How much did you MS last year, current YTD?
Apr 30, 2015, 5:06 pm
#46
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: DL PM, SPG Plat
Posts: 885
I'll play. Im at about $150k/month. I have 10 redcards and 16 bluebirds. All of the bluebirds are used to load the gift cards I buy with my somehow still open 5 OBCs for pure cash back. The OBCs are me, gf, mom, dad and sister. Most of the bb/rb cards are fraternity brothers that I convinced to sign up for like $20 and are used for miles. Add in grandparents and a few other friends and it was easy to hit. Also have 4 t-mobiles that Im still using. Having said all that, I'm just over $150k a month. I'm 27 and would love to quit my job and do this full time, but I don't think I can make enough profit without worrying when my OBCs are going to be shutdown.
Apr 30, 2015, 9:28 pm
#49
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Land of the parrots and parrotheads
Programs: Several dozen
Posts: 4,820
Some of us wisely don't take pictures in and around banks. Back in my banking days, I had a bank corporate photographer, named Mustafa, who was assigned by Marketing to shoot all the branch banking exterior signage. He attracted the attention of the police after shooting at just two branches.
My high tide mark was 75k a day in the days of the dollars. You can take that to the bank (with an armed guard). At 16 lbs per k, about 75k in 300 boxes is all you can handle in a sedan.
My high tide mark was 75k a day in the days of the dollars. You can take that to the bank (with an armed guard). At 16 lbs per k, about 75k in 300 boxes is all you can handle in a sedan.
May 1, 2015, 10:55 am
#51
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: LAX
Programs: AA, DL, Hyatt, Hilton
Posts: 127
What do you recommend? I was doing an extra 30k or so with my OBCs and just buying money orders but Im sticking to the credit limits which are around $15k per OBC. Sure I could do a lot more at Walmart with money orders but Im nervous about being shutdown. What would you do in my situation? Im all for advice!
May 1, 2015, 11:29 pm
#53
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: USA
Programs: Chase Ultimate, Amex, Delta, AA, BA Avios, United, US Airways, Marriott, Hilton
Posts: 260
God in heaven. Began dolling out money to friends....got 6 more RB's in last day. Wish I could have gotten in on the OBC. Those who have it, you might get shut down anyways. Might as well give them a good reason to, and actually MS like crazy while you can.
May 1, 2015, 11:32 pm
#54
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: USA
Programs: Chase Ultimate, Amex, Delta, AA, BA Avios, United, US Airways, Marriott, Hilton
Posts: 260
But realistically, yeah everyone that is doing this should be able to as not everyone in the world is interested in getting a RB or BB.
But, yeah it can be possible that someone is out there, and all their family and friends are involved in this activity, so in that case, it may be hard to find some one to give them a RB or BB.
May 2, 2015, 11:13 am
#55
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Somewhere in Florida
Posts: 2,621
OP here. Glad I started this thread -- great perspective on what people actually do..or say they do. Even if the #s are inflated, cutting the claimed #s in half still leaves a sizable margin. Looks like I've been leaving quite a bit of cash on the table!
What happens when you come across one (card of gf) you actually enjoy?
Originally Posted by pstravels
PSTRAVELS METHOD: 1)get cards 2)churn your cards 3)get cards for gf 4)churn her cards 5)churn gfs 6)enjoy
May 2, 2015, 7:20 pm
#56
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: a hotel room, somewhere...
Posts: 962
I'll play. Im at about $150k/month. I have 10 redcards and 16 bluebirds. All of the bluebirds are used to load the gift cards I buy with my somehow still open 5 OBCs for pure cash back. The OBCs are me, gf, mom, dad and sister. Most of the bb/rb cards are fraternity brothers that I convinced to sign up for like $20 and are used for miles. Add in grandparents and a few other friends and it was easy to hit. Also have 4 t-mobiles that Im still using. Having said all that, I'm just over $150k a month. I'm 27 and would love to quit my job and do this full time, but I don't think I can make enough profit without worrying when my OBCs are going to be shutdown.
May 3, 2015, 7:44 am
#57
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Land of the parrots and parrotheads
Programs: Several dozen
Posts: 4,820
The trick to high MS is to be creative, look for poor internal controls, keep the game legal and diversify your business. For my part, I never go overboard on any single line of business with a "grab all you can until they shut you down mentality." Been at this game for many years, so I think long term.
You are only a slacker if you MS less than you need to achieve your objectives. Even my monthly MS pales to some folks I know, as I run a green, low carbon footprint operation, doing my MS without using a car.
You are only a slacker if you MS less than you need to achieve your objectives. Even my monthly MS pales to some folks I know, as I run a green, low carbon footprint operation, doing my MS without using a car.
May 3, 2015, 10:56 am
#58
Join Date: Jul 2001
Programs: Marriott LT Tit; Hyatt Explorist; Hilton CC Gold; IHG CC Plt; Hertz (MR) 5 star
Posts: 5,536
The trick to high MS is to be creative, look for poor internal controls, keep the game legal and diversify your business. For my part, I never go overboard on any single line of business with a "grab all you can until they shut you down mentality." Been at this game for many years, so I think long term.
You are only a slacker if you MS less than you need to achieve your objectives. Even my monthly MS pales to some folks I know, as I run a green, low carbon footprint operation, doing my MS without using a car.
You are only a slacker if you MS less than you need to achieve your objectives. Even my monthly MS pales to some folks I know, as I run a green, low carbon footprint operation, doing my MS without using a car.
I do like your current philosophy of thinking long term rather than going 'all in' until you get shut down. I do very light MSing and only for hotel status. Last year, my MSing allowed me to get lifetime Platinum with Marriott and this year's goals are to charge $40K on my Hyatt card for 5stay/10night credit toward Diamond and then all extra MS will go toward SPG AmEx, since I can use the points for free/Cash&Point nights toward SPG Platinum (also approaching lifetime Plat with SPG).
For me, the $5K/mo RB works fine to achieve my goals. I don't have a strong desire to get a second RB and load up my SPG AmEx with additional charges because I want to make sure I stay far below AmEx's financial audit radar.