Always Thinking Like a Flyertalker
Feb 2, 2015, 3:10 pm
#16
Join Date: Jun 2014
Programs: Delta, Hilton Honors, SPG, Marriott, Hyatt
Posts: 672
It sounds like some of you doubt my friend's method. That's okay. For those of you interested in trying it, here are some tips:
Try to find a gas station with an absentee owner who doesn't check in very often.
When you first arrive stop inside and say hi to the employees. Tell them you're the volunteer from the local (insert local charity name here) to help out with the gas. You might explain that although you're primarily there to help old ladies and handicapped customers, if it gets slow you'll help everyone pump gas because that makes your day go faster. It help if the you find younger people working the register as they're less likely to question this.
Someone asked about fraud alerts, but that's just silly. I'd think by now most people here have more than two or three credit cards so if you bring them all with you that shouldn't be a problem.
Also, a good idea to carry pepper spray, just in case.
Really, the easiest way to do this is if you live in New Jersey. Then just figure out the name of the employee who has the day off and say you're there to fill in for Randy (or whoever) and you'll take every other car.
Good luck!
Try to find a gas station with an absentee owner who doesn't check in very often.
When you first arrive stop inside and say hi to the employees. Tell them you're the volunteer from the local (insert local charity name here) to help out with the gas. You might explain that although you're primarily there to help old ladies and handicapped customers, if it gets slow you'll help everyone pump gas because that makes your day go faster. It help if the you find younger people working the register as they're less likely to question this.
Someone asked about fraud alerts, but that's just silly. I'd think by now most people here have more than two or three credit cards so if you bring them all with you that shouldn't be a problem.
Also, a good idea to carry pepper spray, just in case.
Really, the easiest way to do this is if you live in New Jersey. Then just figure out the name of the employee who has the day off and say you're there to fill in for Randy (or whoever) and you'll take every other car.
Good luck!
Feb 2, 2015, 3:27 pm
#17
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: DFW,OVB (Russia)
Programs: AA HH Gold SPG Gold BA
Posts: 1,823
I suggest rather than risk it, just stand next to the gas pump, and feed the occasional blue or red bird
Feb 2, 2015, 4:37 pm
#18
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 584
1. deceitful
2. illegal
3. more likely to get you caught by the authorities
4. more likely to get you caught by your credit card company
5. inefficient
?
Feb 2, 2015, 6:36 pm
#19
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 801
1. deceitful
2. illegal
3. more likely to get you caught by the authorities
4. more likely to get you caught by your credit card company
5. inefficient
6. ?
7. PROFIT!
Feb 3, 2015, 6:48 am
#20
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 3,688
It sounds like some of you doubt my friend's method. That's okay. For those of you interested in trying it, here are some tips:
Try to find a gas station with an absentee owner who doesn't check in very often.
When you first arrive stop inside and say hi to the employees. Tell them you're the volunteer from the local (insert local charity name here) to help out with the gas. You might explain that although you're primarily there to help old ladies and handicapped customers, if it gets slow you'll help everyone pump gas because that makes your day go faster. It help if the you find younger people working the register as they're less likely to question this.
Someone asked about fraud alerts, but that's just silly. I'd think by now most people here have more than two or three credit cards so if you bring them all with you that shouldn't be a problem.
Also, a good idea to carry pepper spray, just in case.
Really, the easiest way to do this is if you live in New Jersey. Then just figure out the name of the employee who has the day off and say you're there to fill in for Randy (or whoever) and you'll take every other car.
Good luck!
Try to find a gas station with an absentee owner who doesn't check in very often.
When you first arrive stop inside and say hi to the employees. Tell them you're the volunteer from the local (insert local charity name here) to help out with the gas. You might explain that although you're primarily there to help old ladies and handicapped customers, if it gets slow you'll help everyone pump gas because that makes your day go faster. It help if the you find younger people working the register as they're less likely to question this.
Someone asked about fraud alerts, but that's just silly. I'd think by now most people here have more than two or three credit cards so if you bring them all with you that shouldn't be a problem.
Also, a good idea to carry pepper spray, just in case.
