American Express Membership Rewards - Using Amex to buy VISA gift cards?

Does anyone have any ideas how I can buy VISA gift cards with an American Ex CC that will...
A.) go thru as a purchase instead of a cash advance
B.) not have undue high charges

or let me rephrase in case there are other option

I need to pay for some things with an online company that does not accept AX, and I want the "purchases" to end up on my AX. Any other inderect ways anyone can think of?

Thanks mucho for any suggestions folks

Mike

Does anyone have any ideas how I can buy VISA gift cards with an American Ex CC that will...
A.) go thru as a purchase instead of a cash advance
B.) not have undue high charges

or let me rephrase in case there are other option

I need to pay for some things with an online company that does not accept AX, and I want the "purchases" to end up on my AX. Any other inderect ways anyone can think of?

Thanks mucho for any suggestions folks

Mike
if the world was perfect ;)

Does anyone have any ideas how I can buy VISA gift cards with an American Ex CC that will...
A.) go thru as a purchase instead of a cash advance
B.) not have undue high charges

or let me rephrase in case there are other option

I need to pay for some things with an online company that does not accept AX, and I want the "purchases" to end up on my AX. Any other inderect ways anyone can think of?

Thanks mucho for any suggestions folks

Mike

PayPal may be an option for you. You can register your AMEX and use it through PayPal. Many online companies accept PayPal.

fuzz

Sorry, duplicate post.

So is there a way or not? I am in the same dilemma- my rent can only be paid with Visa/Discover/echeck. I would like to use amex. If I buy a visa GC at say a grocery store where they sell them, anybody know how it will be rung up?

you could get a paypal acount that can be linked to ur amex, then you request one of those paypal visa debt cards, and setup the amex as ur backup funds source in ur paypal account, i haven't tried this but u think this could be a possible solution.. =)

i dont think that will work with paypal.

but buyinga gift card from a store i think they only take cash... but im not 100% sure on that one.

Id love to pay all my suppliers with amex id get some crAZy points quick

you could get a paypal acount that can be linked to ur amex, then you request one of those paypal visa debt cards, and setup the amex as ur backup funds source in ur paypal account, i haven't tried this but u think this could be a possible solution.. =)


That would not work either. Paypal debit card is MC first off and backup funds cannot be credit cards. From paypal-

"You can choose a confirmed bank account or your PayPal Plus Credit Card or PayPal Buyer Credit balance as a backup funding source for your PayPal Debit Card.

To use a confirmed bank account as a backup funding source, you must have a credit card added, (and have completed the Expanded Use Process, if applicable).

To use PayPal Plus Credit Card or PayPal Buyer Credit, you must complete the application and be approved."

I had toyed with the idea of using convenience checks, but those are not eligible for MR points. Even if they were eligible, the fees involved would negate any benefit

i dont think that will work with paypal.

but buyinga gift card from a store i think they only take cash... but im not 100% sure on that one.

Id love to pay all my suppliers with amex id get some crAZy points quick

As far as I can tell, the max you can load up a visa GC with is $500. Unfortunately my rent is much more than that. Grocery stores like Safeway (I think even Target) have started stocking various gift cards and I am pretty sure that they would take an Amex as payment.

Look as if for now I will have to keep using my parents discover and getting cash back from them at the end of every year. With the 2% I get close to 40 bucks cash back a month. I just prefer MR points cause they add up quicker to Intl F tickets :)

OP- this might for you if you are making a relatively small (>500) purchase.

The credit card companies spend a lot of time preventing exactly what you're trying to do. Not that there haven't been loopholes, but they're quick to plug them.

Visa/MC/Amex gift cards have a service charge, which as you might expect, is far more than the value of any miles you'd get.

I'm still checking- mostly dead ends, but was wondering something.

If I buy AX TCs with the card, is it a purchase or a cash advance? Where can I buy AX TCs other than from AX itself?

Btw, have seen some VU cards that are loadable to 2.5K

Mike

You may accomplish your purpose by purchasing an American Express Traveller's Cheque Card, withdrawing currency from ATMs and using currency to buy the gift cards, but there are important caveats.

1. You cannot earn Membership Rewards points on the purchase of a TCC. I know you can earn SPG Starpoints, and I believe you could also earn Delta miles, Hilton HHonors points, JetBlue dollars.

2. It will cost you about 1% of the value to withdraw the funds from ATM. Maximum withdrawal is $400 per day, Amex will charge $2.50 and the ATM owner will charge something, say $1.50.

3. American Express monitors the activity on these cards and will simply close the account if it appears you are churning by reloading and immediately withdrawing the funds. If the amount you need is modest and you can withdraw at a leisurely pace so that American Express has the use of your money it may work ongoing, but if you fund $2,500 withdraw $400 on six consecutive days, reload as soon as permitted, and repeat you'll be done after a few cycles.

dennis