, is that whatever they intended, it has not gone to plan

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Remember that on the promo it said:

American Express

Earning Membership Rewards™ Bonus Points couldn’t be easier.

Register now, then keep using your Card for everyday purchases

Yes that is right for everday purchases. I think the implication is pretty clear that this includes minor purchases. Remember too that one of the examples was to buy a Movie Ticket...which is hardly an expensive purchase.

So I do not know why posters are going off on people buying minor things.

Personally I am using my card for a range of expenses....including as per the invitation everday ones where in the past I often used cash.

 

[Tiki]

With the exception of the ONE Itunes for $3.29, all my purchases are for normal everyday expenses like light meals, pizzas, clothes and groceries. I have never "Bill split" and we haven't even visited the same store on the same day though we have gone back to some stores on different days. Most of my purchases I would have paid cash or Eftpos before this promotion and I have found several new places to use the Amex card. For example, Dominos takes Amex on their website even if the actual store doesn't take Amex if you just walk in. So if you want a pizza for dinner--book online!

 

[straitman]

netjock and straitman

While I respect your opinions, you seem to be playing the man and not the ball. With the exception of bill-splitting I have seen no evidence of abuse, nor stupidity. Perhaps you are coming from a slightly different idealogical perspective than some others on this forum (e.g., perhaps you believe that Amex customers all over Australia should self-impose new Ts&C so that the American Express marketing team can mitigate the consequences of their own mistake....if indeed it is a mistake), and that's great. However, if other members of AFF wish to debate the likelihood of their entitlements to MR points I would hardly deem that stupid.

And to prove I can be positive, here is a few statements with yes in them

Yes, they can change conditions (and the TPA implications of various options have been debated ad naseum already)
Yes, some people may even consider the actions of some cardholders immoral.. but
Yes, the T&C (or lack thereof) make it clear that the substantial majority of posters are indeed entitled to large MR bonuses though they are likely to be delayed 8-10 weeks from this point forward.

NSWhere,

Once again, whilst I believe you have every right to your opinion I also believe it should be based upon ALL the information and from what I can see that is not the case.

From someone who has been out of the country for the majority of this promotion, thus far I suggest you re read the thread from start to finish as I have.

There have been quite a few instances of people talking/discussing what they could or could not do OR what they may or may not do. How much of this they have or have not done I can only guess as can you. However having a good understanding of human nature and personality types there will be some reasonable number who will try the way out ideas that have been put forward.

This being the case I stand by my comments :!:

 

[opusman]

From someone who has been out of the country for the majority of this promotion

Ah, that explains it - sour grapes because you missed the chance to register

 

[straitman]

Ah, that explains it - sour grapes because you missed the chance to register

Wrong again :!:

 

[oz_mark]

With the exception of the ONE Itunes for $3.29, all my purchases are for normal everyday expenses like light meals, pizzas, clothes and groceries. I have never "Bill split" and we haven't even visited the same store on the same day though we have gone back to some stores on different days. Most of my purchases I would have paid cash or Eftpos before this promotion and I have found several new places to use the Amex card. For example, Dominos takes Amex on their website even if the actual store doesn't take Amex if you just walk in. So if you want a pizza for dinner--book online!

But really I think this was the plan - put everyday expenses on the card. And use it at local merchants, and hopefully encourage merchants to sign up to take Amex.

What I don't think the plan was:

1) Artificially creating mutliple small transactions (e.g. bill splitting)
2) Signing up to multiple offers (but their programs didn't have the smarts to implememt this)

 

[simongr]

2) Signing up to multiple offers (but their programs didn't have the smarts to implememt this)

And some of us thought that Amex could cope with signing up to multiple offers and giving us just one... shame on us for relying on Amex's CRM process

 

[straitman]

And some of us thought that Amex could cope with signing up to multiple offers and giving us just one... shame on us for relying on Amex's CRM process

We should have been smarter than that should we not :!:

 

[oz_mark]

And some of us thought that Amex could cope with signing up to multiple offers and giving us just one... shame on us for relying on Amex's CRM process

I certainly did!

I am sure that in any change they make they will be looking at this one!

 

[opusman]

We should have been smarter than that should we not :!:

Why is it our responsibility as customers to make up for the deficiencies of Amex's IT department?

Or, for that matter their legal department. None of the T&C's I've read have prohibited signing up for multiple offers. The only place I've ever seen that in writing is in the self-important pontifications from people such as your good self