Really, the easiest way to do this is if you live in New Jersey. Then just figure out the name of the employee who has the day off and say you're there to fill in for Randy (or whoever) and you'll take every other car.
Good luck!
To make this work, one has to take 2 or more CCs they can alternately swipe? While some may be good at juggling CCs successfully, there'll be many who will mess up with this. Regarding those who will pay with cash and MSer will take their cash and swipe their own card, I can just imagine them bring a sack of cash and coins to give change? I'd be so impress with anyone who can do this while pumping gas for others. But if they enjoy it, why not, right?
It still boils down to getting permission from the gas station owner and if they say NO, the end. If they say YES, there's no need to lie and misrepresent oneself. But one has to be careful with swiping their own cards for the cash given to them and hopefully, they don't make mistakes giving exact change. OR else, they're giving free service and free gas to people
Feb 3, 2015, 3:14 pm
#23
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: DFW,OVB (Russia)
Programs: AA HH Gold SPG Gold BA
Posts: 1,823
Feb 3, 2015, 4:12 pm
#24
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: SFO
Posts: 1,754
I was in my Fundamentals of Income Taxation class today and we were talking about one of the fringe benefits employees receive where money given to them is not income. The specific example was your employer gives you $150 to buy a new printer and as long as you give your employer the change, the printer is for business purposes and it's verified that you actually bought it, the money you briefly were given is not income.
After class I asked "what if I bought the printer with a mileage earning credit card, deposited the cash and paid off the card, is that still okay?". I had to first convince the Professor this was not a form of embezzlement (she had no idea what MS) was but eventually she saw it from my perspective and said that was okay too. Hooray!
After class I asked "what if I bought the printer with a mileage earning credit card, deposited the cash and paid off the card, is that still okay?". I had to first convince the Professor this was not a form of embezzlement (she had no idea what MS) was but eventually she saw it from my perspective and said that was okay too. Hooray!
I do this all the time...
I am traveling for work the next month...
My hotel goes on my Marriott card...
My Airfare goes on the United Card...
I earn points for every purchase and I am reimbursed for it.
I don't really see the "news" here....
And what employer gives an employee cash ?
Feb 3, 2015, 4:49 pm
#26
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: NYC
Programs: DL PM, Marriott Gold, Hertz PC, National Exec
Posts: 6,736
That's kind of a stupid reason to fire someone in my opinion. I know, processing fees are involved,but in my opinion, the store had an equal chance of using their card ,and that would be ok, but yet when the customer pays cash , they don't card either way how the bills get paid, but you get picked up the rewards that low credit/non savvy customer left on the table etc.... I heard about this kind of thing also on here, but instead of BAR employees... What's the big deal? Why the double standard? I say, cost of doing business, no matter who does it, either a credit card paying customer, or a savby employee who assists a cash paying customer, all should be classified as a cost of doing business type of thing,in my opinion
The employee was stealing from the store, just as certainly as if he was taking cash out of the till.
Feb 3, 2015, 9:06 pm
#27
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: DFW,OVB (Russia)
Programs: AA HH Gold SPG Gold BA
Posts: 1,823
Whaaa? Cost of doing business? What this employee did is no different from taking the customer's $50 in cash, putting $49 in the till, and pocketing the last $1. The customer had already decided to pay cash, so it's not an issue of "employee's card or customer's card." It's an issue of the store getting 100% of the customer's payment, or 97-98% of the payment.
The employee was stealing from the store, just as certainly as if he was taking cash out of the till.
The employee was stealing from the store, just as certainly as if he was taking cash out of the till.
let's compare apples to apples and not apple to another half eaten apple
what we are trying to do here is , salvage the points that a potential cash paying customer leaves behind by not knowing or caring about credit card rewards.. Regardless, the bill would get settled in ful either way...
