Jan 9, 2016, 6:55 pm
Last edit by: ChrisFlyer66
This wiki is to an old thread and is no longer current and is no longer being maintained and/or updated.
Note: the 2015 version of the thread is here: New to Manufactured spending? Start Here(2015)
The 2017 discussion is here: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manufactured-spending/1812407-new-manufactured-spending-start-here-2017-a.html#post27694982
Welcome to Manufactured Spending. If you are new here, please spend some time reading before posting. Most likely your questions have already been answered multiple times. Consider deals that you share. These threads are searchable by Google. A volatile deal may be worth holding close to the vest.
Hints
1) On FT, topics are heavily consolidated. Sometimes the title of the thread and first few posts may not properly reflect the broad range of discussion inside the thread. Be sure to visit any thread relating to the product or service you want to learn more about because you might be surprised by how in depth the discussion really is. High "View Count" and "Replies" are good indicators of active "master threads" on a specific topic.
2) Use Google to search FT. It works a lot better than the built-in search.
Important Rules
1) MSing is very YMMV. It varies by store, manager, and right down to the cashier working at the moment. That being said, always be nice and courteous in the face of rejection. The biggest secret for success is to lay low so you can try again.
2) DO NOT spend more than you can afford. START WITH SMALL AMOUNTS TO TEST THE WATER! As an example.. don't start with a $5000 purchase of VGCs if you can't afford to float that much! Instead, buy one and try it, and scale up once you are comfortable with a new method. It's easy to lose track, or get robbed, when you are handling so much money. Getting a refund is NOT always possible.
3) DO NOT ask employees, cashiers, customer service representatives, etc... about how to MS, or about things you read on this forum. The information you read here are very specific, unknown, legal uses of products or services. Most employees, cashiers, and even managers do not know about them. At best you'll get bad information. At worst you'll create a lot of unnecessary misunderstanding.
4) It bears repeating that there are no guarantees. you could easily buy $10,000 in gift cards or some other instrument, only to discover that your method for liquidating them vanishes the very next day. MS is not "normal" financial activity ("normal" being defined by the banks), and thus is often perceived as "suspicious" even if it is legal.
5) never underestimate the risk of criminal activity. gift cards can easily be stolen, loaded onto a compromised account, loaded in a debit card skimmer, or even fraudulent (e.g., an already used card put back on the rack).
If you have a question that does not seem to fit anywhere, or you have not found an appropriate place for it, post it here.
- A helpful note from seat17D about some of the inherent risks of MS
Note: the 2015 version of the thread is here: New to Manufactured spending? Start Here(2015)
The 2017 discussion is here: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manufactured-spending/1812407-new-manufactured-spending-start-here-2017-a.html#post27694982
Welcome to Manufactured Spending. If you are new here, please spend some time reading before posting. Most likely your questions have already been answered multiple times. Consider deals that you share. These threads are searchable by Google. A volatile deal may be worth holding close to the vest.
Hints
1) On FT, topics are heavily consolidated. Sometimes the title of the thread and first few posts may not properly reflect the broad range of discussion inside the thread. Be sure to visit any thread relating to the product or service you want to learn more about because you might be surprised by how in depth the discussion really is. High "View Count" and "Replies" are good indicators of active "master threads" on a specific topic.
2) Use Google to search FT. It works a lot better than the built-in search.
Important Rules
1) MSing is very YMMV. It varies by store, manager, and right down to the cashier working at the moment. That being said, always be nice and courteous in the face of rejection. The biggest secret for success is to lay low so you can try again.
2) DO NOT spend more than you can afford. START WITH SMALL AMOUNTS TO TEST THE WATER! As an example.. don't start with a $5000 purchase of VGCs if you can't afford to float that much! Instead, buy one and try it, and scale up once you are comfortable with a new method. It's easy to lose track, or get robbed, when you are handling so much money. Getting a refund is NOT always possible.
3) DO NOT ask employees, cashiers, customer service representatives, etc... about how to MS, or about things you read on this forum. The information you read here are very specific, unknown, legal uses of products or services. Most employees, cashiers, and even managers do not know about them. At best you'll get bad information. At worst you'll create a lot of unnecessary misunderstanding.
4) It bears repeating that there are no guarantees. you could easily buy $10,000 in gift cards or some other instrument, only to discover that your method for liquidating them vanishes the very next day. MS is not "normal" financial activity ("normal" being defined by the banks), and thus is often perceived as "suspicious" even if it is legal.
5) never underestimate the risk of criminal activity. gift cards can easily be stolen, loaded onto a compromised account, loaded in a debit card skimmer, or even fraudulent (e.g., an already used card put back on the rack).
If you have a question that does not seem to fit anywhere, or you have not found an appropriate place for it, post it here.
- A helpful note from seat17D about some of the inherent risks of MS
New to Manufactured Spending? Start Here (2016)
Jan 29, 2016, 7:04 pm
#46
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 64
nitrousfiz, where do you cash them at? A bank or post office? I work at a Kroger and because of that, I get free money orders. Been buying a few every now and then and depositing them in the bank. Bad idea or what? I am depositing them into a different band than the bank I'm using to pay the card with.
