Nordstroms/AA miles?
Aug 29, 2006 | 10:04 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Indiana, Ohio, North Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado, Mexico
Programs: AAdvantage, UA Mileage Plus
Posts: 60
Nordstroms/AA miles?
According to AA.com gift cards bought from Nordstroms on AA.com eshopping you will recieve four miles per dollar spent. So if you buy 5 fifty dollar gift certificates that is 1000 miles and then you can sell on Ebay for 49 dollars per gift certificate you would be getting 1000 miles for 5 dollars. I know this is not exact and ebay takes a cut. What do you think? The AA link and Ebay links are posted below. I want a big response from other FF. Thanks
http://www.aa.com/apps/netSAAver/Vie...omotionContent
http://search.ebay.com/search/search...ard&category0=
http://www.aa.com/apps/netSAAver/Vie...omotionContent
http://search.ebay.com/search/search...ard&category0=
Aug 30, 2006 | 4:13 am
#2
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: Marriott Titanium
Posts: 2,861
50% more miles (6 per $) for Lands End and Target). But you have to buy via the AA store. Does this really allow gift certificates? Not in the T&C...
But, Nordstrom Terms and Conditions:
No exclusions; purchases of gift cards ARE eligible to earn AAdvantage miles.
But, Nordstrom Terms and Conditions:
No exclusions; purchases of gift cards ARE eligible to earn AAdvantage miles.
Aug 30, 2006 | 4:46 am
#3
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: New York City, United States.
Posts: 2,736
what moron would pay $49 cash in advance to a stranger for the possible delivery of a store specifc gift card for $50 that might be valid.
I know that a fool and his money are welcomed everywhere and that EBAY is a vibrant marketplace that fufills this adage.
But $49 for $50
sorry but imho an absurd concept.
Now if you like to shop at Nordstroms any way , you might as well order a few certs. for this useage its a quality post and maybe should be in AA Forum.
Welcome to FT!
I know that a fool and his money are welcomed everywhere and that EBAY is a vibrant marketplace that fufills this adage.
But $49 for $50
sorry but imho an absurd concept.
Now if you like to shop at Nordstroms any way , you might as well order a few certs. for this useage its a quality post and maybe should be in AA Forum.
Welcome to FT!
Aug 30, 2006 | 6:43 am
#5
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 447
This wouldn't be that cost-effective...
Nordstrom gift certificates sell at about 85-93% of face value.
So buy $5000 in gift cards = 20,000 miles.
Resell $5000 at 89% of face value (without any listing fees added!) = $4450.
Net cost of miles: $550.
CPM: $550/20000 = 2.75...
You can do better than 2.75 on a mileage run, not to mention the fact that this is based on the speculatory ability to sell these gift cards on ebay, and you will likely saturate the ebay market and lower the selling cost...
Better to fly and earn EQM if you have the time.
Nordstrom gift certificates sell at about 85-93% of face value.
So buy $5000 in gift cards = 20,000 miles.
Resell $5000 at 89% of face value (without any listing fees added!) = $4450.
Net cost of miles: $550.
CPM: $550/20000 = 2.75...
You can do better than 2.75 on a mileage run, not to mention the fact that this is based on the speculatory ability to sell these gift cards on ebay, and you will likely saturate the ebay market and lower the selling cost...
Better to fly and earn EQM if you have the time.
Aug 30, 2006 | 7:24 am
#6
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: DTW
Programs: DL 0.22 MM, AA 0.34 MM, PC Plat Amb, Hertz #1 GC 5*
Posts: 7,511
Originally Posted by bjtaylor
This wouldn't be that cost-effective...
Nordstrom gift certificates sell at about 85-93% of face value.
So buy $5000 in gift cards = 20,000 miles.
Resell $5000 at 89% of face value (without any listing fees added!) = $4450.
Net cost of miles: $550.
CPM: $550/20000 = 2.75...
You can do better than 2.75 on a mileage run, not to mention the fact that this is based on the speculatory ability to sell these gift cards on ebay, and you will likely saturate the ebay market and lower the selling cost...
Better to fly and earn EQM if you have the time.
Nordstrom gift certificates sell at about 85-93% of face value.
So buy $5000 in gift cards = 20,000 miles.
Resell $5000 at 89% of face value (without any listing fees added!) = $4450.
Net cost of miles: $550.
CPM: $550/20000 = 2.75...
You can do better than 2.75 on a mileage run, not to mention the fact that this is based on the speculatory ability to sell these gift cards on ebay, and you will likely saturate the ebay market and lower the selling cost...
Better to fly and earn EQM if you have the time.
Then again, why not go with overstock.com, at 6 miles per $:
Overstock Terms and Conditions:
Travel purchases, and the redemption of gift certificates or gift cards are not eligible to earn AAdvantage miles. Purchases of gift cards are eligible to earn AAdvantage miles.
Steve B.
Aug 30, 2006 | 7:26 am
#7
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 447
Originally Posted by sbagdon
Don't forget the milage earned, if using a milage credit card... so wouldn't it be 5 miles/$ then? Or is the 4 miles/$ included in that?
Steve B.
Steve B.
(I'll buy up any leftover gift cards at half cost when they won't sell :-D)
Aug 30, 2006 | 9:30 am
#8
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 73
Originally Posted by writetorich
what moron would pay $49 cash in advance to a stranger for the possible delivery of a store specifc gift card for $50 that might be valid.
I know that a fool and his money are welcomed everywhere and that EBAY is a vibrant marketplace that fufills this adage.
But $49 for $50
sorry but imho an absurd concept.
Now if you like to shop at Nordstroms any way , you might as well order a few certs. for this useage its a quality post and maybe should be in AA Forum.
Welcome to FT!
I know that a fool and his money are welcomed everywhere and that EBAY is a vibrant marketplace that fufills this adage.
