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)
May 11, 2019, 10:01 pm
#151
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
You are showing a good understanding of opportunity cost - something I preach about endlessly - and if you read enough posts, or I'm bored enough to start posting tonight, you may get another batch..
But, at least in regard to hotel points, I would argue the 6x Hilton Grocery through Amex is close to a 2.5-3% cash back equivalency - throw in efficient use of using them (Wrestlemania, hotels near football games/sporting events) - and they are an incredibly powerful currency to have.
But I'm strongly on team cashback. I got banned from a major Facebook group for telling people how much their "free" points really cost, and how sometimes they would have been better off paying cash, but ultimately that doesn't sell credit card links, so what can ya do?
But, at least in regard to hotel points, I would argue the 6x Hilton Grocery through Amex is close to a 2.5-3% cash back equivalency - throw in efficient use of using them (Wrestlemania, hotels near football games/sporting events) - and they are an incredibly powerful currency to have.
But I'm strongly on team cashback. I got banned from a major Facebook group for telling people how much their "free" points really cost, and how sometimes they would have been better off paying cash, but ultimately that doesn't sell credit card links, so what can ya do?
May 18, 2019, 12:45 pm
#152
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 970
I don't think reward travel has been turned upside down by MSing. For one thing, those of us doing huge volumes are usually going for cashback. For another, hotels were always a bad deal for MSing. Airline points are always worth at least a penny, while hotel points are usually worth about half that.
The question of "what are airline points worth" is horribly complex but I'll just offer a couple of thoughts. First, most airlines do not match point cost with cash cost, it's not uncommon to find a last-minute ticket that can be $400 cash or 12,500 miles, so it's worth having the miles around. (Especially since United is eliminating close-in ticketing fees.) I'm not sure what you mean by "F" fares. Overseas premium cabin saver availability has always been hit or miss, but compared to the cash price, miles are usually worth in the range of 4 cents each when you can redeem them that way. You have to do some work, and be flexible on dates, to use them, but there IS availability and when you find it the miles are really valuable.
I admit that I don't understand the banking business at all and why the opulent signup bonuses and 2% (or more) cashback. Of course if the reward is a loyalty currency that will never be used, then it's a good deal for the bank and the airline, and I'm sure a lot of loyalty currency expires unused.
The question of "what are airline points worth" is horribly complex but I'll just offer a couple of thoughts. First, most airlines do not match point cost with cash cost, it's not uncommon to find a last-minute ticket that can be $400 cash or 12,500 miles, so it's worth having the miles around. (Especially since United is eliminating close-in ticketing fees.) I'm not sure what you mean by "F" fares. Overseas premium cabin saver availability has always been hit or miss, but compared to the cash price, miles are usually worth in the range of 4 cents each when you can redeem them that way. You have to do some work, and be flexible on dates, to use them, but there IS availability and when you find it the miles are really valuable.
I admit that I don't understand the banking business at all and why the opulent signup bonuses and 2% (or more) cashback. Of course if the reward is a loyalty currency that will never be used, then it's a good deal for the bank and the airline, and I'm sure a lot of loyalty currency expires unused.
If you have the Bonvoy 3x promo (ie, same earn rate as old SPG), that's also worth about 2.4%. But it's limited to $100K and appears a 1 time deal.
Cashback barely made sense if you were doing at Simon unless you had BoA 2.65% and lacked better options. It is (was for Amex) convenient for min spend and when they ran fee-free offers.
Last edited by farwest101; May 18, 2019 at 12:55 pm
May 19, 2019, 11:39 am
#153
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 1
Seen a few people using $1,000 VGCs. I inquired with the person using it, and was explained that they bought through Simon and GCM under a business account.
Not seeing anything that corroborates that on this thread whatsoever.
Kind of dumb to lie about it, if they did. Maybe there's something I'm missing?
Not seeing anything that corroborates that on this thread whatsoever.
Kind of dumb to lie about it, if they did. Maybe there's something I'm missing?
May 19, 2019, 12:01 pm
#154
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 970
Simon sells 1K vgc to business accounts but can't be used for MS, or you will be shut down quickly.
May 19, 2019, 7:49 pm
#155
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
While Simon is extremely MS-friendly, they won't give you a business account unless you have a legitimate business and are using the GC's in your business.
May 22, 2019, 7:42 am
#156
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: SAN
Posts: 1,396
Interesting comments by both of you. However for me I can monetize Hyatt points at 2-3 cents. Merely picking the better values. Previously with SPG the same thing, Marriott ould probably make no sense now. I have not really done any MS personally, however I was considering the Marriott card merely for status since I wont stay there much in 2019.
So AMEX killing SM could be a precursor to Chase and others doing the same.
So AMEX killing SM could be a precursor to Chase and others doing the same.
May 22, 2019, 9:28 am
#157
Join Date: Oct 2014
Programs: All of them
Posts: 1,664
Try it and see how it works. No one here will admit or deny anything because that's just how this forum works. You may not even get accepted for the volume account.
May 22, 2019, 9:13 pm
#158
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
In contrast with WM and to a lesser extent banks and CC issuers, SM is actually quite well-coordinated, understands the process of MS, and has uniform policies across their locations.
If you apply and get denied or later shut down, it won't adversely affect anyone else here. SM isn't going to suddenly freak out that people are MSing (cue Claude Rains saying "I'm shocked, shocked to find that gambling is taking place") and shut it all down. They probably won't even take adverse action against you personally beyond closing your business account - they'll invite you to keep buying under a personal account.
So knock yourself out, but I don't think there are any reports of people keeping a business account for more than a couple of purchases before having it pulled. Note that you not only need to have a business (lots of people do; I have a business that's been in Dun and Bradstreet for 25 years) but you have to use the GC's in your business.
May 26, 2019, 10:15 pm
#159
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 483
People on here just say you get shutdown fast with the 1K gift cards, but I have also seen people using them and they are doing just fine.
May 29, 2019, 6:13 pm
#162
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Northeastern United States
Posts: 597
MRs just showed up in the "Pending" section of my Points Summary and also in my Cash Back section for two $5K+ purchases I did at a SM Outlet in my area on 4/26 and 4/29 that were not previously showing. One purchase was with a Business Plat and the other was a Business Simply Cash card. Not sure if I got the buys in just before the SM cut off from Amex or if there was a delay in posting them, but I know they were not there on 5/17 when I checked. Did anyone narrow down an exact date that Amex stopped getting rewards at SM?
May 29, 2019, 9:33 pm
#163
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 198
No love for me. Happened around 4/10, so hoping for a positive result, now.
May 30, 2019, 4:45 am
#164
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,727
MRs just showed up in the "Pending" section of my Points Summary and also in my Cash Back section for two $5K+ purchases I did at a SM Outlet in my area on 4/26 and 4/29 that were not previously showing. One purchase was with a Business Plat and the other was a Business Simply Cash card. Not sure if I got the buys in just before the SM cut off from Amex or if there was a delay in posting them, but I know they were not there on 5/17 when I checked. Did anyone narrow down an exact date that Amex stopped getting rewards at SM?
May 30, 2019, 2:05 pm
#165
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 158
MRs just showed up in the "Pending" section of my Points Summary and also in my Cash Back section for two $5K+ purchases I did at a SM Outlet in my area on 4/26 and 4/29 that were not previously showing. One purchase was with a Business Plat and the other was a Business Simply Cash card. Not sure if I got the buys in just before the SM cut off from Amex or if there was a delay in posting them, but I know they were not there on 5/17 when I checked. Did anyone narrow down an exact date that Amex stopped getting rewards at SM?
