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Summer Hull
Director of content
Summer Hull has been covering (and using) travel tips, rewards credit cards and loyalty programs for over a decade. She has flown close to a million miles, often on points and miles and with her family in tow.
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As a senior writer for TPG, Tarah Chieffi covers travel deals, tips, theme park news and exciting experiences to help readers travel better, more often and within their budget.
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March 19, 2024
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6 min read
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Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available.
Whether you're stocking up on household staples or splurging on a new gadget, there are many ways to save on Amazon orders. One way to save a lot very quickly is through an offer that involves American Express and Amazon.
Targeted Amex cardholders can save money when redeeming American Express Membership Rewards points to cover at least part of an eligible Amazon purchase. Typically, using Membership Rewards points for Amazon isn't great, as the return per point is below the rate for travel redemptions.
Right now is particularly good timing, though, since Amazon is launching its first-ever Big Spring Sale. It begins March 20 and runs through March 25. We'll have another story on any great deals once it launches.
Currently, when using points, some people can save as much as 40% on an Amazon purchase by cashing in as little as 1 Amex point — as is the case with some current targeted offers. It's a fantastic deal.
TPG's senior public relations manager Grace Farley had an offer for a discount of up to $60 with 40% off eligible products (including AirTags) when using at least 1 point.
While we haven't received reports as good as $80 off like the offer below, you might find an even better deal. This offer was on some accounts earlier this year.
To get in on this offer, you'll need a card that earns Membership Rewards points, such as The Platinum Card® from American Express, the American Express® Gold Card or the American Express® Green Card.
The information for the American Express Green Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
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I wasn't targeted this time around; however, a few months ago, my colleague was targeted for an offer that saved 15% (up to $15) when you used at least $5 worth of points to activate the deal. To show how lucrative this can be at the higher savings levels, here's how a 40% offer dropped the price of a four-pack of AirTags to $47.99 in the past.
Offers available when using Membership Rewards points to pay on Amazon
Unfortunately, these are targeted offers, so not everyone will receive the same offer. However, some other Amazon-related offers we've seen this week include:
- Save 10% (up to $10)
- Save 15% (up to $15) when using at least 714 points (that's $5 worth)
- Save 30% (up to $30) when using at least 1 point
- Save 40% (up to $60) when using at least 1 point
Click this link to check your eligibility for the promotion.
For products to be eligible for the discount, they must be sold by Amazon. Third-party listings won't trigger any savings, but you may be able to take advantage of this deal by stocking up on dining or retailer gift cards. Gift cards for companies like Whole Foods, Uber Eats and Nordstrom may be eligible.
Related: The best credit cards for Amazon purchases
How to save up to 40% by redeeming 1 Amex point
Here are the steps for turning just 1 Amex Membership Rewards point into serious Amazon savings:
- Check to see if you have a targeted offer.
- Activate the offer in your Amazon account.
- Load your shopping cart with eligible items sold by Amazon, not by third parties (most gift cards historically have counted).
- Make sure to use as few points at checkout as possible, as shown below, to avoid losing value by covering the entire purchase with points. You'll need to use an American Express card that earns Membership Rewards as your payment method.
Assuming everything worked, you should see the offer reflected during checkout.
You'll need to cover the rest of your transaction using an Amex card, though you can also apply an Amazon gift card balance if there's one attached to your account.
Other offers may be available
You might find similar offers with other rewards programs from time to time. For example, we've previously seen offers for 40% off (up to $20 maximum) when using Discover Rewards on select Amazon purchases.
Additional past offers allowed targeted customers to use 1 Citi ThankYou Rewards point for up to 50% off, 1 Capital One mile for up to $20 off and 100 Chase Ultimate Rewards points for up to 50% off.
You can sometimes find targeted offers on Amazon product pages right underneath the item's price, so keep your eyes open while browsing.
Related reading:
- The ultimate guide to saving money with Amex Offers
- Prime Visa card review: A good choice for regular Amazon shoppers
- Check your Amex Offers: Amazon bonus points are back for some cardmembers
- 12 credit cards that can get you $1,000 or more in first-year value
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DARIA NIPOT/GETTY IMAGES
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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