[Targeted] American Express Blue Cash Preferred $250 Upgrade Offer

Update 7/16/19: Another round has gone out, not sure the end date this time. Hat tip to @tstride

Update 6/19/19: Another round has gone out. This time valid until 7/18/19. Hat tip to reader Selby

Update 5/9/19: Another round has gone out, this is part of the product refresh on this card that we discussed earlier.

Orignally posted on September 14th, 2017. Reposting due to the fact more people are being targeted again.

Contents

The Offer

No direct link (definitely targeted as links have your last 4 credit card numbers hard coded. Also check your amex offers for this offer)

  • American Express are offering some Blue Cash Everyday cardholders the opportunity to upgrade to Blue Cash Preferred and get the following bonus:
    • $250 cash back after you spend $1,000 within the first three months

 

Card Details

  • Annual fee of $95 (prorated based on how long you have left in your card member year).
  • Card earns at the following rates:
    • 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 in spend annually, then 1%)
    • 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions
    • 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations
    • 3% cash back on transit (e.g taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more)
    • 1% back on all other purchases

Our Verdict

They offered a similar upgrade option but for only $100 in June & then $150 in August. Remember that the annual fee is not waived the first year so it’s actually a bonus of $155 and the 6% cash back at supermarkets  (best card for grocery store spend when not taking into account the annual fee). The good thing about upgrade offers is that they don’t do a hard pull and you’re also able to get the bonus if you’ve already had the card before (and can get the bonus in the future if you haven’t had the card before). If you have questions about American Express upgrade offers they will be answered here. General questions about American Express answered here.

Looks like American Express is sending out a few different upgrade offers recently:

Hat tip to reader Jobin Johnson

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115 Comments
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Evilex
Evilex (@guest_813543)
September 23, 2019 14:49

As soon as you upgrade can you use your old everyday card and get the benefits of the preferred the same day or I need to wait for the new card to arrive in 7 to 10 days?

CJ
CJ (@guest_891725)
January 28, 2020 20:51

The new benefit kicks in right away even if you swipe the old card.

Shaun
Shaun (@guest_802480)
August 24, 2019 13:31

I took this upgrade offer this time last year. So I was expecting a $95 annual fee soon. At the end of July I was charged a $6.50 membership fee. Confused, I called customer service and was assured that’s the only fee I will be charged this year and I’ll get the $95 fee in July 2020. I was pretty happy and started using the card again for groceries.

Lo and behold, my August statement comes and has a $95 fee. Annoyed, I call customer service again. They’ll listen to the previous call yadda yadda yadda but they can’t remove the annual fee. She said even after they listen to the call and verify what I was told, I even verified multiple times on that call, they still cannot honor what their representative told me.

I know this isn’t the right venue for complaints but man American Express is shitty. Their reps can tell you anything and aren’t held to it.

I ended up just downgrading back to the no annual fee card.

Trevor
Trevor (@guest_801744)
August 22, 2019 14:16

Was targeted a while ago, just about to do it but it’s now done to $150 from $250. I guess I’ll have to wait.

Mystral
Mystral (@guest_792355)
August 1, 2019 14:39

Another round just went out.

Mystral
Mystral (@guest_792358)
August 1, 2019 14:43

Text of the offer in the Amex Offers section was:

“Cash in on Your Daily Commute

You’ve added transit offers before – now you can earn more cash back on transit purchases when you upgrade to the Blue Cash Preferred® Card. Plus, you can earn $250 back. Terms apply.”

Pete
Pete (@guest_784243)
July 17, 2019 10:37

Got targeted but can these be downgraded to old blue cash? (no AF, 5% gas/groc/drug after 6.5k spend at .5/1%)

Chris
Chris (@guest_784214)
July 17, 2019 09:37

Probably a stupid question, but I’m assuming upgrades don’t affect 5/24 status since it’s the same account on your credit report?

Tim
Tim (@guest_784337)
July 17, 2019 13:34

Correct.

Nick
Nick (@guest_784211)
July 17, 2019 09:35

Stopped getting targeted upgrades after a certain point. Wonder why.

Jack Spicer
Jack Spicer (@guest_784142)
July 17, 2019 00:51

I updated on the last go around because I thought it’d be my last chance for a while, I had already been targeted a time in the past. Sucks because I’m still struggling to hit the MSR on one of my news cards, and now with this upgrade I’ll have to hit two minimum spends, and on top of it all I won’t have any grocery purchases in the next 3 months to hit that bonus and I’ll be forced to manufacture spend.

Henry jr
Henry jr (@guest_784117)
July 16, 2019 23:25

Does anyone know what will happen to referral ceiling on upgrade cards? I have maxed out my referral for BCE. If I choose to upgrade will my referral starts from scratch?

tennismenace3
tennismenace3 (@guest_784099)
July 16, 2019 22:44

They sent me an upgrade offer with…no bonus. They told me I should upgrade so I can earn more cash back. Good one, Amex.