American Express David Jones Credit Card

If you’re not already a regular DJ’s customer, this card may well have just what it takes to convert you. The American Express David Jones Credit Card is designed to make you put David Jones at the top of your preferred department store list by rewarding you for shopping there, and strangely enough, also for not shopping there.

Attractive Membership Rewards points earning rate

The Membership Rewards points scheme available with this card is both flexible and gratifying. For starters, you can choose between earning American Express Membership Rewards points or Qantas Frequent Flyer points (converted at the rate of 1.0 Amex points = 0.5 QFF points). You can even switch between the two rewards schemes up to once a year if it suits you to do so.

There’s a tiered points earning system which, not surprisingly, encourages you to shop at David Jones, but also rewards you even more for shopping at major supermarkets and petrol stations. Here are the details for Amex Membership Rewards points:

• Purchases at major supermarkets & petrol stations: 3 points per dollar
• Purchases at DJs: 2 points per dollar
• Purchases everywhere else: 1 point per dollar

But don’t forget that the points conversion rate means that QFF points are earned at only 50% of the standard Amex points rate. So the QFF points earnings rate looks like this:

• Purchases at major supermarkets & petrol stations: 1.5 points per dollar
• Purchases at DJ:s 1.0 points per dollar
• Purchases everywhere else: 0.5 points per dollar

Whichever way you look at it, this is a great earnings rate for supermarket and fuel spending. The ‘everywhere else’ rate is not so good, but there is no penalty rate for spending at utilities, telcos and government bodies, so the overall rate is excellent, especially for devoted David Jones shoppers.

There’s no cap on the number of points you can earn, and points will never expire provided your card account is current.

1. Here’s the official list of major supermarkets and petrol stations: Bi-Lo, Coles, Fishers, Food For Less, Fresh Provisions, Harris Farm Markets, IGA, Macro Wholefoods, Safeway, Supabarn, Thomas Dux, Woolworths. Ampol, BP, Caltex Woolworths, Gull, Metro, Mobil, Peak, Safeway Petrol, Shell, United, Woolworths Petrol and 7 Eleven.

First purchase bonus points

It seems that David Jones and American Express are plugging the message that this is not just a DJ’s storecard, but an ‘everywhere’ credit card. So if you use the card for at least $750 in non-DJs purchases in the first three months of holding the card, you’ll be rewarded with 15,000 Amex points or 7,500 QFF points.

The bonus points offer is for new card members only, so is not available to existing David Jones American Express cardholders.

Redeeming points

If you choose to earn QFF points with this card you are probably already familiar with the Qantas Frequent Flyer scheme and its award flights and upgrades or gift cards and merchandise redemption options.

For those choosing Membership Rewards instead, the points can be used to shop online at David Jones (including purchasing DJs gift cards), or offset as a cash credit against your card account balance. Alternatively, you can simply choose to participate in the Amex Membership Rewards program. This last option lets you convert your points into retail gift cards or transfer them to the award flight programs of nine leading airlines (Air New Zealand, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Etihad, Malaysian Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, Virgin Australia and Virgin Atlantic) as well as Hilton and Marriott Bonvoy’s frequent guest programs.

David Jones loyalty benefits

Just in case you were forgetting that this is, in fact, a David Jones card, and a more rewarding alternative to a David Jones storecard, cardholders will get all the benefits of a David Jones’ VIP customer. These include:

• Up to four years interest free with no deposit when you spend at least $500 (in-store only) on homewares, furniture, bedding or electrical items (note the $35 credit establishment fee and $2.95 per month account keeping fee)
• ‘Fashion pay later’ option – three months deferred payment, interest free, when you spend at least $250 in-store on men’s or women’ fashion clothing, footwear or accessories
• Defer payment on your in-store Christmas purchases (1st November to 24th December) until 1st February, interest free
• Complimentary gift wrapping – particularly helpful at Christmas
• Free standard delivery for items purchased both in-store and online (excludes gift cards, hampers, fresh food, wine club, gift registry and large items)
• Special offers in-store for cardholders only
• Exclusive fashion events, previews and cardmember shopping events

Minimal insurance cover

This is a shopper’s card, not a traveller’s card, so it comes with purchase protection insurance only. You’ll get 90 days cover against theft of, or damage to, items purchased with your card. It includes items purchased anywhere in the world, not just at DJs and not just in Australia. Cover is limited to $3,000 per item and $20,000 per year.

American Express benefits

As the holder of an Amex card, you’ll automatically qualify for the Amex Connect program’s constantly updated discount offers on travel, entertainment, shopping and dining. And you’ll be welcome at American Express Invites lounges at theatres in Sydney and Brisbane.

Up-to-the-minute technology

When you’re indulging in a bit of retail therapy and your arms are weighed with down with DJ’s bags, there’s no need to fumble in your wallet. The card is compatible for use with Apple Pay, Samsung Pay and Google Pay, so you can choose to pay with your phone and leave the plastic at home.

How much does all this cost?

Since this is credit card, not just a store loyalty card, there is an annual fee attached, but $99 is reasonably competitive if you are a regular David Jones shopper, given the high points earning rates and other complimentary benefits. To encourage you to add family members to your account, there is no charge for supplementary cards in the first year, but after that you’ll pay $29 per year for each extra card.

The purchase interest rate for unpaid balances is 20.74%, well and truly high enough to discourage cardholders from running a balance except on rare occasions. There is no cash advance or balance transfer option with this card, and the interest-free days on purchases work out at up to 44 days, not the more competitive 55 days offered by some cards.

Are there any other options?

If you really are a dyed-in-the-wool DJs shopper, it might be worthwhile looking at the more rewarding (but more expensive) American Express David Jones Platinum Credit Card. For a more down-to-earth store card, consider the Woolworths Qantas Platinum Credit Card or the Coles Rewards Mastercard.

Yes, it’s a card for David Jones shoppers, but . . .

Although this is a card which is more likely to appeal to metropolitan area residents within easy reach of a David Jones store, the supermarket and service station rewards earning rates will still hold some appeal even if you never set foot inside a department store. Remember too that you can earn a higher points rate as well as free delivery and purchase protection insurance by shopping at DJs online.