The Potential Behind Save $25 on $100 Costco.com Purchase via American Express

Update 11/7/12: As can be seen in the below screenshot, I received my $25 statement credit relatively quick after my $100 purchase. Note I made a single transaction of $105 ($55 membership renewal + $50 gift card), but AMEX split them up into separate line items charged on different days. I still received my $25 statement credit regardless.

Back in September I got excited about the American Express Link, Like, Love promotion, where they post deals on Facebook Sync that can be added to your card for additional savings. So in other words, it is a rebate system for using your AMEX card at select merchants. What is even better is the rebate is in addition to any perks from using the card.

This week the AMEX Sync application added an intriguing offer of $25 off the purchase of a $100 purchase at Costco.com by 12/31/12. If you have followed us for any period of time, you may recall we have a love/hate relationship when it comes to shopping at Costco. However, we still end up frequenting Costco at least once every other month, and that is why I am excited about this latest offering.

Signing up is easy.

1) You must have an American Express credit card. You can register any version of American Expresss card, as it does not need to be a Costco AMEX.

2) Visit the AMEX Link, Like, Love Facebook app.

3) After registering your card, select from the available offers to add to your card. You may or may not see the Costco offer, as every promotion is targeted.

4) Proceed to Costco.com to start shopping. No need to go through a special link.

So why is the AMEX save $25 on $100 at Costco.com so lucrative?

Well for starters, we just so happen to be coming up on our annual renewal in November. So right off the start, we already have to spend $55 for our Gold Star membership, and after adding an additional $45 to our cart, we will get a nice $25 rebate, making our membership costs greatly reduced.

The exciting part of the equation is what else one can buy to get their total to $100 and then get a $25 rebate. For instance, there are a bunch of great deals on restaurant gift cards. For $79.99, one can get:

– McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant Two $50 Gift Cards
– Elephant Bar® Restaurant Two $50 Gift Cards
– Peet’s Coffee & Tea Five $20 Gift Cards
– California Pizza Kitchen Two $50 Gift Cards
– Ghirardelli® Four $25 Gift Cards
– Wolfgang Puck Two $50 Gift Cards
– The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® Four $25 Gift Cards

So factoring in the already savings on the above gift cards ($100 value – $79.99 cost = $20.01 savings), and paired with the $25 rebate, one would be getting $100 in gift cards for $55, plus the cost of the additional items to get you over $100 spend.

Although not as glamorous, once can always just purchase a Costco Cash Card for $100, thus qualifying for the $25 rebate if purchased online.

Besides adding to your cart a couple bottles of shampoo to get you over the $100 threshold, I also like the various travel and attraction options available courtesy of Costco.com like:

– Air Maui Helicopter Tour Gift Certificate for $199
– 3-Day Go Cards to various city attractions including San Diego, Oahu, Orlando, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, or San Fransisco from $79.99 to $154.99
– 3-Day Power Pass vouchers to various attractions in Niagara Falls, Las Vegas, Washington D.C., Honolulu, and New Orleans from $69.99 to $110.99.
– Napa Valley Wine Train Gourmet Express Lunch or Dinner for $84.99
– San Diego 3-for-1 Pass for $84.99-$99.99
– LEGOLAND California Two-day Resort Ticket for $79.99
– LEGOLAND® California Resort 3-Month Pass for $79.99

Or if Golf is your thing, there is a huge list of discounted round packages.

As you can see, there is a great potential with this offer from American Express when you pair the already terrific discounts available through Costco with the AMEX $25 rebate.

It is unclear at this point on whether purchases made via Costco Travel will count towards this promotion.

What will you purchase to take advantage of this offer?

Save Money, Travel More!