How Good is ShopAmex.com?
by Mr Credit CardThough I have been an American Express cardholder for 10 years, I have never used their shopamex.com feature. So I guess it is about time to find out if it is any good.
To test shopamex.com, I’ve decided to use the latest Apple iPod 80GB White model as a test case. Shopamex.com claims to be a shopping comparison site much like pricegrabber.com. In addition to that, you can use your American Express Membership Reward points for purchases made from shopamex.com. Below are my observations after surfing through both shopamex.com and pricegrabber.com.
Observations
On their price comparison page, shopamex.com listed 5 online retailers who carried the latest Apple iPod 80GB White model. The Apple Store was included in one of the five online etailers. The lowest price came from abt.com at $338.00. However, abt.com will charge a sales tax and though there was a enter your zip code beside the merchant, it was not active.
Another observation I made was that shopamex said that the Apple online store did not charge any taxes. Having purchase directly from Apple.com, I know for a fact that they charge a sales tax.
If you decide to use your Membership Reward points instead, you will need qanywhere from 67,600 to 69,998 points. This is way higher than what the Citi ThankYou Redemption Network program requires (around 39,000 points – see our Video review of which credit card reward program has the latest Apple iPod 80Gb Model?).
How does pricegrabber.com compare?
In a nutshell, pricegrabber blows away the shopamex.com. Pricegrabber.com pulled out 27 online etailers who carried the latest Apple iPod. All you have to do is to key in your zip code and it automatically calculates the taxes you have to pay. It also tells you whether there is free shipping. Pricegrabber.com also tells you where to get the lowest price. In this case (at this moment), it is from saveateagle.com at $324.95.
Conclusion
At this moment, shopamex.com is nowhere near the sphistication of an online shopping comparison site like pricegrabber.com. If you want to shop for something (not just Apple products), a place like pricegrabber.com is still a very good starting point.
The number of Membership Reward points you need to exchange for the iPod appears exhorbitant when compared to other credit card reward programs.
At this point, I would not be using shopamex.com. I still love my Blue Cash and Amex Gold Card, but I will not use them at shopamex.com.
January 29th, 2007 at 22:04
Beware! Sometimes the item you choose on shopamex and the item you get from the merchant are not the same. I got an item that does not exactly fit the description and I’m trying to replace it without paying high shipping costs.
March 22nd, 2007 at 14:06
I agree that ShopAmex is not as good as pricegrabber.com, or other comparison shopping sites where you can use your credit card. I never use my credit card to buy on shopAmex.
However, if you want to pay with points nothing beats ShopAmex. Lots of credit card companies let you redeem for a limited number of items, but if you don’t want one of the couple of dozen items they have in their catalog you are out of luck. ShopAmex has millions of products to choose from, so I always find just what I am looking for. The items can be a little pricey in terms of points, but I am willing to pay more so I can choose what I want, and not get stuck with something the credit card companies think I should have.
Anyway, what am I going to do with the points anyway. Have you tried to redeem them for an airline ticket lately. As long as you want to go to Anchorage in January and Phoenix in July you can get a ticket, but try going somewhere popular in season and you can’t get a ticket, or have to pay twice as many points.
July 9th, 2007 at 19:38
I’ve tried to redeem points for over a week now. Can get to the Shopamex site, but wehn I try to check out, I get a message that their system is not responding. Tried calling and they say I have to order from their web site. They say their system is working when they log onto it and try to go to checkout. They were supposed to get someone in IT dept to call me, but noone ever did. A totally frustrating experience with American Express trying to redeem points! Two different organizations who do not seem to work very well together. They need to rethink their association and look at it from the customer’s perspective.
December 9th, 2008 at 04:27
This problem has not gone away. I am also trying in vain to order from the shopAmex site. I can’t get through the checkout process because I receive the error ” The system is currently unavailable. Please try again later. (code:ICRTGFC:RCTX) ” and the pages take forever to load (if they load at all.) Items mysteriously disappear from my cart, only to reappear suddenly so that I have duplicate items and have to edit the cart.
I have been trying to order for over a week. I dread every click because the next page takes several minutes to load, and then it gives me an error.
There are 2 different websites- shopAmex and Membership Rewards. They have totally different products- Membership Rewards has a limited selection.
