$25 small business Saturday American Express promo

[DawnM]

I don't really get it.

I signed up and got a confirmation but I can't figure out what vendors I can use. It says things like "city of Canton, OH" or "Commerce of NY" or even Marriott hotels.

So, how do I spend money on a city or commerce? Is Marriott really a small business?

Please help me figure out something I can use.

Thanks,

Dawn

 

[pyrxtc]

The card works at any business that takes American Express cards. It says so right on the letter. they are hoping that you spend it at a small business.

 

[MineMail]

The card works at any business that takes American Express cards. It says so right on the letter. they are hoping that you spend it at a small business.

You're confusing the Amex Small Business Saturday statement credit with the $25 Amex gift card that FedEx gave away earlier this month. The information you just gave is only correct for the gift card giveaway. The gift card is good at any Amex retailer on any day.

The Small Business Saturday promotion is a $25 Amex statement credit for shopping at a small business on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. It must be a small business, not a chain store, big box store, hotel or government agency. The purchase must be $25 or more.

OP, take a look at this thread - I posted directions on how to find the list of eligible retailers in your area.

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=43265465&postcount=11

If there's no one on the list, try another zip code nearby.

 

[Marionnette]

You're confusing the Amex Small Business Saturday statement credit with the $25 Amex gift card that FedEx gave away earlier this month. The information you just gave is only correct for the gift card giveaway. The gift card is good at any Amex retailer on any day.

The Small Business Saturday promotion is a $25 Amex statement credit for shopping at a small business on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. It must be a small business, not a chain store, big box store, hotel or government agency. The purchase must be $25 or more.

OP, take a look at this thread - I posted directions on how to find the list of eligible retailers in your area.

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=43265465&postcount=11

If there's no one on the list, try another zip code nearby.

A purchase at ANY small business on 11/26 will work for the Amex card statement credit. It doesn't have to be one of the ones listed on the Facebook page for your area. Those are just small businesses with Facebook pages that added their names to the Amex list. You should get your $25 credit as long as it is not a chain store like Sears, Home Depot or Applebee's, .

 

[DawnM]

Thank you. I did find a few places near me.

Dawn

You're confusing the Amex Small Business Saturday statement credit with the $25 Amex gift card that FedEx gave away earlier this month. The information you just gave is only correct for the gift card giveaway. The gift card is good at any Amex retailer on any day.

The Small Business Saturday promotion is a $25 Amex statement credit for shopping at a small business on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. It must be a small business, not a chain store, big box store, hotel or government agency. The purchase must be $25 or more.

OP, take a look at this thread - I posted directions on how to find the list of eligible retailers in your area.

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=43265465&postcount=11

If there's no one on the list, try another zip code nearby.

 

[MineMail]

A purchase at ANY small business on 11/26 will work for the Amex card statement credit. It doesn't have to be one of the ones listed on the Facebook page for your area. Those are just small businesses with Facebook pages that added their names to the Amex list. You should get your $25 credit as long as it is not a chain store like Sears, Home Depot or Applebee's, .

The OP asked how to find places and I told her how to find a list and advised her to try different zip codes if the results weren't what she was looking for. While that list may not be all-encompassing, at least she doesn't have to guess whether or not the business is eligible. Truthfully, buying something from a place in NYC when you live in Texas isn't really in the spirit of 'buying locally' but if it's an eligible small business, you'll get the credit.

However, the terms & conditions say the following:

Eligible small business merchants are independently owned small businesses located in the United States that accept the American Express Card. Purchases made at large or national chain stores, at franchised business locations and at government agencies are not eligible. Prepaid, Corporate Cards and ExpressPay transactions are not eligible.

Having worked in corporate retail for many years, I can tell you that there are some places that appear to be a mom&pop operation that are really a single unit of a chain store. (ice cream and coffee shops are a great example.) A chain might be branching out into a new state halfway across the country with a single unit, or they may have purchased a small chain of local stores and kept the name(s). Either way, they are part of the larger corporation and not eligible for this promotion.

If it's a franchise, it *might* be considered a small business if the credit processing is handled by the franchisee, but if it's a coop (company-owned & -operated), credit processing goes through corporate and it is NOT considered a small business. There aren't many small businesses that accept American Express in the first place because the processing fees are higher than MC/Visa.

Sorry, I wouldn't advise people to buy at a shop that appears to be a small business. Outside of this list, you won't know who OWNS the store. Well, until you get the bill and Amex says the purchase wasn't eligible because it's a subsidiary of Conglomerate, Inc. I wouldn't want to find out that I gave someone advice and they didn't get the credit because appearances were deceiving.


Back on topic: Remember that you have register on the Facebook page to even be eligible for the credit. If you don't register, you won't get the statement credit.

 

[Dizneydaz]

Thanks I just registered my card. Interesting thing-one of the businesses in my area that qualifies is my local Cold Stone. Sounds good to me!

 

[MineMail]

Thanks I just registered my card. Interesting thing-one of the businesses in my area that qualifies is my local Cold Stone. Sounds good to me!

It's probably a IOO (indep. owned & operated) franchise than arranged its own credit card processing.


I found a few online retailers that accept Amex, but I'm not sure if they process purchases on the holiday weekend. Some are closed for business, according to their websites. If they collect the info over the weekend and input it via a register/terminal on the following Monday, I'm not sure if the purchase would qualify. I'd have to check with the store and Amex.

It's easier to pick up some pizza and canollis at the local shop that is on the list. (One of our favs)

 

[scbelleatheart]

I registered two of ours and it was good at almost every restaurant in our little town so we'll split the bill and get two free prime rib dinners at our favorite place. It was also good at the tire store, caterers, Mom& Pop drug stores. The list was 5 pages long. Probably because everyone in town is a small business!