Ready to turn those hard-earned American Express Membership Rewards points into something tangible on Amazon? You're in the right place! While using points directly on Amazon might not always yield the highest value compared to other redemption options (like transferring to airline partners for premium travel), it offers unparalleled convenience for everyday purchases. Let's dive in and make those points work for you!
Unlocking Your Amex Points on Amazon: A Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Are You Ready to Shop Smarter? Link Your Amex Card to Your Amazon Account
This is the foundational step to unlock the "Shop with Points" feature. Without linking your card, Amazon won't know you have Amex points to redeem!
Sub-heading: Via the American Express App (Recommended for Ease)
Download and Log In: If you haven't already, download the American Express App from your app store (iOS or Android). Log in with your Amex User ID and Password.
Navigate to Payment Tools: Once logged in, tap the "Account" icon, usually found in the bottom navigation bar. Scroll down until you find the "Payment Tools" section.
Add Card to Wallets & Merchants: Within "Payment Tools," tap on "Add Card to Wallets & Merchants."
Select Amazon: Under the "Merchants" section, you'll see "Amazon." Tap on it.
Choose Your Card: Select the American Express Card you wish to link to your Amazon account for points redemption. Ensure it's a card that earns Membership Rewards points.
Review and Agree: Carefully review the terms and conditions presented. If you agree, tap "Agree & Continue."
Amazon Prompt: You'll be redirected to Amazon's website or app. Follow the prompts to either log in to your existing Amazon account or create a new one if you don't have one. Once done, press "Continue."
Confirmation! Your Amex card should now be automatically linked to your Amazon account for Shop with Points. You'll likely receive a confirmation message from both Amex and Amazon.
Sub-heading: Via the American Express Website (Desktop)
Log In to Amex Online: Go to the official American Express website (americanexpress.com) and log in to your account.
Access Account Services: Once logged in, look for and select "Account Services" from the menu.
Card Management: Under "Account Services," find and click on the "Card Management" tab.
Manage on Devices and Sites: Scroll down to "Manage This Card on Devices and Sites" and click on "Add to Wallets & Merchants."
Find Amazon: Select "Amazon" from the list of merchants.
Link Your Card: Choose the American Express Card you want to link and confirm your selection.
Agree to Terms: Review the terms and conditions and click "Agree & Continue."
Connect to Amazon: You'll be directed to Amazon.com. Sign up or log in to your Amazon account. Review their terms and conditions, then click "Continue."
You're Linked! Your American Express card is now ready to use for Shop with Points on Amazon.
Step 2: Discover Your Savings Potential! Check for Targeted Offers
This is a crucial step that many users overlook! American Express and Amazon frequently partner to offer special, targeted discounts when you use even a small amount of your Membership Rewards points. These can range from 10% to 50% off your purchase, making your points much more valuable.
Visit Amazon's Shop with Points Page: After linking your card, go to the "Shop with Points" section on Amazon. You can often find this by searching "Shop with Points" on Amazon or looking in your payment methods.
Look for Promotional Banners: Scan the page for banners or notifications that mention special discounts for Amex cardholders. These offers are usually clearly advertised.
Activate the Offer: If you see a targeted offer, there will typically be a button to "Activate" or "Click to Apply" the promotion. It's essential to activate these offers before you make your purchase.
Note the Terms: Pay close attention to the offer's terms, such as:
Minimum purchase amount
Maximum discount amount
Eligible items (sometimes certain categories or products are excluded)
Expiration date
Step 3: Time to Checkout! Making Your Purchase with Amex Points
Now for the exciting part – using your points!
Add Items to Cart: Browse Amazon as usual and add the desired items to your shopping cart.
Proceed to Checkout: When you're ready, proceed to the checkout page.
Select Your Amex Card: On the payment selection screen, ensure your linked American Express card is chosen as the payment method.
Choose "Shop with Points": You should see an option to "Use your Membership Rewards points" or "Shop with Points." Click on this.
Enter Points or Amount: A slider or input field will appear, showing your available Amex points and their equivalent dollar value.
Strategic Redemption: If you found a targeted offer (from Step 2), it's highly recommended to use the minimum number of points required to trigger the discount. This often means using just 1 point! This allows you to get a significant discount while preserving the bulk of your points for potentially higher-value redemptions (like travel transfers).
Full Redemption: If you want to cover the entire purchase with points, you can adjust the slider or input the full amount. However, be aware of the redemption value, which is typically 0.7 cents per point for direct Amazon purchases without a special offer.