It is amazing how bad the shopAmex site is. I trust this company with my financial information, yet they can’t even come up with a working ecommerce site?!
December 14th, 2008 at 17:13
Shopping with Amex is not as bad as is written on this blog, for me it has been far worse. First understand that I pay Amex roughly $10k per year in fees, and my purchases equal over 100,000 points per year. I regularly experience problems with Amex customer service, improperly implemented policies, and misinformation and disinformation. However, in life everyone is typically doing their best, so I apply vast amounts of patience and understanding in all areas of my life, including with the challenged American Express.
InNovember I contacted America Express and asked to receive the best camcorder for my defined requirements. They guided me to make my purchase through their membership rewards site. Amex site showed me the product part number, model and description. Within the description it stated 30GB, which conflicted with the part number and model description of 60GB. I googled the part number, read reviews and made my 74,000 point purchase of the JVC Everio G 60GB camcorder, instead of the smaller Panasonic SDR-H40 at 70,000 points and only 40GB. About 10 days later I received a JVC 30GB camcorder via UPS. I immediately phoned Amex rewards, providing the UPS tracking number. Amex denied shipping it and explained that I should receive the package in a few days. I argued for about 10 minutes using valid rational points but it was of no avail. Included within my arguments I had googled along with the Amex Rewards service representative the source address and discovered the package came from Mar San fullfilment. We googled Mar San fullfillment and found a 10 person fulfillment center with contact info for the management for Amex to validate that the shipment indeed came from Amex Membership rewards. Amex then copied down my cell phone number and explained that someone would be in touch with me shortly. Two days later I phoned into Amex explaining that I have not yet received a return call and that I needed to return the incorrect product and receive the correct product as confirmed by email from Amex, a JVC 60GB camcorder. Amex then explained that within 8 more days I should expect a phone call. I escalated to a supervisor who then informed me that contrary to the confirmation Amex previously made to me, the 60GB JVC camcorder on their web site is actually a 30GB camcorder, but declined to have Amex correct the incorrectly advertised item. Had I known this earlier I would have simply purchased the Panasonic model at 40GB. It is noteworthy that Amex is deliberately falsely advertising as it is now five days later and Amex continues to advertise the 30GB camcorder as a 60GB camcorder. The Amex supervisor explained that I will now receive a prepaid return shipping label. i am to return the Camcorder, and receive a refund on that Camera and then I am to make another purchase. Amex refuses to provide the 60GB camcorder I purchased. I will not be receiving the Camcorder in time for Christmas, and I have invested roughly 2 hours into this fiasco.
This situation is not yet resolved and the damage Amex has caused is now unrecoverable as Amex has explained that there is no way for them to ship the 60GB Camcorder at all, less by Christmas.
If a customer was to be late making a payment to Amex, they will surely hold the customer accountable. However, Amex refuses to be accountable for thier actions, and worse, they refuse to correct their falsely advertised product.
This is an accurate representation of Amex and what people should expect when dealing wiht Amex and American Express Rewards
Keywords: Amex, American Express Blue, American Express Gold Card, American Expresss Platinum Card, American Express Complaint, false advertising, membership rewards.
Disclaimer: brand names, trade names, trade marks, and other intelectual property are the property of the respectful companies.
May 22nd, 2009 at 10:51
thanks for all the info. i have experienced the same problems using the various amex sites. thankfully i have not been able to complete any orders. the direct mail is effective, it makes me want to order something. the prices however are not a good value except for dining gift cards. i remain confused, looking for other options for my primary credit card, accruing points in frustration.
December 8th, 2009 at 18:41
this is the message I just received today:
“The status of this card or account currently does not allow you to complete this transaction on shopAmex®. Please choose another card and try again.
To choose another card, please click on Payment Methods or to add a new card, please click on add a new card.
If you feel that you have received this message in error, please call shopAmex® customer support at 1-800-266-9793. Error code: AMRB:MRPA352″
1. I’m only attempting to utilize half of the points I have earned.
2. Available balance is aplenty and my account is current.
They claim that they’ve had this problem for a “few weeks” now and can’t figure out what it means or how to fix it…. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!?!
Once of the larges CC companies on the face of the planet, and they don’t have the manpower to figure this out??? BS!!