MilesBuzz! - Home Depot Cash-Advance Game Ending

Sad news for all of us who have played the cash-advance-for-miles game at Home Depot...they will quit giving cash advances on Gift Certificates effective tomorrow, Sept. 3. This news just came from a local store manager, who did not know at what time on Sept. 3 the change would occur.

The game was that you purchased a $100 gift certificate with your mileage credit card, then used the GC to buy something small that you needed. According to Home Depot's rules, they would give you cash back for the difference.

Ref: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum1/HTML/004517-2.html

It was fun while it lasted, since you could get miles for cash advances and simultaneously avoid ATM fees when you needed cash.

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Middle_Seat

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Middle_Seat:
Sad news for all of us who have played the cash-advance-for-miles game at Home Depot...they will quit giving cash advances on Gift Certificates effective tomorrow, Sept. 3.
</font>

Did he say what the alternative will be? Will they let you use the card multiple times until it's all used up, or force you to use it all at once?

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by cordelli:
Did he say what the alternative will be? Will they let you use the card multiple times until it's all used up, or force you to use it all at once?
</font>

Sorry, (s)he did not say how it would work in the future. And, I did not look on the back of the GC package to see if there was any change in the text.


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Middle_Seat

It was great while it lasted. It always seemed very strange to me to be getting $90 change from a $100 gift certicate. I guess it finally seemed strange to Home Depot as well.

There was a thread a couple of months ago about discounted gift certs for Home Depot. It was through a program called Simple Rewards or something like that (I do remember that Readers Digest owned part of the company). The gift certs were 20% off in a rather complex rebate program. Did anyone try the 30 day trial and buy Home Depot certs?

Man, missed out on a neat trick! I always need something small at Home Depot. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif (Actually, probably always want to spend quite a few bucks there, but I try to *keep* it to something small.)

Anyway, slight topic drift, but since Dave asked about discounted certs I thought I would point out that Home Depot gift certs are one of the awards (probably one of the better ones, though that's a matter of preference) you can get in MyPoints. Since I've so far gotten all my points in that program without buying anything, to me it's like free money at Home Depot (or Barnes and Noble, etc). http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Middle_Seat:
[B]Sad news for all of us who have played the cash-advance-for-miles game at Home Depot/B]</font>

But, good news for us stockholders!! That game and HD's practice of refunds in cash on card purchases always rankled me.

Does anyone know of any other nation brand stores where one can get cash back on a GC? Sears and Blockbusters have GC's - but they have 'stored value' so one cannot get extra miles. What made Home Depot so great was they took AmEx and I could get double miles.
Guess I'll go there today one last time for any GC's they still may be selling.

In most stores you can get a small amount of cash back from a gift certificate, if it's less than $5 for instance. Otherwise they would issue more store credit if you didn't use the entire value. With those cards, though, I don't know. Since they store the value in there electronically, it probably avoids altogether the idea of getting cash back from them. Though apparently these cards were in use at Home Depot and still they gave cash back. I don't know why that should be. Those cards should be able to be used over and over again deducting whatever necessary value.

Indeed this is very very sad!!!
This schem helped me when i was in Livonia running out of cash!!

Oh well...good things always end..



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Albert

Some of the larger shopping malls offer gift certificates that one may use at any of the stores in the mall. Last Christmas, I received one of these for $50 at a large mall in Northern Virginia, purchased something for $12 and receievd the rest of the change in cash. Not sure if the giver paid cash or used a credit card or paid cash, but there was no notation on the gift certificate. I believe cash is given since it would be difficult to equip every store with the ability to offer a "mall credit" for the balance.

This may be an option for those of you who find that this is no longer possible at Home Depot. With a shopping mall, you can cash certificates at multiple stores without making multiple purchases at the same store. Also, you would have multiple options if some stores are more strict on giving back cash.

Hope this helps.

I have tried the programs where you can buy Home Depot GC for 20% off. The way it works is send and pay (via CC) for the $25 GC and at the end of the next month you get a $5 credit back to your CC. I bought a bunch from Home Depot (since you can always find stuff you need there). I haven't seen the rebate yet, but I'm sure it will come shortly. The program was called HomeWorks. don't have details with me.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by GYK:
I have tried the programs where you can buy Home Depot GC for 20% off. The way it works is send and pay (via CC) for the $25 GC and at the end of the next month you get a $5 credit back to your CC. I bought a bunch from Home Depot (since you can always find stuff you need there). I haven't seen the rebate yet, but I'm sure it will come shortly. The program was called HomeWorks. don't have details with me.</font>

GYK, I wonder whether the company cited in the following thread is coordinating the HomeWorks program - ?

