Update 5/9/19: These changes are now live.
Small correction/additional information: 3% cash back on department stores will not be removed until July 31st, 2019.
American Express has announced that on May 9th the Blue Cash Preferred will refresh and two new categories will be added, these categories are:
- 6% cash back on 20 U.S. streaming services including Amazon Prime, YouTube, Netflix, HBO, Apple Music, Pandora, Amazon Kindle Unlimited & Audible
- 3% cash back on transit purchases including parking, tolls, train services and rideshare services (including Lyft & Uber)
The card will stop earning 3% cash back on purchases made at department stores on July 31st, 2019. The other card features will remain the same including:
- 6% back at U.S. supermarkets up to $6,000 in purchases (after you hit this cap you earn 1% cash back)
- 3% back at U.S. gas stations
- 1% back on all other purchases
- $95 annual fee
Spend on the U.S. streaming services does not count towards the $6,000 cap currently in place on U.S. supermarkets and is instead uncapped. The public sign up bonus on the card will also be increased to $250 after $1,000 in spend within the first 90 days. It’s unclear if any changes will be made to the standard Blue Cash Everyday card that comes with no annual fee or not. Overall it’s nice to see these additions and for most people they will far outweigh the 3% on department stores, although I do know of some people that were taking advantage of that particular category.
I heard gift cards don’t count as bonus spending. Does anyone know about GC purchase on raise.com? And how long generally does the bonus take to post?
Is the Amazon Prime membership fee included? I see Amazon Music and Kindle Unlimited, both of which you pay for in addition to the Prime fee. I also see Prime Video Unlimited, which I’m not familiar with. But I don’t see just Amazon Prime Membership on Amex’s “select” list of streaming services?
If I already received a bonus on the old version of the card, but no longer have that account open, Can I receive the bonus again on this refreshed version?
No, I assume it’s still considered the same product and subject to the lifetime rule.
Are they going to refresh the Everyday Preferred card next? I would think so.
Hopefully
Kinda unrelated, but is there any update on the green card refresh by any chance?
No, we always share information when we have it.
According to website, these are all of the streaming services: Amazon Music
• Apple Music
• Audible
• CBS All Access
• Direct TV Now
• ESPN+
• Fubo TV
• HBO Now
• Hulu
• iHeartRadio
• Kindle Unlimited
• MLB.TV
• NBA League Pass
• Netflix
• NHL.TV
• Pandora
• Prime Video Unlimited
• Showtime
• Sling TV
• SiriusXM Streaming and Satellite
• Spotify
• YouTube Music Premium
• YouTube Premium
• YouTube TV
Thank you so much for adding this information!
no love for Google Play Music…
And when do you think that American Express is going to tell us about this?
I got an email from Amex about it today.
I got an email earlier today as well. It’s not like they’re taking away any benefit immediately so notification today was cool, though I do appreciate the heads up by DoC.
I currently have the BCE card, can I apply for and get the BCP at the same time?
Yes and better self refer.
Does this offer include Hulu? In the comments it does but in the general information is does not. You guys are great! Thanks for all the help!
Yes
I still don’t like this card. Most of us have one of many cards that get between 3%-5% on groceries (at the very least for two or three quarters between Discover, Dividend, and Freedom). So it was already tough to justify $95 given the low cap.
Relative to a X% card:
3% $180 more
4% $120 more
5% $60 more
As for the new benefits:
1. Ride share at 3% is ok but there are a lot of 3X+ travel cards already.
2. 6% on streaming is actually worse than 5X on Ink Cash for internet, phone, and cable — which covers streaming as well. It works on my Hulu, Netflix, and Spotify at the very least.
If you weren’t doing it for the groceries, there’s no reason to pay an AF for those benefits.
I think for people who want 1 card or maybe 2, this is very good. I agree that groceries should be the main reason to get the card.
But not all of us can get the Ink Cash (I don’t own a business in any respect). And also, business cards do have T+C that say it should only be used for business expenses, so some may actually follow that rule to not be shut down and possibly blacklisted.
And remember, it’s nominally a 6% card for groceries. After you subtract the $95 AF, you wind up getting a little more than 4% back (4.41% max. by my calculations), and only when you spend exactly $6,000/yr. Spend more or less than $6,000/yr on groceries and you earn less than the 4.41%. Still, if you can make use of enough of the Amex offers every year, that might cover the AF.
But you don’t need a BCP to make use of Amex offers, a no annual fee BCE will do the trick.
True, but my theory is the better the card the better the offers. I have the Amex EveryDay card and I never see any of the offers that are posted here.