CSP: Purchasing Points?
 

Has anyone purchased points via the UR Mall? You can purchase in increments of 1000 points for 25.00, and up to 5000 points a month. That rate is 40 points per dollar which seems pretty dang good to me.

Additionally, just in terms of redemption, an off-peak roundtrip business class fare on KAL from JFK>ICN would cost over 5000.00 at best (but can be well over 6000 depending on dates). Likewise, a roundtrip business class award ticket would be 125,000 points. Assuming you literally had no redeemable miles or UR rewards points to transfer, and you had to buy all 125,000 points to redeem the award, it would cost 3000.00 (which is obviously less than 5000+). Considering an upgradeable fare is going to be around 2500.00 (+ 80,000 points or so to actually upgrade), this seems like a very good deal.

Am I missing something? Is there any reason not to purchase 5000 points a month?

If you have specific plans which will give you much greater value than 2.5cpm, sure, go for it....for most it probably doesn't make sense unless its to top off for a transfer.

For me to justify a 'buying' cost of 2.5cpm; I would need a redemption opportunity worth at least 4cpm - 5cpm if that makes sense (might not for others, we all have our methods)

CSP: Purchasing Points?
 

Ya, way to many other ways to get them cheaper. I

Aside from churning (which I dont want to do) and making purchases via the UR mall (which is what I do already), what are the other ways to get them cheaper?

I'm interested in knowing as well

Question would be - will you really pay 5K for that flight. The cpm is based on what you really are ready to pay. I took a IAD-DOH-IAH on Qatar recently with UA. The market price was around 5.5K - I am sure I would never pay that much amt for a revenue ticket.

Careful, now. When we say something earns us "x points per dollar," we are getting something in return IN ADDITION to the points. So I buy something from Sears with "20 points per dollar," I'm getting an item in return, plus the points. I can then sell the item back and get my money back, but keep the points.

Here, you are not getting anything in return besides the points.

Most likely not. But I would probably pay 3000.00 for it (especially since I would need to pay around 2500.00 for upgradeable economy + points anyways).

That's definitely true - you're just getting the points and nothing else. When you say "sell the item back", are you meaning that you would just sell the item independently (ebay etc.)? If you actually return it, the points get taken away.

Well, then get a debit card that gives points. Never in a million years should anyone pay 2.5 cpm absent absolute emergency to perhaps avoid missing out on large award bonus.

But why wouldn't you want to churn? Bad credit? Too lazy?

Well, I guess its a combination of things. I have excellent credit that I don't really want to compromise. And that's primarily because I'm young, and when my husband finishes law school in a few months, buying a house will be in our near future and I wouldn't want to do anything to jeopardize that. And its not so much that Im lazy - I guess I just don't have a firm grasp on the whole churning business and I wouldn't want to screw something up that would prevent me from ever being able to open another Amex or a Chase card, etc. I know Chase has been touchy lately about breaking the rules, and I would be a little upset if our card got cancelled and we got black listed or something like that.

What is a debit card that gives points?? I'm happy with the cards that we have (CSP and Delta Plat are our primary cards at the moment...there are a few others that don't get used, but I'm not sure if I will cancel them). I will probably add Chase Freedom at some point to maximize UR points.

Ultimate Rewards points purchase program is stingy compared to American Express Membership Rewards:

Chase forces you to accumulate points gradually, gambling that the redemption will be good value when you need them. American Express allows you to buy enough for a trip after you have confirmed award seat availability, and American Express has many more transfer partners.

Not only that, but Amex allows you to "advance" points for free, assuming you earn them back (they charge you the going rate if you don't spend enough to earn them back).

Still able to buy points?
 

Are we still able to buy 5000 points for $125?

Tried to buy points but the website says it is no longer available?

Can someone else check?

Thanks

I logged in to the UR Mall via my CSP account and do not see the option to purchase points. Having purchased a few thousand points in the past, that's a disappointment to have it taken away. It was nice to have the option to top off an account to hit a airline ticket redemption.

The FAQ still says it's possible, but as both of you have seen, the link is no longer there. I wonder if it's just a web programming glitch.

I tried about 3 weeks ago and the website kept giving me errors and that point purchases were not available at that time. I unfortunately had to buy 3000 united miles instead to top the award off...

FDW

I purchase 5k yesterday by calling my sapphire agent. She was able to do it over the phone within minutes. I agree with you that the option of purchasing point on the website is no longer available!

How much $ was 5K UR?

@Vodkashine, 5000 UR points would cost $125.00. @ $.025 each, this is one of the cheapest ways to acquire United Miles, with the understanding you have CSP card to move them over.

I hope I understood your question correctly.

Yes Thank you.
I think that's not terrible value if you needed a top-up to get an award ticket.
If I'm in need in the future it's good to know I can call to buy the points.

Do they have a yearly cap on number of UR points bought?

Now I'm not even seeing it in the FAQ anymore. This strongly suggests that they are eliminating it.

It was 5000 points per month, if memory serves. But they might well be eliminating point buying altogether. If I get a few minutes, I'll call and ask.

I sent email today and they said the option to purchase from web site is no longer available. But you still can purchase by phone or email via secure email center.

Agent just told me that I am now unable to purchase points at all, even over the phone. Has anyone else had a different experience?