Simon mall gift card(2014-2015)
Nov 10, 2015, 2:59 pm
#2236
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: San Diego
Posts: 229
Everyone (clerks - grocery store, staples/office depot, etc.) usually know fully well why I am buying GC's ... these people aren't dumb, even if you want to think they are.
Nov 10, 2015, 3:03 pm
#2237
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 25
My guess is that it's not Simon that pays the fee. It's probably USB that acts as the acquiring bank and takes hit on the fees. But USB expects to recoup that cost and some more as the GC is used, since they would be the ones collecting fees. MS via GC is probably loss-making proposition for them, but I guess they don't care as long as it's not significant enough. If the masses are doing it, they would probably get out of the GC business altogether, or raise fees/charge more fees for CC purchases to cover the cost. This is what has happened to online options.
Nov 10, 2015, 3:15 pm
#2238
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 25
So true. And the aggravating thing for me is that sometimes Wally folks have different policies even when they are working side by side. At my local Walmart, there are a few who are completely nonchalant about a series of GC unloads, and then there are a few who are GC haters. When they are working the same shift, it's literally luck of the draw. Well, I should be happy that Wally still is a GC unload option in my area, cause it's the last remaining option for me.
Then again, I guess they don't win out as much.
Nov 10, 2015, 3:24 pm
#2239
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: DFW
Posts: 1,249
Kind of hard to keep with that one when my wife and I are in twice a week buying $10k each. I went with the truth a while back and nobody has asked since.
Nov 10, 2015, 3:25 pm
#2240
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: MSP
Programs: Delta PM, Marriott Plat, Hertz Pres
Posts: 3,649
I always tell them they are gifts for myself. My primary mall knows as well. There is nothing to hide, nor is there a reason to broadcast. The ladies actually enjoy me coz I'm not coming in having them fill out a form coz the kiddie rides ate someone's quarter or asking for VIP books.
Nov 10, 2015, 5:17 pm
#2242
Join Date: May 2015
Location: LAX, BUR
Programs: AS,AA,JB, HH Gold, Starriott Titanium Elite, Hyatt Explorist, Global Entry
Posts: 1,930
YMMV at your location of course but I thought the limit was 19 cards with total purchase under $10K. I always get 19 x 5 for $9500 plus fees.
Nov 10, 2015, 8:08 pm
#2245
Join Date: May 2015
Location: LAX, BUR
Programs: AS,AA,JB, HH Gold, Starriott Titanium Elite, Hyatt Explorist, Global Entry
Posts: 1,930
My locations want the total to be below $10k including fees.
As I said YMMV.
As I said YMMV.
Nov 11, 2015, 12:11 am
#2247
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Madison, WI, USA
Posts: 14,162
And yes, they do know what we're doing.
Nov 11, 2015, 5:43 am
#2248
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,727
I will have to ask my mall coz I'd like to get greater than $500 if they allow it especially if it's like $900 since it's easy to liquidate at WM. I always get the odd card in a different style.
Nov 11, 2015, 8:30 am
#2249
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Madison, WI, USA
Posts: 14,162
Nov 11, 2015, 11:26 am
#2250
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Bay Area, CA
Programs: AS MVP GOLD, HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Plat
Posts: 47
Trying to get the image out of my mind... a manager standing on a pier talking to it about MS...
I handle rental properties for myself and sometimes for family members. We all have several of them. I've had clerks remark that's A LOT of money in GC'S! even for just 1 or 2 500.00 cards! I ask them if they like having to pay the gas company almost 4.00 to pay the gas bill online? Then I tell them that I have MANY gas bills and I pay them free with this debit card and the GC fee is covered with the cashback on my CC. They are satisfied with that and remark that it's clever, rather than worrying whether they just allowed a criminal to rip the store off or perform some other illegal act.
A little schmoozing and they are happy happy happy to sell me what I want.
Everybody happy happy happy!
I handle rental properties for myself and sometimes for family members. We all have several of them. I've had clerks remark that's A LOT of money in GC'S! even for just 1 or 2 500.00 cards! I ask them if they like having to pay the gas company almost 4.00 to pay the gas bill online? Then I tell them that I have MANY gas bills and I pay them free with this debit card and the GC fee is covered with the cashback on my CC. They are satisfied with that and remark that it's clever, rather than worrying whether they just allowed a criminal to rip the store off or perform some other illegal act.
A little schmoozing and they are happy happy happy to sell me what I want.
Everybody happy happy happy!
Glad to see that SM don't mind what we are doing and i do agree, more GC's mean more fees for them so why would they care. As i said, i'm still new to this so based on other's experience if saying what we are doing is not a problem i won't feel i need to hide anything hereon. So far SMGC is the best way to go given the lower fees.
Thank you all for the good advice as always