Every year American Express runs a lucrative festive promo that gives handsome rewards based on spends. Last year, they ran 24k Gold Diwali – Tanishq Gold Vouchers worth Rs.20,000 promo that allows us to save effective 10% on any spends in form or Tanishq vouchers. This year too, American Express is running a similar promo but they’ve made it more difficult to avail the offer.
American Express 24K GOLD Diwali – Offer details:
Amex is presenting the 24K GOLD Diwali offer for 2017 and the details are below.
- Offer period: 20th September to 20thOctober, 2017
- Spend #1: Rs.90,000: Get Rs.5,000 Gold Voucher (or)
- Spend #2: Rs.2,50,000: Get Rs.12,500 Gold Voucher
- Offer excludes spends made on Travel bookings. Full list of excluded merchants are here
- Offer is limited to one Card account per customer. In case the Cardmember holds and enrolls more than one eligible American Express® Card(s), the Card with the highest spend will be considered for the Offer
- Offer is valid only on Proprietary Amex Consumer Cards and excludes Co-brand Consumer Cards.
- Spends on the Supplementary Card(s) will be accounted under the Basic Card. The Supplementary Card(s) need not be enrolled separately.
- The Gold Voucher will be in the form of either a Tanishq Gold Voucher or from any other leading jewellery brand in India.
- The Voucher cannot be redeemed against purchase of gold and silver coins, jewellery cleaning kit, gift cards and
purchases under Golden Harvest Scheme. - Fulfillment: The Gold voucher will be sent to you on your registered email ID within 90 days from the programme end date. In some extreme cases, this may take up to 120 days from the programme end date.
- Enroll now
So, that’s: increased spend criteria, reduced savings, limitation of 1 card per customer. That’s a lot of restrictions! Now you can save only effective 5% compared to 10% last year.
Further more, while redeeming the voucher, you might need to spend a bit more to use it effectively. Considering multiple other factors in redeeming, you end up saving lesser than 5% as you can’t redeem for Gold coins.
Bottom Line:
American Express has disappointed me this year with tiny savings on their big festive promo. I wish they kept it at 10% savings, maybe with different voucher option like Taj stay vouchers, which could cost them less compared to Tanishq.
That all being said, the promo still holds “decent” as you also get reward points on these transactions. Its probably the right time to put your spends if you’ve just got approved for their Amex Membership Rewards as LTF.
Overall, this year’s Diwali promo by American Express doesn’t excite me as much as it did last year. How about you? Feel free to share your thoughts in comments below.
I hold American Express Travel Platinum card from Amex and just received this offer email 2 days back.
To be honest this offer sucks, coz everyone would be comparing it with last year and they took the travel bookings out of it. Which being a travel platinum card holder makes it very difficult for me.(most of my purchases are on ticket bookings)
However can you confirm if we will get 2 voucher worth 5k and 12.5k on doing spends of 3.4 lakhs or just 12.5k voucher on doing spends above 2.5 lakhs.
Alternatively, indusind is running a very good offer…2x points on spends of 34k, 5x points on spends above 34k. Upto a maximum of 10000 points.
The offer is card specific and you have to enroll for their Rewardz Festival. But almost everyone i know, got this offer with spend amount here and there.
Also my legend signature card will be dispatched by tomorrow so that will make this offer more rewarding. I can see me reaching complete 10k points as bonus which effectively means 10000 cashback.
Disappointed with amex!!
With Amex, You’re limited to maximum of 12.5k only.
Yes, indusind offer is good one indeed.
Indusind offer is good. I hold Indusind Iconia AMEX, i received message that upto 114000, 2X and above that 5X and maximum cashback is 10K.
Natasha,
Standard Chartered has introduces an offer of 5% cashback on spending 10,000 & above in a month via their credit card. Offer is going on from Oct2017-Dec2017 but 1st, you have to enroll for it. I spent 14000/- to my dentist via my SC card & I got an sms of getting 5% cashback.
Natasha, if you are planning to shop or spend in way.. have SC card then just go for it to.
Regards,
Rayhaan
Guys,
I have got 2 vouchers on 20.12.2017, one for me (5k) and another for my wife (5k).
I use Platinum travel card and she uses LTF Amex Rewards card.
I have enrolled both the cards separately for offer.
