When you think about points, math gets fuzzy
Jul 29, 2015, 10:21 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 7,875
When you think about points, math gets fuzzy
Sometimes I just want more points. Because points equal opportunities, but many times the financial calculations just don't work out.
Like when I am travelling abroad and thinking about using one of my 5x reward cards with a 3% foreign transaction fee, whereas I could just use a card without a fee and get 1x rewards. But I think about it-hmm, I am paying 1.3 cents for point. That's pretty good!
But in reality that is paying for points, whereas using the card without a fee gives me free points.
Or trying to gain promos, like the current Sheraton nights. If I stay more, I can get a free night! Or, I could stay less and save hundreds, which is probably worth more than a free Sheraton night.
I guess it is the same as money. You just want more. When is it ever enough? Except here we trade actual cash for fake cash (i.e. points).
Like what Dilbert said:
Like when I am travelling abroad and thinking about using one of my 5x reward cards with a 3% foreign transaction fee, whereas I could just use a card without a fee and get 1x rewards. But I think about it-hmm, I am paying 1.3 cents for point. That's pretty good!
But in reality that is paying for points, whereas using the card without a fee gives me free points.
Or trying to gain promos, like the current Sheraton nights. If I stay more, I can get a free night! Or, I could stay less and save hundreds, which is probably worth more than a free Sheraton night.
I guess it is the same as money. You just want more. When is it ever enough? Except here we trade actual cash for fake cash (i.e. points).
Like what Dilbert said:
Alice: A gift certificate is completely different from cash.
Dilbert: No, it's not. They're both pieces of paper you can exchange for goods and services.
Alice: You're missing the point.
Dilbert: Actually, a gift certificate is worse than cash, because you can only use it in one place.
Wally: And it expires.
Alice: At least it shows some thought.
Dilbert: It shows defective thought. You're trading perfectly good money for something that does the same thing, only not as well
Dilbert: No, it's not. They're both pieces of paper you can exchange for goods and services.
Alice: You're missing the point.
Dilbert: Actually, a gift certificate is worse than cash, because you can only use it in one place.
Wally: And it expires.
Alice: At least it shows some thought.
Dilbert: It shows defective thought. You're trading perfectly good money for something that does the same thing, only not as well
Jul 29, 2015, 10:45 am
#2
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: CLE
Programs: UA Gold, HH Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,661
I have fallen into that trap. I love the Conrad Rangali and would never pay the rates to stay there and so I usually stay at a Hilton to collect points unless the rate is outrageous. Now my traveling companion has decided that he likes staying at the Conrad Singapore better than the Hilton there. It can be a huge difference (but sometimes it's cheaper).
I used to stay at cheaper places more. But then I do tend to alternate expensive/nice and cheaper/clean. But points make a difference in where I book a hotel. (And I would never pay a foreign exchange fee for any reason.)
I used to stay at cheaper places more. But then I do tend to alternate expensive/nice and cheaper/clean. But points make a difference in where I book a hotel. (And I would never pay a foreign exchange fee for any reason.)
