AmEx Shop Small November 2017 Wrap-up

MathNerd on 01/12/2017 - 15:02

It's December 1st.

That means - Shop Small is over for 2017

For a lot of us, it signals the end of a prosperous time - we could get our Myki/Opal topped up at half price, try out new restaurants that we never would have gone to otherwise, stockpile toilet paper/toothpaste/shampoo/other essentials from the local pharmacy, or even split large payments over multiple cards to increase the discount.

  • Cue the "excessive surcharging, getting a different surcharge on a different day, getting different surcharges from different people, the blank looks of confusion when you ask to topup a Myki/Opal with $200, split over 10 cards, when there's already $100 of credit on the card.

For the rest of us, it signals a kickback and relax while we look at our statements and see how much money we've spent - and Xmas is 24 days away! For those that fall into this camp, today brings a much-needed sense of relief.

Whichever category you fall into, how did you go this year?

Here's my successes (I have 12 cards):

  • Took the extended family out to lunch for my birthday, paid a $300 bill by splitting the bill over 12 cards, $25 each. End cost - $180 to feed 13 people - not bad.

  • On another day, went to a restaurant with 3 others, and got a bill of exactly $80. My maths sense went all tingly, and with a smile, asked the server politely if I could split it over 4 cards at $20 each. He obliged, and my inner professional tightarse jumped for joy.

  • Topped up $140 of Myki for a grand total of $70 (got lucky and didn't get surcharged at any of the places I went to).

  • Bought a lot of toilet paper and shaving razors from the local pharmacy.

  • Tried out at least 10 new restaurants and got excellent meals.

  • Got 3 lots of drycleaning done, some of it got to about 24 bucks that can't be helped.

How did we all go this year?

Poll Options

  • 9
    Saved (Spent?) $0
  • 46
    Saved (Spent?) $10 - $50
  • 27
    Saved (Spent?) $50 - $100
  • 54
    Saved (Spent?) > $100
Financial

Related Stores

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Comments

  • GG57 on 01/12/2017 - 15:18
    +3

    Impressive; should be hard to beat.

    • original15 on 01/12/2017 - 16:30
      +2

      Agree. 12 cards let alone splitting a lunch payment that many times and a restaurant that would let you is wow. Congrats OP

      • MathNerd on 01/12/2017 - 16:41

        Haha, I thank my lucky stars for that day! I drove home with the largest smile on my face :) Helped out the restaurant too by paying them $300 instead of $280, just to say thanks :) Saved heaps more so it was worth it. The food was insane too, so I didn't really mind!

        • gimme on 02/12/2017 - 15:47
          +9

          @msjacqui:

          Yes and No

          Yes if you ask them with an entitled attitude
          Yes if you hold up other customers behind you

          No if you ask nicely and they say ok
          No if you don't inconvenience anyone else.

          $20 tip is a lot more than most Aussies (not on a corporate credit card) will leave at a restaurant so not a bad tip

          PS: I only have 4 cards. Feel like such an amateur

        • gimme on 02/12/2017 - 17:37
          +2

          lol some moron downvoted me

        • MathNerd on 02/12/2017 - 17:42
          +2

          @gimme: Don't worry I upvoted you, to balance it out haha!

        • Baghern on 03/12/2017 - 12:02

          @gimme:

          Tipping on a corporate card has been a no no for a long long time

          But yeah, if you are not holding them up its good customer service by them.

        • gimme on 03/12/2017 - 19:10

          @Baghern:

          Not where I work :) We're quite generous when someone else is paying for it lol.

        • Samsungnote10 on 03/12/2017 - 22:59
          +2

          @msjacqui:
          You're an idiot

          $20 is a huge tip.
          As a waiter I'd expect a tip of some sort for doing 12 cards. And $5 and above would be more than sufficient

          It's $20 per head in total so this isn't a fine dining restuarant

        • A Driver on 06/12/2017 - 17:28

          @hellohello123: No, actually I am not an idiot… I'm just of the opinion that $1.54 per person tip is nothing to be proud about.

        • Samsungnote10 on 06/12/2017 - 21:10
          +2

          @msjacqui:

          So the $200 tip the customer left for me for organising a 100 people function, I should have thrown it back in his face since it's only $2 per person?

        • A Driver on 07/12/2017 - 17:54

          @hellohello123: I wouldn't be expecting any tip for myself as an organiser but I'm sure something for the team working the function would be nice. But anyone in hospitality knows that it's a miracle to get a good tip (or any tip) out of a function!