Three things i want you all to be notified here,
1. They have the said in T&C that, Offer excludes spends made on Travel bookings. This didn’t worked in my case.
I have booked a flight ticket at YATRA for 1.52 lakhs. None other than that, I have done any transaction on the offer period.
But, My goodness I have still got 5k Tanishq voucher. Don’t know what was the flaw in their backend. It still it made me happy.
2. Also, In T&C it was said that, We can redeem only 1 Gift voucher for each Purchase. This was not true.
I have clubbed both of our vouchers and redeemed (5k+5k=10K) in one purchase transaction itself.
3. Further, as per T&C, we need to pay the remaining amount on the Tanishq gold purchase with same AMEX card we used to get the voucher.
This is not so, I have used YES bank credit card for the balance amount.
Yup no point in spending. I am sure this year yes bank and stanc wil also come with some spend bases offers better than Amex.
Indusind has better one too.
Yes, am counting on YESbank 🙂
Agreed, Amex have taken the fun out of the promo. But that seem to be the trend with Amex offering these days.
First they made 6 X 1000 as qualifying criteria fro Bonus Points in gold card.
Than They Changed the Movie offer to 4 X 2500 and made use of Add On card mandatory.
Now this promo, which is half as effective as lat one. More So, if travel is where your spends are highest. I wonder where they are heading ?
Its a sign that American Express user base is growing a lot. This is what happens when more ppl get onto a platform, like Diners 10x.
If the users who avail the offer are too less (most likely), am sure Amex will run a better one for New year, lets see 🙂
one of the terms and condition of this offer is
The Voucher cannot be redeemed against purchase of gold and silver coins, jewellery cleaning kit, gift cards and
purchases under Golden Harvest Scheme.
So gold coin is also out of picture
Updated the article accordingly and yes this is another major downside.
I’m big time into online shopping & was hoping to use my Amex Gold card for their Diwali offer. They seem to have launched this program to coincide with the beginning of mega online sales festival across paytm, flipkart and amazon. Even if we dont compare it with their last year’s Diwali offer, it would simply be dumb to use Amex when other banks are offering 10X & even10% off schemes on the same website!
Of course, there could be plenty of avenues to spend offline, where people could use Amex & get that 5% reward, but given better options this Diwali, Amex is clearly not be the preferred spending card.
Sid, Where did you get this information?. I didn’t get any emails. Looks like this offer is for selected customers. If not why this is missing in their website.
I got email. Its open offer. You can check with CC. Usually they don’t update festive offers on website.
Thanks Sid for sharing the link. I tried and got the acknowledgement.
Is it applicable for add money to Wallet transaction. , insurance payments and at petrol bunks?
Speaking about jewellery, i’d rather buy something from Caratlane through HDFC Diners black and get 15% as RP.
Sulabh,
What is the offer ? is it only for Diamond and gemstone jewellery ?
Can we also meet the 90k credit card expense thourgh wallet recharges (freecharge/paytm etc)?
Yes
Yes
I don’t own one…. But my Frnds told Amex Cards are easily getting hacked / fraudulent tranx are happening…
It has happened to him twice in last few mths…
Some security breach at Amex
Yea true 😥
Hi Siddharth
Do you know of RBI guidelines for not converting jewellery Transactions to EMI ? Just been informed of the same from American Express Customer care. Secondly AMEX is having some policy of not allowing jewellery transactions for 6 months on new cards?
AMEX offer is not as per expectations, last year we can get 20000 vouchers for all primary card holders.
This year offer is limited for one card per account.
I am holding 2 cards one is charge card & one id credit card however i can avail only one offer at a time……..disappointed.
Hi, Siddharth,
I recently came back to India and I was looking for some new Credit Card to add in my playlist. Mostly I look into Youtube video to see whats new in the market of CC, But I guess there is none of youtuber has channel on CC here like we in US – Credit Shifu,BeatTheBush and Ask Sebby these top of my head.
Then I came on this website, Very informative I must say!! , I think you should also come up with YouTube channel.
Just Saying !!
Question – Any Card you advise for a very frequent flyer?
I paid hospital bill 2.6 lakhs yesterday but did not enroll for this offer. Am I still eligible for the voucher?
Unfortunately, no benefits if you have not enrolled.
Enrol now and talk to amex customer care.
Unfortunately No if you have not registered. They only consider transactions done after registration.
