UPDATE: This offer has ended.
Both the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express and the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express just announced increased welcome offers. This limited time offer is valid for those that sign up by June 15, 2016.
Offers:
- Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express —> Earn up to $300 back – $100 cash back after spending $1,000 in purchases within the first three months of Card Membership, PLUS 10% cash back on the first $2,000 spent at U.S. Wireless Telephone Service Providers through December (up to $200)
- Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express —> Earn up to $350 back – $150 cash back after spending $1,000 in purchases within the first three months of Card Membership, PLUS 10% cash back on the first $2,000 spent at U.S. Wireless Telephone Service Providers through December (up to $200)
Typically the offer for these two cards just come with the bonus earned after meeting the minimum spend requirement, not the additional cash back on category spend. For those that spend a decent amount on their cell phone, this could be a great way to save some money. For example, I know my family will spend way more then $2,000 on their cell phone bill this year. Earning $200 back is a nice return and much better then any other bonus category for any other cards (with Cash Ink you’ll earn 5x points and with Amex SimplyCash you’ll earn 5% cash back). And if you will not hit the $2,000 mark through the end of the year, you can always pre-pay your bill!
Other Card Benefits
Both cards are similar in nature as you earn cash back on all purchases, but have different annual fees and bonus categories.
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
With this card you’ll earn 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year in purchases), 2% cash back at U.S. gas stations and select U.S. department stores, and 1% cash back on all other purchases. This card also comes with NO ANNUAL FEE.
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
With this card you’ll earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year in purchases), 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and select U.S. department stores, and 1% cash back on all other purchases. While the cash back percentage earned is higher than the Everyday card version, there is a $95 ($75 if your application is received by 8/3/16). This means the annual fee is only worth it (compared to the no annual fee card), if you spend $2,500 or more at participating supermarkets throughout the calendar year.
Receive Statement Credits with Amex Offers!
Since both cards are an American Express credit card, you are eligible to earn an UNLIMITED amount of statement credits back by taking advantage of Amex Offers. I’ve written about these offers quite often on the blog, but essentially they allow you to earn a statement credit by spending a certain amount of money at participating merchants. The participating merchants change often, but I am typically able to earn hundreds of dollars back a year in statement credits (per Amex card!). For me, these Amex Offers essentially pay for the annual fee, plus more!
Key Links:
- Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express —> Earn up to $300 back – $100 cash back after spending $1,000 in purchases within the first three months of Card Membership, PLUS 10% cash back on the first $2,000 spent at U.S. Wireless Telephone Service Providers through December (up to $200). Earn 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year in purchases), 2% cash back at U.S. gas stations and select U.S. department stores, and 1% cash back on all other purchases. No annual fee.
- Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express —> Earn up to $350 back – $150 cash back after spending $1,000 in purchases within the first three months of Card Membership, PLUS 10% cash back on the first $2,000 spent at U.S. Wireless Telephone Service Providers through December (up to $200). Earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year in purchases), 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and select U.S. department stores, and 1% cash back on all other purchases. Annual fee is $95 ($75 if your application is received by 8/3/16).
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These are really bad sign up offers and there is nothing special about them.
First, the guaranteed bonuses are barely par for the course. With Costco being pulled from Amex this June, we’ll most likely see a continued push for Amex to offer higher than normal bonuses (they’ve been $250+ already) so for most people there isn’t a need to rush and apply now.
Second, there are several credit cards that offer bonus spend for wireless providers. As you stated, Amex Simply Business (which has it’s own $300+ offer) offers 5% and Chase INK card’s offer 5x UR points. I did not however see any discounting of value relative to getting/holding one of these substitute cards. While I know that not everyone will have nor care to get these cards we can’t ignore the opportunity cost of forgoing applying for alternative cards (if you don’t already have one) as this is after all an analysis of new credit card offers. Not to mention the time and effort needed to switch credit cards once you exceed the $2,000 threshold for 10%. In summary, the $200 bonus for many will be worth $100 (more if you value UR above 1:1) and comes with strings and task list reminders.
Amex Offers is very YMMV value-wise but lately they’ve been very meh at best and as such I don’t put much value into adding to my Amex arsenal. A year ago I would’ve given you a different response. With Amex stock taking a beating and the rumor of the penny-pinching WF acquisition I don’t see these offers improving (if at all) until there’s a clear path moving forward.
I have both of these cards and I’ll most likely be closing my BCP and recouping a prorated portion of my AF back. Between lackluster amex offers and grocery stores using the iron fist re: gift card purchases, the value over the past year has really dropped. If I’m new to the game and I’m looking for a bonus spend card for groceries then the BC is a good option but unless I’m in dire need of the card right now, I’d wait it out a bit longer and see what other offers come our way through the rest of this year.