American Express Offers Tips on How Consumers Can Protect Their Holiday Purchases and Guarantee the Best Value.

Business Editors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 19, 2001

The holiday shopping season is wrapping up and as consumers select the perfect gifts they will also be looking to get the most value for their money.

In fact, some consumers may already have more value than they realize. For example, consumers who plan to use a charge or credit card to pay for last minute holiday purchases - and perhaps a few post-holiday bargains - should look at the benefits and services they receive free of charge as Cardmembers. Using the right charge or credit card can provide consumers with a variety of benefits that will protect holiday purchases well into the new year.

According to the 2001 American Express Retail Index on holiday shopping, 57 percent of shoppers will use credit cards to pay for holiday purchases, up from 52 percent last year. It's wise to choose a card with features that will protect purchases against damage and theft, extend manufacturer's warranties and guarantee the lowest prices.

American Express (NYSE:AXP) offers Cardmembers (1) a variety of retail insurance programs - at no extra cost - that will help them protect items purchased and paid for with their American Express(R) Card:

-- Safeguard Holiday Purchases. Cardmembers can breathe easier knowing that
many of the items they purchase are protected when paid for on the Card. The
Purchase Protection Plan (2) provides added protection for accidental damage to
or theft of covered items (including clothing, footwear, electronic equipment
and miscellaneous accessories such as prescription eyeglasses), purchased with
the Card for 90 days from the date of purchase. Coverage is limited to $1,000
per occurrence, $50,000 per Cardmember account per policy year, in excess of
other sources of insurance.

-- Enjoy Your Purchases Longer. Extend warranties for free. Cardmembers may not
need to buy additional warranties on major purchases made with their Card.
Buyer's Assurance Plan (2) extends the terms of the original manufacturer's
warranty on covered products for a period of time equal to the duration of the
original manufacturer's warranty, up to one additional year. Covered products
include electronic equipment such as cameras, stereos and computers and
household items such as washing machines and refrigerators purchased entirely
on the Card, on U.S. warranties of five years or less. Coverage is limited to
eligible products costing up to $10,000 or less, excluding taxes, up to $5,000
per Cardmember account per policy year.

-- You can Return it even if the store won't take it back. Return Protection
offers many Cardmembers (3) guaranteed product satisfaction on covered items
purchased entirely with the American Express Card. If a Cardmember tries to
return a designated item within 90 days from the date of purchase and the store
won't take it back, American Express will refund the Cardmember's account for
the full purchase price, up to $300 per item, and up to a maximum of $1,000
annually per Cardmember account.

-- It's Never too Late to Get the Lowest Price. Best Value Guarantee ensures
that most Cardmembers (3) will pay the lowest price available on covered items
purchased entirely with their American Express Card. If, within 60 days, a
Cardmember sees an identical item to the one purchased with the Card advertised
in print (i.e. newspaper, magazine, periodical, journal or store flyer) at a
lower price than originally paid, they can initiate a claim and once the
request is approved, American Express will credit the price difference, up to
$250 per item.

-- Shop conveniently - and Safely - Online. The 2001 American Express Retail
Index found that 42 percent of consumers will do at least some shopping online
this holiday season and may continue to shop year round. The Online Fraud
Protection Guarantee protects consumers who shop on the Internet with their
American Express Card by guaranteeing that they will not be held responsible
for any unauthorized charges.

For more information about any of these or other American Express products and services, visit www.americanexpress.com.

1) All Consumer and Small Business Cardmembers with Cards issued

from the U.S. and who are residing in the United States,

Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands are eligible with the

exception of Optima Line of Credit Accounts and Small Business

Line of Credit Accounts. Middle and Large Market Corporate

Accounts are not eligible for this service.

2) Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company, Administrative Office,

Greenbay, WI. Coverage is subject to the terms, conditions and

exclusions of Policy AX0951 / AX0953.

3) For Gold Card, Rewards Plus Gold Card, Platinum Card(R),

Centurion(R) Card, Fidelity American Express Gold Card,

Fidelity American Express Platinum Card, Blue from American 

Express(SM), American Express Credit Card, Optima(R) Buyer's

Bonus Card, Classic Optima linked to a Gold or Platinum Card,

Optima Platinum Card, Platinum Delta Skymiles(R) Card, Gold

Corporate Card and Corporate Platinum Card, Corporate

Centurion Card.