The Marriott Rewards MORE program is a poorly executed program. I couldn't even checkout with their buggy portal. I emailed support and they advised me to complete the checkout without the portal. I made a purchase and didn't receive any points.

When you were making your purchase, did you click 'pay with points' then was able use a credit card to complete the purchase? I am hesitant to press the 'pay with points' button but there isn't any other button on that page that indicates paying by credit card.

PC Insiders

Loblaws pitches upgraded loyalty program for $99/year for premium perks
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/lobl...gram-1.4410033


This announcement is "targeting at PC Plus loyalty members who are also President's Choice Financial Mastercard holders, and banking on their being willing to pay a little bit more, to get more in terms of points and discounts."

For a fee of $99 a year, a new program the retailer is launching today called PC Insiders will give people who sign up discounts and reward points across many of the chain's stores, both in-person and online.
During the pilot program, anyone who signs up will get the following perks any time they use their MasterCard:

• 20 per cent back in PC points on the essentials such as diapers, infant formula, and all PC Organics products in-store and online.
• 20 per cent back in PC points on all Joe Fresh products in-store and online at joefresh.com.
• 20 times the PC points every day when customers shop online at beautyBOUTIQUE.ca.
• Free Click & Collect pick-up service at nearly 200 locations.
• Free shipping on all beautyBOUTIQUE.ca and joefresh.com purchases.
• $99 PC travel credit once a year when booking a trip on pctravel.ca (annual subscriptions only)

So:
• There's a minor possibility that they will make the "once a year" travel credit once per calendar year.
I think all the Amex cardholders will know where I'm going with that one... ;)

• If you paid $99 for a $99 credit at PC Travel, is there a good way to liquidate it into cash or near-cash. Or would you actually use it a future trip?

That's a 40% devaluation...gift cards are inflated anyway even with 20% reduction I wouldn't spent anyway my points on them.For myself most of purchases are on groceries and these are still getting 2 points/dollar the return rate decrease to 1.42% vs 2% as now while only the travel,dining and entertainment are getting 3 points for a 2.14 % return rate.Not sure anymore if with this devaluation is worth to pay the 150/year fee.You need to spend over 10k just to offset the yearly fee
They still gave the 4 Priority pass and their rental car insurance is good but I guess it is time for me to cancel this card.

PC travel is a bit of a hassle. If you book flights you can't pick a seat without calling pc travel. They also don't have all the same selection as normal OTAs. I wouldn't sign up just for the credit.

Everything related to PC/Loblaws is a giant hassle....I tend to avoid that place, and any related promotions!

+1. I haven't set foot in Superstore in 2 years, and nothing about PC points makes me want to go back.

I recently went into a local No Frills, simply because I'd never been before, and also because they had some really cheap stuff in their flyer. It was a gong show - from parking to check-out. And then I couldn't use my Amex to pay, so I knew I'd never go back...lol.

Good idea. Can you believe they don't even accept Visa either?

Members of Marriott Rewards and SPG Can Get Exclusive VIP Access to Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Events

Marriott Rewards, The Ritz-Carlton Rewards, and Starwood Preferred Guests (SPG), including the more than 3.7 million members in Canada, will be big winners with the partnership. Members will be able to redeem points on Marriott Rewards Moments and SPG Moments for once-in-a-lifetime hockey themed experiences with players and legends of the game.

http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases...659322953.html

You can buy gift cards at Loblaws using Visa and spend them at No Frills. :)

Or you can buy them via ebates.ca and get 1.5% cash back and use AMEX via Paypal ;)

Yeah, found that out last month. Had not been in No Frills for about 5 years at least, and I was reminded why.

Subpar fruit, crowded aisle. The place is just a mess. Then when I tried to pay with Visa, they gave me a look as if I was from Mars and snorted we don't take Visa.

I seriously felt like telling them to just forget it and put all the stuff back on the shelf then, but managed to restrain myself.

I will never be heading back even if they are selling toonies for a loony.

We do quite well from No Frills. The PC card gets you 3% back even though they up and decided to cut my credit limit by 90% one day without telling me. Go figure.

We joined the new PC "prime" program. We buy a lot of their organics so we will come out ahead. Not huge but with a teenage boy who's discovered hitting the gym eating us out of house and home we'll take every penny. Everything else they offer is useless. My wife shops during the day at the store up the street, it's a nice one. Don't go Thursday nights or on the weekends.

Thanks for your input, all.
But back to my question, which wasn't about Superstore at all. (I dunno that this is the right forum to talk about good & bad about a grocery store.)

I asked if there a good way to turn a credit at one of these virtual travel agencies into cash or near-cash.
I'll take it the answer is "no".