Getting spending up without the Mint
Dec 2, 2012, 6:09 pm
#4471
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Land of the parrots and parrotheads
Programs: Several dozen
Posts: 4,820
Dec 2, 2012, 7:34 pm
#4472
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Land of the parrots and parrotheads
Programs: Several dozen
Posts: 4,820
**Update. You can load $300 on a variable load Amazon card for $250. In Texas, Amazon now charges sales tax, so you have to make a run for the border to preserve value. Amazon cards are jumping off the racks now.**
[QUOTE=AlohaDaveKennedy;19773636]Mighty uncool, captain! We don't want those in the lesser 49 flocking down here to lay their unclean hands on our fine Texas gift cards. Go away! Shooo! There is a better sale in Oklahoma!
[QUOTE=AlohaDaveKennedy;19773636]Mighty uncool, captain! We don't want those in the lesser 49 flocking down here to lay their unclean hands on our fine Texas gift cards. Go away! Shooo! There is a better sale in Oklahoma!
A couple actual contributions to this thread (it seems so few & far between):
1. For those of you in TX, HEB has a sale for $50 off $300 gift cards. Ends 12/4 **Just an Urban Legend**
2. Not as lucrative but nationwide, Toys 'R Us has 10% a few gift cards including amazon starting 12/2. YMMV on upgrading gift cards
1. For those of you in TX, HEB has a sale for $50 off $300 gift cards. Ends 12/4 **Just an Urban Legend**
2. Not as lucrative but nationwide, Toys 'R Us has 10% a few gift cards including amazon starting 12/2. YMMV on upgrading gift cards
Dec 3, 2012, 5:50 am
#4473
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Airline nobody. Sad!
Posts: 26,062
Dec 3, 2012, 4:15 pm
#4474
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,834
If you shop at Safeway grocery stores, and have signed up for the "Safeway Just for U" promotions, you might check this week's e-mail from Safeway. My e-mail included $15.00 off on a $100 MasterCard gift card (which I was able to purchase with a credit card).
There is an activation fee of $5.95, but you still come out ahead. And I visited the jungle to extract the value from the card.
There is an activation fee of $5.95, but you still come out ahead. And I visited the jungle to extract the value from the card.
Dec 3, 2012, 6:11 pm
#4475
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Kamuela, Hawaii
Programs: Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, AA Plat, UA Silver, AS MVP, HA premier
Posts: 509
Did "the Owl" change to cash advance?
That motivated me to find the Owl, which I believe I did. Unfortunately, they disclose that the transaction "will" be reflected as a cash advance. (Not the more common disclosure that your card issuer "may" treat it that way.) I did a test transaction with a card that works for the Spook and confirmed that it was a cash advance. Is there something I'm missing about how to get some benefit from the Owl or did they change their policy?
Dec 4, 2012, 9:38 am
#4476
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Land of the parrots and parrotheads
Programs: Several dozen
Posts: 4,820
I'm verifying Owl now with a (Chase) test. Will let you know if it flys or if the bank gave me the bird.
**Update - transaction is still "pending"
***Update - transaction showing up as a purchase on the Chase Airtran
And I'm now over the limit Owl said I could go with total card deposits...
**Update - transaction is still "pending"
***Update - transaction showing up as a purchase on the Chase Airtran
And I'm now over the limit Owl said I could go with total card deposits...
I've seen these references several times in this thread and not paid much attention since I already had a longstanding relationship with an organization that allowed the desired transations. I only just recently realized that the organization is the same entity referred to here as "First Bank of the Spook". Very funny nickname.
That motivated me to find the Owl, which I believe I did. Unfortunately, they disclose that the transaction "will" be reflected as a cash advance. (Not the more common disclosure that your card issuer "may" treat it that way.) I did a test transaction with a card that works for the Spook and confirmed that it was a cash advance. Is there something I'm missing about how to get some benefit from the Owl or did they change their policy?
That motivated me to find the Owl, which I believe I did. Unfortunately, they disclose that the transaction "will" be reflected as a cash advance. (Not the more common disclosure that your card issuer "may" treat it that way.) I did a test transaction with a card that works for the Spook and confirmed that it was a cash advance. Is there something I'm missing about how to get some benefit from the Owl or did they change their policy?
Last edited by AlohaDaveKennedy; Dec 5, 2012 at 1:50 pm
Dec 4, 2012, 2:06 pm
#4477
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 405
This is an awesome deal. Does anyone know a good way to liquidate the Amazon gift cards? I bought some for personal use, but would also like to knock out some minimum spend with this deal after work today if I can figure out a way to recover most of the cost. Would rather not use eBay due to fraud concerns.
