Last edit by: Travelz
This is a new thread for 2017. The previous discussion can be found here.
READ the posts in this thread before asking questions. Many have already been answered.
10k per day limit including fees - must fill out a form (use cards as a budget tool or whatever you want to put)
Check the Simon website for locations.
VGC issued by meta for 3.95 - Count your cards before you leave the mall
When ordering online, Simon uses GCM.
READ the posts in this thread before asking questions. Many have already been answered.
10k per day limit including fees - must fill out a form (use cards as a budget tool or whatever you want to put)
Check the Simon website for locations.
VGC issued by meta for 3.95 - Count your cards before you leave the mall
When ordering online, Simon uses GCM.
Simon Mall Gift Cards(2017-2018)
#301
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,731
I can give you a DP from a friend - his account at GCM was blocked for unknown reason. He could not order Simon GC online as a result, even though he went thru Simon site to order his cards. It is a no go for him. This is never reported on this thread, hence is not the basis of the information in the Wiki. However, rest assured the Wiki is a collective pool of DPs from various sources on the internet. Personally I would trust it but if you do not trust it, you should try to do it against the advice and may be you will be a DP yourself - for good or bad - then you can either affirm or overturn the info posted in the Wiki. Very simple, no need to wonder any more.
#302
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 910
I can give you a DP from a friend - his account at GCM was blocked for unknown reason. He could not order Simon GC online as a result, even though he went thru Simon site to order his cards. It is a no go for him. This is never reported on this thread, hence is not the basis of the information in the Wiki. However, rest assured the Wiki is a collective pool of DPs from various sources on the internet. Personally I would trust it but if you do not trust it, you should try to do it against the advice and may be you will be a DP yourself - for good or bad - then you can either affirm or overturn the info posted in the Wiki. Very simple, no need to wonder any more.
I asked because I searched and didn't see any such DPs in this or last year's thread. I know we can try it our selves (that goes without saying), but this is forum, hence we also ask, and report. If it was all about being on our own we wouldn't be here.
#303
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,731
Wiki says
<<When ordering online, Simon uses GCM, so if you also order from GCM you may be blocked from ordering from Simon.>>
You ask:
Then I provided the "basis" that is never posted in this thread or anywhere else, but a friend's own experience.
Now you claim you are not questioning about what Wiki says, but a "reversed" scenario.
So I really dont understand why you now talk about the "opposite" direction as it is not even mentioned in the Wiki and not what your original post is about.
Since there is no "reversed" DPs, again, why would you not be willing to be a DP since you are the one who wants to know? One of the reasons why we are here is, we are also contributing, not just taking. So for once, be a contributor and not always a taker.
<<When ordering online, Simon uses GCM, so if you also order from GCM you may be blocked from ordering from Simon.>>
You ask:
I can give you a DP from a friend - his account at GCM was blocked for unknown reason. He could not order Simon GC online as a result, even though he went thru Simon site to order his cards. It is a no go for him. This is never reported on this thread, hence is not the basis of the information in the Wiki. However, rest assured the Wiki is a collective pool of DPs from various sources on the internet. Personally I would trust it but if you do not trust it, you should try to do it against the advice and may be you will be a DP yourself - for good or bad - then you can either affirm or overturn the info posted in the Wiki. Very simple, no need to wonder any more.
It makes sense that if you're already banned from GCM you won't be able to order from the same site (Simon online), but the reverse didn't make much sense to me, especially without any DPs. I already know someone who has ordered Simon online at least once and didn't get banned from GCM consequently, but that's an old data point by now, things could have changed.
I asked because I searched and didn't see any such DPs in this or last year's thread. I know we can try it our selves (that goes without saying), but this is forum, hence we also ask, and report. If it was all about being on our own we wouldn't be here.
I asked because I searched and didn't see any such DPs in this or last year's thread. I know we can try it our selves (that goes without saying), but this is forum, hence we also ask, and report. If it was all about being on our own we wouldn't be here.
Since there is no "reversed" DPs, again, why would you not be willing to be a DP since you are the one who wants to know? One of the reasons why we are here is, we are also contributing, not just taking. So for once, be a contributor and not always a taker.
Last edited by Happy; Apr 14, 2017 at 10:27 pm
#304
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 891
Glad it got resolved it without major heartburn.
#305
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 123
I noticed that Simon GC are distributed by Blackhawk and not US bank.
Are these cards any different? Can I liquidate them at WM buying MO's ?
I have about 3k worth
Are these cards any different? Can I liquidate them at WM buying MO's ?
