Your complete guide to shopping protections on American Express cards

Ryan is a former TPG credit cards writer who has been around points and miles for several years and has published content at Miles to Memories, AwardWallet and The Points Guy. His wife joins him on many of his trips, and they enjoy snowboarding, diving, and seeing animals in the wild. When not traveling, Ryan is probably answering questions from his family about how he travels so much and whether this points & miles stuff is illegal.

Ryan joined TPG in 2022 and works as a credit cards writer, overseeing refreshes of card reviews and updating card offers. He enjoys racking up cash back and helping readers maximize their points and miles for their next big trip.

The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don’t cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.

Editor's note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information.

Numerous American Express cards offer shopping protections that can protect your purchases and the money you've spent on them. Coverage terms and limits vary by card. Rather than trying to remember all of this on your own, we'll guide you through the various shopping protections offered by American Express cards.

This guide will provide a comprehensive, detailed look at the variety of shopping protections offered across the American Express card portfolio. Each section outlines a type of coverage and then the cards offering this coverage. Coverage limits will be included, as well.

Cellphone protection

Smartphones aren't cheap. Cellphone protection provides coverage for a stolen or damaged phone. Note that cosmetic damage and phones that are lost (even during shipping) are not covered.

All Amex cards with this benefit provide the same level of protection. If your phone is damaged or stolen, there is a maximum of $800 liability per claim. Each claim is subject to a $50 deductible, and coverage is limited to two claims per eligible account in a 12-month period. Covered phones are restricted to cellphone lines listed on a mobile phone plan paid with the eligible card during the most recent billing period.*

Here are the cards that include this protection:

• The Centurion® Card from American Express**
• The Business Centurion® Card from American Express**
• The Platinum Card® from American Express
• The Platinum Card® from American Express for Schwab**
• The Platinum Card® from American Express for Goldman Sachs**
• The Platinum Card® from American Express for Morgan Stanley**
• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
• American Express® Business Gold Card
• The Corporate Platinum Card® from American Express**
• The Corporate Centurion® Card from American Express**

*Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

**The information for these cards has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Extended warranty

When you use your eligible card to purchase items that come with a manufacturer's warranty, extended warranty protection can add up to one extra year to this warranty. Coverage applies to warranties of five years or less.

All Amex cards with this benefit provide the same level of protection. The extended warranty coverage is up to the actual amount charged to your card for the item, with a maximum of $10,000. There is an annual limit of $50,000 per cardmember account in a calendar year.*

Here are the cards that include this protection when you use them to purchase travel:

• American Express® Gold Card
• American Express® Green Card
• American Express® Business Gold Card
• The Platinum Card® from American Express
• The American Express Platinum Card® for Schwab**
• The Platinum Card® from American Express for Goldman Sachs**
• The Platinum Card® from American Express for Morgan Stanley**
• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
• The Plum Card® from American Express
• Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
• Hilton Honors American Express Card
• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
• Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card**
• The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card
• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
• Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card
• Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
• The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
• The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
• Business Green Rewards Card from American Express**
• Amazon Business Card**
• Amazon Business Prime Card**
• Lowe's Business Rewards Card**
• Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card**
• SimplyCash® Plus Business Credit Card**
• American Express® Gold Card for Ameriprise Financial**
• Schwab Investor Card® from American Express**
• Blue for Business® Credit Card**
• SimplyCash® Business Card**
• The Centurion® Card from American Express**
• Business Centurion® Card from American Express**
• One from American Express®**
• American Express® Business Purchase Account**
• American Express® Executive Business Card**
• American Express® Business Debit Card**
• Morgan Stanley Blue Cash Preferred® American Express Card**

*Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

**The information for these cards has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Return protection

Have you ever tried to return an item and the store or seller wouldn't take it back? In these instances, you can return eligible purchases to American Express for up to 90 days from the date of purchase.

With return protection, American Express may refund the full purchase price (excluding shipping and handling) up to $300 per item and up to a maximum of $1,000 per calendar year per card account. To be eligible, you must pay for the entirety of the item with your eligible American Express card, and purchases must be made in the U.S. or its territories.*

Here are the cards that provide return protection when using them for purchases:

• The Platinum Card® from American Express
• The Platinum Card® from American Express for Schwab**
• The Platinum Card® from American Express for Goldman Sachs**
• The Platinum Card® from American Express for Morgan Stanley**
• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
• The Business Centurion Card from American Express**
• The Centurion® Card from American Express**
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
• Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card**
• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
• Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
• The Plum Card® from American Express
• Amazon Business Card**
• Amazon Business Prime Card**
• Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card**
• Zync from American Express®**
• Morgan Stanley Blue Cash Preferred® American Express Card**

*Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details.

**The information for these cards has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Purchase protection

While the return protection allows you to return items, purchase protection is for items you want to keep but which have been accidentally damaged, stolen or lost during a period extending for up to 90 days from the purchase date. Purchase protection is an embedded card benefit and does not require enrollment.

This benefit has two different "levels" of coverage, depending on the card you carry.

Level 1: Higher-end cards

Cards at this level offer coverage with a limit up to $10,000 per occurrence and up to $50,000 per cardmember account per calendar year.*

The following cards provide this benefit:

• American Express® Gold Card
• American Express® Gold Card for Ameriprise Financial**
• The Platinum Card® from American Express
• The Platinum Card® from American Express for Schwab**
• The Platinum Card® from American Express for Goldman Sachs**
• The Platinum Card® from American Express for Morgan Stanley**
• The Centurion® Card from American Express**
• Business Centurion® Card from American Express**
• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
• Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card**
• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card

Level 2: Mid-tier cards

Other American Express cards offer purchase protection with a limit of up to $1,000 per occurrence and up to $50,000 per cardmember account per calendar year.*

Here are the cards that include this protection when you use them to pay for your items:

• American Express® Business Gold Card
• American Express® Green Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
• Hilton Honors American Express Card
• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
• The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card
• Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card
• Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
• The Plum Card® from American Express
• The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
• The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
• Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
• Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
• Business Green Rewards Card from American Express**
• Amazon Business Card**
• Amazon Business Prime Card**
• Lowe's Business Rewards Card**
• Cash Magnet® Card**
• Amex EveryDay® Credit Card**
• Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card**
• Blue from American Express®**
• SimplyCash® Plus Business Credit Card**
• American Express® Platinum Credit Card**
• American Express® Credit Card**
• One from American Express®**
• Zync from American Express®**
• Marriott Bonvoy™ American Express® Card**
• Schwab Investor Card® from American Express**
• Morgan Stanley Credit Card from American Express**
• Blue Cash® from American Express**
• American Express® Cash Rebate Credit Card**
• Blue Sky from American Express®**
• Clear from American Express®**
• Platinum Optima® Card**
• Optima® Card**
• Bluebird® American Express® Reloadable Prepaid Card**
• Blue for Business® Credit Card**
• SimplyCash® Business Card**
• Serve® American Express® Reloadable Prepaid Card**
• American Express® Executive Business Card**
• American Express® Business Purchase Account**
• American Express® Business Debit Card**
• Morgan Stanley Blue Cash Preferred® American Express Card**
• American Express® Debit Card**

*Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

**The information for these cards has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Bottom line

Understanding your card's shopping and purchasing benefits will help you know what to do if something goes wrong. American Express provides multiple shopping protections across its family of cards, protecting items you want to keep and those you want to return.

Coverage limits within the same benefit can vary by which card you have, so consult your card's detailed benefits at americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for full details.

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.