I thought I was overly analytical with several different credit cards in my wallet - Costco amex for their gas (4% cash back), Amex Blue cash for other gas stations and supermarkets (5%), etc., CapitalOne spark (2%) for most everything else

I thought I was being really cute / smart by buying store gift cards at the supermarket with blue cash so we'd be getting 5% on purchases at home depot rather than 2% using spark...

Reading this forum I learned about 'manufactured spending' and realized there's loads of people out there that are much better than me at this stuff. I am in awe of the things you guys are doing. But can someone spell out how much you are making on like a $1000 basis? Seems with the bluedot and other cards like that, you have purchase fees, monthly fees, ATM fees, bill pay fees, etc.

I found a grocery store recently that will refund the $6 purchase fee for amex or visa gift cards. So I've been buying a few thousand in gift cards (getting 5% back with no purchase fee, that's $50 for each $1,000 I buy. But then I have to actually spend with the cards. I am starting to pay my kid's summer school tuition (they charge 2.5% convenience fee, so that gets my 'profit' to $25 / $1,000. And our dog just got sick, so we paid the vet bill with gift cards... But it's limited by how much we can spend

So
a) I am making $50 / $1,000 for actually spending the gift cards (for school / places that charge convenience fees, that gets to $25 / 1,000)
b) I actually have to spend rather than just churn - for the efforts of buying a blue or Vanilla or similar, what do you wind up making for each $1,000, aftter the purchase, ATM, monthly, transaction etc fees? I realize you may be making less per $1,000 but you are able to buy thousands more if you are just turning around and using the card's bill pay service to pay amex or take the money out of an ATM.
c) I'm just waiting for Amex to point out their rules about not using the card to buy cash equivalents. I thought I stumbled on a secret, but based on the number of people on this forum, I am late to the game / a small fish. Yeah, there's a fair number of $500 or so purchases from supermarkets on my cards, but sounds like I am nothing compared to you guys. Have people been reprimanded by their card companies?

Thanks! I am eager to hear what you are actually making for your efforts and in awe of the number of people doing this!

thanks!

Mike