R.I.P., Mint. We loved you. Fan thread. Share your memories, stories etc.
Jul 25, 2011, 9:36 am
#121
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,758
True. In the articles with the major new sources the people specifically mentioned frequent flyer miles. When Shi Jane ran her mouth to NPR she mentioned frequent flyer miles. Same with USless today and WSJ, those people mentioned miles. I know I did well over a million in just the past year with coins and while some were on my delta card (to make a minimum spending for MQMs) and on my WN card back when Southwest had a decent FF program, the majority went on my hilton am ex since that had the best value for me.
While I hate to see the program end, it was a nice bonus. I have enough hilton points I won't have to be concerned with expensive hotel rates for YEARS.
While I hate to see the program end, it was a nice bonus. I have enough hilton points I won't have to be concerned with expensive hotel rates for YEARS.
Jul 25, 2011, 9:44 am
#122
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 2,055
Yeah, they canned the program, not just the abused part. When there was a financial incentive, lots of people followed the T&Cs, some did not. Who is going to buy thousands of $1 coins from the Mint now that there is not only no incentive to do so but it actually costs them to do so? Your choices: mail a check, purchase a money order, or send a wire transfer. All cost money so you are paying more than you get back for the privilege of helping the Mint circulate coins that 90%+ of people DO NOT WANT.
If the Mint actually cared about this 'abuse' they could have, with limited effort, prevented people from buying tens of thousands of coins a week. The Mint did not seriously attempt to do this because it would have prevented them from getting rid of the mass of these coins. To believe that the reason the program was closed down was actually what the Mint posted on their website is incredibly naive. The Mint doesn't like bad press and the program had already mostly accomplished what it was supposed to do.
In the end, why do you care if the TOCs were abused? Exactly who was hurt by this? If you don't think people should 'abuse' this program then don't do it. Instead of being concerned about what others are doing, maybe you should just live your own life.
If the Mint actually cared about this 'abuse' they could have, with limited effort, prevented people from buying tens of thousands of coins a week. The Mint did not seriously attempt to do this because it would have prevented them from getting rid of the mass of these coins. To believe that the reason the program was closed down was actually what the Mint posted on their website is incredibly naive. The Mint doesn't like bad press and the program had already mostly accomplished what it was supposed to do.
In the end, why do you care if the TOCs were abused? Exactly who was hurt by this? If you don't think people should 'abuse' this program then don't do it. Instead of being concerned about what others are doing, maybe you should just live your own life.
Jul 25, 2011, 9:55 am
#123
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 80
Dear US mint,
if you really cared about getting $1 coins in circulation, you would just eliminate the paper dollar bill. This "buy coins" plan was so stupid from the get go. you shouldn't be upset at FF miles being purchased. you should be ashamed that you came up with such a stupid idea in the first place.
if you really cared about getting $1 coins in circulation, you would just eliminate the paper dollar bill. This "buy coins" plan was so stupid from the get go. you shouldn't be upset at FF miles being purchased. you should be ashamed that you came up with such a stupid idea in the first place.
Jul 25, 2011, 10:04 am
#124
Join Date: May 2005
Location: MIA/SJU/MCO
Programs: AA LT PLT; DL GLD, UA nothing, B6 Mosaic; Emerald Club Executive
Posts: 3,331
Dear US Mint,
Thank you for getting me and another person from SJU-SYD and back in J/F, and for an NYC weekend with the leftovers.
Also, thank you for the credit limit increases, as well as the bump my credit score took.
Oh, and teaching me which casinos are most likely to not care when I dump $1000 in coins at a time, and which local banks are the most evil.
Thank you for getting me and another person from SJU-SYD and back in J/F, and for an NYC weekend with the leftovers.
Also, thank you for the credit limit increases, as well as the bump my credit score took.
Oh, and teaching me which casinos are most likely to not care when I dump $1000 in coins at a time, and which local banks are the most evil.
Jul 25, 2011, 10:15 am
#125
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,758
Yeah, they canned the program, not just the abused part. When there was a financial incentive, lots of people followed the T&Cs, some did not. Who is going to buy thousands of $1 coins from the Mint now that there is not only no incentive to do so but it actually costs them to do so? Your choices: mail a check, purchase a money order, or send a wire transfer. All cost money so you are paying more than you get back for the privilege of helping the Mint circulate coins that 90%+ of people DO NOT WANT.
If the Mint actually cared about this 'abuse' they could have, with limited effort, prevented people from buying tens of thousands of coins a week. The Mint did not seriously attempt to do this because it would have prevented them from getting rid of the mass of these coins. To believe that the reason the program was closed down was actually what the Mint posted on their website is incredibly naive. The Mint doesn't like bad press and the program had already mostly accomplished what it was supposed to do.
