Simon mall gift card(2014-2015)
Aug 5, 2015, 8:53 am
#1576
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 164
Deleted
Last edited by Lucky888; Oct 17, 2015 at 11:32 pm
Aug 5, 2015, 8:58 am
#1577
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 50
For those that buy SM GC on a regular basis, do you try to mix up the purchase amounts so it doesn't look suspicious? SM is only 10 minutes away (have 4 close) from me so it doesn't make a difference how much I purchase at one time, but I didn't want to purchase the same amount each time to avoid a shutdown. Sorry if this has been asked before, I didn't see it posted in the thread.
Aug 5, 2015, 9:02 am
#1578
Join Date: Aug 2015
Programs: Marriott Gold, UA Gold
Posts: 71
Because although people may go to the mall on a regular basis, their purchases never come out to the exact same amount time after time. Even if you can come up with a reasonable explanation when questioned, if you are at the point where you are explaining your transactions to your card company, you have already gone too far.
A simple trick to avoid having the exact same number is to just split payment and put a small amount on the 2nd card. I.e. say $4824.39 and the last $100 and change on a second card. Next time, $4,794.33, etc. It's a decent cover play. Necessary? Not extremely. But a healthy bit of caution overkill and paranoia are part of a healthy mindset in avoiding shutdowns.
A simple trick to avoid having the exact same number is to just split payment and put a small amount on the 2nd card. I.e. say $4824.39 and the last $100 and change on a second card. Next time, $4,794.33, etc. It's a decent cover play. Necessary? Not extremely. But a healthy bit of caution overkill and paranoia are part of a healthy mindset in avoiding shutdowns.
Aug 5, 2015, 9:18 am
#1579
Join Date: Aug 2015
Programs: Marriott Gold, UA Gold
Posts: 71
Sounds like a good idea. I will try this method and just split it across 2 cards since I am MSing both anyway.
Aug 5, 2015, 9:46 am
#1580
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: South Florida, USA
Posts: 184
The only problem I see is that the split payments at Simon are on the same receipt, and they actually print two copies, one for each signature. If the card company(ies) ever wants to see those receipts, it will be clear that you split an even amount across two cards. Heck, I'm not sure exactly what data gets sent to them automatically at POS - maybe they see "total purchase - $2519.75, charged to card 1 - $1934.56, charged to card 2 - $585.19". Does anyone know details about this?
Aug 5, 2015, 9:50 am
#1581
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 393
For those that buy SM GC on a regular basis, do you try to mix up the purchase amounts so it doesn't look suspicious? SM is only 10 minutes away (have 4 close) from me so it doesn't make a difference how much I purchase at one time, but I didn't want to purchase the same amount each time to avoid a shutdown. Sorry if this has been asked before, I didn't see it posted in the thread.
Aug 5, 2015, 10:38 am
#1583
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 1,337
Chase has not had issues with my multiple, sometimes four $9,978 transactions in the same day from various Simon malls for the past year. Do as you wish, but there is no hard evidence that breaking up payments has any affect.
On another note, bought yesterday:
1) Simon is running a Gap promotion that a Gap GC purchase gets you a free 20% of value Visa GC (no 3.95 fee). Min $150. No max listed. That's a good deal for those with tax-free holidays coming up.
2) CSR yesterday did not enter anything into system, nor call anyone. She confirmed (when she wasn't getting hit on by security guard) that they just file it away. It looks like we have a YMMV situation with how the malls are handling registering GC purchases in a day (keying into computer system or just storing).
On another note, bought yesterday:
1) Simon is running a Gap promotion that a Gap GC purchase gets you a free 20% of value Visa GC (no 3.95 fee). Min $150. No max listed. That's a good deal for those with tax-free holidays coming up.
2) CSR yesterday did not enter anything into system, nor call anyone. She confirmed (when she wasn't getting hit on by security guard) that they just file it away. It looks like we have a YMMV situation with how the malls are handling registering GC purchases in a day (keying into computer system or just storing).
Aug 5, 2015, 2:07 pm
#1584
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 20
Where in Simon mall can i buy VGC?
