Buying Apple and getting points [includes hardware and iTunes]

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Oct 23, 2013, 10:18 am

#196

ChuckHH

Join Date: Jan 2013

Programs: Hilton Diamond, CC, Hyatt & IHG

Posts: 121

If I were to buy Mac or any big ticket electronics, I would just buy with Amex via cash back portal (UR/United/SW/AA etc) and get the additional warranty. I dealt with other card warranty process before and couldn't be happier with AMEX.

Oct 23, 2013, 10:19 am

#197

atxtravel

Join Date: Sep 2012

Posts: 217

You can get the points cheaper at convenience stores, since you get 2x but the GCs cost $4.95 for $500, instead of $5.95+ for $200.

Oct 23, 2013, 11:37 am

#198

Dad to GO

Used to be garyjr316

Join Date: Feb 2011

Location: LAX or SBA

Programs: AAdvantage, MileagePlus, Gold Passport, Hilton HHonors, Marriott

Posts: 800

Quote:

Originally Posted by atxtravel

You can get the points cheaper at convenience stores, since you get 2x but the GCs cost $4.95 for $500, instead of $5.95+ for $200.

Right... but the problem is then converting the MR points. I'll get a better value converting URs at 1 point per penny. Don't believe I can do that with MRs.

Oct 23, 2013, 11:45 am

#199

atxtravel

Join Date: Sep 2012

Posts: 217

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dad to GO

Right... but the problem is then converting the MR points. I'll get a better value converting URs at 1 point per penny. Don't believe I can do that with MRs.

I'm talking about using your Ink cards, they give 2x at gas stations for up to $50k / year.

Oct 24, 2013, 11:14 am

#200

Dad to GO

Used to be garyjr316

Join Date: Feb 2011

Location: LAX or SBA

Programs: AAdvantage, MileagePlus, Gold Passport, Hilton HHonors, Marriott

Posts: 800

Quote:

Originally Posted by atxtravel

I'm talking about using your Ink cards, they give 2x at gas stations for up to $50k / year.

True... I just need to find the gas stations around here that will allow me to make those purchases. I've had push back in the past. Definitely a better deal though. Could get a $1000 laptop for just under $500... not counting other portal bonuses, etc.

Nov 24, 2013, 9:14 pm

#201

DziVang

Join Date: Jul 2011

Posts: 218

Can we buy Apple Store gift card @ Bestbuy and use the gift cards for Iphone/Ipad purchase @ Apple online store?

Nov 24, 2013, 11:57 pm

#202

DaveInLA

Join Date: Sep 2012

Posts: 4,431

Quote:

Originally Posted by DziVang

Can we buy Apple Store gift card @ Bestbuy and use the gift cards for Iphone/Ipad purchase @ Apple online store?

I've never seen an Apple Store gift card at Best Buy.

Nov 25, 2013, 10:43 am

#203

DziVang

Join Date: Jul 2011

Posts: 218

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveInLA

I've never seen an Apple Store gift card at Best Buy.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/searchpa...pple+gift+card

Is the last item $100 Apple Store gift card? I know you can't use Itunes gift card to purchase Apple devices but not sure about Apple Store gift card.

Nov 25, 2013, 12:00 pm

#204

josephstern

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Jul 2006

Location: Upper Sternistan

Posts: 10,047

Quote:

Originally Posted by DziVang

Those are "App Store" not "Apple Store." The App store is the same as the iTunes store - same account and everything. It's just for buying MacOS apps instead of music or iOS apps.

Nov 25, 2013, 4:08 pm

#205

DziVang

Join Date: Jul 2011

Posts: 218

Quote:

Originally Posted by josephstern

Those are "App Store" not "Apple Store." The App store is the same as the iTunes store - same account and everything. It's just for buying MacOS apps instead of music or iOS apps.

Gotcha. Thanks for clarification. I guess I can only get 2x points via UR Mall now.

Nov 29, 2013, 6:17 am

#206

User Name

Join Date: May 2009

Location: Shanghai

Programs: BAEC (Gold), PC (Plat), HH (Gold), MR (Gold)

Posts: 2,729

BigCrumbs increased for MacMall

Just noticed that BigCrumbs is at 3.76% for MacMall (was 2.8% yesterday).

Dec 4, 2013, 9:35 am

#207

josephstern

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Jul 2006

Location: Upper Sternistan

Posts: 10,047

Got screwed x2 on Black Friday working the points angle.

Best example is an Air for my wife. $999 with a $150 Apple Gift Card. So I went through United MileagePlus shopping to pick up the bonus at $1000 figuring I'd add a $1 filler somewhere.

But Apple reports the purchase as $849. So net of the Gift Card.

I suppose using the Gift Card should therefore result in getting points. Still, I was paying $999 and the GC was free, in my mind.

Dec 5, 2013, 10:04 am

#208

josephstern

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Jul 2006

Location: Upper Sternistan

Posts: 10,047

Quote:

Originally Posted by josephstern

And now it's all gone. I had some on AA and some on UA (both Cartera) and they're both gone.

Maybe they're fixing this?

Dec 5, 2013, 7:19 pm

#209

ftbllnumber34

Join Date: Dec 2013

Posts: 3

I used my SPG Amex through the United Rewards Mall to buy my Macbook pro on Black Friday and the points were credited to my account within just a few days. I received 2x miles for the dollar amount of the macbook minus the $150 gift card

Dec 7, 2013, 6:27 pm

#210

FredFnord

Join Date: Mar 2012

Posts: 51

Just another note on Discover: not only do you get the 5% cash back from their portal, but the Discover It's extended warrantee is compatible with AppleCare. So if you buy a (refurb!) machine from Apple, and buy AppleCare for that machine, then you get 5% cash back on the machine, 5% cash back on the AppleCare, and then Discover extends the warrantee by an extra year, to four years.

This is in contrast to the standard Visa warrantee extension on Visa Signature cards, and some other Visa cards, which explicitly disallows extending warrantees that have already been extended by purchasing a package from the manufacturer.

AmEx's terms are less clear, and I think they would extend the warrantee. I don't have a MasterCard so I don't know about them.