Review Order: Double-check your order summary to ensure the points have been applied correctly and any discounts are reflected.
Place Your Order: Confirm your shipping details and then click "Place your order."
Step 4: Confirm and Enjoy! Order Completion
Once your order is placed, you'll receive an order confirmation from Amazon. Your American Express statement will reflect the points redemption and the remaining charge (if any) on your card.
Important Considerations for Amex Points on Amazon
Point Value: As mentioned, the standard redemption rate for American Express Membership Rewards points on Amazon is typically 0.7 cents per point. This is generally lower than what you might achieve by transferring your points to airline or hotel loyalty programs (which can often yield 1.5 cents to 2 cents or more per point).
Targeted Offers are Key: Always, always, always look for targeted offers! These significantly boost the value of your points on Amazon, sometimes making it a very worthwhile redemption.
Eligible Items: Most products sold directly by Amazon are eligible for Shop with Points. However, certain items, like digital content (e-books, video games), Amazon Pay gift cards, recharges, bill payments, and specific global store products, might be excluded. Purchases made on Amazon Business may also not be eligible.
Partial Payments: You can use a combination of points and your American Express card (or an Amazon gift card balance) to pay for your purchases. This is particularly useful when utilizing targeted offers that only require a small point redemption.
Point Expiration: American Express Membership Rewards points generally do not expire as long as your account remains open and in good standing.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How to check my American Express points balance for Amazon?
You can check your American Express Membership Rewards points balance directly on your American Express online account or through the Amex App. Once your card is linked to Amazon, you'll also see your available points balance on the Amazon checkout page when selecting "Shop with Points."
How to unlink my American Express card from Amazon Shop with Points?
To unlink your American Express card from Amazon's Shop with Points, log in to your Amazon account. Go to "Your Account," then "Payment Options" or "Manage Payment Options." Find your American Express card and look for an option to disable or unenroll from "Shop with Points." You might also find this option under "Shop with Points" settings on Amazon.
How to get the best value when using Amex points on Amazon?
The best value for using Amex points on Amazon comes from leveraging targeted promotional offers. Always check for these offers before making a purchase. Often, using just 1 point to trigger a 10%, 20%, or even 50% discount will yield a much higher effective point value than redeeming points for the full purchase.
How to use American Express points for Amazon Gift Cards?
While you can't directly transfer Amex points to Amazon as gift cards within the Amazon Shop with Points program, you can often redeem Amex Membership Rewards points for Amazon gift cards directly through the American Express Membership Rewards portal. The conversion rate might be similar to direct redemption on Amazon.
How to troubleshoot if my American Express card isn't showing up for Shop with Points?
First, ensure your American Express card is enrolled in the Membership Rewards program. Then, double-check that you have successfully linked your Amex card to your Amazon account through either the Amex app or website, as detailed in Step 1. If issues persist, contact American Express customer service or Amazon customer service.
How to know if my Amex card earns Membership Rewards points?
Most premium and many mid-tier American Express credit cards earn Membership Rewards points. You can confirm this by checking your card benefits on the American Express website, reviewing your card statement, or logging into your Amex online account and looking for the "Membership Rewards" section.
How to combine American Express points from multiple cards for an Amazon purchase?
If you have multiple American Express cards under the same Membership Rewards account, your points are usually pooled automatically. When you link one of these cards to Amazon, your total pooled balance should be available for redemption.
How to apply a targeted Amex discount on Amazon if I already have items in my cart?
You need to activate the targeted offer before proceeding to the final payment step. Go to Amazon's "Shop with Points" page or your payment methods to see if you have an active offer. If not, you'll need to activate it first. Once activated, the discount should automatically apply at checkout when you use a minimum amount of Amex points.
How to use Amex points for Amazon Prime membership?
American Express sometimes offers specific deals for using points towards Amazon Prime membership. Check the Amex Membership Rewards portal or the Amazon Shop with Points section for any such promotions. You may also be able to purchase Amazon Prime gift vouchers with your Amex points through the Amex Reward Multiplier platform in some regions.
How to understand the conversion rate of Amex points to Amazon dollars?
The standard conversion rate is typically 1 Membership Rewards point = $0.007 (0.7 cents). So, 1,000 points would be worth $7. However, this rate can be significantly improved by targeted promotional offers, where you might get a higher effective value per point for a limited redemption.
