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)
Nov 9, 2017, 10:46 pm
#346
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: SXSW
Programs: DL Plat; HH Diamond; SPG & Hyatt Plat
Posts: 996
Not a total MS n00b, I did Vanilla reloads back in the day and also did only $100k in US Mint, but I'd like to get back into it.
I've searched around and I'm not finding where the abbreviations can be understood. I checked the Glossary as well, but stuff like 5B and BP aren't in it. I get that WM is Walmart, but what are the others? Can this go in the Wiki?
I've searched around and I'm not finding where the abbreviations can be understood. I checked the Glossary as well, but stuff like 5B and BP aren't in it. I get that WM is Walmart, but what are the others? Can this go in the Wiki?
Nov 9, 2017, 11:31 pm
#347
Moderator: Travel Buzz
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Sunny San Diego
Posts: 3,095
Nov 10, 2017, 8:11 am
#348
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: North Texas
Programs: SWA A-List, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 188
Nov 15, 2017, 6:49 pm
#350
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: West Coast
Programs: Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier / Chase Sapphire Preferred
Posts: 8
Nov 16, 2017, 6:01 am
#351
Join Date: Jul 2015
Programs: Hilton Honors Diamond, United 1K
Posts: 37
Fellow FTers-
My mortgage is held by one of my family members. I am trying to work through a solution to get that large monthly bill paid via cc. I have read up on MS and lightly dabbled in cards but defer to the folks that are smarter than me on here. Any good, easy ideas? Thanks in advance.
My mortgage is held by one of my family members. I am trying to work through a solution to get that large monthly bill paid via cc. I have read up on MS and lightly dabbled in cards but defer to the folks that are smarter than me on here. Any good, easy ideas? Thanks in advance.
Nov 16, 2017, 8:20 am
#352
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 3,688
Fellow FTers-
My mortgage is held by one of my family members. I am trying to work through a solution to get that large monthly bill paid via cc. I have read up on MS and lightly dabbled in cards but defer to the folks that are smarter than me on here. Any good, easy ideas? Thanks in advance.
My mortgage is held by one of my family members. I am trying to work through a solution to get that large monthly bill paid via cc. I have read up on MS and lightly dabbled in cards but defer to the folks that are smarter than me on here. Any good, easy ideas? Thanks in advance.
Nov 17, 2017, 9:45 am
#353
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 48
guys,
I have a pretty simple use case and I'm a little bewildered by all the options. I just want to pay utilities, etc. For me 2.5% charge on Plastiq is not worth it (don't have SPG card yet). My utility requires debit card payment if I pay online. Is there a gift card out there that gives me less than 2.5% fee, which takes the form of a debit card, and can be loaded/reloaded with credit card? I've used simon mall cards in the past, but I understand those to be in the form of a credit card? Hope this isn't too much of a newbie question.
Thanks
I have a pretty simple use case and I'm a little bewildered by all the options. I just want to pay utilities, etc. For me 2.5% charge on Plastiq is not worth it (don't have SPG card yet). My utility requires debit card payment if I pay online. Is there a gift card out there that gives me less than 2.5% fee, which takes the form of a debit card, and can be loaded/reloaded with credit card? I've used simon mall cards in the past, but I understand those to be in the form of a credit card? Hope this isn't too much of a newbie question.
Thanks
Nov 18, 2017, 7:47 am
#354
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 3,688
Fellow FTers-
My mortgage is held by one of my family members. I am trying to work through a solution to get that large monthly bill paid via cc. I have read up on MS and lightly dabbled in cards but defer to the folks that are smarter than me on here. Any good, easy ideas? Thanks in advance.
My mortgage is held by one of my family members. I am trying to work through a solution to get that large monthly bill paid via cc. I have read up on MS and lightly dabbled in cards but defer to the folks that are smarter than me on here. Any good, easy ideas? Thanks in advance.
Nov 18, 2017, 10:30 am
#355
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 817
So about 3 years ago I MSed for the CSP and United Explorer, consider doing this again.
My main method was to buy GCs, then use the GCs as debit cards to buy MOs.
In general, does this still work? (I'm trying to remember, but there was a brand that if you called to activate it had no issues? Don't recall if setting a pin helped...)
My main method was to buy GCs, then use the GCs as debit cards to buy MOs.
In general, does this still work? (I'm trying to remember, but there was a brand that if you called to activate it had no issues? Don't recall if setting a pin helped...)
Nov 19, 2017, 7:47 am
#356
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 3,688
Fellow FTers-
My mortgage is held by one of my family members. I am trying to work through a solution to get that large monthly bill paid via cc. I have read up on MS and lightly dabbled in cards but defer to the folks that are smarter than me on here. Any good, easy ideas? Thanks in advance.
