Jan 6, 2016, 6:02 pm
Last edit by: ChrisFlyer66
Simon mall gift cards(2016)
Jan 24, 2016, 10:11 pm
#196
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SJC
Programs: AA, AS, Marriott
Posts: 6,067
I always write "Personal Use" as the reason. I think the SM rep may have been referring to an alleged e-mail that went out stating that they knew of the Bluebird shutdowns and wouldn't refund gift cards if buyers had purchased and were stuck with VGC inventory with no way to liquidate.
Jan 25, 2016, 7:49 am
#197
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: USA
Programs: Amex Plat, AA Exec, CITI Prestige, Hilton Gold, Marriot Gold and all ever changing
Posts: 218
Quote:
Originally Posted by littleconsumer View Post
"I don't know how to say this, but I would recommend that you check the blogs. We had one of our regulars come in a couple of weeks ago and buy $7K worth and then went to WMT [which is 3 min away] and was unable to spend them. He came back to use claiming the cards didn't have any money loaded on them, and we called the help line and thec ards were fine. WMT was blocking his spending. He came back here and asked me 'How am I going to pay my credit card?!'. "
SMH...
This is, part of the many reasons, we can't have nice things.
Originally Posted by littleconsumer View Post
"I don't know how to say this, but I would recommend that you check the blogs. We had one of our regulars come in a couple of weeks ago and buy $7K worth and then went to WMT [which is 3 min away] and was unable to spend them. He came back to use claiming the cards didn't have any money loaded on them, and we called the help line and thec ards were fine. WMT was blocking his spending. He came back here and asked me 'How am I going to pay my credit card?!'. "
SMH...
This is, part of the many reasons, we can't have nice things.
I don't usually post, but this takes the cake. Even my pre teen know better
.
Jan 26, 2016, 6:55 am
#198
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 800
It's been a long while since I've bothered buying VGCs at 1X points, but I needed to meet min spend on 3 cards in a short amount of time, so I went to SM yesterday and today.
Yesterday I purchased $2K, and the entire transaction was what you would expect.
Today I went and there was a different employee working. She asked how many GC's I wanted, and then asked me if I wanted $500 on each (I didn't tell her the amount).
She then told me "I'm going to ask you some personal questions so bear with me. I nod. She then asks me if I'm purchasing the cards to load on Bluebird. I honestly don't really care if I couldn't purchase VGCs from this location again so I said yes. She then beats around the bush and says the following:
"I don't know how to say this, but I would recommend that you check the blogs. We had one of our regulars come in a couple of weeks ago and buy $7K worth and then went to WMT [which is 3 min away] and was unable to spend them. He came back to use claiming the cards didn't have any money loaded on them, and we called the help line and thec ards were fine. WMT was blocking his spending. He came back here and asked me 'How am I going to pay my credit card?!'. "
She then goes on to tell me how she feels bad for the customer blah blah blah.
I know we have some idiots among us but this takes the cake. This is about on par with the people that view MS as an unalienable right.
FWIW I did have to fill out the form which asked how I was using the VGC's. In hindsight I should have put "MS" but opted for "spending".
Yesterday I purchased $2K, and the entire transaction was what you would expect.
Today I went and there was a different employee working. She asked how many GC's I wanted, and then asked me if I wanted $500 on each (I didn't tell her the amount).
She then told me "I'm going to ask you some personal questions so bear with me. I nod. She then asks me if I'm purchasing the cards to load on Bluebird. I honestly don't really care if I couldn't purchase VGCs from this location again so I said yes. She then beats around the bush and says the following:
"I don't know how to say this, but I would recommend that you check the blogs. We had one of our regulars come in a couple of weeks ago and buy $7K worth and then went to WMT [which is 3 min away] and was unable to spend them. He came back to use claiming the cards didn't have any money loaded on them, and we called the help line and thec ards were fine. WMT was blocking his spending. He came back here and asked me 'How am I going to pay my credit card?!'. "
She then goes on to tell me how she feels bad for the customer blah blah blah.
I know we have some idiots among us but this takes the cake. This is about on par with the people that view MS as an unalienable right.
FWIW I did have to fill out the form which asked how I was using the VGC's. In hindsight I should have put "MS" but opted for "spending".
The funds were allocated to the card number, but the PIN did not register through and would never fully authorize. Works as credit, though...
Said buyer may have encountered this issue.
I've personally encountered a few duds, especially during the holidays. Maybe it was swiped too fast or swiped inaccurately - who knows.
Jan 26, 2016, 8:37 am
#199
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Land of the parrots and parrotheads
Programs: Several dozen
Posts: 4,820
MS is an unalienable right! Ain't you ever heard of the 10th Amendment? MS is one of the powers reserved to the people since it is not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States.
"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."
As Sir Robert Marley said "Get up, stand up: stand up for your rights!
"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."
As Sir Robert Marley said "Get up, stand up: stand up for your rights!
Jan 27, 2016, 11:10 am
#201
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 132
CS rep told me today that Simon no longer accepts CCs that have a name printed twice. I explained that my card is for a sole proprietorship and she angrily insisted that she did not want to violate a Simon rule and get fired. Then she told me unless she could independently verify that my name was actually a business, such as checking a company website, she couldn't do it. I told her that the CC company already verified the legitimacy of my business then walked away.
This was not the case last Fall when I used my Ink+, so must be something fairly new.
Also, there will be those here who will reply that they have no problem using their business card for personal purchase. Hence...wait for it........wait for it.........YMMV.
.
Jan 27, 2016, 12:47 pm
#202
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 3,509
I haven't bought Simons in a while. Are people still able to buy the $10K limit/day?
Jan 28, 2016, 8:36 am
#206
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 800
Same here in MD. Went to buy $3K VGC recently with my wife's new INK+ at the kiosk where the CSR knows us from regular purchases. The system vomited some sort of error code when we swiped card. Manager was called, who also knows us, and upon arrival and looking at the card we were using, told us no Business card can be used for a personal VGC purchase. We are required to have a business account.
This was not the case last Fall when I used my Ink+, so must be something fairly new.
Also, there will be those here who will reply that they have no problem using their business card for personal purchase. Hence...wait for it........wait for it.........YMMV.
.
This was not the case last Fall when I used my Ink+, so must be something fairly new.
Also, there will be those here who will reply that they have no problem using their business card for personal purchase. Hence...wait for it........wait for it.........YMMV.
.
Jan 28, 2016, 8:40 am
#207
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 692
Probably trying to meet spend for the 50k sign up bonus.
Jan 28, 2016, 1:10 pm
#209
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Madison, WI, USA
Posts: 14,162