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 3, 2019, 6:34 pm
#121
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 129
Upon reading this most recent post I'm noticing that I haven't gotten points for any Simon purchases on Amex cards since midway through April. Is there a discussion about this somewhere? Seems pretty serious.
May 3, 2019, 6:57 pm
#122
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 38
There was a glitch at certain locations for a certain card earning wayyyy more than it should have earned
May 3, 2019, 9:46 pm
#123
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 18
First time realizing how nice the girls (at least here they all are) at Simon actually are. Ended up getting caught at work so I couldn't make it before they closed, so I called them and they stayed open a couple minutes for me with the GCs ready.
May 4, 2019, 8:10 am
#126
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Continental Onepass, Hilton, Marriott, USAir and now UA
Posts: 6,419
Anything that Amex would give you (pts or whatnot) will not be included in any SMGC purchase.
However, if the award is being given by another party, for example Hilton points on a Hilton Amex card, then all purchases to date have counted for those points.
With that being said, I have not gotten an Amex Hilton bill since April (which did count the SM purchase), so I am waiting with bated breath to see if things have changed.
May 4, 2019, 2:36 pm
#127
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 198
Just to be precise...
Anything that Amex would give you (pts or whatnot) will not be included in any SMGC purchase.
However, if the award is being given by another party, for example Hilton points on a Hilton Amex card, then all purchases to date have counted for those points.
With that being said, I have not gotten an Amex Hilton bill since April (which did count the SM purchase), so I am waiting with bated breath to see if things have changed.
Anything that Amex would give you (pts or whatnot) will not be included in any SMGC purchase.
However, if the award is being given by another party, for example Hilton points on a Hilton Amex card, then all purchases to date have counted for those points.
With that being said, I have not gotten an Amex Hilton bill since April (which did count the SM purchase), so I am waiting with bated breath to see if things have changed.
May 4, 2019, 3:36 pm
#128
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 2,061
since SMs are far from home & work, WM work for me for now; based on current DPs, seems that it's best to not use any Amex CCs at SMs.
Does vgc purchase @ GCM & GC still earn pts from Amex? Thx
Does vgc purchase @ GCM & GC still earn pts from Amex? Thx
May 4, 2019, 8:12 pm
#129
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Continental Onepass, Hilton, Marriott, USAir and now UA
Posts: 6,419
Bated breath is unneeded. You are unfortunately correct 
I checked my statements and Amex not only is not giving Hilton points for SM purchases but it is also not giving any spend as well
So no more SM purchases with Amex cards.
My next question is: is this also true for Staples and OM/OD GC purchases? (Definitely takes the fun out of this game)
I checked my statements and Amex not only is not giving Hilton points for SM purchases but it is also not giving any spend as well
So no more SM purchases with Amex cards.
My next question is: is this also true for Staples and OM/OD GC purchases? (Definitely takes the fun out of this game)
May 4, 2019, 9:34 pm
#130
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,727
Those not getting AMEX points ( Amex or branded): is this sm reg mall or outlet? If outlet, may be worth trying a $5 coupon book. I haven’t done Amex at SM since last year. Will try a split pmt for $1k next time at an outlet
May 5, 2019, 12:33 am
#131
Join Date: Jan 2014
Programs: Krisflyer, hyatt GP
Posts: 186
Spg card doesnt get any point on both reg mall and outlet since mid april.
May 5, 2019, 6:27 am
#132
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Continental Onepass, Hilton, Marriott, USAir and now UA
Posts: 6,419
I am uncertain as to whether to start a new thread, or perhaps there is an old one. However..
I was originally using MSing to qualify for certain CC benefits. With the passing of Amex's use at SM, I wanted to see if there was any sense to continuing this endeavor for the points.
Just to clarify, I use MSing with CCs not for point value per se, but to get benefits such as status level, etc. (Points were just an added benefit) But I want to look at just how beneficial the points that I receive are as well.
Quick calculation.
At best, using SM, I can get $1000 of MOs for around $8.78. ($3.95 card charge for $500 card plus MO cost of $0.88 per $1000.) (I have specifically eliminated specials such as Staples or OM. I don't use GCM or GC.com through a portal so I do not know the cost using these sites, but let's agree that the complexity in this endeavor becomes greater).
Using this site, the average loyalty program value is $0.01 per point, which means that your 1000 points is on average worth only $10.00 (range $5-$19). (Scroll down to the table labeled "Point value by loyalty program")
So, other than very specific stays (such as stay 5 nights, pay for 4), or very specific sales on specific dates for individual properties, most routine stays now cost a fortune in points. Is there any sense to doing MSing for hotel points? And given the incredible difficulty in using points for airline awards (especially F fares, etc), this is also true for most airlines as well.
