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Old Mar 21, 2008 | 3:16 pm
  #16  
sjefenole
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Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: LAX
Programs: BA Gold, A3*G
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Originally Posted by pgary
FYI: REI charges 3% off your dividend if you use a non-REI (i.e., miles) card for your purhase at a store. But it does not deduct this 3% if you buy a gift card there. So a very helpful checkout person there suggested that instead of paying for my large purchase with my miles card, buy a gift card for the same amount, then use the gift card to make the purchase. I still get my 10% membership dividend, and do not get the 3% deducted from it.

Now, I wonder if you can use something like a giftcertificates.com gift card to buy an REI gift card...
I guess I have the answer in a year when the dividend comes. This is exactly what I did. Will also see if my shopping with gift cards at rei.com produced any miles within 90 days. I am aware of the 3% less dividend with using a different credit card, but didn't know about the gift card loophole.
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