Gaming the Amex BigData system

[penegal]

Amex is the new Santa ... they know when you're sleeping and know when you're awake.

Does AmEx know if I have been naughty or nice?

 

[Cool Cat Phil]

An important story to assist in everybody's understanding about being targeted for promos: https://www.traveldatadaily.com/hacking-the-american-express-big-data-system-for-your-advantage/

I have a mixed view of that article.

Certainly it's a Refreshingly written article that is easy to read for the masses, but as someone who studies Post Graduate Marketing, the article lacks references to current research or previous studies that backs up many of the points made.

By Adding references to the article this would provide for a more convincing argument to the claims made.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

For anyone interested, here's an introduction to Amex Australia and data services; https://mumbrella.com.au/white-rabbit-project-ins-outs-netflix-production-414523

As much as I enjoy my mythbusters that article is either very cryptic or is actually about mythbusters

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Most ML predictive models are pattern recognition based, looking for similar features in the dataset.

Agree, though establishing the right pattern was always important for increasing rewards.

Though my point was more that the patterns can be (though not always are) a lot more complex these day and so hence can be harder to game.

Specifically with Amex I find it a lot harder to attract rewards than it used to be.

 

[QF WP]

There must be more than a few members here that, like the authors wife, actually travel OS a lot on the company dime and then use their own card. Haven't seen too many stories here about these fabulous freebies.

I'd be one of those - my (own company) travel spend is on a Visa but my personal spend when at a destination may be on an Amex (if I go out to dinner with friends, buy a bottle of wine, etc). That'll be sure to pique Amex's curiosity. But I note my Amex offers are closely matching some of my past spending trends...

The idea that spending money in posh stores/suburbs, perhaps needlessly, is hardly financially sensible, and to get what? A $5k/yr card that is aimed at a high-end frequent traveller, which the author states he isn't? Spending more money just to own a card that isn't particularly coveted by the frequent travellers on this site (here and here) doesn't sound like a good prize at all.

As for paying tax, there's 700-odd pages here about not using your AmEx to do that. If it were a good idea, there'd be that many pages again. Plus, if you're wealthy/silly enough to not care about the surcharge, or not savvy enough to seek a better points earn, you probably care little for whatever monthly gift AmEx might fling you.

Each to their own, I suppose. Some people calculate the value and if deemed worthy, will use CC's for spend like this.

While I don't doubt that bigdata is a thing or whatever, gaming the AmEx system seems more than a little pointless, requires a fair amount of effort and with potentially no reward at all. None of it is guaranteed to work, right? Item 5 is very interesting though, in a tinfoil hat kinda way.

There are no guarantees in life, but it may put you in a marketing group tht really isn't you and therefore receive offers that might benefit you. YMMV.

I have a mixed view of that article.

Certainly it's a Refreshingly written article that is easy to read for the masses, but as someone who studies Post Graduate Marketing, the article lacks references to current research or previous studies that backs up many of the points made.

By Adding references to the article this would provide for a more convincing argument to the claims made.

I'm sure that the author will read your comment and apply to future articles. Unless there was a reason not to insert such studies...

 

[njba]

It's a little fantastic: the idea that anyone should go to such lengths for such insubstantial potential rewards.

Although I'm amused to think of BMW service centres across the country becoming plagued with Toyota owners.

It would be interesting if there was some more substance to the article, rather than just assertions that all of this is so.

 

[Happy Dude]

...But I note my Amex offers are closely matching some of my past spending trends...

Other than noting that the article didn't really present anything other than a rather unbalanced "you really should be doing these things" vibe, I'm interested in what "offers" you're referring to?

 

[QF WP]

Lets have a look at two - a Hilton offer (took advantage) based on my Hilton stays (previously paid on Amex, now Visa from 2017) and wine purchases (split across Amex and Visa) - I have received multiple offers to both new and existing providers and utilised them...all offers have been worthwhile discounts. So they have influenced my spend (I would have bought wines regardless, but have chosen to at their "partners" for some of my spend).

I am selective in what offers I take up...never take them all up, only ones that we (wife and I) can utilise

 

[fairbasa]

Lets have a look at two - a Hilton offer (took advantage) based on my Hilton stays (previously paid on Amex, now Visa from 2017) and wine purchases (split across Amex and Visa) - I have received multiple offers to both new and existing providers and utilised them all...

Do you believe they were targeted?

Just asking because I know many received offers for a few different hotel chains at the end of last year (Hilton included) and AMEX seem to offer credits at a couple of wine suppliers such as Langtons and Vinomofo. I received these offers despite never having spent money at any of those suppliers.

 

[QF WP]

Yes some were targeted, as I don't share all my targeted offers through the relevant AFF threads ...

 

[Happy Dude]

Ah ok, I was hoping you were referring to the "significant benefits, such as annual fee waivers, bonus points, a constant stream of gifts, invites to VIP events, additional credit lines and even an invitation to the famous Amex Centurion Black Card" as described in the article. I took it that these were over and above the statement credits tend which appear to be a free-for-all most of the time. There's plenty of examples of inconsistency surrounding those "offers".

 

[QF WP]

I'm not in that league Happy Dude and I'm sure Mrs QF WP would not appreciate the annual fee for Centurion. But if I begin to game the system by using my card for other peoples purchases, then perhaps I can get some of them.