My mortgage is held by one of my family members. I am trying to work through a solution to get that large monthly bill paid via cc. I have read up on MS and lightly dabbled in cards but defer to the folks that are smarter than me on here. Any good, easy ideas? Thanks in advance.
Nov 19, 2017, 7:52 am
#357
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 3,688
So about 3 years ago I MSed for the CSP and United Explorer, consider doing this again.
My main method was to buy GCs, then use the GCs as debit cards to buy MOs.
In general, does this still work? (I'm trying to remember, but there was a brand that if you called to activate it had no issues? Don't recall if setting a pin helped...)
My main method was to buy GCs, then use the GCs as debit cards to buy MOs.
In general, does this still work? (I'm trying to remember, but there was a brand that if you called to activate it had no issues? Don't recall if setting a pin helped...)
Nov 20, 2017, 3:23 pm
#358
Join Date: Nov 2017
Programs: All of them.
Posts: 8
Here's what I'm planning to do..
A) I open a Chase & United Mileage Plus Explorer Credit Card Account
B) I use the United Mileage Plus Explorer card to pay $2000 to my friends PayPal
C) I pay the 60 dollar fee for the transaction
D) A few days later, my friend transfers the $2000 directly from PayPal to my Chase checking account
E) I receive the sign on bonus immediately after the $2000 transaction to my friends PayPal is completed.
I'm only doing MS one time, will this work out? Or do I need to get another card from another bank? Or a non-bank affiliated card?
And on step D, does my friend first need to transfer the $2000 to his bank before transferring to my checking account? Or can he do it directly from PayPal without any issues?
Unrelated: Is there any way I can transfer United miles to USD? Or transfer United miles to Chase Ultimate Rewards? Also, how long will it take for me to receive my sign on bonus after meeting that spending requirement? I'm asking because I'm leaving on a trip in 1 month.
Please answer ASAP, I'm leaving for travel in a little over a month.
(P.S. Please do not move this thread until somebody answers, I've asked multiple times and my posts keep being moved to the WIKI without answers)
A) I open a Chase & United Mileage Plus Explorer Credit Card Account
B) I use the United Mileage Plus Explorer card to pay $2000 to my friends PayPal
C) I pay the 60 dollar fee for the transaction
D) A few days later, my friend transfers the $2000 directly from PayPal to my Chase checking account
E) I receive the sign on bonus immediately after the $2000 transaction to my friends PayPal is completed.
I'm only doing MS one time, will this work out? Or do I need to get another card from another bank? Or a non-bank affiliated card?
And on step D, does my friend first need to transfer the $2000 to his bank before transferring to my checking account? Or can he do it directly from PayPal without any issues?
Unrelated: Is there any way I can transfer United miles to USD? Or transfer United miles to Chase Ultimate Rewards? Also, how long will it take for me to receive my sign on bonus after meeting that spending requirement? I'm asking because I'm leaving on a trip in 1 month.
Please answer ASAP, I'm leaving for travel in a little over a month.
(P.S. Please do not move this thread until somebody answers, I've asked multiple times and my posts keep being moved to the WIKI without answers)
Nov 20, 2017, 3:32 pm
#359
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: SAN
Programs: Delta Gold. Hilton Diamond. Hyatt Explorist.
Posts: 1,671
Here's what I'm planning to do..
A) I open a Chase & United Mileage Plus Explorer Credit Card Account
B) I use the United Mileage Plus Explorer card to pay $2000 to my friends PayPal
C) I pay the 60 dollar fee for the transaction
D) A few days later, my friend transfers the $2000 directly from PayPal to my Chase checking account
E) I receive the sign on bonus immediately after the $2000 transaction to my friends PayPal is completed.
I'm only doing MS one time, will this work out? Or do I need to get another card from another bank? Or a non-bank affiliated card?
And on step D, does my friend first need to transfer the $2000 to his bank before transferring to my checking account? Or can he do it directly from PayPal without any issues?
A) I open a Chase & United Mileage Plus Explorer Credit Card Account
B) I use the United Mileage Plus Explorer card to pay $2000 to my friends PayPal
C) I pay the 60 dollar fee for the transaction
D) A few days later, my friend transfers the $2000 directly from PayPal to my Chase checking account
E) I receive the sign on bonus immediately after the $2000 transaction to my friends PayPal is completed.
I'm only doing MS one time, will this work out? Or do I need to get another card from another bank? Or a non-bank affiliated card?
And on step D, does my friend first need to transfer the $2000 to his bank before transferring to my checking account? Or can he do it directly from PayPal without any issues?
I think Chase signup bonuses typically post a few days after the next statement closing date after you meet the spend requirement.
Nov 20, 2017, 3:55 pm
#360
Join Date: Nov 2017
Programs: All of them.
Posts: 8
So what's the best way I could MS to meet my situation?