The bigger issue here, is that shop and restaurant owners are just cheap. They will let the "customer" pay with what ever form of payment they choose, without a fee, but yet would fire a savy employee who takes cash from the cash paying customer,and swipes their own credit card, picking up the unused rewards potential that the cash paying customer could care less about, but that you could really use. (comes back to the real world idea of reduce, reuse , recycle)
Its all about perspective , and being able to assess what would be appropriate to do in certain situations vs orders... This is exactly the reason why some people don't like to MS in general, while I see nothing wrong with it. I look at it as a way to actual receive what credit card companies promise you when you sign up for a airline credit card. (instead of just wasting money and "hoping" to get a free flight one day, if you are lucky...(i don't like false promises)
Last edited by rgAAFT; Feb 3, 2015 at 9:25 pm
Feb 3, 2015, 10:50 pm
#28
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
I've had several employers in several lines of work give me money for purchases. Sometimes small ones like coffee or doughnuts for the office but other times larger ones. Some places I've worked at found it easier to take money out of petty cash then voucher it for items.
Feb 4, 2015, 6:33 am
#29
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 3,688
I respectfully disagree..
let's compare apples to apples and not apple to another half eaten apple
what we are trying to do here is , salvage the points that a potential cash paying customer leaves behind by not knowing or caring about credit card rewards.. Regardless, the bill would get settled in ful either way...
The bigger issue here, is that shop and restaurant owners are just cheap. They will let the "customer" pay with what ever form of payment they choose, without a fee, but yet would fire a savy employee who takes cash from the cash paying customer,and swipes their own credit card, picking up the unused rewards potential that the cash paying customer could care less about, but that you could really use. (comes back to the real world idea of reduce, reuse , recycle)
Its all about perspective , and being able to assess what would be appropriate to do in certain situations vs orders... This is exactly the reason why some people don't like to MS in general, while I see nothing wrong with it. I look at it as a way to actual receive what credit card companies promise you when you sign up for a airline credit card. (instead of just wasting money and "hoping" to get a free flight one day, if you are lucky...(i don't like false promises)
let's compare apples to apples and not apple to another half eaten apple
what we are trying to do here is , salvage the points that a potential cash paying customer leaves behind by not knowing or caring about credit card rewards.. Regardless, the bill would get settled in ful either way...
The bigger issue here, is that shop and restaurant owners are just cheap. They will let the "customer" pay with what ever form of payment they choose, without a fee, but yet would fire a savy employee who takes cash from the cash paying customer,and swipes their own credit card, picking up the unused rewards potential that the cash paying customer could care less about, but that you could really use. (comes back to the real world idea of reduce, reuse , recycle)
Its all about perspective , and being able to assess what would be appropriate to do in certain situations vs orders... This is exactly the reason why some people don't like to MS in general, while I see nothing wrong with it. I look at it as a way to actual receive what credit card companies promise you when you sign up for a airline credit card. (instead of just wasting money and "hoping" to get a free flight one day, if you are lucky...(i don't like false promises)
Feb 4, 2015, 11:09 am
#30
Moderator: Manufactured Spending
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,580
let's compare apples to apples and not apple to another half eaten apple
what we are trying to do here is , salvage the points that a potential cash paying customer leaves behind by not knowing or caring about credit card rewards.. Regardless, the bill would get settled in ful either way...
The bigger issue here, is that shop and restaurant owners are just cheap. They will let the "customer" pay with what ever form of payment they choose, without a fee, but yet would fire a savy employee who takes cash from the cash paying customer,and swipes their own credit card, picking up the unused rewards potential that the cash paying customer could care less about, but that you could really use. (comes back to the real world idea of reduce, reuse , recycle)
what we are trying to do here is , salvage the points that a potential cash paying customer leaves behind by not knowing or caring about credit card rewards.. Regardless, the bill would get settled in ful either way...
The bigger issue here, is that shop and restaurant owners are just cheap. They will let the "customer" pay with what ever form of payment they choose, without a fee, but yet would fire a savy employee who takes cash from the cash paying customer,and swipes their own credit card, picking up the unused rewards potential that the cash paying customer could care less about, but that you could really use. (comes back to the real world idea of reduce, reuse , recycle)
Its all about perspective , and being able to assess what would be appropriate to do in certain situations vs orders... This is exactly the reason why some people don't like to MS in general, while I see nothing wrong with it. I look at it as a way to actual receive what credit card companies promise you when you sign up for a airline credit card. (instead of just wasting money and "hoping" to get a free flight one day, if you are lucky...(i don't like false promises)