Simon mall is 30 miles away from me and I need to meet Minimum spend on three of my cards, thinking I can buy on one card in the morning, one later and one later in the day. Is this Ok - or without bothering i can meet spend on all three one single time (10K in total).
Also where in Simon mall can I buy the VGC? will there be any specific outlet / shop or is this at customer service / information desk of the mall - if so visiting multiple times in a day won't help.
Any information is much appreciated. Thanks.
Also where in Simon mall can I buy the VGC? will there be any specific outlet / shop or is this at customer service / information desk of the mall - if so visiting multiple times in a day won't help.
Any information is much appreciated. Thanks.
Aug 5, 2015, 2:22 pm
#1585
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,727
For those that buy SM GC on a regular basis, do you try to mix up the purchase amounts so it doesn't look suspicious? SM is only 10 minutes away (have 4 close) from me so it doesn't make a difference how much I purchase at one time, but I didn't want to purchase the same amount each time to avoid a shutdown. Sorry if this has been asked before, I didn't see it posted in the thread.
It's easy to pay with multiple cards and you can split each card to the penny you want.
Aug 5, 2015, 2:38 pm
#1586
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,727
Chase has not had issues with my multiple, sometimes four $9,978 transactions in the same day from various Simon malls for the past year. Do as you wish, but there is no hard evidence that breaking up payments has any affect.
On another note, bought yesterday:
1) Simon is running a Gap promotion that a Gap GC purchase gets you a free 20% of value Visa GC (no 3.95 fee). Min $150. No max listed. That's a good deal for those with tax-free holidays coming up.
2) CSR yesterday did not enter anything into system, nor call anyone. She confirmed (when she wasn't getting hit on by security guard) that they just file it away. It looks like we have a YMMV situation with how the malls are handling registering GC purchases in a day (keying into computer system or just storing).
On another note, bought yesterday:
1) Simon is running a Gap promotion that a Gap GC purchase gets you a free 20% of value Visa GC (no 3.95 fee). Min $150. No max listed. That's a good deal for those with tax-free holidays coming up.
2) CSR yesterday did not enter anything into system, nor call anyone. She confirmed (when she wasn't getting hit on by security guard) that they just file it away. It looks like we have a YMMV situation with how the malls are handling registering GC purchases in a day (keying into computer system or just storing).
2. On my last visit the CS didn't enter anything into the computer, nor could they find my paperwork. i just don't have 2 SMs close enough to try it out. Once I have visitors in town I can have the chance to try. They don't have any issue with my wife buying on the same day. I'll have to try my kiddos.
Aug 5, 2015, 6:59 pm
#1587
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 116
People go to the mall all the time, but how many people actually give THE MALL any money as opposed to the stores in the mall? I never did before starting to buy these GCs.
Aug 5, 2015, 8:29 pm
#1588
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: SAN
Programs: Delta Gold. Hilton Diamond. Hyatt Explorist.
Posts: 1,675
Simon mall is 30 miles away from me and I need to meet Minimum spend on three of my cards, thinking I can buy on one card in the morning, one later and one later in the day. Is this Ok - or without bothering i can meet spend on all three one single time (10K in total).
Also where in Simon mall can I buy the VGC? will there be any specific outlet / shop or is this at customer service / information desk of the mall - if so visiting multiple times in a day won't help.
Any information is much appreciated. Thanks.
Also where in Simon mall can I buy the VGC? will there be any specific outlet / shop or is this at customer service / information desk of the mall - if so visiting multiple times in a day won't help.
Any information is much appreciated. Thanks.
Generally at an information desk. I'd suggest calling the mall before going to ask where they sell the cards. Some malls might have different limits, buy at my simon mall i can buy $10k per day (all in one visit). I would not recommend trying to buy gift cards multiple times during the same day.
Aug 5, 2015, 8:39 pm
#1589
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 39
I was told I needed to fill out their form if it's more than 1k in Gift Cards. Do they report it to the IRS or what do they do with that paper I fill out? They ask why do I want the GCs for and address and all that...
Aug 5, 2015, 11:47 pm
#1590
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: NYC
Posts: 498
This is discussed thoroughly in this thread. Go back a few pages and check what others have mentioned about this.