I have about 3k worth
#306
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Atlanta, GA
Programs: AA PLT, AS 75K, DL DM, HY Globalist, HH Diamond, MC/RZ/SW Platinum, AB/UA Silver, WN CP
Posts: 1,122
#308
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 81
Just had an annoying experience at my usual Mall. There were some marketing ladies at the desk rather than the usual staff and when doing the standard authorization call they did the full amount of the vgc's I planned on buying rather than $1. Didn't realize until it came time to swipe and my card declined that after calling the bank I realized the decline was because that pending authorization had eaten up most of my available credit.
I then tried to explain to those ladies that any other time I had been there they would only do a $1 authorization hold and that putting a hold for the full amount makes no sense as it leaves no credit to complete the purchase but instead of simply just admitting they made a mistake despite my completely normal polite tone they decided to get entirely defensive and say that that is absolutely how it's supposed to be done and that I should "just call my bank and have them clear the hold".
Oh well, just gotta go back when the staff who know what they are doing are back at the desk.
I then tried to explain to those ladies that any other time I had been there they would only do a $1 authorization hold and that putting a hold for the full amount makes no sense as it leaves no credit to complete the purchase but instead of simply just admitting they made a mistake despite my completely normal polite tone they decided to get entirely defensive and say that that is absolutely how it's supposed to be done and that I should "just call my bank and have them clear the hold".
Oh well, just gotta go back when the staff who know what they are doing are back at the desk.
#309
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 542
Just had an annoying experience at my usual Mall. There were some marketing ladies at the desk rather than the usual staff and when doing the standard authorization call they did the full amount of the vgc's I planned on buying rather than $1. Didn't realize until it came time to swipe and my card declined that after calling the bank I realized the decline was because that pending authorization had eaten up most of my available credit.
I then tried to explain to those ladies that any other time I had been there they would only do a $1 authorization hold and that putting a hold for the full amount makes no sense as it leaves no credit to complete the purchase but instead of simply just admitting they made a mistake despite my completely normal polite tone they decided to get entirely defensive and say that that is absolutely how it's supposed to be done and that I should "just call my bank and have them clear the hold".
Oh well, just gotta go back when the staff who know what they are doing are back at the desk.
I then tried to explain to those ladies that any other time I had been there they would only do a $1 authorization hold and that putting a hold for the full amount makes no sense as it leaves no credit to complete the purchase but instead of simply just admitting they made a mistake despite my completely normal polite tone they decided to get entirely defensive and say that that is absolutely how it's supposed to be done and that I should "just call my bank and have them clear the hold".
Oh well, just gotta go back when the staff who know what they are doing are back at the desk.
#310
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Metro ATL
Posts: 359
I can give you a DP from a friend - his account at GCM was blocked for unknown reason. He could not order Simon GC online as a result, even though he went thru Simon site to order his cards. It is a no go for him. This is never reported on this thread, hence is not the basis of the information in the Wiki. However, rest assured the Wiki is a collective pool of DPs from various sources on the internet. Personally I would trust it but if you do not trust it, you should try to do it against the advice and may be you will be a DP yourself - for good or bad - then you can either affirm or overturn the info posted in the Wiki. Very simple, no need to wonder any more.
When I tried to use the same email address to login to GCM I was denied.
That was the only problem I encountered.
#311
Join Date: Oct 2015
Programs: MileagePLUS, AAdvantage, TrueBlue
Posts: 54
Sometimes, I personally call and give my card a heads' up that I will be making a large purchase. That is usually only the first few times I am using a new card - basically to prevent the card from declining.
#312
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 81
I have no idea why they have to do this hold thing. I've asked before but they don't seem to know either, just insist it's something they have to do. I'm not sure what placing a $1 hold on my card is supposed to achieve but it's just a few minutes of waiting so I don't really care as long as they do it properly and don't put $5000 holds on my cards blocking me from completing my purchase lol.
#313
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,837
I have no idea why they have to do this hold thing. I've asked before but they don't seem to know either, just insist it's something they have to do. I'm not sure what placing a $1 hold on my card is supposed to achieve but it's just a few minutes of waiting so I don't really care as long as they do it properly and don't put $5000 holds on my cards blocking me from completing my purchase lol.
#314
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: NY
Posts: 523
My SM doesn't do that, but I've been to other places that do. As soon as they pick up the phone, I ask them who they're calling and why. If it's a pre-authorization, I cancel the transaction as this will tie up several K in credit limit for days. The only way to release a pre auth is to have the merchant call your cc company from their phone.
#315
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 595
The SMs in Las Vegas have done the $1 pre-auth call on me before (not 100% consistent tho), but my regular mall doesn't. They never pre-auth'd the whole amount.