American Express Shop Small is back – and once again – it’s a slimmed-down competition. We’ve previously seen Shop Small dish out statement credits or a year of triple points. But since 2022, that’s all gone. Now, just ten lucky winners will win a share of 10 million points (that’s 1 million points each).
Our full guide to American Express Shop Small promotions is shown below, updated for the details of this offer.
A guide to American Express’ Shop Small promotions
American Express runs at least one Shop Small promotion each year, usually in November, to encourage spending at local merchants. Previous promotions have revolved around small credits whenever you shop, but it’s completely different in 2023.
You can register for this year’s promotion on this page. You can also save this offer to your card by navigating to Amex Offers in your account or the Amex mobile app.
You’ll get an entry every time you spend at least AU$1 at a participating business. The range of included retailers is, as usual, very broad — check the map here. You should be able to find somewhere close to you that would fit within your normal spending patterns. Thousands of businesses are participating in this year’s Shop Small, including the many smaller businesses that use Square payment terminals.
If you win, you’ll get 1 million points in the ‘rewards currency’ your Amex card earns in – either Qantas Points, Velocity Points or Membership Rewards.
How do I sign up for Shop Small?
If you already have an American Express online account:
- Log in to your American Express online account.
- Scroll down to the section ‘Amex Offers’.
- Find the Shop Small offer and click ‘Save to Card’.
- You are now enrolled in Shop Small for this year. Shop by 30 November 2023 to be in the draw.
If you have an American Express card and want to enrol manually:
- Visit the enrolment page for the 2023 Shop Small offer.
- Enter your name, email and card details.
- Click ‘Save to Card’. You are now enrolled in Shop Small. Shop by 30 November 2023 to be in the draw.
Not yet an American Express cardholder?
The ever-popular American Express Platinum Edge earns up to three Membership Rewards points earned per AU$1 spent at major supermarkets and petrol stations.
Or check out the American Express Explorer card with lounge access perks and a solid two Membership Rewards points per $1 spent on just about anything.
Both cards also come with complimentary insurance. Plus, if you apply, are approved and receive your card in time, you could still participate in this year’s Shop Small competition.
Offer history
- November 2023: Win 1 of 10 prizes of 1 million Qantas, Velocity or MR points.
- November 2022: Win 1 of 10 prizes of 1 million Qantas, Velocity or MR points.
- April 2021: 3 bonus points per $1 spent, up to 40,000 points from 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022.
- June 2020: Spend $10, get $5 back up to ten times from 10 June – 31 August 2020.
- November 2019: Spend $20, get $10 back up to five times during the full month.
- November 2018: Spend $20, get $10 back up to five times during the full month.
- November 2017: Spend $20, get $10 back up to five times during the full month.
- November 2016: Spend $20, get $10 back up to ten times during the full month.
- September 2016: Spend $60, get $30 back up to three times from 16 – 18 September.
- May 2016: Spend $60, get $30 back up to three times from 14 – 15 September.
- November 2015: Spend $20, get $10 back up to ten times during the full month.
- August 2014: Spend $20, get $5 back up to ten times during the full month.
- November 2013: Spend $20, get $10 back up to five times from 23 – 30 November.
Summing up
American Express Shop Small promotions are a small incentive for consumers to earn extra rewards and help small businesses. You can find more information on the Shop Small page.
Unfortunately, American Express has really devalued the offer both last year and this year. Looking back at the cashback and bonus points offers we used to get, a chance to win one million points just isn’t as enticing. Of course, it doesn’t hurt to enrol. But I daresay this year’s Shop Small isn’t going to change anyone’s spending habits significantly.
Cant believe theyre having an advertising campagn based on your “chance” to win some points.
Other programs offer similar promotions throughout the year and its just one spam email.
Well done yet again amex
You may have to change the wording under ‘A guide to American Express’ Shop Small promotions’ section. It is from last year, I suppose.
“Online and gift card purchases are ineligible.”
You may have to change that….online purchases are eligible when purchased at the participating online businesses.
Here is the link to the list of participating online businesses https://www.americanexpress.com/au/shop-small/online-businesses/?intlink=au-en-gmns-shopsmall-map-online-directory
cK
they must all be individually registered for the promo, and that has to be done via the app or web site. None of my supp c/h’s had been registered for online a/ c access ( no need ) so the amex CSO sorted that for me on the phone by creating a userid and temp password.
I have amex platinum charge and credit cards.
Can I sign up both cards?
Are supplementary charge card holders eligible for this promo or is this benefit limited to the primary card holder?
And if supplementary card holders are eligible, does each of those cards have to be individually registered??
Thanks in advance!
I’m assuming the credits won’t appear for those ones I don’t get an email for.
They did appear on the map!!
Could you please direct us to where it says the promotion cannot be used to top up Opal cards? How does Amex know when we are paying for an Opal card top up versus any other transaction at a convenience store or newsagent?
I am assuming the map is much better than before. For quite a long time, the map only displays business name, not the actual brand name or shop name you can easily see on the street, e.g. a coffee shop might be called “C F FROST P/L” on the map and it could be easily missed because you would never know it is a restaurant, unless you click into it, find out more details like address and phone number to confirm that is the coffee shop you are after.
I agree there are still some shops disappear on the map, it might happen to addresses like “136-138 ABC Rd” might be shown as “136138 ABC Rd”, and appear at the end of the road.
I am assuming it takes one hour to work out ten shops you would like to visit. So in this hour, you are earning $100/hr tax free. Time to visit such ten shops should not be considered in, as you have to visit them to get food or top up your Opal Card. I cannot imagine if the map is much easier to use, and your hourly earning will jump to $600/hr because it only takes ten minutes to find out ten shops you would like to go to. (And multiplied by N if you have more than one card registered! ) I am wondering what is your occupation to earn such a high hourly rate so you can complain such $100 x N /hr benefit.
I live in a tiny rural town. A couple of shops/cafes take AMEX and I’ll certainly be supporting them this weekend as a result of the promotion. A win win win. Good work AMEX.
Btw, the shop small map design is like s***, so hard to find any business and search, why can’t they just make it a little bit user friendly.
Many stores which I used last year are quit from the promo, so I guess this year I won’t get as much as last year.
And also you will find a lot of business which you were used a lot in last year’s promotion, they are gone in this year. Probably because Amex found out that people used these business to do one thing – recharge their OPAL card.
Because of the above, you will find this year you won’t have much to do with this offer.
But did I miss something or is there a link glitch pls, maybe an Amex one?
The registration link at “this page” above takes you to an Amex enroll site that says the offer’s finished. The article says you can register anytime in the promotional year, only really just started.
Would have loved to just register via PH, fast, get on.
Look forward to more PH info though as always.
Robyn