Aug 21, 2019, 12:38 pm
Last edit by: Klemhuzzah
Signing up to buy $1000 visa/mc gift cards
You can buy the $1000 cards on Simon's volume site. Their regular site only sells $500 cards.
If you're new, or haven't bought anything in a year, you need to register at https://www.simon.com/volume/register-consumer
As part of the registration process, you will have to go to a brick and mortar mall and buy at least $3000 in cards in person, as well as filling out some paperwork while there. After that, you can do everything online.
As of Nov 2020, Simon Mall Gift cards will only work for $99/swipe for money services at Walmart and many grocery chains.
$1000 gift cards are available indefinitely.
2020 Promotions
Ongoing: FREEGROUND - Free Ground Shipping on any order size. Limited to 5 orders per customer. Expires December 31, 2020 (subject to change).
5/15-6/17: MDHOL20 - 20% off Visa Giftcard Purchase Fees + Free Ground Shipping on orders of 9 more cards
5/15/5/31: MAYGROUND - Free UPS Ground shipping on orders of 7 or more cards
5/15-6/31: MAY20VG10 - 10% off purchase fees on Visa Giftcards
6/29-7/20: JUL4HOL20 - 20% off Visa Giftcard Purchase Fees + Free Ground Shipping on orders of 5 or more cards. If you select a shipping other than Ground - the code will still take 20% off the purchase fees. Limited to 10 orders per customer.
8/11-8/31: AUG20PR - 15% off ALL fees (excl. shipping fees) on orders of 5 or more cards. Limited to 10 orders per customer (Originally expired on 8/23; on 8/24 promo was extended through 8/31)
10/12-10/14: FSOCT20 - 30% off all purchase fees on Visas and Mastercards.
10/26-10/31 - FS20SCARY - 35% off all purchase fees
11/1-11/30 - HOL20MC25 - 25% off all purchase fees on MasterCard / HOL20VG25 - 25% off all purchase fees on Visa / HOL20AG50 50% off all purchase fees on American Express
11/6-11/8 - FS20THANKS - 35% off all purchase fees
11/16-11/18 - FS20SAVINGS - 35% off all purchase fees
You can buy the $1000 cards on Simon's volume site. Their regular site only sells $500 cards.
If you're new, or haven't bought anything in a year, you need to register at https://www.simon.com/volume/register-consumer
As part of the registration process, you will have to go to a brick and mortar mall and buy at least $3000 in cards in person, as well as filling out some paperwork while there. After that, you can do everything online.
As of Nov 2020, Simon Mall Gift cards will only work for $99/swipe for money services at Walmart and many grocery chains.
$1000 gift cards are available indefinitely.
2020 Promotions
Ongoing: FREEGROUND - Free Ground Shipping on any order size. Limited to 5 orders per customer. Expires December 31, 2020 (subject to change).
5/15-6/17: MDHOL20 - 20% off Visa Giftcard Purchase Fees + Free Ground Shipping on orders of 9 more cards
5/15/5/31: MAYGROUND - Free UPS Ground shipping on orders of 7 or more cards
5/15-6/31: MAY20VG10 - 10% off purchase fees on Visa Giftcards
6/29-7/20: JUL4HOL20 - 20% off Visa Giftcard Purchase Fees + Free Ground Shipping on orders of 5 or more cards. If you select a shipping other than Ground - the code will still take 20% off the purchase fees. Limited to 10 orders per customer.
8/11-8/31: AUG20PR - 15% off ALL fees (excl. shipping fees) on orders of 5 or more cards. Limited to 10 orders per customer (Originally expired on 8/23; on 8/24 promo was extended through 8/31)
10/12-10/14: FSOCT20 - 30% off all purchase fees on Visas and Mastercards.
10/26-10/31 - FS20SCARY - 35% off all purchase fees
11/1-11/30 - HOL20MC25 - 25% off all purchase fees on MasterCard / HOL20VG25 - 25% off all purchase fees on Visa / HOL20AG50 50% off all purchase fees on American Express
11/6-11/8 - FS20THANKS - 35% off all purchase fees
11/16-11/18 - FS20SAVINGS - 35% off all purchase fees
Simon Mall Gift Cards (2019-2023)
Sep 12, 2022, 6:01 am
#2581
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Champaign, IL
Programs: Total Rewards Diamond, Wyndham Diamond, Marriott Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 564
I’m trying to keep a low profile, so the fewer swipes to liquidate the better especially as I have 240,000 to get through per year, or basically 20 supermarket visits to liquidate per month with 2x$500 MO per visit plus the bank deposit stops.
Because I’m doing this for one specific purpose I have only one card to do this with, my Chase Presidential Plus, which also means starting slow and ramping up slowly to avoid a total shutdown of my Chase relationship.
So it looks like the Sutton cards bought in person at the mall and liquidated at various Ralph’s is my best option.
Because I’m doing this for one specific purpose I have only one card to do this with, my Chase Presidential Plus, which also means starting slow and ramping up slowly to avoid a total shutdown of my Chase relationship.
So it looks like the Sutton cards bought in person at the mall and liquidated at various Ralph’s is my best option.
If after the first year, you still believe you have a low profile, let me know your secret.
Sep 12, 2022, 9:22 am
#2582
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Continental Onepass, Hilton, Marriott, USAir and now UA
Posts: 6,447
I’m trying to keep a low profile, so the fewer swipes to liquidate the better especially as I have 240,000 to get through per year, or basically 20 supermarket visits to liquidate per month with 2x$500 MO per visit plus the bank deposit stops.
Because I’m doing this for one specific purpose I have only one card to do this with, my Chase Presidential Plus, which also means starting slow and ramping up slowly to avoid a total shutdown of my Chase relationship.
