To meet Chase's min spend can I spend it on gift cards like at Apple?
Feb 24, 2018, 7:56 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Boston
Posts: 249
To meet Chase's min spend can I spend it on gift cards like at Apple?
Going to apply for CSR and maybe two other Chase hotel cards. To meet Chase's min spend and get the sign-up bonus, can I spend it on gift cards like an Apple gift card to myself?
Feb 25, 2018, 8:35 am
#3
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I would also question your selection of cards if meeting the minimum spend is an issue. This is a card designed for travelers and frequent credit card users.
Feb 25, 2018, 9:15 am
#4
Join Date: Aug 2007
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Technically you can but that is a super risky way to start off your relationship with their most prized card. Manufactured spend is frowned on more and more by Chase.
I would also question your selection of cards if meeting the minimum spend is an issue. This is a card designed for travelers and frequent credit card users.
I would also question your selection of cards if meeting the minimum spend is an issue. This is a card designed for travelers and frequent credit card users.
VISA, AMEX, and MC gift cards - which are more easily converted to cash/cash equivalents - are mainly the gift cards with which manufactured spend is associated.
OP - shouldn't be a problem if it's only an Apple gift card to which you refer.
Last edited by Diplomatico; Feb 25, 2018 at 9:54 am Reason: Clarification
Feb 25, 2018, 2:14 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Boston
Posts: 249
Disagree. An Apple gift card would not be considered manufactured spend because it's "closed loop" - you can only use it to purchase Apple products. No different than if OP buys a Delta gift card or a Marriott gift card or even a Gift of College gift card.
VISA, AMEX, and MC gift cards - which are more easily converted to cash/cash equivalents - are mainly the gift cards with which manufactured spend is associated.
OP - shouldn't be a problem if it's only an Apple gift card to which you refer.
VISA, AMEX, and MC gift cards - which are more easily converted to cash/cash equivalents - are mainly the gift cards with which manufactured spend is associated.
OP - shouldn't be a problem if it's only an Apple gift card to which you refer.
Chase’s website doesn’t mention what purchases are not eligible, but American Express does state that Gift Cards don’t count toward meeting min spend to get the bonus. Do you think 🤔 AmEx is okay with “closed loop” gift cards? Reading AmEx’s T&C they are concerned with cash equivalents.
Feb 25, 2018, 2:40 pm
#6
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Feb 25, 2018, 3:15 pm
#7
Join Date: Aug 2007
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Great news. I liked to make a major purchase at Apple, but only when Apple comes out with an updated product. Of course, we don’t when Apple will actually do that. I’m guessing in the late spring/early summer.
Chase’s website doesn’t mention what purchases are not eligible, but American Express does state that Gift Cards don’t count toward meeting min spend to get the bonus. Do you think 🤔 AmEx is okay with “closed loop” gift cards? Reading AmEx’s T&C they are concerned with cash equivalents.
Feb 27, 2018, 5:05 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,760
Buying APPL GC is not an issue at all.
Applying Chase cards rapidly within several months will very much get yourself shut down by Chase in its current operating environment.
Do read the Chase shut down thread in this forum, AND similar threads across the net. Use Google to find them. Then PACE your applications accordingly especially if you dont have a long history with Chase.
You may also want to do a thorough comparison between CSR and CSP especially now CSP has an increased bonus at 60+5K for $95 fee. Some of the benefits of CSR are only good in theory and quite difficult to use. The travel bookings thru UR website in order to get the 1.5x (CSP is 1.25x) are full of perils, just as one example. You would want to weigh whether you could use the GE, and how often you use airport lounges, CSP at same 50K the first year AF is 0.
Last edited by Happy; Feb 27, 2018 at 5:11 pm
Feb 27, 2018, 5:13 pm
#9
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: SFO
Posts: 3,879
If you are new to Chase, you may want to get familiar on the nuisance in applying Chase cards. The very first sticky in this forum should be where you start reading.
Buying APPL GC is not an issue at all.
Applying Chase cards rapidly within several months will very much get yourself shut down by Chase in its current operating environment.
Do read the Chase shut down thread in this forum, AND similar threads across the net. Use Google to find them. Then PACE your applications accordingly especially if you dont have a long history with Chase.
You may also want to do a thorough comparison between CSR and CSP especially now CSP has an increased bonus at 60+5K for $95 fee. Some of the benefits of CSR are only good in theory and quite difficult to use. The travel bookings thru UR website in order to get the 1.5x (CSP is 1.25x) are full of perils, just as one example. You would want to weigh whether you could use the GE, and how often you use airport lounges, CSP at same 50K the first year AF is 0.
Buying APPL GC is not an issue at all.
Applying Chase cards rapidly within several months will very much get yourself shut down by Chase in its current operating environment.
Do read the Chase shut down thread in this forum, AND similar threads across the net. Use Google to find them. Then PACE your applications accordingly especially if you dont have a long history with Chase.
You may also want to do a thorough comparison between CSR and CSP especially now CSP has an increased bonus at 60+5K for $95 fee. Some of the benefits of CSR are only good in theory and quite difficult to use. The travel bookings thru UR website in order to get the 1.5x (CSP is 1.25x) are full of perils, just as one example. You would want to weigh whether you could use the GE, and how often you use airport lounges, CSP at same 50K the first year AF is 0.
Feb 28, 2018, 1:44 pm
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
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datapoint of gift cards not counting toward bonuses?
This person says their gift card purchases, even though they earned normal points aren't counting toward their minimum purchase requirement for the signup bonus:
(That's a post from the Applying thread.)
Has Chase clamped down on gift card purchases to meet minimum spend for a new card bonus? Regular points posted from a recent gift card purchase but the bonus points did not. Called a rep and she said that gift cards are considered cash equivalents. But the language in the T&Cs for earning regular points is the same as bonus points for minimum spend.
Feb 28, 2018, 6:29 pm
#12
Join Date: May 2005
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: Hilton Lifetime Diamond, DL Diamond & 2M Miler, Marriott Titanium
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I received the opposite response from a Chase rep I spoke with today. She said that the welcome bonus posts at a different time than the regular points each month. I won't know who is correct until next month.
Feb 28, 2018, 8:18 pm
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,760
No.13 in the Wiki would have answered your panic question.
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/chas...17-onward.html
If everyone heeds the plead from the Mod, we would have much less cutters and panic posts in the forum.
REQUEST: Please search forum for an answer to your ?? before posting
Feb 28, 2018, 8:37 pm
#14
Join Date: Aug 2007
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The sign-up bonus generally posts at the close of the statement period during which you completed the minimum spend. As Happy stated, it's pretty clear in the wiki.