Someone said you can *buy* Marriott Plat on Taobao, is it true?
Mar 30, 2019, 4:03 am
#31
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: SNA
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K (until it expires then never again), *wood Plat, Marriott Gold
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Why would one want to buy Plat, or any status, for a hotel if they aren't actually going to stay at hotels enough to get value from it? Plat is NOT hard to achieve anymore, you can get 15 nights from a CC - if you travel enough to make the status worthwhile you probably can hit the 50 nights. That said, if you're stupid enough to send your name, address, passport, account number and whatever else they are asking for to someone in China so you can get late checkout, lounge access and a shot at an upgrade when you only occasionally stay at hotels....you absolutely without question deserve everything that is likely to come along with that dumb decision for which you will receive exactly -0- sympathy here or anywhere else where thinking people reside. If you feel that hotel status is something you need to compensate for other shortcomings, choose Hilton where you can pay $400-ish for a CC, get most of that refunded as credits for stays and get Diamond.
Mar 30, 2019, 5:08 am
#33
Join Date: Jan 2014
Programs: Amtrak Guest Rewards (SE), Virgin America Elevate, Hyatt Gold Passport (Platinum), VIA Preference
Posts: 3,134
It works if the management is "in on it" and doing a regular check in/check out post rather than a no show.
But it's China. There are lots of people with entrepreneurial spirits who are willing to game the system to make a few extra bucks. Some of these methods are highly complex and can even involve a large number of people across different parts of the country.
But it's China. There are lots of people with entrepreneurial spirits who are willing to game the system to make a few extra bucks. Some of these methods are highly complex and can even involve a large number of people across different parts of the country.
Mar 30, 2019, 6:47 am
#34
Join Date: May 2008
Programs: Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, AA Plat, UA Silver, Delta Silver
Posts: 453
Out of curiosity I checked what 50 nights would cost at one of the cheapest properties off the top of my head (the Aloft Zhengzhou Shangjie) for May 1st to June 20th and it came out to 10,899.77 CNY or 1,623.90 USD.
Mar 30, 2019, 4:45 pm
#35
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: SYD | HGH
Programs: CX DM, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton DM, Marriott Plat
Posts: 2,121
However, being so much cheaper than any other Marriott hotel in China, there are still quite a lot of people actual went there to pay for their status (or maybe partial status), especially when Marriott running promotions based on nights.
Mar 30, 2019, 8:01 pm
#36
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However, you would probably end up with more points if you buy the status than if you buy the benefits outright. The additional points would partically offset the cost of buying status.
If someone were to "buy" the status, wouldn't their account show the stays and points earned? That would be an easy way for Starriott to catch them, just do a few of these offers to buy status and then check what had been done to the account. Starriott would know that the accounts holder had never stayed in these cheap properties in China, although it would be harder to identify which employees participated in the scam. Still, Bonvoy could take the attitude that the hotel had permitted fraud and penalize the property and its management, although Starriott brobably doesn't want to deflag these new properties in areas where they're so eager to expand.
If someone were to "buy" the status, wouldn't their account show the stays and points earned? That would be an easy way for Starriott to catch them, just do a few of these offers to buy status and then check what had been done to the account. Starriott would know that the accounts holder had never stayed in these cheap properties in China, although it would be harder to identify which employees participated in the scam. Still, Bonvoy could take the attitude that the hotel had permitted fraud and penalize the property and its management, although Starriott brobably doesn't want to deflag these new properties in areas where they're so eager to expand.
Mar 31, 2019, 2:21 am
#37
Join Date: Feb 2018
Programs: Bonvoy :Ambassador , ALL :Diamond, Skywards :Silver, Krisflyer :Silver
Posts: 2,803
I would guess the account history will show which properties participate in this "scheme"
Since the seller request copy of the passport, I can only assume it was to "prove" that the person supposedly check in personally.
Since the seller request copy of the passport, I can only assume it was to "prove" that the person supposedly check in personally.
Mar 31, 2019, 2:37 am
#38
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Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Metal Card (OWE), SAS Eurobonus Gold (*G), Marriott Titanium (LTP), Tokyu Hotels Platinum
Posts: 21,103
Why would one want to buy Plat, or any status, for a hotel if they aren't actually going to stay at hotels enough to get value from it? Plat is NOT hard to achieve anymore, you can get 15 nights from a CC - if you travel enough to make the status worthwhile you probably can hit the 50 nights. That said, if you're stupid enough to send your name, address, passport, account number and whatever else they are asking for to someone in China so you can get late checkout, lounge access and a shot at an upgrade when you only occasionally stay at hotels....you absolutely without question deserve everything that is likely to come along with that dumb decision for which you will receive exactly -0- sympathy here or anywhere else where thinking people reside. If you feel that hotel status is something you need to compensate for other shortcomings, choose Hilton where you can pay $400-ish for a CC, get most of that refunded as credits for stays and get Diamond.
That does not make your point wrong, why would someone pay for the status if they don't travel much? If you have three four stays at some of the nicer JWs or St Regis in Asia, it might be worth a fair bit. For me, not this much, but I guess we all have different priorities. It might just be cheaper to book rooms with lounge access and breakfast than paying for the status.
A former colleague of mine used to have her Platinum status (as it was back then) curtesy extended through friends at Marriott in China. Which is of course different than buying it from scratch up.
