Originally Posted by ingy
It's $.003 per mile. I'm surprised at the responses to this thread. Go to your LOCAL stores that sell MOs and ask, or buy a candy bar and Try It. And it does not have to be a Am EX. My LOCAL store that took Am EX stopped it, but I still have 2 stores that take MC and Visa and treat it as a purchase, and have for the last 3 years. I'll ask again, anybody want to fess up???
Think small and think consistent.
I believe things like this SHOULD work for all, and yet I do tend to agree with PGary these days. Every time I have ever done any gift card or deal like this, the more people who know of it, the worse it gets.
Not because too many people know about it, but rather, too many people who know about it don't follow the tips and tricks that make it work the right way! (too often, FTers don't know the difference and they point fingers at the wrong people in the wrong way when the chips fall) The sad solution to this problem has been to (A) keep such deals hush hush, (B) to be mean to each other in posts, and (C) to muck it all up anyway because one or two people in here or on the sidelines get way too greedy and screw it all up anyway.
How? Well, someone could do this gig with such agressiveness, that their actions trigger a patterns seen by internal management of whatever bank or CC that is being utilized. As well, some don't just do it for miles, but actualy to figure out and implement workable ways to commit monetary fraud and get away with it! This thereby destroys all things associated with these programs for those of us who would rather use FT as a way to SHARE GREAT IDEAS ON TRAVEL AND MILES!
Too bad.
Now I have been an agressive gift card and mile churning user in my forum lifetime, but I am also always giving ideas on how we should all cooperate or stay under the radras of these marketing or money managers at banks, while still actively participating in all these gigs. Some misunderstand my efforts and some do not. I am not saying I am the best at it or the only one who thinks that way, but again, I feel that if these deals SHOULD be for everyone in here--and I think they should--then it is in everyone's best interest to find the best way to do them and then share it and maintain it.
therefore, if you have a way that works and you feel compelled to share it, tell the whole story and dont just be cool and hip by saying "I got a great thing but no one else can see it! ha ha ha"
Fessing up, by the way, is something that many may do privately until there's proof this thing actually works. I have been looking but have not really found any store that will (A) take Amex for money orders (B) give out money orders bigger than $500 without a huge fee, except one or two but they dont take Amex (C) treat this as a purchase.
This is why people BUY the gift cards first, and then cash them out, but they have a fee too. So I guess it is up to YOU to tell US ALL the details, mate!
go for it... together we will all make sure all others in here use it wisely, that is, if you really wanna give up this little secret for us to also benefit from!
And thanks for that if you do, and if it works.
I have to say, though, I have my doubts. Proove me wrong, Ingy, and you will be the winner in my book!
MM