Jan 30, 2016, 4:14 am
#47
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,453
Why, many grocery stores sell them, since the PO watch's how much you purchase and they will stop you. Plus banks are starting to crack down on high amount of MO's being deposited into personal accounts.
Feb 1, 2016, 3:08 pm
#48
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 32
PO is convenient due to my location (NYC). But agree with FlightNurse, it depends on the volume your are doing.
Feb 2, 2016, 2:26 pm
#49
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: DCA
Posts: 818
I have a question for folks... has anyone ever been shutdown (or heard of a similar case) where the CC issuer got suspicious that the majority of your purchase dollars were spent a single merchant (or small group, e.g. CVS and a Simon Mall, for instance)? Simon Mall is by the the easiest/cheapest way for me to MS (I have a Bluebird account that wasn't shutdown and have multiple ways to liquidate MOs beyond depositing in bank account).
I have cards from three of the major issuers -- Citi, AmEx, and Chase -- and don't want to do anything to get blacklisted or shutdown. Recently got approved for two new Business AmEx's (Business Rewards Gold and Business Platinum -- each offering 75k MR after 10k and 15k, respectively, spent within 90 days of approval). And it's gonna be hard to make that 25k in 3 months without a lot of $$ spent at Simon Mall or CVS!
Thanks for any advice or threads where this issue is discussed.
I have cards from three of the major issuers -- Citi, AmEx, and Chase -- and don't want to do anything to get blacklisted or shutdown. Recently got approved for two new Business AmEx's (Business Rewards Gold and Business Platinum -- each offering 75k MR after 10k and 15k, respectively, spent within 90 days of approval). And it's gonna be hard to make that 25k in 3 months without a lot of $$ spent at Simon Mall or CVS!
Thanks for any advice or threads where this issue is discussed.
Feb 2, 2016, 5:14 pm
#50
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 3,688
I have a question for folks... has anyone ever been shutdown (or heard of a similar case) where the CC issuer got suspicious that the majority of your purchase dollars were spent a single merchant (or small group, e.g. CVS and a Simon Mall, for instance)? Simon Mall is by the the easiest/cheapest way for me to MS (I have a Bluebird account that wasn't shutdown and have multiple ways to liquidate MOs beyond depositing in bank account).
I have cards from three of the major issuers -- Citi, AmEx, and Chase -- and don't want to do anything to get blacklisted or shutdown. Recently got approved for two new Business AmEx's (Business Rewards Gold and Business Platinum -- each offering 75k MR after 10k and 15k, respectively, spent within 90 days of approval). And it's gonna be hard to make that 25k in 3 months without a lot of $$ spent at Simon Mall or CVS!
Thanks for any advice or threads where this issue is discussed.
I have cards from three of the major issuers -- Citi, AmEx, and Chase -- and don't want to do anything to get blacklisted or shutdown. Recently got approved for two new Business AmEx's (Business Rewards Gold and Business Platinum -- each offering 75k MR after 10k and 15k, respectively, spent within 90 days of approval). And it's gonna be hard to make that 25k in 3 months without a lot of $$ spent at Simon Mall or CVS!
Thanks for any advice or threads where this issue is discussed.
Feb 2, 2016, 7:36 pm
#51
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: DCA
Posts: 818
I've had one AmEx card since April 2013 (BlueCash Preferred, primarily for groceries/gas)... but since October I've now gotten another personal CC, personal charge card, and the two business charge cards mentioned above.
Having read though a bit more about AmEx financial reviews, it seems I should be fine assuming they elect to do one so long as I provided correct information on my applications? As in, they're not going to think, "well, he didn't lie about his income, but we don't like that he's most likely buying a lot of visa gift cards to meet these minimum spends, so we're going to shutdown anyways..." ?
Having read though a bit more about AmEx financial reviews, it seems I should be fine assuming they elect to do one so long as I provided correct information on my applications? As in, they're not going to think, "well, he didn't lie about his income, but we don't like that he's most likely buying a lot of visa gift cards to meet these minimum spends, so we're going to shutdown anyways..." ?
Feb 2, 2016, 7:53 pm
#52
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Colorado
Programs: Alaska, Shell VC, Wyndham VC, Starwood, RCI, II--I bought it on eBay!
Posts: 159
Having read though a bit more about AmEx financial reviews, it seems I should be fine assuming they elect to do one so long as I provided correct information on my applications? As in, they're not going to think, "well, he didn't lie about his income, but we don't like that he's most likely buying a lot of visa gift cards to meet these minimum spends, so we're going to shutdown anyways..." ?
We had a Bluebird for about 2 years and deposited into it regularly, and yes, we were shut down by Bluebird. When our Costco Amex is over and done, I am not going to get another Amex card out of spite.