Hi, You need to speak with AMEX Marketing team and explain. If you did not receive any mail on this, inform them so adding that you go online on Amex when needed.
Are adding money to wallet like paytm / freecharge etc valid for this offer ?
Yes, Aroon.
Yes
Sid, check latest standard charted festive offer.
The offer is not good. 10k min spend in 3 months and then the highest month spend u can get 5% cashback. Too low.
To get maximum cash back of 5K, you have to spend minimum 1.2 lacks. example 1 lack + 10K + 10K. So the actual cashback for all the three months will come to around 4.15%
Hey is there any way by which we could pay insurance premium bypassing the insurance exception of earning Membership Reward Points?
I need to pay insurance premiums of Kotak Mahindra but couldn’t find it on paytm or mobikwik.
Unfortunately Amex policies are created only to target rich customers and not middle class people. Most of the brands do not accept Amex and I do not have any plans to continue with Amex next year onwards. You cannot pay premiums for most of the policies with Amex, since it only had tie up a with most expensive brands and only privileged and rich customers for it convinient. Frankly speaking, the gold voucher of Rs 5k on spend of Rs 90000 is useless, since a big expensive brand Tanishq is in the picture. Amex you are a cheater and the gold voucher offer is super cheap and pathetic.
Amit i have 2 amex cards and have been the most rewarding ines and now almost everyone accepts Amex. I dont have any swiping issues with it.
Reached the 2.5 lakh target. Waiting for the voucher now 😉
I also crossed 2.5 lac
I recently got a new Amex membership rewards card on 10th Oct. As a welcome gift, i will get 2k airasia gift voucher and 6000 rewards points(5000 for joining + 1000 for 4 spends of 1000+). I registered for the diwali offer and spent 2.5 lacks eligible spent so I will get 12.5k Tanishq voucher plus 5000 rewards points. So all-in-all it was a very good offer for me.
Me too crossed 2.5L…. lets wait for vouchers
I also crossed 2.5L target…i hope they will deliver vouchers in December, i have amex platinum travel card…
Now Amex guys say that the amount is only taken after you enroll not between (20th to the 20th) so if you spend 2.5 L till 15 Oct & enroll on 16th you get peanuts 🙂
Any update on vouchers
Just got the vouchers .. can I use this to buy gold coin ?
No
Today on date-20-12-2017 i got 12500 Tanishq Voucher…my brother also got 12500 vouchers…thanks amex…anyone else got vouchers?
Dr.Hardik Patel…
Got my 5K voucher today via email 🙂
Got the voucher today for 12.5K 🙂
got the voucher for 5 K today over mail, valid till 25th Jan 18.
It comes with many T&C .
Lets see if it actually has some real benefit.
Hi Guys,
Received my voucher for 12.5K today.
Hope everyone gets their voucher soon.
Cheers,
Kiran
Got it last day. 12.5K….
Also Amex started 5% cashback on utility payments ( this includes LIC ) upto INR 750 per card. You need to enroll for this. The good thing is supplimentary card is treated as separate card. Say u have 2 sup cards then u may save INR 2250…..
Yes, got the voucher today. Sadly validity is till 25th Jan 2018 only and it can not be used to by gold coins.
Got the vouchers yesterday
Got the 12.5 voucher &redeemed it 🙂
Any option to redeem online?
Got 12.5K vouchers …….
Hi all,
Anyone received 2018 24K Diwali offer?
I guess its likely to be out by next week, anyone has any update on the same?
Cheers,
Kiran
Last 2 years around this time AMEX announced the diwali offer. Last year by Sep 20th and in 2016 by Sep 27th
Hope in another couple of days AMEX may announce
As they usually do it for 1 month, i think they may start by Oct 10th range. Anyway, lets see. Hope they don’t disappoint like 2017!
Last two years Diwali fell on October. This year it is November. I guess we will have to wait a little longer.
Ideally, one month offer means, it should start from today but no mailer yet.
The quality of Amex offers are going drastically, any other card as option to replace Amex?
The offer is almost out. Upto ~5.3% reward rate. Will write in detail shortly 🙂
Sid,
I checked email and Amex website also, still nothing is mentioned
How you got the info ? have u talked to the customer care or you have some insider in AMEX ?
Thanks,
Mouli
Customer care. Its targeted offer this time. different for different users.
@others
Hold on, coming up with the article.