Jan 2, 2017, 9:18 pm
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)
Dec 9, 2018, 11:40 pm
#916
Join Date: May 2008
Location: PHL (kinda, no airport is really close)
Programs: AA Exp, but not sure for how long. Enterprise Platinum woo-hoo!
Posts: 4,550
The Las Vegas North Premium Outlets now charges for parking, so I stopped going there. However, I ran into one of the CSR's (I think he's now a low-level manager) at LV South, and told him, and he said I could valet park for free at North. However, I haven't taken him up on it because since that happened, I've been staying at a different hotel which is much closer to South. I go to Vegas enough, and go buy GC's almost every day I'm there, so that they know me.
Dec 10, 2018, 8:05 am
#917
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: TPA/SRQ
Programs: Hyatt Explorer, Marriott Titanium, AA Plat Pro, UA Silver, Avis Plus, Hertz PC
Posts: 2,692
deleted
Dec 10, 2018, 8:18 pm
#918
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 36
I ordered SMVGCs last week and the payment was approved 12/4, and it still hasn't shipped. Anyone else experiencing the same?
Dec 10, 2018, 10:54 pm
#919
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: USA
Posts: 1,179
If we were playing the system legitimately, you would be correct. Spending $15K on an Amex card for real spend should bring Amex swipe revenue and merchant fees that are far more than the cost of a level 1-4 room. But we aren't playing according to their playbook. I suspect (but have absolutely no knowledge of) that Amex gets almost nothing from a merchant for their selling a GC. So revenue is short-changed in that situation and they wind up losing money. Thus the need to track your spend. And how hard is it to track SMVGC purchases??
With the above being said, once programed and coded into the system, I imagine it costs them nothing to follow your spend and allot it to the appropriate bucket. If they say that bucket "a" qualifies for a free room night and bucket "b" doesn't, how much is Amex spending to categorize the bills to the appropriate bucket and report out the results?
UA does that routinely for every elite member as they climb the status ladder using both EQM's and EQD's and the earning algorithm is much more complex than Amex
With the above being said, once programed and coded into the system, I imagine it costs them nothing to follow your spend and allot it to the appropriate bucket. If they say that bucket "a" qualifies for a free room night and bucket "b" doesn't, how much is Amex spending to categorize the bills to the appropriate bucket and report out the results?
UA does that routinely for every elite member as they climb the status ladder using both EQM's and EQD's and the earning algorithm is much more complex than Amex
That said, I wonder if 40K swipe revenue offsets those extra points/Diamond status.
Dec 11, 2018, 6:22 am
#920
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Continental Onepass, Hilton, Marriott, USAir and now UA
Posts: 6,422
And remember that much of the time I am staying at Hampton's and their ilk which give me absolutely no real benefit over a non-member guest in benefits received (other than points and a "thank you" for being an elite
.)
Dec 11, 2018, 10:15 am
#921
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,740
Have you called GCM to check on when would be the shipment scheduled? Usually the shipment is 2 days after the payment is approved. Is your card billed yet? i.e. posted the transaction yet?
Dec 11, 2018, 4:33 pm
#922
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 319
They normally ship fast. I usually have orders within 5 business days. Maybe they’ve gotten slower since they increased shipping costs (sarcasm).
Dec 11, 2018, 5:27 pm
#923
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: DFW
Posts: 454
I had an order ship yesterday from 12/7 - maybe it's hung up in a back end approval cycle?
Dec 11, 2018, 6:59 pm
#924
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 36
It finally shipped today. Hopefully it comes on or before Saturday as I am leaving for a trip.
Dec 11, 2018, 10:22 pm
#925
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,740
To be fair, the shipping cost now is the real cost because the packages I received in the past have had postage of $3.50 to $3.75 for 6 cards shipped in a padded manila envelope yet they charged 0.49. Therefore the shipping cost charged now really is the real cost. Though for 4 cards the shipping shown is only $0.89 - guess it would be shipped by regular size envelope.
The slow is due to the holiday season. I have not received a confirmation email (the one claims your order is received) of the order for over an hour. When I called them the automatic phone gave the message about shipment delays due to busy holiday season. Rep found the order and said it was approved. She offered to send me the email which came while we were on the phone - this is the one for approval. Some 30 min later another Approved email came and I suspect this is generated by the system.
Dec 12, 2018, 8:00 am
#926
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: USA
Posts: 1,179
I honestly don't think that Amex cares about Hilton awarding you Diamond status. It doesn't cost Amex a thing for Hilton to give you status. And Hilton must think that if you are spending $40K on their card (besides paying an annual fee), that the benefits you obtain such as a free breakfast and a possible room upgrade are more than compensated by the additional business you generate by staying at one of their lodgings over the year.
And remember that much of the time I am staying at Hampton's and their ilk which give me absolutely no real benefit over a non-member guest in benefits received (other than points and a "thank you" for being an elite.)
And remember that much of the time I am staying at Hampton's and their ilk which give me absolutely no real benefit over a non-member guest in benefits received (other than points and a "thank you" for being an elite
.)
Dec 12, 2018, 8:01 am
#927
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: California
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, HH DIA, Hertz PC, GE + Pre✓, Amazon Super Special Prime
Posts: 1,008
Dec 12, 2018, 12:20 pm
#928
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 319
Yes, it usually takes 4 to 8 calendar days from order to receive shipment. The longer time often is caused by local post office than GCM.
To be fair, the shipping cost now is the real cost because the packages I received in the past have had postage of $3.50 to $3.75 for 6 cards shipped in a padded manila envelope yet they charged 0.49. Therefore the shipping cost charged now really is the real cost. Though for 4 cards the shipping shown is only $0.89 - guess it would be shipped by regular size envelope.
The slow is due to the holiday season. I have not received a confirmation email (the one claims your order is received) of the order for over an hour. When I called them the automatic phone gave the message about shipment delays due to busy holiday season. Rep found the order and said it was approved. She offered to send me the email which came while we were on the phone - this is the one for approval. Some 30 min later another Approved email came and I suspect this is generated by the system.
To be fair, the shipping cost now is the real cost because the packages I received in the past have had postage of $3.50 to $3.75 for 6 cards shipped in a padded manila envelope yet they charged 0.49. Therefore the shipping cost charged now really is the real cost. Though for 4 cards the shipping shown is only $0.89 - guess it would be shipped by regular size envelope.
The slow is due to the holiday season. I have not received a confirmation email (the one claims your order is received) of the order for over an hour. When I called them the automatic phone gave the message about shipment delays due to busy holiday season. Rep found the order and said it was approved. She offered to send me the email which came while we were on the phone - this is the one for approval. Some 30 min later another Approved email came and I suspect this is generated by the system.
Dec 12, 2018, 12:50 pm
#929
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 1
Simon Mall $1 off VGC in $400-$500 denomination til Dec 24
Just left simon mall in Orange County and was told all VGC will be $1 off if purchased in 400-500 denominations until december 24!
Dec 14, 2018, 1:12 am
#930
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: SFO/LAX/SAN/LAS/DFW/JFK/LGA/EWR/MIA
Posts: 1,073