Simon mall gift card(2014-2015)
#301
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 647
I do one order a month of $10k - I will keep you updated if it gets killed. That doesn't sound so much for a business - are you doing one BB or several?
I tend to do my SGC over 4 BB's and several other cards
#302
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Chyona
Programs: Anywhere I can ski...
Posts: 401
I changed to serve about a month ago but I always feed BB/Serve and the, typically billpay and do MO's with remainder of the VGC's.
#304
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Midwest U.S.A
Programs: Too many to list. Since the early 90's.
Posts: 1,407
So is Blackhawk tracking this by the specific CC you use to purchase the SMGC? If so, and you make personal purchases (not business account), why not just use a different card each month.
If you "hit it hard" with one personal card and then load to a BB load then wouldn't Blackhawk just be shutting down your ability to purchase again with that one personal card?
Then the next month, move on to a different personal card....I know this strategy doesn't work for the professional MS folks but I really only need the ability to get 2-3K onto a personal card for a given 1-2 month period, then move on to another personal card to meet the new minimum spend.
What do you all think....does Blackhawk only track by the card and not the individual? I would assume so....
If you "hit it hard" with one personal card and then load to a BB load then wouldn't Blackhawk just be shutting down your ability to purchase again with that one personal card?
Then the next month, move on to a different personal card....I know this strategy doesn't work for the professional MS folks but I really only need the ability to get 2-3K onto a personal card for a given 1-2 month period, then move on to another personal card to meet the new minimum spend.
What do you all think....does Blackhawk only track by the card and not the individual? I would assume so....
#305
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Indianapolis
Programs: Hilton-Diamond Lifetime Platinum AA UA, WN-CP, SPG Gold.
Posts: 7,377
Once a pin is set they have a good idea of where it us headed,
That said, I am having no problems at the service desk...
When I do, I will not take it personal.
I have used it to move SPG to VISA..1.25 AA Miles, with real spend. United Club Card 1.5 miles...with real spend..
That said, I am having no problems at the service desk...
When I do, I will not take it personal.
I have used it to move SPG to VISA..1.25 AA Miles, with real spend. United Club Card 1.5 miles...with real spend..
#306
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: AMS, LHR
Programs: FlyingBlue (Platinum); AA (Executive Plat); BAEC (Silver), SPG (Platinum); Hilton (Diamond)
Posts: 695
Others have answered in part, but I'll add. Many locations are now also making customers fill out paperwork for personal orders over $500 and Blackhawk can track you just like corporate buyers. It's not only the cc you use, but your name that you put on the form with your ss which is then associated with the purchased GCs.
#307
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: The great Midwest
Programs: None
Posts: 67
Computers make this exceptionally easy. If you've ever dealt with POS systems and SQL (and maybe an XML converter depending on the software) its really easy to identify purchasers even without real id. You need two rules for the staff - any personal order over x, and if over x, check the last 4 of the card against this list. Heck, if all the data was fed centrally, you could write a script to fax the list of the last 4 to each location using their site specific history. Wouldn't take more than a day to write tops.
What I really wonder is if Simon expected to lose all this business? Assuming BH gave them a better deal, did they realize they'd have much less revenue with those better deal terms, or do they not read these forums (like BH does?).
The data on this must be fascinating. I wonder who's getting the bonuses at BH for preventing this type of behavior?
#308
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 565
It's much more likely that they run a nightly job, and pull out questionable purchases that may run afoul of banking laws. Anything identified gets automatically added to the black list in the POS.
#309
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 241
I have a hard time believing Simon is going to want their employees in the mall to "police" who can and can't buy giftcards simply at the say so of Blackhawk when Blackhawk deems them unprofitable, a manufactured spender, or not using them as intended. I understand this can easily be done behind the scenes via the POS upon checkout, but what's it going to say "transaction not approved/customer not profitable." It can lead to some awkward confrontions to say the least on property.
I mean who knows maybe they are getting enough revenue from the partnership where this policing by their employees will be worthwhile, but (and I really hope not) I see them much more likely to implement a daily purchase limit to the point where it'd wead out most MS and also require an ID scan at the time of purchase to track like CVS.
I mean who knows maybe they are getting enough revenue from the partnership where this policing by their employees will be worthwhile, but (and I really hope not) I see them much more likely to implement a daily purchase limit to the point where it'd wead out most MS and also require an ID scan at the time of purchase to track like CVS.
Last edited by Ctrix65513; Sep 6, 2014 at 9:29 pm
#310
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 51
I have to fill form to buy one $500 and the lady on the counter said over $300 needs to file form. I bought 1k before with no form. I wonder this is something new or just depend on the person on the customer service.
#313
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 208
Yep, I got 4 simons around me. At one I have been buying 1.5K forever with no issues. The other won't ask for forms until 2k, but it is a much further drive for me. The 3rd will hit you for information on anything $500, or maybe even less. The 4th I haven't hit in years, since back when it got used to get cards that could purchase cigars from overseas purveyors.
#314
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 51
I don't do any big time MS. Most of the Simon spending is only to meet minimum spending for credit card bonuses. I feel like it is a waste of gas and time to go to a mall just to buy one or two 500's.
#315
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 58
Reply
Computers make this exceptionally easy. If you've ever dealt with POS systems and SQL (and maybe an XML converter depending on the software) its really easy to identify purchasers even without real id. You need two rules for the staff - any personal order over x, and if over x, check the last 4 of the card against this list. Heck, if all the data was fed centrally, you could write a script to fax the list of the last 4 to each location using their site specific history. Wouldn't take more than a day to write tops.
What I really wonder is if Simon expected to lose all this business? Assuming BH gave them a better deal, did they realize they'd have much less revenue with those better deal terms, or do they not read these forums (like BH does?).
The data on this must be fascinating. I wonder who's getting the bonuses at BH for preventing this type of behavior?
What I really wonder is if Simon expected to lose all this business? Assuming BH gave them a better deal, did they realize they'd have much less revenue with those better deal terms, or do they not read these forums (like BH does?).
The data on this must be fascinating. I wonder who's getting the bonuses at BH for preventing this type of behavior?