Jan 2, 2017, 7:37 pm
Last edit by: Marathon Man
NEW TO MS: Do some serious reading for a month of all the posts and wiki to get an understanding of MS before asking common questions.
Note: the 2016 version of this thread is here: www.flyertalk.com/forum/manufactured-spending/1737819-new-manufactured-spending-start-here-2016-a-39.html#post27694986, the 2015 version of the thread is here: www.flyertalk.com/forum/manufactured-spending/1642283-new-manufactured-spending-start-here-2015-a.html
Welcome to Manufactured Spending. Marathon Man did not write this message, but he has edited it and anyone can. 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.
3) A glossary wiki for MS located in the thread Glossary, Manufactured Spending Forum
Important Rules
1) MSing is very YMMV. It varies by store, manager, and right down to the cashier working at the moment. Some might argue that MS is like card counting in a casino. It is not illegal but casinos don’t like it. Orhers have said it’s like having a fake ID in college to use just to get into bars where all the fun is. Just because it worked here yesterday doesn’t mean it will get you in today. MS is like being a wood worker constantly using a table saw. Always watch what you are doing—always! Or you will lose something. 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).
6) MSing can be used for a variety of purposes, ranging from smallish amounts to meet minimum spend requirements to get a credit card signup bonus, to accumulating huge numbers of points for travel/cashback/etc. Remember too that you will often have expenses such as purchase fees, liquidation fees, and gas.
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 MSers can also read all these threads:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manufactured-spending-719/
Note: the 2016 version of this thread is here: www.flyertalk.com/forum/manufactured-spending/1737819-new-manufactured-spending-start-here-2016-a-39.html#post27694986, the 2015 version of the thread is here: www.flyertalk.com/forum/manufactured-spending/1642283-new-manufactured-spending-start-here-2015-a.html
Welcome to Manufactured Spending. Marathon Man did not write this message, but he has edited it and anyone can. 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.
3) A glossary wiki for MS located in the thread Glossary, Manufactured Spending Forum
Important Rules
1) MSing is very YMMV. It varies by store, manager, and right down to the cashier working at the moment. Some might argue that MS is like card counting in a casino. It is not illegal but casinos don’t like it. Orhers have said it’s like having a fake ID in college to use just to get into bars where all the fun is. Just because it worked here yesterday doesn’t mean it will get you in today. MS is like being a wood worker constantly using a table saw. Always watch what you are doing—always! Or you will lose something. 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).
6) MSing can be used for a variety of purposes, ranging from smallish amounts to meet minimum spend requirements to get a credit card signup bonus, to accumulating huge numbers of points for travel/cashback/etc. Remember too that you will often have expenses such as purchase fees, liquidation fees, and gas.
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 MSers can also read all these threads:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manufactured-spending-719/
New to Manufactured Spending? Start here(2017-2018)
Jan 20, 2018, 12:34 am
#391
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 9
Is it important to register the GC and put your info on it? I assumed a clerk can tell if it's debit or GC. Because I don't register the GC and hence my info isn't there for him to see, but in case of debit, it will show up on his end. Is that true? And would I register it or not ? Worried about spreading my info..
Jan 20, 2018, 10:28 pm
#392
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 92
Registration is only needed for purchasing stuff at certain online stores, and gas pumps that need a zip code, but not for typical MS. Clerks only can tell a GC from Debit if you show them the card and it says "Gift Card". They may get suspicious for other reasons, like the amount or number of swipes. The store's POS system does not see a functional difference between a GC and a prepaid debit card. It is in the mind of the people you are dealing with. But don't bother arguing the point with them as that is what they have been told by management.
Jan 23, 2018, 7:12 pm
#393
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 615
In setting up a bank account for MO deposits, is it recommended to start off with a legit deposit before depositing MOs or does it really not matter? Also, should I set up a biz account or personal acct?
Jan 24, 2018, 6:03 am
#394
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Malibu, CA
Programs: AA CK / Marriott Worthless Ambassador
Posts: 1,158
Question
I have a question. I’m trying to decipher much of this. Is this talk around manufactured spend to buy gift cards with credit cards? And if so, what do you do with the gift cards? Don’t just spend them? I’m trying to figure out how its somehow gaming system and illegal? Thanks. I’m dumb.
Jan 24, 2018, 12:55 pm
#395
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 463
It is gaming the system, but it is not illegal. The basic idea is to spend as much as you can on credit cards to earn cashback or miles. Buying gift cards is one way to earn points on your credit card without actually spending any money. The real trick is turning that gift card back into cash. There are many traps there, so I'll let you read the thread and learn about them instead of sending you off with just enough knowledge to get yourself in trouble.
Jan 25, 2018, 8:50 am
#396
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,453
I have a question. I’m trying to decipher much of this. Is this talk around manufactured spend to buy gift cards with credit cards? And if so, what do you do with the gift cards? Don’t just spend them? I’m trying to figure out how its somehow gaming system and illegal? Thanks. I’m dumb.
Feb 1, 2018, 9:50 am
#397
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 106
I'm a little late to the party. I read in the previous pages that Serve 1VIP got discontinued as of 12/31/2017. What's the next best alternative?
Feb 2, 2018, 2:42 pm
#398
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 615
In doing research and reading online on this topic I came across something interesting regarding flying under the radar when buying GCs at bonus cat places like gas stations or grocery store. I was always under the impression that when doing this you should fly under the radar as much as possible by trying to blend in these purchases with organic spend. However I recently read that one good way of avoiding the scrutiny of credit cards is to proactively call them up and explain to them that you are buying GCs from xyz store for xyz reasons. Logic is that if you do that, that credit card companies will not key in on you (unless of course you are abusing).
is this bad advice?
is this bad advice?
Feb 3, 2018, 8:39 am
#399
Feb 4, 2018, 6:22 am
#400
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 3,688
In doing research and reading online on this topic I came across something interesting regarding flying under the radar when buying GCs at bonus cat places like gas stations or grocery store. I was always under the impression that when doing this you should fly under the radar as much as possible by trying to blend in these purchases with organic spend. However I recently read that one good way of avoiding the scrutiny of credit cards is to proactively call them up and explain to them that you are buying GCs from xyz store for xyz reasons. Logic is that if you do that, that credit card companies will not key in on you (unless of course you are abusing).
Feb 4, 2018, 9:43 am
#401
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 615
Thanks.
it certainly didn’t pass the smell test but I wasn’t sure if there was something else I was missing
it certainly didn’t pass the smell test but I wasn’t sure if there was something else I was missing
Feb 7, 2018, 12:09 pm
#402
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 4
Walmart Green Dot vs Metabank
I was wondering if I can use WM GD GC for MO, or should i stick to MB GC?
I just purchased one and it says I need to register the card before using it???
Thanks
I just purchased one and it says I need to register the card before using it???
Thanks
Feb 8, 2018, 9:38 am
#404
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 4
UPDATE: Walmart Green Dot vs Metabank
UPDATE:
I purchased the Visa GC offered by Green Dot Bank at WM with my CC. I then turned around and used it to purchase a MO. I paid for the fee with cash and the MO with the GC. Both GD and MB work at my WM.
The card says "you must register your card", which I did (you don't need to add your address or anything else unless you plan to use it online). However I don't think it is necessary. You might just have to wait a few minutes for the card to activate.
Feb 8, 2018, 10:52 am
#405
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 615
PSA - do not purchase GC/GD and MO in the same place.