But $49 for $50
sorry but imho an absurd concept.
Now if you like to shop at Nordstroms any way , you might as well order a few certs. for this useage its a quality post and maybe should be in AA Forum.
Welcome to FT!
Aug 30, 2006 | 10:36 am
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Indiana, Ohio, North Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado, Mexico
Programs: AAdvantage, UA Mileage Plus
Posts: 60
This is the sole reason why I posted the link for ebay where all gift cards are being sold for 99% of the gift card value. I dont know why somebody would go through the hassel to save a buck but it is the norm on ebay.
Originally Posted by writetorich
what moron would pay $49 cash in advance to a stranger for the possible delivery of a store specifc gift card for $50 that might be valid.
I know that a fool and his money are welcomed everywhere and that EBAY is a vibrant marketplace that fufills this adage.
But $49 for $50
sorry but imho an absurd concept.
Now if you like to shop at Nordstroms any way , you might as well order a few certs. for this useage its a quality post and maybe should be in AA Forum.
Welcome to FT!
I know that a fool and his money are welcomed everywhere and that EBAY is a vibrant marketplace that fufills this adage.
But $49 for $50
sorry but imho an absurd concept.
Now if you like to shop at Nordstroms any way , you might as well order a few certs. for this useage its a quality post and maybe should be in AA Forum.
Welcome to FT!
Aug 30, 2006 | 10:56 am
#10
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: USA
Programs: HH Diamond, SPG Gold, PC Platinum Ambassador, Marriott Silver
Posts: 15,249
Originally Posted by writetorich
what moron would pay $49 cash in advance to a stranger for the possible delivery of a store specifc gift card for $50 that might be valid.
I know that a fool and his money are welcomed everywhere and that EBAY is a vibrant marketplace that fufills this adage.
But $49 for $50
sorry but imho an absurd concept.
I know that a fool and his money are welcomed everywhere and that EBAY is a vibrant marketplace that fufills this adage.
But $49 for $50
sorry but imho an absurd concept.
However, from the seller's side, eBay and PayPal fees make this a very costly and ineffective way of acquiring miles.
Last edited by cactuspete; Aug 30, 2006 at 3:37 pm
Aug 30, 2006 | 12:07 pm
#11
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Midwest
Programs: AA Advantage Platinum, United 1K, Marriott Rewards Platinum, Hilton Honors Diamond
Posts: 395
Your Forgetting Something
Originally Posted by HAtkins5
This is the sole reason why I posted the link for ebay where all gift cards are being sold for 99% of the gift card value. I dont know why somebody would go through the hassel to save a buck but it is the norm on ebay.
Insertion Fee $1.00 (range could be $.20 to $4.00 dependent on how you list)
Final Value Fee $2.06
Paypal Fee $1.75
Postage $ .39
Total $5.20
Your actual net would be $44.80 if you sold at $50.
So you can see if you don't sell at $50 your cost per mile would be rising steadily.
Aug 30, 2006 | 12:20 pm
#12
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Midwest
Programs: AA Advantage Platinum, United 1K, Marriott Rewards Platinum, Hilton Honors Diamond
Posts: 395
Originally Posted by ejs621
Your forgetting something! There is a cost of selling on Ebay. Insertion Fee, Final Value Fee, Paypal Fee and shipping fees. If you sold your gift card for $50 here is what your fees would be:
Insertion Fee $1.00 (range could be $.20 to $4.00 dependent on how you list)
Final Value Fee $2.06
Paypal Fee $1.75
Postage $ .39
Total $5.20
Your actual net would be $44.80 if you sold at $50.
So you can see if you don't sell at $50 your cost per mile would be rising steadily.
Insertion Fee $1.00 (range could be $.20 to $4.00 dependent on how you list)
Final Value Fee $2.06
Paypal Fee $1.75
Postage $ .39
Total $5.20
Your actual net would be $44.80 if you sold at $50.
So you can see if you don't sell at $50 your cost per mile would be rising steadily.
$5.00 for shipping on the original purchase of gift cards from Nordstroms.
So your effective cost on a $50 Ebay sale would be $39.80!!!
Aug 30, 2006 | 1:14 pm
#13
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: DTW
Programs: DL 0.22 MM, AA 0.34 MM, PC Plat Amb, Hertz #1 GC 5*
Posts: 7,511
Originally Posted by ejs621
I forgot something!!!!!
$5.00 for shipping on the original purchase of gift cards from Nordstroms.
So your effective cost on a $50 Ebay sale would be $39.80!!!
$5.00 for shipping on the original purchase of gift cards from Nordstroms.
So your effective cost on a $50 Ebay sale would be $39.80!!!
Just gotta find someone buying a large item, with cash. Then trade them the card at the check-out. The possibilities are endless, to convert these to face value...
Steve B.
Aug 30, 2006 | 2:17 pm
#14
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Santa Barbara, Ca USA: HHonors Diamond, SPG Gold
Posts: 97
Nordstrom
Originally Posted by sbagdon
Too bad you can't buy it online, then drive to a Nordstrom to have them "fill" the card. There's usually a stack of un-filled cards by each cashier...
Just gotta find someone buying a large item, with cash. Then trade them the card at the check-out. The possibilities are endless, to convert these to face value...
Steve B.
Just gotta find someone buying a large item, with cash. Then trade them the card at the check-out. The possibilities are endless, to convert these to face value...
Steve B.
Aug 30, 2006 | 2:51 pm
#15
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Midwest
Programs: AA Advantage Platinum, United 1K, Marriott Rewards Platinum, Hilton Honors Diamond
Posts: 395
Originally Posted by MikesMiles
Then again, why not charge on a Norstrom store credit card (they have their own card with instore rewards), then pay it down with a GC purchased with a mileage credit card.