        • Baghern on 11/12/2017 - 15:14
          +1

          @msjacqui:

          This is not yanky land…

  • mbck on 01/12/2017 - 15:36
    +1

    The shop small didn't make me change the way I do things, I go about and if I get a credit, it feels like a bonus to me.

  • Samsungnote10 on 01/12/2017 - 15:41
    +3

    I have similar amount of cards but I would often be too shy to split payments.

    The most I did was $60 split 3 ways.

    You splitting $300 into 15 payments is amazing. I don't know how you manage to do that.

    In fact I went to the shop several times and purchased multiple items over a week so I wouldn't get into awkward situations

    • MathNerd on 01/12/2017 - 15:59

      Yeah, I wouldn't do it in a store that's busy, or for a Myki/Opal topup. That happens way too often at some stores, and I'll get judged/rejected by the storeperson if I did that, so I didn't.

      This was luckily a small restaurant, we were the only ones there, so the guy had no problems doing it. The bill actually came to $280.xx so instead of each card having $23.33, I offered him $25 each for the trouble. Didn't mind, as I was saving $120 ($100 after the excess?).

  • PissLUR on 01/12/2017 - 15:48

    did all 6 cards altogether. (mine, partner's & sister's).

    managed to top-up 6x$20 on a transperth smartrider, but just realised that we are losing 10% discount on auto-load.

  • mysterytal on 01/12/2017 - 15:57

    Cost me more than I got back.

    Ended up getting $30 back and had 2 more declined. Card not accepted and the shop small shop name on the map was slightly different to the shop that was at the address despite the shop having been in the same location for years.

    • MathNerd on 01/12/2017 - 16:01

      Where in Melbourne did these problems occur?

    • ilikeradiohead on 03/12/2017 - 14:25

      Email amex they'll credit you $10 and remove the store (even if you paid with another card).

      • mysterytal on 03/12/2017 - 14:47

        I did get one $10 credit for yet another store but they refused any further credits.

  • SnoozeAndLose on 01/12/2017 - 16:02

    Got 8 cards, All in for Opal, total $12 surcharge for $800 spend not bad.

    • MathNerd on 01/12/2017 - 16:03

      Awesome work. If only topping up Myki was as easy as topping up Opal; you guys have a massive amount of shops that can topup Opal :)

      • SnoozeAndLose on 01/12/2017 - 16:05

        Yes Sydney CBD have a lot

        • knobbs on 01/12/2017 - 19:18

          You should try go cards in QLD. If you are lucky enough to find a place that tops up chances are they don't take amex. Luckily the new 7 11 deal works for me. Only place I have found that takes amex and go card top up.

  • bdl on 01/12/2017 - 16:26
    +2

    Tightarse! :)

    • MathNerd on 01/12/2017 - 16:42
      +1

      Haha I'll never be as awesome as the real tightarse!

      • bdl on 01/12/2017 - 17:33
        +1

        True, coupon code "SHOPSMALLARSE"

  • EyyBanane on 01/12/2017 - 16:31

    Good one OP.

    I got into the Amex bandwagon this year, one Bank issued and another Amex card. Mostly used for $20 meals for $10 and some pharmacy items.

    May I ask what your Amex card portfolio consists of?

    • MathNerd on 01/12/2017 - 16:46
      +2

      Awesome work. Which is your direct issued Amex?

      I've got a Platinum Edge and Explorer. Most of my spend I channel through the Explorer, as I've got its points earn linked to the Ascent program, rather than its native Gateway program. I did this by applying for the Explorer while holding a Platinum Edge that I already had for more than a year. So no manual linking was required. Getting 2 true FF points per dollar (rather than only 1.5) is awesome, as I'm building and building that points balance.

      I use the Platinum Edge for the sole purpose of getting 5% off WISH eGift cards through Cashrewards, which nets me 3 points per dollar. Of course when there's good offers such as Shop Small etc then I use the Platinum Edge for that too.

      • EyyBanane on 01/12/2017 - 19:11

        I just started with Essentials card and looking to get one more, I may go with the Explorer. How do you have 12 cards then, 5 supplementary cards?

        • MathNerd on 01/12/2017 - 19:51

          Yup I have 5 supps for each card. I'm surprised they let me have 5, it's meant to be 4 per card, but I just tried adding another and it let me. When 12 isn't enough, I'll try applying for another supp haha.

