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)
#409
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: ORD
Programs: MileagePlus, Mileage Plan
Posts: 46
Just got approved for my first points credit card, I'm super excited to start going down this rabbit ho- errr... earning points.
I got the @m€x errday card (Do I need to be this cryptic? Better safe than sorry I guess), and you get 10,000 points with $1,000 of spending in 3 months. But, as a college student, I hardly spend $1,000 in 6 months, let alone the 3 required for this bonus. So the going thought was to go to a grocery store (x2 points there), get grocery store gift cards (Mariano's (owned by Roundy's) and Jewel-Osco are the two biggest chains by me), use those to buy v1s@ and m$trcahd gift cards, and put those back in my bank account using ₱ć₱@hl.
Any flaws in this logic? I'm gonna start out trying this with $20, worst case scenario I have a $20 grocery store gift card or a $20 v1s@/m$trcahd gift card. Thanks
I got the @m€x errday card (Do I need to be this cryptic? Better safe than sorry I guess), and you get 10,000 points with $1,000 of spending in 3 months. But, as a college student, I hardly spend $1,000 in 6 months, let alone the 3 required for this bonus. So the going thought was to go to a grocery store (x2 points there), get grocery store gift cards (Mariano's (owned by Roundy's) and Jewel-Osco are the two biggest chains by me), use those to buy v1s@ and m$trcahd gift cards, and put those back in my bank account using ₱ć₱@hl.
Any flaws in this logic? I'm gonna start out trying this with $20, worst case scenario I have a $20 grocery store gift card or a $20 v1s@/m$trcahd gift card. Thanks
#410
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,449
Just got approved for my first points credit card, I'm super excited to start going down this rabbit ho- errr... earning points.
I got the @m€x errday card (Do I need to be this cryptic? Better safe than sorry I guess), and you get 10,000 points with $1,000 of spending in 3 months. But, as a college student, I hardly spend $1,000 in 6 months, let alone the 3 required for this bonus. So the going thought was to go to a grocery store (x2 points there), get grocery store gift cards (Mariano's (owned by Roundy's) and Jewel-Osco are the two biggest chains by me), use those to buy v1s@ and m$trcahd gift cards, and put those back in my bank account using ₱ć₱@hl.
Any flaws in this logic? I'm gonna start out trying this with $20, worst case scenario I have a $20 grocery store gift card or a $20 v1s@/m$trcahd gift card. Thanks
I got the @m€x errday card (Do I need to be this cryptic? Better safe than sorry I guess), and you get 10,000 points with $1,000 of spending in 3 months. But, as a college student, I hardly spend $1,000 in 6 months, let alone the 3 required for this bonus. So the going thought was to go to a grocery store (x2 points there), get grocery store gift cards (Mariano's (owned by Roundy's) and Jewel-Osco are the two biggest chains by me), use those to buy v1s@ and m$trcahd gift cards, and put those back in my bank account using ₱ć₱@hl.
Any flaws in this logic? I'm gonna start out trying this with $20, worst case scenario I have a $20 grocery store gift card or a $20 v1s@/m$trcahd gift card. Thanks
#411
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: ORD
Programs: MileagePlus, Mileage Plan
Posts: 46
I needed a new card anyways, figured I might as well make it a points one. I'll read up on it a ton more though, thank you!
#412
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 463
So the going thought was to go to a grocery store (x2 points there), get grocery store gift cards (Mariano's (owned by Roundy's) and Jewel-Osco are the two biggest chains by me), use those to buy v1s@ and m$trcahd gift cards, and put those back in my bank account using ₱ć₱@hl.
Some stores won't let you use gift cards to buy gift cards. Sometimes you can get away with it if you buy something else in addition and make sure it rings up first. Eg, buy a loaf of bread, ring it up, and then ring up the visa gift card (same order). But as you say, worst case scenario you wind up with a $20 card. Good luck!
#413
Join Date: May 2011
Programs: Spg Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 1,578
Just got approved for my first points credit card, I'm super excited to start going down this rabbit ho- errr... earning points.
I got the @m€x errday card (Do I need to be this cryptic? Better safe than sorry I guess), and you get 10,000 points with $1,000 of spending in 3 months. But, as a college student, I hardly spend $1,000 in 6 months, let alone the 3 required for this bonus. So the going thought was to go to a grocery store (x2 points there), get grocery store gift cards (Mariano's (owned by Roundy's) and Jewel-Osco are the two biggest chains by me), use those to buy v1s@ and m$trcahd gift cards, and put those back in my bank account using ₱ć₱@hl.
Any flaws in this logic? I'm gonna start out trying this with $20, worst case scenario I have a $20 grocery store gift card or a $20 v1s@/m$trcahd gift card. Thanks
I got the @m€x errday card (Do I need to be this cryptic? Better safe than sorry I guess), and you get 10,000 points with $1,000 of spending in 3 months. But, as a college student, I hardly spend $1,000 in 6 months, let alone the 3 required for this bonus. So the going thought was to go to a grocery store (x2 points there), get grocery store gift cards (Mariano's (owned by Roundy's) and Jewel-Osco are the two biggest chains by me), use those to buy v1s@ and m$trcahd gift cards, and put those back in my bank account using ₱ć₱@hl.
Any flaws in this logic? I'm gonna start out trying this with $20, worst case scenario I have a $20 grocery store gift card or a $20 v1s@/m$trcahd gift card. Thanks
#414
I just wonder how much $$$ you flow through your spending (MS included) each month. I only do to support the CC SUB and it is about $5,000 per month. It is mostly daily spending and GC purchases for travel. No MO, no Paypal, no VGC.
#415
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 3,688
If you don't succeed at your first try of buying MO, keep looking for stores/gas stations/WM where you can drain the VGC. You're the only one to determine when to give up. Good luck!
PS: last, but not the least, stay away from FeePal if you're going to MS for the long haul. You can search for the long thread discussions about issues.
#416
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 463
To answer my own question, I just saw on the "Chase closed my credit card account(s)" thread that CC companies are less concerned about large purchases of store cards than they are about visa/mc gift cards. Doesn't seem like many people on these boards worry about it though.
#417
Join Date: Oct 2017
Programs: BAEC Silver, Flying Blue Platinum; Hilton Gold, IHG Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Wyndham Diamond
Posts: 787
Is there any UK based poster reading this thread, or at least someone who knows something about the UK? I've been trying to find info about MS, but almost all of it is US specific. Is there even a way of doing it in the UK? I wouldn't be surprised if there isn't, but it doesn't hurt to ask.
#418
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 12
Is there any UK based poster reading this thread, or at least someone who knows something about the UK? I've been trying to find info about MS, but almost all of it is US specific. Is there even a way of doing it in the UK? I wouldn't be surprised if there isn't, but it doesn't hurt to ask.
Is there a forum section, other sites, or folks that could point us in the direction of hints and tips on MS in the UK.
Cheers in advance for any help in this!
#419
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,952
#420
Join Date: Oct 2017
Programs: BAEC Silver, Flying Blue Platinum; Hilton Gold, IHG Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Wyndham Diamond
Posts: 787