Update: One or more card offers in this post are no longer available. Check our Hot Deals for the latest offers.
Great news for folks looking to meet minimum spending requirements on AMEX cards. And even better news for those of y’all with Starwood AMEX cards!
Beginning October 1, 2015, Sam’s Club warehouse stores will accept AMEX cards. I’ll explain why you should consider using your Starwood American Express cards at Sam’s Club to earn Big Travel.
I’ll also show you how to shop with your Starwood AMEX at Sam’s Club to save money at Disney!
Use Your American Express Cards at Sam’s Club for Travel Rewards
Link: Sam’s Club
Link: Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express
Link: Starwood Preferred Guest® Business Credit Card from American Express
When you shop at Sam’s Club, you’ll be able to pay with AMEX cards starting October 1, 2015.
This is terrific for folks who have AMEX Starwood personal or small business cards! That’s because warehouse stores like Sam’s Club earn 1 mile or point per $1 spent on most credit cards.
But with AMEX Starwood cards, it’s like earning 1.25 miles per $1 spent when you transfer 20,000 Starwood points to airline miles. Because you’ll earn 5,000 bonus miles when you transfer to their airline partners (like American Airlines) with a 1:1 ratio.
That’s 25% more miles when you use AMEX Starwood personal or small business cards, even better than some airlines’ own credit cards!
Easier to Meet Credit Card Minimum Spending Requirements
If you need to meet the minimum spending requirements on an AMEX card to earn a sign-up bonus, it will be a lot easier if you shop at Sam’s Club often.
For instance, the AMEX SimplyCash small business card has a $5,000 minimum spending requirement. But those of y’all who load up on business supplies at Sam’s Club might find it easier to unlock the $250 welcome bonus.
This is also great news for folks who want to stay at a Starwood hotel at Disney World, like the Walt Disney World Dolphin or Walt Disney World Swan. Because you can buy gift cards to Disney at Sam’s Club. So it’s easier to earn Starwood points for a family vacation and meet minimum spending requirements in 1 place!
Sam’s Club Cash Back Alternatives
You can currently use your AMEX cards to shop at Sam’s Club online but NOT in-store. So this will be helpful if you buy fresh food, or large items like furniture, or supplies in bulk.
Of course some folks will prefer to use a card that earns cash back, like the Citi Double Cash card, Discover It, Discover It Miles, or even the AMEX Fidelity. But if you like to earn Starwood points for award stays at Starwood hotels, or to transfer to ~30 partner airlines, this is a terrific new option.
It looks like American Express expanded their partnership with Sam’s Club to counter the effect of losing Costco. Because starting March 31, 2016, you won’t be able to use AMEX cards at Costco any more.
Bottom Line
Starting October 1, 2015, you’ll be able to use your AMEX cards at Sam’s Club warehouse stores.
This is great news for folks with the AMEX Starwood personal or small business cards because you’ll earn 1 Starwood point per $1 spent. And effectively 1.25 miles per $1 spent if you like to transfer points to partner airlines, which is even better than some airline credit cards!
Shopping at Sam’s Club also makes it easier to meet minimum credit card spending requirements on AMEX cards. And remember you can buy lots of gift cards at Sam’s Club, including for Disney World, and use them later!
Don’t forget to go through your shopping portal when ordering from samsclub.com for that extra one mile/point per dollar spent.
Of course he’s pushing the SPG card, or any other card deal du jour, it’s his job. If you don’t like his work, stop reading. Yes he advertises, but he tries to provide useful quasi-original information.
That being said; Cool, I now know I can use Amex at Sam’s. I won’t be getting the SPG card for this, I’ll use my EveryDay nf to get 1.2 vice 1.25. Close enough for me. If you have EDP it’s 1.5, better than SPG. Just my 2% cashback.
I’m not sure why there’s all the hate for this post. It makes sense to use the SPG for non bonus category purchases, and that’s how I use mine.
For anyone that does this at Costco currently and spends a fair amount of money, this could be a big deal and it might make sense to switch to SC.
Darius’ starpoints balance must be getting a little low….
It’s plain straight advertising for the Amex Starwood cards, which the blogger is trying to sell you through his affiliate links during the card’s current promotion (who knows, he might get a higher payout than usual from Amex during the promo).
There’s absolutely nothing special about using an SPG card at Sam’s Club. You get exactly the same points as using it anywhere else Amex is accepted.