So it looks like the Sutton cards bought in person at the mall and liquidated at various Ralph’s is my best option.
Because I’m doing this for one specific purpose I have only one card to do this with, my Chase Presidential Plus, which also means starting slow and ramping up slowly to avoid a total shutdown of my Chase relationship.
So it looks like the Sutton cards bought in person at the mall and liquidated at various Ralph’s is my best option.
I have no notion of your financial status, but I fear that no amount of "ramping up" will avoid the Rats reviewing your financial status and shutting you down with a spend level of $240K a year, unless you are an oligarch
Sep 12, 2022, 5:33 pm
#2584
Join Date: Jul 2021
Posts: 238
I have used many different Vanilla varieties from Sutton Bank/InComm with no problem. Buy them at CVS but Safeway chain also sells them now. The black SS cards are from MetaBank but also work anywhere for MO…in my experience.
Sep 12, 2022, 5:45 pm
#2585
Join Date: Jul 2021
Posts: 238
All Vanilla varieties from Sutton Bank/InComm work for MO at Wally n grocery stores for full $500 value. I buy them at CVS but Safeway chain now sells them but at higher fee. The black SS Vanillas are from MB/InComm and also work flawlessly.
Years ago the Vaniilas were issued by Bancorp/InComm n those cards were eventually banned for more than a $50 swipe at Walmart for some never revealed reason.
Years ago the Vaniilas were issued by Bancorp/InComm n those cards were eventually banned for more than a $50 swipe at Walmart for some never revealed reason.
Sep 12, 2022, 10:38 pm
#2586
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 89
Someone mentioned that the MB / IC started working again (non-SS). I can't find the post now, but was wondering if anybody else had experience. This is not about Sutton.
Sep 13, 2022, 2:06 pm
#2587
Join Date: Jul 2021
Posts: 238
If the Vanilla SS Pathward cards from InComm work then why wouldn’t any other Vanilla from Pathward work? I’ve only bought the SS cards from Pathward n have never seen any other regular Vanilla card from Pathward at CVS. I know Safeway chain sells InComm Vanillas now so maybe their stock also has Pathward Vanillas not just Sutton Bank.
Sep 13, 2022, 4:07 pm
#2588
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 2,061
Per an earlier DP…MetaBank has changed name to Pathward.
If the Vanilla SS Pathward cards from InComm work then why wouldn’t any other Vanilla from Pathward work? I’ve only bought the SS cards from Pathward n have never seen any other regular Vanilla card from Pathward at CVS. I know Safeway chain sells InComm Vanillas now so maybe their stock also has Pathward Vanillas not just Sutton Bank.
If the Vanilla SS Pathward cards from InComm work then why wouldn’t any other Vanilla from Pathward work? I’ve only bought the SS cards from Pathward n have never seen any other regular Vanilla card from Pathward at CVS. I know Safeway chain sells InComm Vanillas now so maybe their stock also has Pathward Vanillas not just Sutton Bank.
Sep 13, 2022, 5:42 pm
#2589
Join Date: Apr 2020
Posts: 235
Options:
$500 Sutton at Simon $3.95
$500 Green Dot at WMT $4.94
$500 SS MetaBank and Vanilla at WG/CVS $5.95
$500 SS and Vanilla at grocery store $5.95
Sutton is the cheapest but your strategy depends on your specific CCs and local opportunities.
My cards:
Freedom Flex 3x WG/CVS
Paypal QR code 3x CVS
Paceline 5x grocery and 3x everything else
USAlliance 3x everything til end of 2022
At Simon, I tend to use 2x cards.
In the past, I have used Discover It Miles for 3x for first year at Simon and everything else.
$500 Sutton at Simon $3.95
$500 Green Dot at WMT $4.94
$500 SS MetaBank and Vanilla at WG/CVS $5.95
$500 SS and Vanilla at grocery store $5.95
Sutton is the cheapest but your strategy depends on your specific CCs and local opportunities.
My cards:
Freedom Flex 3x WG/CVS
Paypal QR code 3x CVS
Paceline 5x grocery and 3x everything else
USAlliance 3x everything til end of 2022
At Simon, I tend to use 2x cards.
In the past, I have used Discover It Miles for 3x for first year at Simon and everything else.
Sep 13, 2022, 5:55 pm
#2590
Join Date: Jul 2021
Posts: 238
Yes….MetaBank is now Pathward Bank per an earlier poster and InComm is the servicer for CVS Vanillas…n probably Walgreen Vanillas also…as well as Safeway Vanillas. Read back of cards to see if MetaBank now reads Pathward as issuer to confirm. Cards serviced by InComm have ditched BanCorp as issuing bank n replaced with Pathward n Sutton.
Sep 13, 2022, 6:13 pm
#2591
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
Programs: United 1K, JAL Sapphire, SPG Lifetime Platinum, National Executive Elite, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 42,231
I think the frequency was the problem? Maybe buying differing amounts across a few different stores more erratically and adding some candy here and there too randomize the totals would be better?
Sep 13, 2022, 6:22 pm
#2592
Join Date: Apr 2020
Posts: 235
yes it's possible, I was buying only GCs from safeway everyday and CL was only about 7k so was a pretty bad idea on my part. Got way too greedy
Sep 13, 2022, 9:29 pm
#2594
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 375
Yes, I do want to be careful with Paceline. In fact, I have not done any MS yet but would like to soon. I may do $500+ times 3 days a week and then mix in other spend as well. Hopefully, that will keep me under the radar.
Sep 14, 2022, 8:55 am
#2595
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Champaign, IL
Programs: Total Rewards Diamond, Wyndham Diamond, Marriott Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 564