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum122/HTML/001047.html


Please let us know of details regarding your experience, particularly if the 20% credit does get applied, & in the ~timeframe cited. Thanks in advance...

Getting a 20% rebate for Home Depot GCs was the primary reason for my posting the inquiry I did in the referenced thread.

Yes, the 20% does get applied. The time frame that it gets applied depends on when you order your certificates. In any case, in whatever month you order the 20% is applied back to your credit card at the end of the month.

For example, if you bought $100 worth at the beginning of August (you would earn $20 for this order) and then you order another $100 on August 28 (for another $20 in rebate), the $40 should post by the end of August, or in the beginning of September.

I can confirm this because I ordered all my gift cert's from them from August 20 of this year on, and I got the rebate posted to my credit card on September 4, just a few days ago.

hoangb, w/ what program did you sign up (i.e. specific name that was used)? I'm just wondering...

Does the program that you signed up w/ have a yearly limit re: $ amount total for GCs purchased?

Thanks for the post re: confirming that the rebate gets applied, & in ~the next month.

Thanks for sending me the link to the thread about Simple Rewards, it was the one I was thinking about. Unfortunately, in trying to link to their site, first, up comes a security certificate warning. Ignoring that and attempting to sign up for he 30 day trial gets yet another error message.

I posted the original message of this thread, describing how a store manager-type told me that cash-back for gift certificates at Home Depot would end on Sept. 4.

Well...today I was at Home Depot and asked the cashier if they still gave cash back. He said yes, so I bought a $100 GC, then bought a door stop (I needed it) and got $97 cash back.

Perhaps they are going to use up all the remaining GC's with the cash-back information on the package?

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Middle_Seat

ILTE_miles,

The program I signed up with is called Homeworks. They had actually contacted over the telephone. I think you can sign up online. I think it is www.homeworks.com (http://www.homeworks.com) or www.homeworks123.com. (http://www.homeworks123.com.) Try both. Otherwise, try the member services phone # 877-234-1684.


Yes, there are annual limits with regard to the number of GC's that you can purchase. They actually offer a lot of home and garden type certificates, including Kmart, JC Penny, Home Depot, and so on. For each there is a limit of 10 $25 certificates.

The person who began this thread got bad information!

Been to several HD's this month including a brand new store.

In fact, the packaging of the gift cards have been changed to allow easier removal of the cards so the cashier can activate.

New cards specifically state it is a one time use card and the balance refunded in cash.

Denominations available are $10, $25, $50, & $100.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by chix:
The person who began this thread got bad information!</font>

I started this thread, based upon information direct from a "management-type" at my local Home Depot. I am delighted if I was wrong!

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Middle_Seat

Here's another neat deal. AMC Movie theaters sells gift certificates in 5 increments of $2. These can be used for movie tickets, conession stand purchases, etc. Other day, bought popcorn for $2.50 and was given $1.50 back after submitting 2 $2 gift certificates.

Now my purchases on popcorn and milk duds earn miles at the local movies! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif
Also great if you combine with www.moviewatcher.com- (http://www.moviewatcher.com-) where you get frequent viewing points for free tickets and best of all- free popcorn on Wednesdays!


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"Fly me to the moon and let me earn alot of miles."

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by worldbanker:
Now my purchases on popcorn and milk duds earn miles at the local movies! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif
Also great if you combine with www.moviewatcher.com- (http://www.moviewatcher.com-) where you get frequent viewing points for free tickets and best of all- free popcorn on Wednesdays!

</font>

Yeah, but there go the miles for the popcorn! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I went in to HD the other day to purchase $1500 in gift cards and was told by a supervisor that the card has to be have $5 or less remaining to recieve cash back.So I bought only $500 as I know that I will use them. What is this all about? I was getting a kick out of buying for miles, depositing the money to earn interest then paying the bill. What is Lowes policy?

had no problem getting cash this afternoon.. $95 and $98...

even if you can only get back cash with $5 remaining on a card, returning something expensive will still yield cash, no?

