Jan 6, 2016, 6:02 pm
Last edit by: ChrisFlyer66
Simon mall gift cards(2016)
Jan 11, 2016, 11:31 am
#46
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: MDW
Programs: WN (CP 6x, A+ 2x), Marriott (LT Titanium), Hyatt Explorer, Hertz PC, UA/*A Silver
Posts: 425
Took my wife and her new Ink+ business card to the SM I've been going to for 6 months. The CSR's know me there, as well. Tried to buy 3K in VGC, and when using the new chip reading terminal, it just sat there for some time thinking, then spit out some terminal ID error. Manager was called down, who also recognizes me, and tells me they no longer can accept Business CC for personal VGC purchase. 
The system is hard-coded for that, and that's why it froze.
The system is hard-coded for that, and that's why it froze.
Jan 11, 2016, 12:01 pm
#48
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: LAX, LGB, SNA
Programs: AA EXP OWE, DL DM ST+, AS MVPG, UA, BA, WN CP, Hyatt E, Ritz Plat, HH GM
Posts: 3,185
Could just be that one business card, like amex plat business. And yes they can be very specific.
Jan 11, 2016, 1:22 pm
#49
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: NYC
Posts: 415
Possibly it was a FA alert that froze the terminal? Once the card declined, the terminal got stuck.
Jan 11, 2016, 2:54 pm
#50
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Midwest
Programs: Delta PM, Hhonors Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 114
One more data point on the email...
Went and bought 3.5k at my local Simon Mall in ATL, today. Rep knows me well. First thing she says to me is, "I heard y'all got shut down!" There was an email that was sent out to all Simon Info Booth people this morning... I told her I wasn't aware of what she meant.
She went on to say that she now knows what we're all doing, and that they call us "Gamers" (I think she meant "Churners") and that AMEX had just shut down our game, per the email. I asked her the reason for the email and was told that it was to reiterate that they would not refund any previously purchased gift cards. Like duh. She also said she was sad because she'd formed a relationship with some of us regulars. Anyway, I told her I wasn't there for the AMEX thing (kinda). But, they're very aware now... as if they weren't before. Not sure what affect this will have on anything.
Went and bought 3.5k at my local Simon Mall in ATL, today. Rep knows me well. First thing she says to me is, "I heard y'all got shut down!" There was an email that was sent out to all Simon Info Booth people this morning... I told her I wasn't aware of what she meant.
She went on to say that she now knows what we're all doing, and that they call us "Gamers" (I think she meant "Churners") and that AMEX had just shut down our game, per the email. I asked her the reason for the email and was told that it was to reiterate that they would not refund any previously purchased gift cards. Like duh. She also said she was sad because she'd formed a relationship with some of us regulars. Anyway, I told her I wasn't there for the AMEX thing (kinda). But, they're very aware now... as if they weren't before. Not sure what affect this will have on anything.
Jan 12, 2016, 11:09 pm
#52
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: a hotel room, somewhere...
Posts: 962
yeah, he's the one we all have on ignore! stop quoting his posts! lol
Jan 12, 2016, 11:15 pm
#53
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: a hotel room, somewhere...
Posts: 962
i've now had 3 cards over the past couple months that don't work anywhere. when you call the # it's fine. the card isn't 'frozen' like with trying a PIN too many times, or the like. when SM scans the card it looks normal to them. but it's unusable anywhere. they don't even scan. iow, as soon as you swipe it there is a 'card error' type pop up. using a receipt tape wrapped around (a trick when to make a semi-messed up magnetic strip work) doesn't work either.
only solution is to go back and have the manager (at least at my SM) void it and get a new one- a pita for all parties.
only solution is to go back and have the manager (at least at my SM) void it and get a new one- a pita for all parties.
Jan 12, 2016, 11:27 pm
#54
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: a hotel room, somewhere...
Posts: 962
the only thing that could possibly save it would be the few major liquidation avenues going poof- also something that is likely. one day we'll wake up and walmart will have done to meta/us bank what they did to vanilla (rip) and that'll drive a lot of the masses away. when walmart falls, the few other remaining MO options will get inundated, hastening their demise as well.
i could be wrong. i hope i am. BB lasted a year longer than i thought it would. there's way too many of the 90 IQ crowd at every turn now doing dumb stuff and just the sheer volume increase. i was 1 of a couple before @ simon. now i'm one of about 25 regulars and many more 'once in a while's' @ 1 simon i go to.
Jan 13, 2016, 1:27 am
#55
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SJC
Programs: AA, AS, Marriott
Posts: 6,060
look when I wanted to buy thousands in cards. 
Jan 13, 2016, 5:09 am
#56
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 292
Was shown the email.. Asked for a printout and was told "no". We're "loyalty point gamers" in the Simon system. Basically, they dump large quantities of seasonal and the generic/fashion cards on us...
Jan 13, 2016, 7:39 am
#58
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IAH
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt Ist-iest, Stariott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,790
Meh. As long as they keep selling them to me/us. Given the demise of Serve, my Simon volume is going to be going down in the near term.
Jan 13, 2016, 8:52 am
#59
formerly mattrendell27
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: DFW
Posts: 162
PIN
so I'm planning on my buying a large amount of SMGC's this weekend and liquidating via MO. I usually buy VGC at grocery stores or CVS but this time I'm just trying to meet a spending threshold (no need for bonus category location) so I figure might as well save some purchasing fees. I know of some good Simon's I've bought from before but my last SMGC purchase was last September.
Just wanted to make sure they still come with PIN that can be set by calling the number on the back of the card?
Just wanted to make sure they still come with PIN that can be set by calling the number on the back of the card?
Jan 13, 2016, 8:55 am
#60
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: MDW
Programs: WN (CP 6x, A+ 2x), Marriott (LT Titanium), Hyatt Explorer, Hertz PC, UA/*A Silver
Posts: 425
so I'm planning on my buying a large amount of SMGC's this weekend and liquidating via MO. I usually buy VGC at grocery stores or CVS but this time I'm just trying to meet a spending threshold (no need for bonus category location) so I figure might as well save some purchasing fees. I know of some good Simon's I've bought from before but my last SMGC purchase was last September.
Just wanted to make sure they still come with PIN that can be set by calling the number on the back of the card?
Just wanted to make sure they still come with PIN that can be set by calling the number on the back of the card?