Originally Posted by
Beven12S
Pinniped. Getting a benefit on your card because it is part of the program (FOR SOMETHING ACTUALLY PURCHASED AND USED) is, ethically, totally acceptable.
On the other hand, please do not say that you advocate MS as I understand it. "Buying" items easily convertible to cash on a rewards credit card, then turning around and redeeming the "asset" at no/minimal cost. I'm sure this has been discussed ad nauseum on FT and there are undoubtedly staunch proponents who think there is nothing wrong with this. I just learned of this despicable practice and I consider it fraud. Whether the courts consider it fraud is irrelevant to me; it is fraud.
I've never personally done MS. Don't have time to mess with it and don't know the techniques well enough to decide whether I think anything unethical is taking place. For me, the line would be whether you have to misrepresent yourself or your intentions to get the cards or do whatever you do during MS. I don't know the detailed techniques enough to know whether people do this. I assume it often involves gift cards: in my case, I'd only do it if I knew I'd have a legitimate use for the gift cards. (I guess I have stockpiled Marriott gift cards on occasion...when I can get them at an effective 10-15% discount. But since I personally use them rather quickly for hotel stays, I don't think it qualifies as the kind of MS people do here.)