        • knobbs on 01/12/2017 - 21:48

          @MathNerd: I thought for explorer anyway it says *4 free supp cards. You might be paying for the extras?

        • MathNerd on 02/12/2017 - 02:36

          @knobbs: as far as I'm aware they're all free. Let's see if that's still the case when my annual fee month rolls around :p

        • potm on 03/12/2017 - 13:38

          @MathNerd: When you applied for the 5th was it online or over the phone?

        • MathNerd on 03/12/2017 - 13:40
          +2

          @potm: All online. Things like this require the least amount of human interaction/intervention possible. Less possibility of getting knocked back.
          The trick is to have 3 supps, so you're only allowed one more, but apply for 2 in the same application. They'll send you a letter with 2 cards stuck to the piece of paper. Win.

  • bonezAU on 01/12/2017 - 17:39

    I saved $30, two at pharmacies and one at a food joint.

    The $10 I saved at each pharmacy would have been the price difference between those ripoff pharmacies and having to queue up at Chemist Warehouse, so while I didn't really save money, I did save my sanity & time - I hate going to CW.

  • Chik5555 on 02/12/2017 - 08:28
    +1

    Wow! I have one card only. Saved on stuff I was buying anyway from my coffee shop, stuff I needed from a hardware store, bought some fancy things from gourmet supermarkets and saved when eating out for lunch.

  • tanoshiiki on 02/12/2017 - 13:12

    1 card and I saved $50. No crazy stories to report here. I did make two last minute trips on the final day, where I walked out of my usual way to use my then remaining two cashbacks to top-up my myki. At one restaurant which was part of Shop Small, I accidentally used the wrong card and didn't get a cashback.

  • coolhead on 02/12/2017 - 15:56

    @mathnerd - Pretty awesome and well done. Personally, i would not be able to ask to split payment on 15 cards.. with so many amex cards, you must be paying alot of annual fee.. isnt it? or are they all free?
    I had about 3 nw down to just 1 as i need to sort out some loans and having more cards is a negative for that purpose.
    I just saved $40 by going to 3 restaurants & a pharmacy

    • MathNerd on 02/12/2017 - 16:38
      +1

      Haha thanks mate.

      Yes, personally I wouldn't be able to ask to do that too, but the guy was really nice and the restaurant was really quiet. Also there were 13 of us there so it helped that it looked like everyone wanted to contribute equally to the lunch. I wouldn't split 12 ways for a Myki topup, because I know there's other people on here that have done that, and I'd get rejected so hard when asking!

      I only have 2 main cards, the Platinum Edge and the Explorer, so in terms of annual fees that comes to $195 + $395 respectively, but I'll be using the travel credits every year so the net result is effectively annual-fee-free cards. I have 5 supplementaries per card so that's where the 12 cards comes from. My partner has 2 cards so that's 14 cards between us.

      Last year I was really disappointed with my Shop Small month, I kept saying "tomorrow I'll do a Shop Small run" etc, and before I knew it, it was November 30th and I had redeemed Shop Small only like three or four times. So I went in this year with all guns blazing.

      Pretty happy with my outcome. All my Explorers I had maxed out with 5 redemptions each, and my Platinum Edges I maxed out one, and used 4 on the others!

      • coolhead on 02/12/2017 - 19:10
        +2

        haha.. wonderful.. something to read n smile on a dull day… cheers mate.. again well done. n thanks for your detailed explanation

      • ronnknee on 03/12/2017 - 11:49

        How do you have 5 supplementary cards on Explorer? I thought the limit was 4? Unless you have Business Explorer?

        • MathNerd on 03/12/2017 - 11:54

          Yeah the limit is meant to be 4, but when I had 3 supps I went ahead with an application for 2 more supps in one shot and they sent 2 more in the same envelope :) guess I'm just lucky haha!

  • Stoozer on 02/12/2017 - 19:56
    +2

    AMEX Shop small UK commences today for any of the hard core shop small contestants who travel overseas to participate.

    https://www.americanexpress.com/uk/content/shop-small/

    • SydneySwan on 02/12/2017 - 20:10
      +2

      No limit to the number of credits although limited to 1 per business! Would love to see that here. Didn't enjoy the 5 credit limit this year.

    • MathNerd on 02/12/2017 - 21:49

      All good, but *Offer only available to UK issued American Express and network Cards with the exclusion of TSB Bank

      Sucks, as I tried registering for fun!

