Jan 9, 2016, 6:55 pm
Last edit by: ChrisFlyer66
This wiki is to an old thread and is no longer current and is no longer being maintained and/or updated.
Note: the 2015 version of the thread is here: New to Manufactured spending? Start Here(2015)
The 2017 discussion is here: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manufactured-spending/1812407-new-manufactured-spending-start-here-2017-a.html#post27694982
Welcome to Manufactured Spending. If you are new here, please spend some time reading before posting. Most likely your questions have already been answered multiple times. Consider deals that you share. These threads are searchable by Google. A volatile deal may be worth holding close to the vest.
Hints
1) On FT, topics are heavily consolidated. Sometimes the title of the thread and first few posts may not properly reflect the broad range of discussion inside the thread. Be sure to visit any thread relating to the product or service you want to learn more about because you might be surprised by how in depth the discussion really is. High "View Count" and "Replies" are good indicators of active "master threads" on a specific topic.
2) Use Google to search FT. It works a lot better than the built-in search.
Important Rules
1) MSing is very YMMV. It varies by store, manager, and right down to the cashier working at the moment. That being said, always be nice and courteous in the face of rejection. The biggest secret for success is to lay low so you can try again.
2) DO NOT spend more than you can afford. START WITH SMALL AMOUNTS TO TEST THE WATER! As an example.. don't start with a $5000 purchase of VGCs if you can't afford to float that much! Instead, buy one and try it, and scale up once you are comfortable with a new method. It's easy to lose track, or get robbed, when you are handling so much money. Getting a refund is NOT always possible.
3) DO NOT ask employees, cashiers, customer service representatives, etc... about how to MS, or about things you read on this forum. The information you read here are very specific, unknown, legal uses of products or services. Most employees, cashiers, and even managers do not know about them. At best you'll get bad information. At worst you'll create a lot of unnecessary misunderstanding.
4) It bears repeating that there are no guarantees. you could easily buy $10,000 in gift cards or some other instrument, only to discover that your method for liquidating them vanishes the very next day. MS is not "normal" financial activity ("normal" being defined by the banks), and thus is often perceived as "suspicious" even if it is legal.
5) never underestimate the risk of criminal activity. gift cards can easily be stolen, loaded onto a compromised account, loaded in a debit card skimmer, or even fraudulent (e.g., an already used card put back on the rack).
If you have a question that does not seem to fit anywhere, or you have not found an appropriate place for it, post it here.
- A helpful note from seat17D about some of the inherent risks of MS
Note: the 2015 version of the thread is here: New to Manufactured spending? Start Here(2015)
The 2017 discussion is here: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manufactured-spending/1812407-new-manufactured-spending-start-here-2017-a.html#post27694982
Welcome to Manufactured Spending. If you are new here, please spend some time reading before posting. Most likely your questions have already been answered multiple times. Consider deals that you share. These threads are searchable by Google. A volatile deal may be worth holding close to the vest.
Hints
1) On FT, topics are heavily consolidated. Sometimes the title of the thread and first few posts may not properly reflect the broad range of discussion inside the thread. Be sure to visit any thread relating to the product or service you want to learn more about because you might be surprised by how in depth the discussion really is. High "View Count" and "Replies" are good indicators of active "master threads" on a specific topic.
2) Use Google to search FT. It works a lot better than the built-in search.
Important Rules
1) MSing is very YMMV. It varies by store, manager, and right down to the cashier working at the moment. That being said, always be nice and courteous in the face of rejection. The biggest secret for success is to lay low so you can try again.
2) DO NOT spend more than you can afford. START WITH SMALL AMOUNTS TO TEST THE WATER! As an example.. don't start with a $5000 purchase of VGCs if you can't afford to float that much! Instead, buy one and try it, and scale up once you are comfortable with a new method. It's easy to lose track, or get robbed, when you are handling so much money. Getting a refund is NOT always possible.
3) DO NOT ask employees, cashiers, customer service representatives, etc... about how to MS, or about things you read on this forum. The information you read here are very specific, unknown, legal uses of products or services. Most employees, cashiers, and even managers do not know about them. At best you'll get bad information. At worst you'll create a lot of unnecessary misunderstanding.
4) It bears repeating that there are no guarantees. you could easily buy $10,000 in gift cards or some other instrument, only to discover that your method for liquidating them vanishes the very next day. MS is not "normal" financial activity ("normal" being defined by the banks), and thus is often perceived as "suspicious" even if it is legal.
5) never underestimate the risk of criminal activity. gift cards can easily be stolen, loaded onto a compromised account, loaded in a debit card skimmer, or even fraudulent (e.g., an already used card put back on the rack).
If you have a question that does not seem to fit anywhere, or you have not found an appropriate place for it, post it here.
- A helpful note from seat17D about some of the inherent risks of MS
New to Manufactured Spending? Start Here (2016)
Jan 1, 2016, 5:14 pm
#3
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 6
MS - few questions
Hey guys I'm new and I've read a lot but when I come onto this forum it's tens to hundreds of pages to impossibly go through. Here is my question...
