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)
Nov 21, 2020, 8:36 am
#1786
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 239
I have not had any problem buying MOs with $200 Metas (Staples) at my local grocery store. The fee is higher ($0.65-0.79) for a maximum $500 MO but I am allowed multiple swipes.
It appears that certain local grocers who allow MO purchases with GCs are not affected (with the exceptions noted in prior posts).
With that being said, my actual fear is that displaced whales will find said liquidation portals and overwhelm them causing them to shut down as well (as we have seen numerous times before).
My portals exist because I use them sporadically and for small amounts. Buying a $400 MO once a week does not arouse interest, but buying 4 $500 MOs daily will.
It appears that certain local grocers who allow MO purchases with GCs are not affected (with the exceptions noted in prior posts).
With that being said, my actual fear is that displaced whales will find said liquidation portals and overwhelm them causing them to shut down as well (as we have seen numerous times before).
My portals exist because I use them sporadically and for small amounts. Buying a $400 MO once a week does not arouse interest, but buying 4 $500 MOs daily will.
Nov 21, 2020, 11:46 am
#1787
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 85
Yes, I agree with staying under the radar with reasonable amounts and not going too often. Just spread it out....laziness does not pair well with this hobby.
Nov 22, 2020, 1:01 pm
#1788
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
I have not had any problem buying MOs with $200 Metas (Staples) at my local grocery store. The fee is higher ($0.65-0.79) for a maximum $500 MO but I am allowed multiple swipes.
It appears that certain local grocers who allow MO purchases with GCs are not affected (with the exceptions noted in prior posts).
With that being said, my actual fear is that displaced whales will find said liquidation portals and overwhelm them causing them to shut down as well (as we have seen numerous times before).
My portals exist because I use them sporadically and for small amounts. Buying a $400 MO once a week does not arouse interest, but buying 4 $500 MOs daily will.
It appears that certain local grocers who allow MO purchases with GCs are not affected (with the exceptions noted in prior posts).
With that being said, my actual fear is that displaced whales will find said liquidation portals and overwhelm them causing them to shut down as well (as we have seen numerous times before).
My portals exist because I use them sporadically and for small amounts. Buying a $400 MO once a week does not arouse interest, but buying 4 $500 MOs daily will.
If I needed to spend $3K to hit a minimum spend bonus, I'd suck it up and buy a half-dozen low-value MO's. But, well, the latest reports are that you can swipe max of $99. Even if WM was willing to give me my own personal CSR and terminal, I'm not sure I'd stand there all afternoon and do $99 swipes. I won't be looking for other outlets. I'll find a way to liquidate what I have, but I won't buy more until, if at all, the problem is fixed.
Nov 22, 2020, 2:06 pm
#1789
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,936
Speaking as someone who I think would be considered a "whale" - there's a threshold below which it's not even worth it.
If I needed to spend $3K to hit a minimum spend bonus, I'd suck it up and buy a half-dozen low-value MO's. But, well, the latest reports are that you can swipe max of $99. Even if WM was willing to give me my own personal CSR and terminal, I'm not sure I'd stand there all afternoon and do $99 swipes. I won't be looking for other outlets. I'll find a way to liquidate what I have, but I won't buy more until, if at all, the problem is fixed.
If I needed to spend $3K to hit a minimum spend bonus, I'd suck it up and buy a half-dozen low-value MO's. But, well, the latest reports are that you can swipe max of $99. Even if WM was willing to give me my own personal CSR and terminal, I'm not sure I'd stand there all afternoon and do $99 swipes. I won't be looking for other outlets. I'll find a way to liquidate what I have, but I won't buy more until, if at all, the problem is fixed.
Nov 23, 2020, 6:58 pm
#1790
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 19
So, I've been reading up about this for a minute. I was planning to get back in the game a little this week; I've been out since they shut down in-person Simon VGC sales due to the pandemic. I read about the purported $400 limits and set myself up with a single $800 SMGC for testing.
Well, today that card came in the mail and I hit the pavement in SoCal. I went to two Wal-Marts and one WMNM. I attempted many amounts: $800, $799, $400, $399, $100, and $99 for MO; all failed. I then tried to reload my ONE VIP Serve at the cashier at WM for $100 and $99. Both failed.
I guess my next stop is trying my luck at grocery chains. I got them to put my name on the SMGC so fingers crossed
Well, today that card came in the mail and I hit the pavement in SoCal. I went to two Wal-Marts and one WMNM. I attempted many amounts: $800, $799, $400, $399, $100, and $99 for MO; all failed. I then tried to reload my ONE VIP Serve at the cashier at WM for $100 and $99. Both failed.
I guess my next stop is trying my luck at grocery chains. I got them to put my name on the SMGC so fingers crossed
Last edited by barcanomics; Nov 23, 2020 at 7:09 pm
Nov 23, 2020, 7:11 pm
#1791
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 239
So, I've been reading up about this for a minute. I was planning to get back in the game a little this week; I've been out since they shut down in-person Simon VGC sales due to the pandemic. I read about the purported $400 limits and set myself up with a single $800 SMGC for testing.
Well, today that card came in the mail and I hit the pavement in SoCal. I went to two Wal-Marts and one WMNM. I attempted many amounts: $800, $799, $400, $399, $100, and $99 for MO; all failed. I then tried to reload my ONE VIP Serve at the cashier at WM for $100 and $99. Both failed.
I guess my next stop is trying my luck at grocery chains. I got them to put my name on the SMGC so fingers crossed
Well, today that card came in the mail and I hit the pavement in SoCal. I went to two Wal-Marts and one WMNM. I attempted many amounts: $800, $799, $400, $399, $100, and $99 for MO; all failed. I then tried to reload my ONE VIP Serve at the cashier at WM for $100 and $99. Both failed.
I guess my next stop is trying my luck at grocery chains. I got them to put my name on the SMGC so fingers crossed
Nov 23, 2020, 10:22 pm
#1793
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: SAN
Programs: Delta Gold. Hilton Diamond. Hyatt Explorist.
Posts: 1,672
Nov 24, 2020, 4:37 am
#1795
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Continental Onepass, Hilton, Marriott, USAir and now UA
Posts: 6,423
Nov 24, 2020, 7:49 pm
#1798
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
At my favorite WM, I have not been able to use SM cards at all since about November 2. Admittedly I did not rachet down to $400 for a while, and I have not tried $99 at all. However, yesterday I went to a register to load my Bluebird card. The CSRs on the registers always freak out when I want to load $1000, and sometimes freak out again when I want to do multiple swipes. This time, there was a yellow vest there who insisted that I "had" to to large loads at customer service, and rejected out of hand the idea that there could be cards that worked at the registers but not at customer service. Two days earlier I had loaded $1K in three swipes (400/400/200). Eventually the yellow vest relented (although she was definitely not convinced) and I was able to swipe a $1K card for $1k. One swipe, $1K, and done.
Go figure.
Go figure.