This thread is called: "Buy stuff and return... for miles?"
...which means my posts about Home Depot and cash back on my debit card that earns miles is in fact related to that topic. Yes, it does not talk about schools but it is the same issue category: Buy stuff and return... for miles.
The length of posts about it should have no bearing on the ethics or the topic. Mine are not so long, but they cover a lot of sides or examples of this issue.
As far as ATMs, though was originall brought up to show examples as to why cash back is good. I agree that any store or bank that charges fees is a no-no and because we are talking about cash back and costs of it, even this stuff about ATMs is somewhat related to the thread.
I used a debit card to do a purchase which essentially DOES allow cash back when you purchase. Apparently, it does the same when you make a return. Like I said, I would have taken the charge back to my card but when they let me have cash back upon returning my items, I took it. Who woudnt?
Why and how Home Depot or any other store like it decides to give cash or not is beyond me. That would be between them, the banks who issue cards, and Mastercard or Visa, not me. If I go in that store and charge "X" for $300 and then return $100 of it and they give me cash, that is great. If the first $300 charge gets me miles, that is great too. I reported this fact in this very relevant thread (but I find I should not have bothered to share such tips with some people). There are some circles who, upon learning this one "works," might have told me I would have been foolish to NOT use my miles-earning card when doing this--intentionally or not! These types say it is important to always use the miles earning cards for everything they do. Would I have been considered unethical if I had done the exact same thing and NOT earned any miles on that debit card? Please tell me.
I paid, I returned, I got cash back and it was also a good-found short cut to having to go visit one and pay fees for getting money out. HD could have said no and I would have been fine with this.
If I got miles for the debit card purchase and then returned things to the store, I would have normally expected the store to take the items back and put the above $100 (in this example) back onto my card. Then my statement would reflect a return and thus, minus miles. Fine.
BUT they chose to give me cash and I took it.
More recently, I used a miles-earning CREDIT card to pay for a hair cut. Ok, so it was only $15 but like I said, we use our miles-earning cards for nearly everything and they add up...
Anyway, I then said I would like to tip the guy $3 and the desk clerk asked me if I would like to put this on the card (I had no cash on me that moment). I said yes, assuming that at the end of the day, all his cuts would be totalled and he gets back tips left over. Instead, they GAVE me $3 cash right out of the register the minute my $18 charge went thru and then had me sign the $18 charge slip! I took the cash and I turned and gave to the hair stylist! I, in a sense, got 'cash back' on a credit card (not debit card) and got miles for it as well.
Did we alllll break some laws here and should we visit the jailer? (can you earn miles for things purchased while in prison?)
[Catolius Petus Maximus: thanks for your concern over my knee: I did hurt my knee a bit whilst skiing last weekend after being run into by a jerk (knee jerk) but it is better now.
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If speed is not your thing, distance may as well be. Enjoy and embrace it all!