My way of MS on my new card is loading my serve card with Simon mall visa gift cards however the limit on loading a serve card is $5K a month. I want to apply for a few cards and MS til my face falls off (Read: I don't want to apply for 1 card a month)
Any thoughts, tips, advice? Sorry if this is repeated. It's just hard to sift though everything.
My way of MS on my new card is loading my serve card with Simon mall visa gift cards however the limit on loading a serve card is $5K a month. I want to apply for a few cards and MS til my face falls off (Read: I don't want to apply for 1 card a month)
Any thoughts, tips, advice? Sorry if this is repeated. It's just hard to sift though everything.
Jan 1, 2016, 6:51 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IAH
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt Ist-iest, Stariott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,790
My way of MS on my new card is loading my serve card with Simon mall visa gift cards however the limit on loading a serve card is $5K a month. I want to apply for a few cards and MS til my face falls off (Read: I don't want to apply for 1 card a month)
Any thoughts, tips, advice? Sorry if this is repeated. It's just hard to sift though everything.
Any thoughts, tips, advice? Sorry if this is repeated. It's just hard to sift though everything.
Jan 1, 2016, 7:33 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: PHL
Posts: 96
Hey guys I'm new and I've read a lot but when I come onto this forum it's tens to hundreds of pages to impossibly go through. Here is my question...
My way of MS on my new card is loading my serve card with Simon mall visa gift cards however the limit on loading a serve card is $5K a month. I want to apply for a few cards and MS til my face falls off (Read: I don't want to apply for 1 card a month)
Any thoughts, tips, advice? Sorry if this is repeated. It's just hard to sift though everything.
My way of MS on my new card is loading my serve card with Simon mall visa gift cards however the limit on loading a serve card is $5K a month. I want to apply for a few cards and MS til my face falls off (Read: I don't want to apply for 1 card a month)
Any thoughts, tips, advice? Sorry if this is repeated. It's just hard to sift though everything.
Jan 1, 2016, 8:04 pm
#7
Join Date: Jan 2016
Programs: IHG Platinum, Hyatt Explorist, WN A-List
Posts: 32
You definitely don't want to go fast in this game and when you apply for cards you should do several in one day every 3+ months, not 1 per month. Lots of great resources on this topic.
Just curious if you are new to MS, where are you loading your Serve, Walmart?
Just curious if you are new to MS, where are you loading your Serve, Walmart?
Jan 1, 2016, 9:22 pm
#8
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 6
Okay, I'm new and I've looked at 20 pages or so and I am confused.
I have access to a simon mall and wouldnt mind buying VGC from giftcardmall.
While I understand I can load up to 5k a month on serve, How does one MS when they have more than one CC they are trying to meet spending requirements for? I would have no problem maxing out my monthly limit and using my gift cards for money orders but it seems like everyone tip toes around money orders.
I apologize ahead of time bc I am sure this is a repeat question but I have been reading and cant seem to get any insight.
Thanks
I have access to a simon mall and wouldnt mind buying VGC from giftcardmall.
While I understand I can load up to 5k a month on serve, How does one MS when they have more than one CC they are trying to meet spending requirements for? I would have no problem maxing out my monthly limit and using my gift cards for money orders but it seems like everyone tip toes around money orders.
I apologize ahead of time bc I am sure this is a repeat question but I have been reading and cant seem to get any insight.
Thanks
Jan 2, 2016, 4:15 pm
#9
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 5
Is there a glossary for all the acronyms used on this board. VGC is easy enough (virtual gift card), but there are a bunch I'm having trouble making heads or tails of.
Thank you in advance.
Thank you in advance.
Jan 2, 2016, 4:42 pm
#10
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,815
Click on the top of the page right side on Help. One of the choices in the drop down is Glossary.
Good luck.
Jan 2, 2016, 7:25 pm
#11
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: IAD
Programs: All of them to one degree or another
Posts: 447
Jan 2, 2016, 9:22 pm
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: PHL
Posts: 96
Jan 2, 2016, 9:59 pm
#13
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 3,688
there are instances when I take out $ from the atm when I need to pay my CC bill before statement cut off date. Let's say my statement cuts on a Saturday and I have a huge balance on a certain CC, I w/d from one or several Serve accts to deposit to my bank so that I can pay off a huge chunk of the balance leaving just a few dollars left to post on monthly statement. I do this only when I know payment won't be received by CCC before cut off date; otherwise, when cut off is on a Thursday and I have the funds in one of my Serve/BB accounts, I initiate payment on Monday which is received on Wednesday thereby leaving a low amount posted on my CC account.
Jan 2, 2016, 10:23 pm
#14
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 910
Here's a good list of common manufactured spending acronyms: http://milesperday.com/2015/09/commo...-the-ms-world/
Jan 3, 2016, 7:26 am
#15
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 148
Lol, it wasn't my question, but yes, bill pay is the easiest way to use the funds in Serve/Bluebird. ATM withdrawal has limits. You can also transfer it to a bank account, but I would not do that all the time.