Amex Shop Small Offer is back for 2021 (August)

By | August 15, 2021

American Express Shop small campaign that we previously saw in Dec 2020 is now back for 2021. This is the 3rd shop-small promo for India and it is similar to the previous campaign. Here’s everything you need to know:

Offer Details

OfferShop at participating merchants and get 50% off upto Rs.500 for 5 times
Offer Expiry31 Oct 2021
Max. CapRs.2,500 cash-back (5*500 INR)
LimitationOnly once per merchant
FulfilmentWithin 5 days (but may take up to 90 days)

It’s a targeted offer based on billing address, however most cardholders have got the offer. As long as the offer shows in the “Amex Offers” section, you may just proceed with the same, irrespective of whether it is primary or Add-on.

Here’s the detailed terms & conditions just incase if you’re looking for one. As always, don’t forget to save the offer to card before beginning with the spend.

You can also enrol your ICICI/Indusind Amex credit cards to the offer using this link.

My Thoughts

Its good to see Shop Small campaign to be back, but sad to see that Amex isn’t adding more locations to the list.

I wonder what harm it does for the brand by making the offer eligible for all locations, given the fact that many are facing acceptance issues even with the stores mentioned in the list. If that’s the case you can anyway get the benefit by swiping any of your other cards. Nice na?

For those who received the offer, this means a nice Rs.2500 cash-back per card and for those holding multiple primary and add-on cards, this adds up to sweet Rs.7,500 or even lot more than that. 😉

What’s your thoughts on the latest Amex Shop Small campaign? Feel free to share in the comments below.

Author: Siddharth

Helping Indians to choose right credit cards, pick right offers and enjoy luxury vacations for less. Day & night exploring the spiritual reality of our human existence.

58 thoughts on “Amex Shop Small Offer is back for 2021 (August)

  1. Sandeep

    Not sure if that’s true for all but atleast in my location many shops which were eligible last year are gone now and mostly saloons and restaurants, shops inside malls have been added in these covid times.

    Reply
    1. Piyush

      Yes, a lot of merchants which were available last time are not in the list anymore.
      Looks like they have reduced the number of merchants.

      Reply
  2. Praveenkumar M

    Select chennai, pin code 600009, choose fashion and will get ramraj coimbatore.

    Reply
  3. Ankur

    Had some similar offer few months back for Spending 500 in store 5 times and getting 100% cashback – which is basically free money. Spent 4-5 hours for going to different stores that I had shortlisted from the list only to find not one of them would accept Amex. Couldnt spend even a rupee to use the offer. Not even going to bother for this one.
    (From Chennai)

    Reply
    1. Varun

      Having an AmEx card is probably like owning a Windows Phone when they were available. You perennially live in hope only for the platform to crash them continually.

      Reply
    2. Gaurav

      Only thing Amex requires is to make the payment through any other digital mode and share the details with them like Merchant name and Area etc. They will match the offer. I have done that in past and received the cashback with minimal follow up.

      Reply
      1. Drhunter

        How to get that merchant code? So i can paytm them if they refuse amex and then ask amex to give me the cashback?

        Reply
    3. Anil

      In that case you can use different card and take that slip and submit to customer care. They Will manually adjust the offer to your respective card.

      Reply
  4. amol godase

    Please make a note that Indusind and ICICI amex are also eligible if you register them on amex site.

    Reply
    1. kapil

      Please share the link for icici and indusind card registration

      Reply
  5. Rushabh

    Sid, 1 thing I saw in FAQ which seemed very useful. Maybe worth adding to main section?

    What should I do a participating store is not accepting American Express card or the machine that they have for AMEX is not working?
    In case you face such issue where the merchant is not accepting you Card or the machine that they have is not working, you can make the transaction with any other card or payment option which merchant partner is accepting and ensure you have a proof of transaction with you, such as charge Slip, Invoice or transaction SMS.

    You can contact us afterwards on the helpline number mentioned at the back of your Card or contact us via Chat through mobile app and share the evidence of transaction. We will review the evidence and ensure that offer benefits are provided to you for taking effort and time to take a transaction with your American Express Card, however couldn’t do so due to these issues.

    So basically, if store isn’t accepting you still can claim this offer using another card. Never tried this. But this is really great to have.

    Reply
    1. FrequentFlyer15

      Have done that the last time. Just share the invoice image and they credit the cashback if the store didn’t accept the transactions.

