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Originally Posted by mooper
(Post 15850961)
Yes, but that's outside the scope of my analogy. Casinos also have blackjack tables and cocktails, while Points.com does not... so? My analogy was intended to show how businesses about that sell something that is a bad deal or otherwise undesirable or has better alternatives. As long as they are open and honest with their pricing, they aren't fleecing anyone, they are simply catering to the fools who provide the demand.
but I also wish that for once there'd be some rules about how companies should refrain from screwing people--ie, even being allowed to go as far as they do. oh wait we dont live in Northern Europe lol |
Originally Posted by Marathon Man
(Post 15850466)
...and I have transferred say 3000 miles to another person using the airline's portal for doing this, which is essentially operated by points.com and it has in fact worked. But it is not 100% reliable.
There have been instances where this practice has NOT worked for me and others... where some glitch takes place--who knows what (system upgrade, an issue with your computer, theirs, the airlines', whatever). It is in this area where I will note that one should have avoided points.com. They are not equipped/willing to help fix things if and when they go wrong. Hence, the best thing to do is to avoid them if possible! For example, if those 1,000 US miles of yours did not convert over for you to PC, how much effort would you have put in to recovering them? Given that, after several phone calls to each party, both PC and US tell you to deal with Points.com, what would you think you would do about it and what would you expect Points.com to do about it for you? All I can say is that if your miles transferred over to PC then you were dayummmm lucky! Problems with them HAVE happened and they have never fixed them for people. To me a good company is one that can solve issues when they go wrong, not operate as if they never will go wrong or deny it when they do and not even have the personnel available to solve said issues. |
Originally Posted by Tailgater
(Post 15852407)
The website is not real clear to me. I am so glad that I didn't take the bait and become a sucker with this company. I'll be surprised if it lasts much longer. Company reminds me of the foreign exchange con artists that approach naive and unsuspecting tourists getting off the trains in Mongolia.
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Originally Posted by mooper
(Post 15852960)
Do those con artists provide accurate information and fully disclose their rate and process? I don't think there's anything confusing about Points.com. They publish everything, and if you don't like the exchange rates, why utilize them?
They have very very very poor results in solving any issues that take place. What if an order doesnt go through what if miles do not post what if a transfer fails what if a service changes how do you get in touch with a live voice who will help you will that live voice really help you do they offer concessions if the problem is owned by them I could go on. The problem with points.com--and a lot of companies even outside the scope of our miles and points world--is, as I have found in my own experience over the years--that they have NO or very little accountability and one needs to pull teeth to get anywhere with them. I have heard this over the years so not much has changed. It is because of this that I personally will continue to display in every thread about points.com the list of links I can bring up that outline these issues. I recommend NOT using the service at all. There are far better ones out there and if there are not, I would still not use them. :)MM |
Originally Posted by Marathon Man
(Post 15853026)
The problem with points.com--and the reason why forums like this one are a valuable tool for anyone consuming anything--is not necessarily with what they sell or how they both market it and display it, rather, the problem is what happens AFTER the fact.
They have very very very poor results in solving any issues that take place. |
Originally Posted by mooper
(Post 15853248)
Fair enough. You are suggesting people don't use the company because they have poor customer service / problem resolution. That's far different from suggesting that their exchange ratio amounts to fleecing/fraud/scam, as the title of this thread and the OP suggest. That's the assertion I'm challenging. I have no idea how their customer service is... I have no reason to use them.
But I will say this... companies that end up having poor service will also be the same types of companies that would have also had poor stuff for sale or poor sales ethics. And poor deal structures in place to entice would be customers. Now, the customer should do their homework and all before biting, but yeah, this place is bad news. let my proven bad CS results be a beacon to those who would shop here... and when shopping anywhere for anything, let similar reports like mine about service/experience be a way to inform people about not shopping there. |
Originally Posted by mooper
(Post 15852960)
Do those con artists provide accurate information and fully disclose their rate and process? I don't think there's anything confusing about Points.com. They publish everything, and if you don't like the exchange rates, why utilize them?
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Originally Posted by Tailgater
(Post 15853692)
...I didn't understand the site and terms and conditions.
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Originally Posted by sbm12
(Post 15850432)
When the ratios are this out of whack (particularly the US numbers) I do consider it a fleecing. When you read the quote from the PayPal guy - "Airline customers who are frustrated with blackout dates, and the lack of availability of rewards redemption options can now get their money quickly into their PayPal account and then spend the money the way they’d like." - it is clear that their goal is to take advantage of the uninformed rather than help a consumer make an informed decision. Any business transaction that is based on only one side understanding the actual value of the transaction is a scam, even if the terms are fully documented.
The points or Paypal credit you get will be the net of the amount the airline pays Points.com, less Points.com's operating costs and profit margin. In this case, it's US Airways who's doing the fleecing. To use another example: 1,500 Continental miles can be swapped for 461 AA miles 1,500 US Airways miles can be swapped for 329 AA miles US Airways pays Points.com less for it's own miles than Continental does, so why should Points.com absorb that difference? |
Originally Posted by mooper
(Post 15853749)
I'll bet that if you post your questions in this thread, a helpful FTer will lend a hand.
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Originally Posted by Tailgater
(Post 15854750)
No thanks, I have NO desire to do business with the company.
Reference:
Originally Posted by Tailgater
(Post 15853692)
One of the big reasons why I didn't use them is because I didn't understand the site and terms and conditions. And, thanks to posts on this thread, I have learned even more.
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Originally Posted by mooper
(Post 15854770)
One of the reasons you cited for having no interest was your failure to understand the website and conditions. You also stated that FT is a source of information upon which you based your decisions. Therefore, it seems odd that you wouldn't seek help here to resolve a major reason you don't use the service.
Reference: |
Originally Posted by Tailgater
(Post 15854849)
I don't understand your post---The FT forum HAS helped me understand how Points.com works(or doesn't work). I am grateful for this forum!
*runs!* lol |
Originally Posted by Tailgater
(Post 15854849)
I don't understand your post---The FT forum HAS helped me understand how Points.com works(or doesn't work). I am grateful for this forum!
Originally Posted by Marathon Man
(Post 15854918)
dont worry. mooper works for points.com
*runs!* lol |
Originally Posted by mooper
(Post 15855029)
Other than having an account I don't (obtained for a promotional miles bonus, long ago), I have no affiliation Points.com, and the conversion ratios have no appeal to me. I'm simply defending their right to do business as well as debunking the baseless accusation of "fleecing". i know it! I want my points! I am missing points! I want my two dollarssssssssssssssssss! :D:D:D:D:D nah really though, yeah... they have a right to do business, indeed. But I cannot imagine how they are even IN business-what, with all the complaints I know they have had against them over the years. I mean they do a lot of work with airlines for transfers of miles so that's gotta be it--and maybe those work okay in general terms (I have done some 1-4k transfers and found I was doing so on airline X or Y via their portal at points.com, and later had problems with some and no problems with others) but man oh man, on the individual customer side, they have a horrid business model: one that would put most companies OUT of business/get agencies after them to revoke their rights to do business or at least push for same if that's even possible. I spoke with execs there before after many of us here had a huge issue with over a million miles failing to post collectively and they just do not get it. It took many months and much teeth pulling to get them to budge and this type of thing HAS to hurt the whole idea of doing business. To me, any company that lets that happen is in fact fleecing and is a sham. Mine is based on after the fact results. Their initial promises as stated on whatever ad or site is being used, LOOK like regular transactional stuff so they appear fine. So do loan sharks though, right? |
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