Maximize Amex Points with Rakuten: A Shopper’s Guide
Welcome, fellow Amex aficionados! Today, we’re diving into my top strategy for racking up those glorious Amex Membership Rewards points, no credit cards needed. It’s all about harnessing the power of Rakuten when you shop online. With its outstanding member bonus, now’s the perfect time to hop on board!
What Exactly is Rakuten?
If you’re savvy about online shopping (and who isn’t?), you know the secret sauce to more miles and points lies in using shopping portals. It couldn’t be simpler: follow a few links, and voila! Bonus points or cashback pile up alongside your credit card rewards.
Every time I hit that “buy now” button online, I peek around to see which portal offers the best bonus. In most cases, Rakuten (the artist formerly known as Ebates) steals the show. It’s big, bold, and the interface is top-notch. But what makes it shine? It lets you swap usual cashback for shining Amex Membership Rewards points, skyrocketing the value of your rewards. Let’s dig deeper into how this magic unfolds.
How to Earn Amex Points with Rakuten
Instead of pocketing cash back from your online shopping, Rakuten gives you the option to earn Amex Membership Rewards points. As long as your Amex card is part of the Membership Rewards world, you’re all set to take off. Why just settle for cash when you can save up for your next jet-setting journey, thanks to the superior value transfer options offer?
Why Go for Amex Points Over Cash?
Rakuten lets you pocket one Amex point instead of the usual one cent in cash. Read that twice if you need to. If a store promises 10% cash back, you’re instead looking at 10 Amex points per dollar spent. Thank you very much!
If you’re like me and value those points at 1.7 cents each, that’s a sweet 70% bump in reward value. Amex points let you squeeze more juice out of every cent than cold hard cash.
- Ready to redeem like a pro? Fancy a first or business-class trip? Opting for Amex points just makes sense.
- Not fond of redeeming points or prefer the cold comfort of cash? Cash-back might just be your thing.
Imagine redeploying 57,500 Amex points into the miles needed for a plush All Nippon Airways first-class flight from Tokyo to Honolulu. And with each Amex point only “costing” you a cent, that’s like snagging a high-flying ticket for just $575. The stuff dream holidays are made of!
How to Get Started with Earning Amex Points
Ready to jump on the bandwagon? Start by signing up for a Rakuten account and take advantage of the best-sign-up bonuses under the sun. Use your account settings to transition from cash back to Amex points. It’s as easy as pie—just click the “Account Settings” and choose “American Express” as your reward preference.
You will be prompted to log in to your eligible Amex account, and presto! You’ll see those Amex Membership Rewards points stacking up where cash back used to live.
- Heads up! Retail displays still show cash back, but see them magically transform into points.
- Points preferences won’t backtrack on your old cashback earnings, but moving forward, it’s all points power.
- And remember, any credit card works—not just Amex cards.
When Do You Get Those Juicy Rewards?
Purchase made, points soon appear in your Rakuten account. But hold your horses; payouts occur quarterly. Here’s the timeline:
- January to March shopaholics get paid on May 15.
- April to June spenders pocket payments by August 15.
- July to September purchases? Cash in on November 15.
- October to December wrapped up by February 15.
Rakuten’s Refer-a-Friend Program
New to Rakuten? Snag that sweet $40 bonus by signing up via a friend. Make your first $40 purchase to unlock this treasure trove, easily convertible into goods or even gift cards. For a comprehensive take on their refer-a-friend program, Val Seny ski resort.
The Bottom Line
Rakuten is a beast in the world of online shopping portals, particularly if you’re on team Amex Rewards. Enabling points for purchases can seriously boost your rewards’ worth. For travel lovers, it’s a no-brainer. Not yet a member? Diving in via a refer-a-friend link could turbocharge your earnings.
Anyone else smitten with Rakuten for amping up those Amex points?