      Reply
      1. nikhil

        Thanks i could claim for Zimsons in bangalore as they refused to accept for under 5000, so i shared my invoice copy and message of transaction as proof with amex and they gaveme 500 credit

        Reply
    2. SachinG

      @ Rushabh,

      Where is this mentioned in FAQ’s ?? i coudn’t find it.

      Reply
      1. Rushabh

        Its little confusing

        Main page
        americanexpress.com/en-in/benefits/shop-small/

        It has this
        To view all FAQs, click here

        americanexpress.com/en-in/benefits/shop-small/faq/

        Reply
        1. SachinG

          This is a great finding ..You have got eagle eyes 🙂 .. thank you so much .

          Reply
  6. Santosh Kumar

    it would have been so easy if there was an option to see all locations on a map.

    Reply
  7. Kashif

    I see so many comments related to non acceptance of amex… But trust me in Delhi I am yet to find any such issue. Also the merchant list is still awesome in my area.. can’t expect wildcraft to be categorised as small merchant everytime 😉 but I have shortlisted 24*7, Reliance digital, some good cafes and sports store 😀
    Waiting to earn good cashback on regular spends..

    Reply
    1. Mahesh S. Panicker

      Got the offer. But many of the merchants listed, themselves do not or are reluctant to accept Amex. If they have a redressal system for the same as commented above, then its worth it. If not for the acceptance issue, it is a worthwhile offer.

      Reply
  8. Ros

    Is it available for Add on card as well
    also if i hold 2 Amex cards can i claim for both the cards separately as well as for Add on Card

    Reply
    1. S&S

      1. Yes

      2. Yes

      Fill in card details in enrolment form.
      The related card will receive email to the connected email id.

      I’ve managed to enrol 3 Primary and 3 Supplementary Cards.

      S&S

      Reply
      1. MeltingMercury

        The customer support mentioned that the offer is only on the primary account although spends done through supplementary cards shall be considered towards fulfillment… but there is no separate offer for supplementary cards – total 5 transactions allowed for primary+secondary cards… no individual separate offer for primary and secondary cards

        Can someone please confirm this as well?

        Reply
  9. aka

    many major cities still not on the list ! even metro like Kolkata not on it .
    Limits the reach of offer

    Reply
  10. Ramesh Shah

    Hi Siddharth, where can we find FAQ related to non acceptance of card at participating store?

    Reply
  11. Satendra

    Last year I just select the merchant in given list, called them to know if they accept Amex. If yes, then I go and shopped. I have got said cashback on all my transaction on all three cards I have.

    This time again I am going to make most out of this offer.

    Reply
  12. AAJ

    Acceptance is an issue, visited two Apollo pharma, they were not able to accept any Amex cards 🙁 overall 1 of 6 listed shops accepted.

    Reply
    1. Abhi

      I got a hit rate of 1 in 5. Moment one said he accepts Amex, I asked him to swipe 1K first, and once it worked , then I bought the items 🙂 . One other listed shop offered me great service by saying his machine doesn’t take Amex, so I can pay at the neighboring shop where it works. He was obviously bewildered when I obviously had to refuse this option !

      Reply
    2. FrequentFlyer15

      Even if they don’t accept amex. Just make the purchase with any card. Keep the receipt and then share with Amex. They will still reimburse. They have done for me several times in the past 2 times that they ran the offer.

      Reply
      1. Abhi

        Thanks, someone else also mentioned this above, so I m gonna try it. So I just need to keep the chargeslip and store reciept and share with Amex, regardless of my mode of payment..

        Reply
      2. Sangeetha

        Hey FF15,
        Thank you for this tip. I am in the same situation. Amex didn’t work and had to swipe diners. Please can you advise how to report this to Amex. That will be really helpful.

        Reply
        1. FrequentFlyer15

          Hi Sangeetha,

          Keep a scanned copy of the slip ready. Call/chat with Amex support and tell them that the store that they have listed has refused to accept Amex due to (any random) reason so you had to use another card. They will ask you to email the image to an email id ([email protected]) with the Agent’s name. They then add the credit to your account within 2 days.

          Reply
  13. Mukul

    This is one of the most generous offer and i am going to make full use of it with 6 cards in kitty !

