Simon mall gift card(2014-2015)
Dec 2, 2014, 11:11 am
#751
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 77
Agree! You just detailed out your personal cost, which is YMMV person to person. Regardless the liquidation method used (buying MOs or loading BB/Serve), the base cost is higher when comparing Simon vs Staples.
The spreadsheet is meant for newbies that want to buy $500 VGCs. Higher value GCs do not always translate to cost saving.
The spreadsheet is meant for newbies that want to buy $500 VGCs. Higher value GCs do not always translate to cost saving.
What prompted me to post this is that I'm one of those with an Ink biz card...multiple, actually. And I only have 1 Serve card, by choice. I have multiple OSS's nearby that don't have a problem selling me 25 $200 VGC's in a single trip. I also have a fully functioning Kate that is literally right next door to my gym. I will gladly take the accumulation of 25,868 UR points/month at $0.00672/point with relative ease using these VGC's because all other avenues require much more work, or are beyond my comfort level.
Dec 2, 2014, 11:33 am
#752
Suspended
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,998
Agree! You just detailed out your personal cost, which is YMMV person to person. Regardless the liquidation method used (buying MOs or loading BB/Serve), the base cost is higher when comparing Simon vs Staples.
The spreadsheet is meant for newbies that want to buy $500 VGCs. Higher value GCs do not always translate to cost saving.
The spreadsheet is meant for newbies that want to buy $500 VGCs. Higher value GCs do not always translate to cost saving.
Dec 2, 2014, 12:13 pm
#753
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,767
One thing I'll never understand is why new participants think they're the only ones to have to dig thru old material or figure things out on their own. There seems to be this perception that people who've been here for a while had it easy and it's only been recently that it's taken an amount of effort to get up to speed.
Guess what - everyone here had to do the same thing. We all had to read old material, we all had to use trial and error and we all had to get ourselves up to speed.
Guess what - everyone here had to do the same thing. We all had to read old material, we all had to use trial and error and we all had to get ourselves up to speed.
+1
Reading the stuff is one thing, but people are scared to try. Its not that hard to buy a $25 gift card and try to convert for "testing purposes." If it works, go balls to the wall, if not, try another and use that $25 for groceries or gas.
People feel like they need to by a $500 card from the get go.
Reading the stuff is one thing, but people are scared to try. Its not that hard to buy a $25 gift card and try to convert for "testing purposes." If it works, go balls to the wall, if not, try another and use that $25 for groceries or gas.
People feel like they need to by a $500 card from the get go.
I may also add, it also largely depends on one's ability to deduce information, and the methodology to keep the information organized.
To the newbies who do not have photo memory nor a strong analytical skills, when you are reading, you may want to use a note pad to copy/paste whatever important tidbits you come across, and later return to reread those - this way you would not be blindly shifting thru materials and then totally got confused of what you have read.
Dec 3, 2014, 1:04 pm
#754
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: DFW
Programs: SPG Gold, SW Companion Pass, Hilton Gold
Posts: 128
Drove to Irving mall in Irving, TX today to purchase VISA Simon GCs. I was informed that anything over $500 needed a form to be filled out. I purchased 4x$500 cards and the fee was indeed higher at $3.95 each. They had plenty of cards and were very nice!
Dec 4, 2014, 1:40 am
#755
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 52
I was using mostly my SPG CC on Simon mall, but now that I am seriously considering closing my Amex gold and opening a Preffered ED I see that I can get 1.5 on purchases in Simon mall on the Preferred ED . What are your favorite CC to Use at Simon?
Dec 4, 2014, 5:45 am
#756
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Charlotte, NC
Programs: AA Plat, VA Silver, IHG Plat, HH Gold
Posts: 28
Dec 4, 2014, 6:41 am
#757
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 116
The same thing happened to me in Colorado, except they wouldn't tell me the amount that triggered the form. For those of you that haven't seen it, the form asks for you name, address, and DL number. I chose not the fill it out and didn't make a purchase yesterday.
Is everyone else just filling out the forms?
Dec 4, 2014, 6:41 am
#758
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 766
Just an observation, but surprised many are still doing this since they no longer allow Amex GC. You only pay $1 more per $500 load at Wally World on Sunnies, and since you can use Amex GC, and even turn around and unload on the same trip, this is much better deal.
Just my two cents.
Just my two cents.
Dec 4, 2014, 6:43 am
#759
Suspended
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,998
Just an observation, but surprised many are still doing this since they no longer allow Amex GC. You only pay $1 more per $500 load at Wally World on Sunnies, and since you can use Amex GC, and even turn around and unload on the same trip, this is much better deal.
Just my two cents.
Just my two cents.
Dec 4, 2014, 7:31 am
#761
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 565
The same thing happened to me in Colorado, except they wouldn't tell me the amount that triggered the form. For those of you that haven't seen it, the form asks for you name, address, and DL number. I chose not the fill it out and didn't make a purchase yesterday.
Is everyone else just filling out the forms?
Is everyone else just filling out the forms?
Dec 4, 2014, 7:55 am
#762
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Minnesota
Programs: Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,101
Dec 4, 2014, 8:16 am
#763
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: DFW
Programs: SPG Gold, SW Companion Pass, Hilton Gold
Posts: 128
The same thing happened to me in Colorado, except they wouldn't tell me the amount that triggered the form. For those of you that haven't seen it, the form asks for you name, address, and DL number. I chose not the fill it out and didn't make a purchase yesterday.
Is everyone else just filling out the forms?
Is everyone else just filling out the forms?
Dec 4, 2014, 8:50 am
#764
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: HOU, IAH
Posts: 194
SO and I have been filling out the form for months and don't mind. If a SAR is ever initiated, I have my VGC's and Bluebird records to prove I'm not kiting but using for legitimate expenses.
What I do mind is the daily limit of $3k. Galleria is not too far from my home but parking can be a PITA. Used to be able to get it all taken care of in a single trip.
What I do mind is the daily limit of $3k. Galleria is not too far from my home but parking can be a PITA. Used to be able to get it all taken care of in a single trip.
Dec 4, 2014, 9:19 am
#765
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,767
Just an observation, but surprised many are still doing this since they no longer allow Amex GC. You only pay $1 more per $500 load at Wally World on Sunnies, and since you can use Amex GC, and even turn around and unload on the same trip, this is much better deal.
Just my two cents.
Just my two cents.
Sunnies in my Wally World are hardcoded debit card or cash only at the POS. It also could only be bought one at a time.
There is no hassle at Simon's - all smile and laughter in and out in 10 min with split payments in however customer prefers. Do need to fill out form each time but daily amount allowed is intact. They are far more suspicious to those who dont want to fill out forms and keep buying sub 3K at this location. Those who do, after a few times, become "good people" on their internal records per the CSR.