Costco and Coins
Apr 8, 2011 | 6:28 pm
#16
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: San Diego
Programs: IHG Diamond, HH Diamond, DL Diamond and 2MM
Posts: 3,637
Try Gas Stations
I live in southern California. Gas station never turn down a single roll as payment for $25 worth of gas from me. I usually use Arco. I've tried successfully a few times with a Costco, too. (inside the store, not the gas pumps)
Restaurants tend to want to open the rolls, though.
Never thought about depositing the rolls in a bank. The coins are money. I spend it. Pretty simple.
Restaurants tend to want to open the rolls, though.
Never thought about depositing the rolls in a bank. The coins are money. I spend it. Pretty simple.
Apr 8, 2011 | 6:35 pm
#18
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: SFO
Programs: Grounded
Posts: 671
I live in southern California. Gas station never turn down a single roll as payment for $25 worth of gas from me. I usually use Arco. I've tried successfully a few times with a Costco, too. (inside the store, not the gas pumps)
Restaurants tend to want to open the rolls, though.
Never thought about depositing the rolls in a bank. The coins are money. I spend it. Pretty simple.
Restaurants tend to want to open the rolls, though.
Never thought about depositing the rolls in a bank. The coins are money. I spend it. Pretty simple.
Apr 9, 2011 | 10:47 pm
#20
Moderator: Avis and Rental Cars
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 8,070
For us, Costco is about 45 mins away so we don't go often and don't want to be stuck with GC's if we're not going to use them soon. (the only reason we have Costco is my wife's parents put us on for free as their second user)
You should easily be able to get a card to give better cashback on gas than on standard/Gov't purchases, so you should use that card for gas!
Apr 9, 2011 | 11:41 pm
#21
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: ONT
Programs: AGR, UA, AA
Posts: 476
Arco doesn't take credit cards, and is usually 2-3% less than the majors. However the better way to do this is to purchase Arco gift cards at the supermarket, when they are on a 5% cash back cycle (with Chase Freedom, Citi Dividend, or Discover).
On topic they made my dad put the member number in a sharpie on each of the rolls. But other than that no issues.
On topic they made my dad put the member number in a sharpie on each of the rolls. But other than that no issues.
Apr 9, 2011 | 11:42 pm
#22
Join Date: May 2003
Location: CA
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 2,879
I live in southern California. Gas station never turn down a single roll as payment for $25 worth of gas from me. I usually use Arco. I've tried successfully a few times with a Costco, too. (inside the store, not the gas pumps)
Restaurants tend to want to open the rolls, though.
Never thought about depositing the rolls in a bank. The coins are money. I spend it. Pretty simple.
Restaurants tend to want to open the rolls, though.
Never thought about depositing the rolls in a bank. The coins are money. I spend it. Pretty simple.
Apr 10, 2011 | 12:26 am
#23
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Fairfield County, CT USA
Programs: AA PLT+2MM / DL DM+1MM / A3 *G / Fairmont LT Plat / Ritz Gold / SPG Gold
Posts: 4,077
If you need to meet some short term spend requirements, definitely buy some coins and buy some gift certificates for merchants that you'll otherwise use in the future.
Costco cards sounds like they'd fit for you. Buy them now, spend as you normally do.
Also, there is a way you can buy American Airlines gift certificates through a two-step process that nets you more than one point-per-dollar for the AA spend. Search the AA forum for a post about a guy looking to spend 4,500 on AA. Its laid out there.
Costco cards sounds like they'd fit for you. Buy them now, spend as you normally do.
Also, there is a way you can buy American Airlines gift certificates through a two-step process that nets you more than one point-per-dollar for the AA spend. Search the AA forum for a post about a guy looking to spend 4,500 on AA. Its laid out there.
Apr 10, 2011 | 1:17 am
#24
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: SPG Plat, Emerald Exec., PC Plat, AA, CO, DL, UBS Charter Card, Palladium Card, Amex Plat
Posts: 1,694
Apr 10, 2011 | 8:01 am
#25
In memoriam
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: NYC
Programs: UA, AA, SPG - Gold, LM
Posts: 589
There is another easy way to spend Visa/MC on Costco, if that is what you want to do.
Go online and buy Amex GC using your Visa/MC and spend that in Costco. They even give you 'Cash Back'. Use 'Cash Back' to deplete the whole Amex GC, so there will be no balance left.
Buying the Amex GC, you will meet your spending threshold plus points. Also if you buy thru referal, there is a 1.6% cash back (IIRC).
Go online and buy Amex GC using your Visa/MC and spend that in Costco. They even give you 'Cash Back'. Use 'Cash Back' to deplete the whole Amex GC, so there will be no balance left.
Buying the Amex GC, you will meet your spending threshold plus points. Also if you buy thru referal, there is a 1.6% cash back (IIRC).
Apr 10, 2011 | 10:40 am
#26
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: CLL
Programs: MS Plat, AOR ninja
Posts: 2,177
If you need to meet some short term spend requirements, definitely buy some coins and buy some gift certificates for merchants that you'll otherwise use in the future.
Costco cards sounds like they'd fit for you. Buy them now, spend as you normally do.
Also, there is a way you can buy American Airlines gift certificates through a two-step process that nets you more than one point-per-dollar for the AA spend. Search the AA forum for a post about a guy looking to spend 4,500 on AA. Its laid out there.
Costco cards sounds like they'd fit for you. Buy them now, spend as you normally do.
Also, there is a way you can buy American Airlines gift certificates through a two-step process that nets you more than one point-per-dollar for the AA spend. Search the AA forum for a post about a guy looking to spend 4,500 on AA. Its laid out there.
Apr 10, 2011 | 11:48 am
#27
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Boston
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium, AAdvantage Platinum Pro
Posts: 643
It's on page 3 of the AA forum. Instead of loving me forever, I'd happily settle for a promise from you to demonstrate a little more patience in your searches in the future.
Apr 10, 2011 | 2:00 pm
#28
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,340
There is another easy way to spend Visa/MC on Costco, if that is what you want to do.
Go online and buy Amex GC using your Visa/MC and spend that in Costco. They even give you 'Cash Back'. Use 'Cash Back' to deplete the whole Amex GC, so there will be no balance left.
Buying the Amex GC, you will meet your spending threshold plus points. Also if you buy thru referal, there is a 1.6% cash back (IIRC).
Go online and buy Amex GC using your Visa/MC and spend that in Costco. They even give you 'Cash Back'. Use 'Cash Back' to deplete the whole Amex GC, so there will be no balance left.
Buying the Amex GC, you will meet your spending threshold plus points. Also if you buy thru referal, there is a 1.6% cash back (IIRC).
Apr 10, 2011 | 4:26 pm
#29
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 293
I did it once, but not intentionally. How abusable it is I don't know. I was renewing my Costco membership at the service desk using my rebate check but was $3 short of the total amount. I gave the clerk my cash card, figuring they could take the $3 off of that. Instead (and without even asking!) they cashed out my $300 cash card and took the $3 in cash. Manager said it was the only way to do it.
YMMV.
Last edited by Dynastar; Apr 10, 2011 at 4:35 pm