    Reply
    1. Abhi

      How do you get offer on multiple cards. I have 2 primary Amex cards but this kind of offer always comes only on one of them, per campaign. Never got same offer on both cards.

      Reply
  14. satesh

    transaction done on 3rd aug. received cash back of 500/- on 6th. that’s fast. only have two cards. will maximise it.

    Reply
  15. Alok

    on FAQ Last question states
    What should i do a participating store is not accepting American Express card or the machine that they have for AMEX is not working?

    In case you face such issue where the merchant is not accepting you Card or the machine that they have is not working, you can make the transaction with any other card or payment option which merchant partner is accepting and ensure you have a proof of transaction with you, such as charge Slip, Invoice or transaction SMS.

    You can contact us afterwards on the helpline number mentioned at the back of your Card or contact us via Chat through mobile app and share the evidence of transaction. We will review the evidence and ensure that offer benefits are provided to you for taking effort and time to take a transaction with your American Express Card, however couldn’t do so due to these issues.

    Reply
    1. Ramesh Shah

      where to find FAQ? I could not locate same in offer email

      Reply
    2. Gkcards

      I also came across one shop which after billing said don’t take amex due to high charges. I asked him that your shop is in offer list, he said yes but didn’t take amex. Was surprised how come shop was in offer list but shopkeeper is not agreeing to take amex. Didn’t shop there and left stuff there. Anyway, there are so many shops who take Amex, and left this as one off case

      Reply
  16. Ramesh

    Let say if I buy a product worth rs. 5000 from a shop and do 1000×5 transaction 5 times in same day similar time frame , will it qualify for 500×5 cash back or just 1 500 cash back ?

    Reply
    1. FrequentFlyer15

      The terms say only once per mechant so you’ll get only 500 cashback. However, if you have add on cards, each one gets its own offer. I have recently used my card at a restaurant as follows, My PT card, My MRCC, Addon PT 1, Addon PT 2, Addon MRCC 1, Addon MRCC 2. Made a payment of 6000. Earned a cool 3000 cashback.

      Reply
    2. nk

      It does not work that way! Per card per merchant only once. So once you spend 1000, you wont qualify for the second time on the same card and same merchant .

      Reply
  17. Gkcards

    It doesn’t matter if card offer comes to you or not, just register for the card in the link which you use for icici/indus amex cards or addon cards, if you don’t see offer in your online account. Though it’s surprising if you don’t see this offer in your online account on website.

    Reply
  18. neil

    Sid,
    A different question. Would the offer be eligible on the same card at two different stores of the same brand in different localities in a city (both stores are listed in the offer).

    Reply
    1. Siddharth Post author

      Technically yes. But it’s safe to get a OKAY from support.

      Reply
  19. Rayhaan Pirani

    I tried this offer at a restaurant, but they denied AMEX. Paid via another card, contacted support, sent them the bills, and they said they will issue me the cash-back. But it’s ridiculous how the stores they mention in their store locator don’t accept AMEX. :c

    Reply
  20. Prashant

    When I contacted them they asked me to wait till my bill is generated. Did you get the cashback

    Reply
    1. Rayhaan Pirani

      Yep, I can see it on the app. Didn’t get any SMS or email though.

      Reply
  21. Saurabh

    Hi,

    Could you please tell how to avail it on icici amex card. While filling enrolment form it is accepting only 15 digit card number while mine is 16 digit. Please help

    Reply
  22. Harshit Jaiswal

    Hi,

    Just wanted to know if anyone facing issues while locating these merchant shops. The link provided with the shop name never matches for my case.What is the best way to locate these shops. Any suggestions here?

    Reply
  23. Amar

    Has anyone faced non fulfillment of offer on ICICI issued Amex cards?
    I swiped at a participating merchant (petrol pump) and haven’t received the cashback.
    Upon reaching out to ICICI cc they are blissfully unaware of the offer.

    Had the same problem on Amex issued card and they manually posted the cashback for this merchant.

    Reply
  24. Kapil Shah

    What is the email id to contact for non acceptance of amex icici and indusind credit cards?

    Reply
    1. Gagan

      Hi Kapil,

      For ICICI & IndusInd, one will have to reach directly to these bank’s respective Customer Care teams.

      Source: Had called Amex Customer Care for my MRCC and during that time also asked for ICICI Amex card (I have one). He informed that only issuing banks can help, Amex CC don’t have access to cards issued from partner banks

      Reply

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