Apr 7, 2019, 12:33 pm
#39
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Join Date: Jun 2016
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I have talked to a management I know in China, and he has asked me to keep his name and property name out, but he told me it's "common" for establishments, at down times, to have low fare rooms booked out in masses for 30-50 nights, and asking no questions. He told me he knew a few properties that would be under "Premium" category, that would post rates of 300-400 RMB per night, and rent them out for 30-50 nights. He said owners hate empty rooms sitting there, and are motivated to ask management to get them rented "whatever it takes". Even if audited, they would threaten to switch brand, and corporate usually back off; in the rare cases that corporate wouldn't back off, then they would simply switch brand, and knowing full-well Chinese government is on their side and the corporate can't do anything about it.
Apr 7, 2019, 12:58 pm
#40
Join Date: Feb 2018
Programs: Bonvoy :Ambassador , ALL :Diamond, Skywards :Silver, Krisflyer :Silver
Posts: 2,803
I have talked to a management I know in China, and he has asked me to keep his name and property name out, but he told me it's "common" for establishments, at down times, to have low fare rooms booked out in masses for 30-50 nights, and asking no questions. He told me he knew a few properties that would be under "Premium" category, that would post rates of 300-400 RMB per night, and rent them out for 30-50 nights. He said owners hate empty rooms sitting there, and are motivated to ask management to get them rented "whatever it takes". Even if audited, they would threaten to switch brand, and corporate usually back off; in the rare cases that corporate wouldn't back off, then they would simply switch brand, and knowing full-well Chinese government is on their side and the corporate can't do anything about it.
And while what they did was a breach on bonvoy t&c, technically they didnt break any laws. (not that I know of)
Someone want to "rent" those room cheaply for whatever reason (mattress run) ... and the hotel supply them.
And since the hotel know for sure the person wont be staying, they can easily resell the room when actual guest coming.
Similar to normal matress run done by members but in more "organised" way
Apr 7, 2019, 1:27 pm
#41
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SFO
Posts: 4,911
I have talked to a management I know in China, and he has asked me to keep his name and property name out, but he told me it's "common" for establishments, at down times, to have low fare rooms booked out in masses for 30-50 nights, and asking no questions. He told me he knew a few properties that would be under "Premium" category, that would post rates of 300-400 RMB per night, and rent them out for 30-50 nights. He said owners hate empty rooms sitting there, and are motivated to ask management to get them rented "whatever it takes". Even if audited, they would threaten to switch brand, and corporate usually back off; in the rare cases that corporate wouldn't back off, then they would simply switch brand, and knowing full-well Chinese government is on their side and the corporate can't do anything about it.
Apr 7, 2019, 1:55 pm
#42
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
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The problem is that the hotel then reports the fake stay as nights credits for someone who never showed up. That's fraudulent, but the hotel selling a room at a cheap nonrefundable rate and taking the money from someone who no shows would seen to be OK if the hotel isn't selling the same room multiple times (before the no show occurs) and if the contract doesn't specify a minimum room rate for the applicable category of guest (not crew, not friends and family, etc.).
Now if the hotel is aware that this is happening and continues to give special rates to the same entity, it could also be a conspiracy to commit fraud, but IANAL.
Now if the hotel is aware that this is happening and continues to give special rates to the same entity, it could also be a conspiracy to commit fraud, but IANAL.
Apr 7, 2019, 8:16 pm
#43
Join Date: Aug 2009
Programs: MR rewards
Posts: 272
There is an easy way for Marriott to block theese accounts
There is no way new account starting with 50 nights or 40 nights and 10nights meeting.
Marriott should check for new accounts with platinum for 1-2 month period and block them !!
or Marriott should sell platinum for less like IHG Ambassador (hate the idea) but it's a way to stop this game
by the way they pay more than what they got in my opinion its not worth more than $500
There is no way new account starting with 50 nights or 40 nights and 10nights meeting.
Marriott should check for new accounts with platinum for 1-2 month period and block them !!
or Marriott should sell platinum for less like IHG Ambassador (hate the idea) but it's a way to stop this game
by the way they pay more than what they got in my opinion its not worth more than $500
Apr 7, 2019, 8:39 pm
#44
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 121
There is an easy way for Marriott to block theese accounts
There is no way new account starting with 50 nights or 40 nights and 10nights meeting.
Marriott should check for new accounts with platinum for 1-2 month period and block them !!
or Marriott should sell platinum for less like IHG Ambassador (hate the idea) but it's a way to stop this game
by the way they pay more than what they got in my opinion its not worth more than $500
There is no way new account starting with 50 nights or 40 nights and 10nights meeting.
Marriott should check for new accounts with platinum for 1-2 month period and block them !!
or Marriott should sell platinum for less like IHG Ambassador (hate the idea) but it's a way to stop this game
by the way they pay more than what they got in my opinion its not worth more than $500
It happens.
Apr 8, 2019, 12:10 am
#45
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Join Date: Sep 2009
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Actually, there are legitimate reasons to stay 40 or 50 nights at one property when opening a new account. Off the top of my head, insurance companies put people up in hotels when their home is damaged in a storm. Or if an employee is being relocated, companies could put them up in a hotel until they can buy a new home. Maybe the person is a consultant on assignment for a couple of months.
It happens.
It happens.
Yes, but in that case the person actually shows up at the hotel and stays there for the entire period of the reservation.