Dec 4, 2012, 2:21 pm
#4478
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 385
This is an awesome deal. Does anyone know a good way to liquidate the Amazon gift cards? I bought some for personal use, but would also like to knock out some minimum spend with this deal after work today if I can figure out a way to recover most of the cost. Would rather not use eBay due to fraud concerns.
Dec 4, 2012, 2:53 pm
#4479
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Land of the parrots and parrotheads
Programs: Several dozen
Posts: 4,820
You could regift them. As in sell them via Amazon Payments so they can be rebought with a credit card. The best use for them is to transport them across state lines where Texas can't get sales tax. Nothing again the State of Texas, but not fond of the State of Taxes.
This is an awesome deal. Does anyone know a good way to liquidate the Amazon gift cards? I bought some for personal use, but would also like to knock out some minimum spend with this deal after work today if I can figure out a way to recover most of the cost. Would rather not use eBay due to fraud concerns.
Dec 4, 2012, 4:09 pm
#4480
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Airline nobody. Sad!
Posts: 26,062
Getting spending up without the Mint
Sounding the alarm again. Just went into my closest OD. They no longer have Visa/MC/Amex cards for any value over $100. All of the Amex prepaid cards are gone as well. Might want to go check your local one soon...
Dec 4, 2012, 4:23 pm
#4481
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 385
Dec 4, 2012, 5:09 pm
#4482
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Airline nobody. Sad!
Posts: 26,062
Dec 4, 2012, 7:15 pm
#4484
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: On the Lake USA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador, Hilton Diamond because they have nothing higher
Posts: 523
Try another but you may want to call first so you don't just go waste time and gas. The CVS within 3 blocks from my house has a sign stating "Cash and Debit only" for the Cards.
About 15 minutes ago, I called a CVS store 3 miles from my house. CS said lots of Beanies available. When asked if i can use credit card to pay, she said she doesn't see why not. I asked just to confirm and if she has seen a sign saying Cash or debit only. She said "no. So...will be going there after rush hour.
About 15 minutes ago, I called a CVS store 3 miles from my house. CS said lots of Beanies available. When asked if i can use credit card to pay, she said she doesn't see why not. I asked just to confirm and if she has seen a sign saying Cash or debit only. She said "no. So...will be going there after rush hour.
You might as well asked if she could consult with manager and call corporate just to make sure. Perhaps call the local news channel in your area and ask for an investigative reporter. I was walking on Beach Road here in Pattaya Beach Thailand and I heard two Russian tourists asking a street walker if she knew if CVS sold beans for cash and she said..... Wait let me check the local Whore Blog we shouild have the info by now.....LOL
Dec 4, 2012, 7:23 pm
#4485
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: On the Lake USA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador, Hilton Diamond because they have nothing higher
Posts: 523
Not sure how many times were you actually mugged?
During the Northeast blackout no one could use the ATMs. I was working in NYC (downtown Manhattan) and always carried $300 in my wallet (once the bills were folded tightly they really did not take much space). The cab I stopped happened to have a full tank of gas and the driver demanded $200 cash to drive me to my home in CT (remember none of the gas station was working after the power went out). I allowed him to pick up more people but he demanded everyone he picked up to show him the cash. We ended up with 4 people in one cab. None of my neighbors who worked in the city made it home that day.
Now my job is only 10 minutes from my house I carry only $50 cash. You never know.
During the Northeast blackout no one could use the ATMs. I was working in NYC (downtown Manhattan) and always carried $300 in my wallet (once the bills were folded tightly they really did not take much space). The cab I stopped happened to have a full tank of gas and the driver demanded $200 cash to drive me to my home in CT (remember none of the gas station was working after the power went out). I allowed him to pick up more people but he demanded everyone he picked up to show him the cash. We ended up with 4 people in one cab. None of my neighbors who worked in the city made it home that day.
Now my job is only 10 minutes from my house I carry only $50 cash. You never know.
I never understood the old men with the big billfold thing with pictures and an Arby coupon or the Senior Card for Old Country Buffet and all in there.
A wallet with a few cards and ID and some extra cash stashed for emergencies like a few hundreds works for me but I prefer to keep a few hundred folded over in the pocket. Fast in and out without exposing a chance to lose something from a wallet and it is easy to see exactly what you have instead of those guys looking in the back of a wallet past the cobb webs LOL..