Starwood Preferred Guest - New SPG member questions

First of all, I never received any Starwood card with the member number. I've gotten the SPG Amex about a month ago and I had to call them to find out my member number and enroll at spg.com.

Second, I've paid my first bill. Supposedly I'm to get 6000 points with my first purchase. Does that have to be first puchase at a Starwood property or any purchase with the Amex? I signed up to get up to 12k points in the first year with 10 stays. Does that include stays booked at the best available rates on spg.com or just the Rack rate? Do incidentals you spend like high-speed Internet access or restaurant bills added to your hotel bill or parking count towards the double points you get?

Third, I got the SPG50 coupon which expires at the end of this year. I've tried various dates and various locations at spg.com entering the SPG50 code in the left side, after setting the popup menu to the Promotional Rate. But whenever I do that, it returns an error saying I have to change. So blanking out the fields gets rid of the error. I tried calling to see if I was doing it right and the Starwood phone rep. said it was correct but that the properties she checked for me has blackout dates on the SPG50 coupon. So I kept trying some other properties, closer to home, since I wasn't able to get the dates or the rates I wanted for an upcoming trip to NYC. Still nothing.

Fourth, I see that people are staying a couple of dozen times or more to get special status, like Gold or Platinum. Does this go by dollar amount spent or any stays at any Starwood property listed at SPG.com? Because there are properties whose rates are well under $100 in some sleepy burbs by where I live (near San Jose).

Fifth, what are these Folios people are talking about?

Second, I've paid my first bill. Supposedly I'm to get 6000 points with my first purchase. Does that have to be first puchase at a Starwood property or any purchase with the Amex? Any purchase. Note, though, that signup bonus points are notorious for not posting, you may need to do alot of followup to get what is due to you. This refers to both the points with first purchase and points for staying at Starwood properties.

Does that include stays booked at the best available rates on spg.com or just the Rack rate? Any rate will do, in fact in my experience any charges originating at a Starwood property will do -- so the cash part of a cash & points stay may trigger the bonus, as will just incidentals on an award stay or even eating at a restaurant at a Starwood property. But YMMV.

Do incidentals you spend like high-speed Internet access or restaurant bills added to your hotel bill or parking count towards the double points you get?You don't really get double points -- just the 1 point per dollar on the Starwood card plus your regular Starwood points earned for hotel spending. Note that some things don't earn SPG points, e.g. parking or gift shop purchases.

http://www.starwoodhotels.com/preferredguest/terms_conditions.html#2
Starpoints will be awarded for eligible charges ("Eligible Charges") on your room account based on the U.S. dollars or equivalent spent on eligible room rate, food and beverage, direct dialed telephone, laundry/valet, and in-room movies only. You will also earn Starpoints for food and beverage charges of US$10 or more in participating Starwood dining outlets, even if you are not a registered guest, when you present your membership card. Other charges such as parking, business center, retail stores, greens fees, etc, as well as taxes, gratuities, service charges and other applicable charges, such as energy charges, resort fees, etc, are not eligible for Starpoints credit. Starpoints are not awarded on alcoholic beverage purchases where prohibited by law.
Third, I got the SPG50 coupon which expires at the end of this year. I've tried various dates and various locations at spg.com entering the SPG50 code in the left side, after setting the popup menu to the Promotional Rate. But whenever I do that, it returns an error saying I have to change. So blanking out the fields gets rid of the error. I tried calling to see if I was doing it right and the Starwood phone rep. said it was correct but that the properties she checked for me has blackout dates on the SPG50 coupon. So I kept trying some other properties, closer to home, since I wasn't able to get the dates or the rates I wanted for an upcoming trip to NYC. Still nothing.
First, the SPG50 rate plan cannot be booked online. Even if there's availability at a property you won't pull it up on the website. Second the rate is not availability at all properties or on all dates. And note that it is 50% off of rack rate, so is often not the lowest available rate.. just sometimes.

Fourth, I see that people are staying a couple of dozen times or more to get special status, like Gold or Platinum. Does this go by dollar amount spent or any stays at any Starwood property listed at SPG.com? Because there are properties whose rates are well under $100 in some sleepy burbs by where I live (near San Jose).# of stays or # of nights, not $$$ spent.

Gold = 10 stays or 25 nights

Platinum = 25 stays or 50 nights

Fifth, what are these Folios people are talking about?THat's just your hotel bill, save it in case points don't post so you can fax in for credit...

My 6,000 points showed up sometime over the weekend. Took about ten days from the date of the first charge, to post.

The charge was an online purchase of running shoes, BTW.