Credit Cards

American Express Platinum Mercedes Benz is being discontinued

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The partnership ends January 2019

I’ve long had my eye on the American Express Platinum Mercedes Benz card. It comes with great perks, and if you’ve already had a normal Amex Plat, it provided a way to get bonus points a second time. I almost pulled the trigger last year when it was offering a 75k point sign up bonus, but ultimately didn’t pull the trigger because I wanted to lower my 5/24. As luck would have it, my opportunity may be ending sooner than I’d thought. The application page now says that the releationship is ending January 2019, and that the card will be replaced with something else.

Here’s the current offer. I’m going to hold off for now…

Why? There doesn’t seem to be any indication that the card offer is going away any time soon. If that changes, I’ll probably hop on it. But, in the past, with Amex and other issuers, the final weeks of any card iteration often equates to incredible offers…Since this card isn’t really being cancelled, just converted, Amex has the opportunity to attract even more signups by applying the same technique. So, I’ll wait and see what’s up.

a card with a picture of a man on it

If you click on through to the application page, you will see this:

The language is used on both the basic MB Amex and the Platinum version. So…the relationship is being wound down, not just the Platinum version.

a card with a silver border and a black and white text

It should also be noted that the welcome bonus isn’t available to those you currently have a Platinum card.

Clearly, the relationship is ending. Is it going somewhere else? Will MB cobrand with another credit card company? What do you think…

H/T Travelsort

Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.

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Main Cast: 

Cards that earn flexible points and should be used on the bulk of your purchases.

Supporting Cast:

Cards that earn fixed points in the currency of the airline/hotel and can not be transferred at attractive rates. These cards yield benefits that make it worth keeping, but not necessarily worth putting a lot of your everyday spend on. 

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Annual fee is quite low at $95 a year + you get a 10% anniversary bonus on points + $50 hotel credit in Chase travel.

The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.

5 Comments

  • […] American Express Platinum Mercedes Benz is being discontinued […]

  • Jane March 2, 2018

    If it blends it into another AMX card, I don’t want to lose the opportunity to get bonus points on a different card. Would you cancel before the change? Thoughts? Was thinking of cancelling this card anyway and getting a different AMX or CSR (when go under 5/24). Thoughts knowing this??

    • Miles March 2, 2018

      Jane – ah, I meant to mention this. Yes, it will negate your abaility to earn a bonus on that card and potentially restart your “lifetime clock” – if I go this route I will probably downgrade to a green Amex. Additionally you’d have to be aware of Amex crackdowns on chribers who open and close within 12 months.

      • Jane March 2, 2018

        Thanks – i will be over 2 years with this, perhaps downgrade is the way to go with this in mind. Appreciate the help.

        • Miles March 3, 2018

          Jane – Also, I’m updating the post, but it precludes those who currently have a platinum as well…

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