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Mileage Schemer:
had no problem getting cash this afternoon.. $95 and $98...

even if you can only get back cash with $5 remaining on a card, returning something expensive will still yield cash, no?</font>

Correct.

Sometimes a cashier will "discourage" getting more than $5 back. They might do that because they don't have much cash in their drawer or they are not in a good mood (ask them to read the terms of the card on the back).

All they have to do is get an increase in cash from the back office.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Mileage Schemer:

even if you can only get back cash with $5 remaining on a card, returning something expensive will still yield cash, no?</font>

Today, I decided to stop by HD and check it out myself. Then I used a few of them at a Home Depot Expo.... when I tried to return the stuff I purchased, I was told that since it was purchased w/ a giftcard, it can only be refunded for merchandize credit. (is there such a policy??? I couldn't found it anywhere on the return policy) So.... I returned most of the stuff I bought and used the credit to buy something I really need.... was able to cash out a couple hundred dollars of GC today =)

jsy9999

Can still get cash back at HD here in PHX. But they are now very strict on requiring a receipt for refunds, and will only give store credit or reverse CC charges if original purchase was with a CC.

I Bought Macys dept store GCs online, they issue paper GCs and not the gift card, I always get cash back.. Also... Purchase a $2000+ Suite at Neimun marcus, on mile card, and return on a check card... You didn't hear this from me.

who else uses 1-time-only GC? Now may be a good time to rack up some miles during the Double SkyMile promotion http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by jsy9999:
who else uses 1-time-only GC? Now may be a good time to rack up some miles during the Double SkyMile promotion http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif</font>

FYI - Home Depot qualifies as a "hardware store or home improvement store".

"Hardware or home improvement" stores always get the double miles on AMEX Delta!!!!

Just trying to confirm that the HD's GCs are in fact still going to be the same after talking to a local manager here in Charlotte area. He has no knowledge of the GCs changing. However, he did say that the 100s GCs go really fast and have a very quick turn around back to the store. He does not understand why people buy GCs like this.

Guess he doesn't know about us http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

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Albert

Stopped by Home Depot in downtown Atlanta this weekend and picked up a few more of those GCs... the cashier told me that starting Monday, I would not be able to get cash back for the remainder of the gift certificates. Instead, store credit will be issued. I spoke to the manager and he confirmed this. He said that they see many people have been redeeming them for cash the day those GCs were bought (hmmm...I wonder who!)

The thing about store credit seem to contradict with what it says on the GC... anyone else can confirm this?

jsy9999

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by jsy9999:
Stopped by Home Depot in downtown Atlanta this weekend and picked up a few more of those GCs... the cashier told me that starting Monday, I would not be able to get cash back for the remainder of the gift certificates. Instead, store credit will be issued. I spoke to the manager and he confirmed this. He said that they see many people have been redeeming them for cash the day those GCs were bought (hmmm...I wonder who!)

The thing about store credit seem to contradict with what it says on the GC... anyone else can confirm this?

jsy9999</font>

The T&C on the back of the cards specifically state they are one time use and the balance is refunded in cash.

This store manager evidently has his own policies and is in his own dream world... Surely he is saying that because that is what he wishes would happen.

At any rate, we've heard this before... If they want to change this policy they have to print up a brand new format of gift card.

Yesterday I was shopping at Home Depot and noticed that the Gift Certificates are different. They look different, and the wording on the back indicates that there is no cash-back option.

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Middle_Seat

That's not good middleseat, this is in your homebase?

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by afang:
That's not good middleseat, this is in your homebase?</font>

Yep, the south Home Depot in Austin, Texas.

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Middle_Seat

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Middle_Seat:
Yesterday I was shopping at Home Depot and noticed that the Gift Certificates are different. They look different, and the wording on the back indicates that there is no cash-back option.</font>

Same new gift cards are available in Yonkers, NY. No cash back option. Fortunutately, I had one of the old ones left. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif Going to have to find an old stock at another HD.

The old stock has been destroyed or replaced.

The game is over....

Sniff, sniff.

I think I was the first one "discover" this method of miles and post it on FlyerTalk. Now, I am all choked up...and looking for alternatives. I wonder about the gift cards at the bookstores...but at Home Depot there was ALWAYS something I could buy.

sniff