Retention bonus
Apr 10, 2010, 10:33 am
#196
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Charleston, SC, USA
Programs: Avis Pref+, Hyatt Explorist, Marriott Life Gold, Honors Silver, IHG Plat via MC.
Posts: 6,786
Just got off the phone again as it's that time of the year -- I think calling the retention number directly definitely throws them for a loop - this year, the guy answered "Hi, this is Rob" and I asked if it was Diners Club -- he apologized, said he though I was a CSR he was just helping who was calling back. Similar thing to my experience last year. Anyway, after a long wait on the computer pulling up my info, he offered 3 different deals. Waive the fee. Straight up 7,500 points. 10,000 points over 5 months with at least one purchase every month. I always take the last deal and did so again this year. And I still probably spend between 1000 and 2000 per month.
-Mike
-Mike
, while in previous years I was always offered only the fee waiver. I took the 7500 points because I thought I would need them for something soon, which need didn't happen then but is coming now.I do value points @ 1.5--2 US cents, so I would advise against getting GCs @ 1cpp.
Jun 4, 2010, 12:21 pm
#197
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan USA
Programs: Marriott lifetime Titanium, Delta Platinum
Posts: 5,470
Nada
Aug 3, 2010, 3:39 pm
#202
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 43
Yep, I have both a personal and corporate. Because you have a corporate card, you don't have an annual fee on the personal card (or the company pays it), and you still get all the perks on your personal car rentals, etc. The cards are different numbers, and only the corporate card purchases get sent to the company for reimbursement. The way it is tied together is that it's one login (both accounts show up), and also the diners club rewards points are lumped together. So I don't have to pay an annual rewards membership fee for two accounts, it's already covered when I pay for it with points for my corporate account.
I don't think you can add an authorized card under the corporate plan, it's 2 different accounts that are linked to the same rewards program. I think the personal one shows up on your credit report, but don't think that's the case with the corporate one.
As far as the retention bonus, the guy said 'I don't have a retention bonus for the other [corporate] account at this time, but check back because the bonuses change' (either weekly, sometimes annually, depending on the person and I'm guessing a change in spending affects this).
Last edited by gomezjan; Aug 10, 2010 at 6:07 pm
Aug 6, 2010, 3:22 pm
#204
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 2,925
My offers:
1. Use 8,000 points to pay for the $95 fee and receive 2500 points for retention; net cost of 5,500 points which = 1.7˘/pt.
2. Receive 2,500 points with no spend & pay $95 fee.
3. Receive 5,000 points with monthly use of card for 8 months.
I'm leaning more towards option 1, but, also, considering #2. Any comments?
1. Use 8,000 points to pay for the $95 fee and receive 2500 points for retention; net cost of 5,500 points which = 1.7˘/pt.
2. Receive 2,500 points with no spend & pay $95 fee.
3. Receive 5,000 points with monthly use of card for 8 months.
I'm leaning more towards option 1, but, also, considering #2. Any comments?
Aug 6, 2010, 6:46 pm
#205
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,952
I would choose option 3.
Option 1 is only $0.012 per point. You are redeeming 8,000 points to save $95. This is a standard feature of the card, not a retention offer. The 2,500 point bonus is unrelated, and is also available if you pay the fee with money. I would not choose option 1 because fthe points are worth $0.0225 each to me, more if I wait to transfer to BA during a 50% bonus. I don't understand why anyone would choose option 2 over option 3. If you aren't going to use the card at least once a month, cancel it.
Option 1 is only $0.012 per point. You are redeeming 8,000 points to save $95. This is a standard feature of the card, not a retention offer. The 2,500 point bonus is unrelated, and is also available if you pay the fee with money. I would not choose option 1 because fthe points are worth $0.0225 each to me, more if I wait to transfer to BA during a 50% bonus. I don't understand why anyone would choose option 2 over option 3. If you aren't going to use the card at least once a month, cancel it.
Aug 9, 2010, 3:54 pm
#206
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,751
Just made my annual call to the retention phone number in post #1. The rep asked if I intended to cancel if the annual fee wasn't waived and I said perhaps, he immediately offered to give a $95 account credit. I then mentioned that in past years I'd also been offered options involving Club Rewards points, he then said he could give me a free 5K or 7.5K points (sorry, it happened so fast I couldn't remember which amount it was) with no purchase requirements OR 2K per month for 5 months as long as I make one purchase a month. I gladly accepted the latter offer, I'm thrilled.
Aug 26, 2010, 8:50 am
#208
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,932
For example, 8k DC points can translate to 19800 Best Western points (which, by the way, are harder to get other ways than most other hotel points, since BW rarely has lucrative point bonuses). This July I got a nice BW room at a new hotel near Bryce Canyon NP for 16000 BW points per night, and the lowest rate available was $150/night (and that's before taxes). Btw, near Bryce Canyon there is not much else hotel-wise besides two Best Westerns for miles around.
As another example, 8k DC points can translate to 12000 Choice points (though if you stay at Choice properties often it's even easier to earn high numbers of Choice points fast because of their very lucrative bonuses). And I stayed in hotels in London in March a year ago and in Tokyo in April of this year for only 8k Choice points per night, at hotels that certainly cost more than $95/night including taxes (and foreign conversion fees!).
Aug 26, 2010, 9:49 am
#209
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Charleston, SC, USA
Programs: Avis Pref+, Hyatt Explorist, Marriott Life Gold, Honors Silver, IHG Plat via MC.
Posts: 6,786
I agree with Sdsearch, as I can get > $95 out of 8K DC. However, if CountinPlaces has 100Ks of DC points with little use, his/ hers is an OK choice.
One correction on the math: 7500 DC --> 6x 2400 Choice = 14,400.
One correction on the math: 7500 DC --> 6x 2400 Choice = 14,400.
Aug 27, 2010, 11:44 am
#210
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: HH Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 10,457
Just a quick question, how long in advance of your anniversary date do you call the retention department?
I've never asked for one in the past, but I feel compelled this year due to the gradual decline in DC benefits.
I've never asked for one in the past, but I feel compelled this year due to the gradual decline in DC benefits.
