How To Use AMEX Gold $10 Dining Credit Without Dining

by joeheg

AMEX revamped the Gold Card in 2018, increasing the annual fee to $250. To remove some of the pain, AMEX added a $10 monthly dining credit to the card. This is a common trick from AMEX. When the fee for the Platinum card went to $695, they added multiple statement credits with limited use.

I strongly disagree that these credits decrease the annual fee because they’re nothing like cash. The more restrictions on the benefit, the less likely you will use it every month and AMEX puts plenty of limitations on these credits. While AMEX says the Gold Card has a “Dining Credit,” you only get $10 back after eating at Ruth’s Chris Steak House, The Cheesecake Factory, participating Shake Shack locations or ordering through Grubhub or Seamless.

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To be technical, do you really “dine at” Grubhub or Seamless? Back to the limited use of the credit.

We don’t use food delivery services often and don’t eat at any of the selected restaurants, not to mention going once monthly to use the credit. We will already need to order from UBER Eats to use the $10 UBER Cash credit the Gold Card provides.

Well played, American Express.

Guess what? You don’t have to eat an overpriced steak, hamburger or cheesecake to get your $10 credit. All you need to do is order things you’re already using at home.

The hidden merchant for the $10 monthly dining credit is BOXED!

Participating partners are Grubhub, Seamless, The Cheesecake Factory, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Boxed, and participating Shake Shack locations. Excludes Shake Shack locations in ballparks, stadiums, airports and racetracks.

Long-time AMEX cardholders may be familiar with Boxed as they constantly offer rebates via AMEX Offers. Boxed sells bulk items, much like you’d find at a warehouse club but through the mail. Things like snacks, groceries, personal care, baby and home and office are sold at discount prices.

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I tested how well the credit worked by placing an order, making sure to go over $49 so I’d be able to take advantage of free shipping. The AMEX dining credit was posted a few days later.

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Even more interesting is that my order from Boxed earned 4x Membership Rewards points. I’m not sure if it’s considered a grocery store or dining, but I’m not complaining.

Am I going to order $50 a month from Boxed just to get my $10 credit? Probably not. But I’ll be able to use it a few times a year. In the other months, I’ll try to make sure I order lunch from Grubhub or Seamless.

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