  • potm on 03/12/2017 - 13:37
    +2

    Have 11 Amex cards
    Topped up Myki 55 times.
    Total cash back = $550
    Fees and surcharges = $28.6
    Profit = $521.4

    • MathNerd on 03/12/2017 - 13:40

      Where did you do your Myki topups?
      And what cards are in your arsenal?

      • potm on 03/12/2017 - 13:42

        https://www.ozbargain.com.au/wiki/amex_shop_small_guide
        List of locations in there.
        Same as you, Explorer and Edge.

        • MathNerd on 03/12/2017 - 13:44

          Thanks, I only went to Amcal Surrey Hills, couldn't make it all the way to the "Brunswick trio" to hit a lot of birds with one stone.

          You have 11 cards, so one of your Explorer or Edge has 5 supps then?

        • potm on 03/12/2017 - 13:49
          +1

          @MathNerd: Nah, have a Westpac amex opened to get the bonus points.

  • ilikeradiohead on 03/12/2017 - 14:26

    I tried to register on the 11th and registrations were full :'(

    • MathNerd on 03/12/2017 - 17:13

      Yeah it reached the enrolment cap so quickly this year, so fast so that they had to add 18,000 more spots as people were disappointed they missed out. You gotta register on the 31st October to have any chance.

      • ilikeradiohead on 03/12/2017 - 18:01

        I previously have but this year I cancelled my platinum edge and got a new one on the ~10th. In previous years I've made the most of it so not too disappointed.

  • Jared17 on 03/12/2017 - 20:37
    +1

    Wow 12 cards split bills. I though I got lucky when they allowed me to split using 5 cards. Nice one OP

    • MathNerd on 03/12/2017 - 20:58

      Haha thanks! What was your bill total when you did the 5 way split?

      • Jared17 on 04/12/2017 - 18:38
        +1

        $95.50. I ask them to round up to $100 hehe. $20 each card works out nicely

        • MathNerd on 04/12/2017 - 20:16
          +2

          Haha good you asked them to round up too. They get more money, we get more statement credits ;)
          Win-win!

  • [Deactivated] on 04/12/2017 - 10:47

    i got less value this time around due to "surprise" goodwill credits. those credits counted towards the 5 spends.

    • MathNerd on 04/12/2017 - 15:52

      "surprise" goodwill credits? Did you contact them regarding any issues prior to these credits?

  • Bullion78 on 04/12/2017 - 11:32

    I have a couple of purchases from last week that sat in purchase authorisation for a few days and have only just posted on my statement today as 1/12. Still no sign of the statement credits. Annoying.

  • anthem29 on 04/12/2017 - 18:46
    +4

    Thank f**k I don't work in retail.. 12 separate transactions for one bill? Businesses are going to be less likely to keep accepting AMEX when people pull this kind of stunt.

  • CheapskateQueen on 06/12/2017 - 00:23

    6 cards

    29 x $20 Opal top ups
    1 x restaurant bill by accident

    This year was tougher to get the Opals done. A lot of resistance from shops and fewer outlets in the city.

    It's still my favorite time of year

    My bill is crazy this month though. Also did
    -$400 gift card at HN for $100 cash back
    -$600 for $120 cashback via paypal. Spent purely on bills
    -$285 spend during Rebel 20% off sale for $30 cashback + TRS

  • myusername on 06/12/2017 - 10:47

    so you went to a restaurant and paid your bill split over 12 cards?

    is this right?

    • MathNerd on 06/12/2017 - 14:09
      +2

      Yep, I made sure to ask the owner if this was okay, he obliged easily. It helps when you're polite and ask, rather than force and be aggressive. If he had said no, or said he can only do 2 cards, then I would have been fine with it, as of course he has the final say in the matter.

      • raiseyoursteaks on 12/12/2017 - 00:11
        +2

        Reading this thread and I've just applied for more supplementary cards for the household.

        This is inspiring and I need to up the ante for more cashback yum!!!

  • Baysew on 14/12/2017 - 15:07
    +2

    I checked my statement and wondered why I didn't get any credits.

    Contacted Amex and they said that the card wasn't registered. I said, no, I got emails.
    Before reaching for the nuclear button, I check the email and the number didn't match my card.

    Worked out I had registered my bank issued Amex card instead of my real Amex.

    In my defence, the Bank issued card has big blue American Express on it, American Express just has American Express written in white letters.

    Hope I can still stay in OzBargain.

    • MathNerd on 14/12/2017 - 15:48
      +2

      Reported to the mods.

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