Just kidding, but still, Amex has nothing to offer us now, and I feel a bit of the burn of that shutdown, each and every day. So I can deposit cash into Bluebird, but not my gift cards. Cash is not a concern at all, apparently. Drug dealers use a lot of cash, so they can use Bluebird and stop buying MO's to pay rent. We use a couple of cards that get 5X at office supply stores, and, so far, no shutdown for us. We do what we can, while we can, and when a door shuts closed, we find a new door. I think the old saying, "He who hesitates is lost," is very true. Jump in and test the water and don't worry about a card shutdown.
Some folks who had card shutdowns were paying their credit cards before the statement closing date. Others were paying with WalMart's money center, or their BB account (giant red flag). Others were young and probably overextended with their credit/ income ratios. There are red flags galore to credit card companies. We have built credit over 43 years of marriage, and we are not a credit risk, but there is always an outside chance the purchases we make will be scrutinized. So far, so good.
Feb 4, 2016, 10:15 pm
#53
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 1
I have 5k worth of mortgage payments to make, would like to earn rewards (tenants pay my vacations).
Seems like bluebird and $5 per $500 visa gift cards are the only current way. But the fees for gift cards negates the rewards.
Seems like bluebird and $5 per $500 visa gift cards are the only current way. But the fees for gift cards negates the rewards.
Feb 6, 2016, 6:28 am
#54
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,453
I've had one AmEx card since April 2013 (BlueCash Preferred, primarily for groceries/gas)... but since October I've now gotten another personal CC, personal charge card, and the two business charge cards mentioned above.
Having read though a bit more about AmEx financial reviews, it seems I should be fine assuming they elect to do one so long as I provided correct information on my applications? As in, they're not going to think, "well, he didn't lie about his income, but we don't like that he's most likely buying a lot of visa gift cards to meet these minimum spends, so we're going to shutdown anyways..." ?
Having read though a bit more about AmEx financial reviews, it seems I should be fine assuming they elect to do one so long as I provided correct information on my applications? As in, they're not going to think, "well, he didn't lie about his income, but we don't like that he's most likely buying a lot of visa gift cards to meet these minimum spends, so we're going to shutdown anyways..." ?
Feb 6, 2016, 6:30 am
#55
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,453
Don't forget to factor in that fee gives you an extra 5 points. So not too sure how it negates the rewards. Also the amount you spend on fee's is small compared to the real cost of the vacations.
Feb 8, 2016, 1:58 pm
#56
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 13
Yes, sifting is a good idea, and yes
Either way, call the nr on the back of the card and ask the cust service rep to clear the pin, then try again
Either way, call the nr on the back of the card and ask the cust service rep to clear the pin, then try again
Feb 9, 2016, 5:12 pm
#57
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 5
I have the British Airways Visa Signature ($30k/yr = 150,000 miles + free companion fare), and have made about $20K in legit purchases. I want to book two tix from NYC to Barcelona in September 2016, but would like to book soon so whatever seats are available for frequent flier miles are not taken. So that leaves me with $10k to spend.
Been reading here more than a few hours and the method above seemed like that would be the most direct. Use the CC to purchase a prepaid debit card, use debit card to purchase money order, deposit MO in bank. Repeat.
The sticking point I'm having is paying for the debit card with CC. I was told by two different stores (Safeway and Walgreens; I'm in Santa Clara, CA), that debit cards can only be loaded with cash. Are there specific debit cards that can be loaded with credit cards? If so, which ones and from where are they purchased?
Feb 10, 2016, 9:11 am
#59
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: DCA
Posts: 818
No experience with MS, so please be kind.
I have the British Airways Visa Signature ($30k/yr = 150,000 miles + free companion fare), and have made about $20K in legit purchases. I want to book two tix from NYC to Barcelona in September 2016, but would like to book soon so whatever seats are available for frequent flier miles are not taken. So that leaves me with $10k to spend.
Been reading here more than a few hours and the method above seemed like that would be the most direct. Use the CC to purchase a prepaid debit card, use debit card to purchase money order, deposit MO in bank. Repeat.
The sticking point I'm having is paying for the debit card with CC. I was told by two different stores (Safeway and Walgreens; I'm in Santa Clara, CA), that debit cards can only be loaded with cash. Are there specific debit cards that can be loaded with credit cards? If so, which ones and from where are they purchased?
I have the British Airways Visa Signature ($30k/yr = 150,000 miles + free companion fare), and have made about $20K in legit purchases. I want to book two tix from NYC to Barcelona in September 2016, but would like to book soon so whatever seats are available for frequent flier miles are not taken. So that leaves me with $10k to spend.
Been reading here more than a few hours and the method above seemed like that would be the most direct. Use the CC to purchase a prepaid debit card, use debit card to purchase money order, deposit MO in bank. Repeat.
The sticking point I'm having is paying for the debit card with CC. I was told by two different stores (Safeway and Walgreens; I'm in Santa Clara, CA), that debit cards can only be loaded with cash. Are there specific debit cards that can be loaded with credit cards? If so, which ones and from where are they purchased?
Feb 10, 2016, 12:51 pm
#60
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 5
Thank you so much for your response! There is a Simon Mall pretty close by. Is there some sort of booth or kiosk where the cards are sold?