In the end, why do you care if the TOCs were abused? Exactly who was hurt by this? If you don't think people should 'abuse' this program then don't do it. Instead of being concerned about what others are doing, maybe you should just live your own life.
If the Mint actually cared about this 'abuse' they could have, with limited effort, prevented people from buying tens of thousands of coins a week. The Mint did not seriously attempt to do this because it would have prevented them from getting rid of the mass of these coins. To believe that the reason the program was closed down was actually what the Mint posted on their website is incredibly naive. The Mint doesn't like bad press and the program had already mostly accomplished what it was supposed to do.
In the end, why do you care if the TOCs were abused? Exactly who was hurt by this? If you don't think people should 'abuse' this program then don't do it. Instead of being concerned about what others are doing, maybe you should just live your own life.
Jul 25, 2011, 10:26 am
#126
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Land of the parrots and parrotheads
Programs: Several dozen
Posts: 4,820
What abuse of the system? As stated before, there were never any agreement to terms using the wish list alternative method to purchasing coins. Exploitation of opportunity is the American Way. And, if you don't like the American Way, there are plenty of places you can move to.
The mint program created jobs during the great recession and spurred alot of people to spend money on discretionary travel. And it was probably the only stimulus program that had low to no fraud. Sure it cost the US money to run the coin program, but less than what we taxpayers saw tossed away trying to bailout Chrysler.
The mint program created jobs during the great recession and spurred alot of people to spend money on discretionary travel. And it was probably the only stimulus program that had low to no fraud. Sure it cost the US money to run the coin program, but less than what we taxpayers saw tossed away trying to bailout Chrysler.
Jul 25, 2011, 10:32 am
#128
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Toledo, OH
Programs: Delta DM & MM, Hilton DM, Marriott gold, Hyatt Globalist, Alaska 75K, Wyndham Diamond,
Posts: 15,398
I value hilton points at a MINIMUM of 1.5 cents per point (some stays such as news years they are worth a LOT more), so at 3 poitns per $, the means at least a 4.5% return so that is why that is my favorite card to use, unless I am trying to meet a minimum such as the $50K spend on my dleta am ex for 20K MQMs.
If I had a cash back card that gave me 4.5% or more (or even 3.5%) that would be my preferred card after meeting minimum spending requirements for Hilton and Delta.
Jul 25, 2011, 10:37 am
#129
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,754
What abuse of the system? As stated before, there were never any agreement to terms using the wish list alternative method to purchasing coins. Exploitation of opportunity is the American Way. And, if you don't like the American Way, there are plenty of places you can move to.
The mint program created jobs during the great recession and spurred alot of people to spend money on discretionary travel. And it was probably the only stimulus program that had low to no fraud. Sure it cost the US money to run the coin program, but less than what we taxpayers saw tossed away trying to bailout Chrysler.
The mint program created jobs during the great recession and spurred alot of people to spend money on discretionary travel. And it was probably the only stimulus program that had low to no fraud. Sure it cost the US money to run the coin program, but less than what we taxpayers saw tossed away trying to bailout Chrysler.
Jul 25, 2011, 10:43 am
#130
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 2,055
Jul 25, 2011, 10:56 am
#131
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Toledo, OH
Programs: Delta DM & MM, Hilton DM, Marriott gold, Hyatt Globalist, Alaska 75K, Wyndham Diamond,
Posts: 15,398
Don't forget GM. I was looking at NPR's big corporate sponsors Friday thinking about emailing some saying I disagreed with their support of NPR, and one of their biggest sponsors in 09 was GM!!!!! They just got saved by the taxpayers and have a big liability on the balance sheet to the US Government and they are donating to NPR????????
Jul 25, 2011, 10:58 am
#132
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: CHS
Programs: Delta, AA, BA, United, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Honors Diamond, SPG Marriott Gold, Sixt Platinum
Posts: 1,142
Freight
Seems like there was a better solution. If they would have just dropped free shipping on CC orders, it would have reduced the volume a lot.
I am done reading old mint posts , so sorry if this has already been posted.
I am done reading old mint posts , so sorry if this has already been posted.
Jul 25, 2011, 11:01 am
#133
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Toledo, OH
Programs: Delta DM & MM, Hilton DM, Marriott gold, Hyatt Globalist, Alaska 75K, Wyndham Diamond,
Posts: 15,398
I was thinking the same thing. Even if they charged a modest $5 shipping charge on every $1k, it would stop some of the bigger abusers, but if someone had a minimum to meet on a credit card, it would be a cheap way to meet it and help get the coins in circulation.
Jul 25, 2011, 11:11 am
#135
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,758