Does it make sense to do MSing just to gain points?
Has the world of reward travel been turned upside down by MSing?
I was originally using MSing to qualify for certain CC benefits. With the passing of Amex's use at SM, I wanted to see if there was any sense to continuing this endeavor for the points.
Just to clarify, I use MSing with CCs not for point value per se, but to get benefits such as status level, etc. (Points were just an added benefit) But I want to look at just how beneficial the points that I receive are as well.
Quick calculation.
At best, using SM, I can get $1000 of MOs for around $8.78. ($3.95 card charge for $500 card plus MO cost of $0.88 per $1000.) (I have specifically eliminated specials such as Staples or OM. I don't use GCM or GC.com through a portal so I do not know the cost using these sites, but let's agree that the complexity in this endeavor becomes greater).
Using this site, the average loyalty program value is $0.01 per point, which means that your 1000 points is on average worth only $10.00 (range $5-$19). (Scroll down to the table labeled "Point value by loyalty program")
So, other than very specific stays (such as stay 5 nights, pay for 4), or very specific sales on specific dates for individual properties, most routine stays now cost a fortune in points. Is there any sense to doing MSing for hotel points? And given the incredible difficulty in using points for airline awards (especially F fares, etc), this is also true for most airlines as well.
Does it make sense to do MSing just to gain points?
Has the world of reward travel been turned upside down by MSing?
May 5, 2019, 1:03 pm
#134
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 38
I am uncertain as to whether to start a new thread, or perhaps there is an old one. However..
I was originally using MSing to qualify for certain CC benefits. With the passing of Amex's use at SM, I wanted to see if there was any sense to continuing this endeavor for the points.
Just to clarify, I use MSing with CCs not for point value per se, but to get benefits such as status level, etc. (Points were just an added benefit) But I want to look at just how beneficial the points that I receive are as well.
Quick calculation.
At best, using SM, I can get $1000 of MOs for around $8.78. ($3.95 card charge for $500 card plus MO cost of $0.88 per $1000.) (I have specifically eliminated specials such as Staples or OM. I don't use GCM or GC.com through a portal so I do not know the cost using these sites, but let's agree that the complexity in this endeavor becomes greater).
Using this site, the average loyalty program value is $0.01 per point, which means that your 1000 points is on average worth only $10.00 (range $5-$19). (Scroll down to the table labeled "Point value by loyalty program")
So, other than very specific stays (such as stay 5 nights, pay for 4), or very specific sales on specific dates for individual properties, most routine stays now cost a fortune in points. Is there any sense to doing MSing for hotel points? And given the incredible difficulty in using points for airline awards (especially F fares, etc), this is also true for most airlines as well.
Does it make sense to do MSing just to gain points?
Has the world of reward travel been turned upside down by MSing?
I was originally using MSing to qualify for certain CC benefits. With the passing of Amex's use at SM, I wanted to see if there was any sense to continuing this endeavor for the points.
Just to clarify, I use MSing with CCs not for point value per se, but to get benefits such as status level, etc. (Points were just an added benefit) But I want to look at just how beneficial the points that I receive are as well.
Quick calculation.
At best, using SM, I can get $1000 of MOs for around $8.78. ($3.95 card charge for $500 card plus MO cost of $0.88 per $1000.) (I have specifically eliminated specials such as Staples or OM. I don't use GCM or GC.com through a portal so I do not know the cost using these sites, but let's agree that the complexity in this endeavor becomes greater).
Using this site, the average loyalty program value is $0.01 per point, which means that your 1000 points is on average worth only $10.00 (range $5-$19). (Scroll down to the table labeled "Point value by loyalty program")
So, other than very specific stays (such as stay 5 nights, pay for 4), or very specific sales on specific dates for individual properties, most routine stays now cost a fortune in points. Is there any sense to doing MSing for hotel points? And given the incredible difficulty in using points for airline awards (especially F fares, etc), this is also true for most airlines as well.
Does it make sense to do MSing just to gain points?
Has the world of reward travel been turned upside down by MSing?
I MS for 2-3 things typically.
1) minimum spend requirements
2) Cash
3) Spend requirements like a FNC for hyatt or Hilton..
May 5, 2019, 1:07 pm
#135
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 38
Bated breath is unneeded. You are unfortunately correct
I checked my statements and Amex not only is not giving Hilton points for SM purchases but it is also not giving any spend as well
So no more SM purchases with Amex cards.
My next question is: is this also true for Staples and OM/OD GC purchases? (Definitely takes the fun out of this game)
I checked my statements and Amex not only is not giving Hilton points for SM purchases but it is also not giving any spend as well
So no more SM purchases with Amex cards.
My next question is: is this also true for Staples and OM/OD GC purchases? (Definitely takes the fun out of this game)