Best way to maximize miles
 

I have a purchase to make of about $5000 at Potterybarn. I was wondering what would be a good way to maximize the miles earned on this purchase. It participates in the Upromise program and only AAdvantage program as far as I know. I was thinking of a few options.
Buy gift certificates from Gift certificates.com in the value of 5000 and then turn around and make a purchase on PB.com to get miles. Also could use Upromise and get cash back upto 3% on both purchases. Also could use a Miles earning credit card to get miles from the credit card. What are ;your thoughts. What would be a good way to do this. Also is it a good idea to use Gift certificates as the intermediary to earn more miles. Is it just better to buy directly from Potterybarn.com with my own CC. Thanks.

Get the gift certificates if you can find them. Always cheaper than paying cash.

To maximize rewards, go to http://www.evreward.com/

also look at the various airline's "mileage malls" to see if the item(s) you are buying can be purchased through the mall.

Recent example for me was that my wife wanted the new Bose noise reduction headphones. The Bose website offered 1 mile per $ spent. Found another site through the mall selling the same Bose headset for the same price as Bose and was given 4 miles per $ spent.

--

Smart deal, your handle should slick willie :D

let's see...

i checked the 3 airlines I use, which are NWA, UAL and AA. I did not check DL, US and Co. You should do that and find out more.

Now, at UAL's mileageplus partners, the mall has Pottery Barn Kids. http://mponlinemall.com/go.aspx

Shop our unique collection of children's furnishings that is Pottery Barn Kids. Find the perfect bedding or a crib for your baby's nursery.

Earn 3 miles per $2 spent. Ok, not too bad but here's one better:

On AA's mall, which I like SOOOO much better (They actually credit the miles rather quickly and they do not make the mistakes United's does) I saw that same gig for 3 Miles Per $1 Spent! Yup, it says this:

Shop online at Pottery Barn Kids and earn 3 AAdvantage miles for each qualifying dollar spent through the AAdvantage eShopping program.
http://www.aadvantageeshopping.com/details.jsp?mrc=212

Ok, I know none of these are the normal poterybarn store but hey, that's the way around it I might use for such a large amount of miles as a result! You would end up with like 15k mate!

(I am going to order a Dell PC for my small business and I found that only United's site has the ability to do Dell Small business whereas the others I would use only have Dell Home. Either way, to my dismay, they only offer 1;1 but hey, that's on top of the use of my airline Credit card, so if I spend $1,000, I get 2,000 miles. 1:1 for the site use and 1:1 for the Card use and of course the card does NOT have to be the same airline as the site you are using to buy stuff on, so in case you want to split up mile earnings, that's one way to do it.)

But in your case, I guess one thing you could consider is this: Maybe buy a boat load of stuff from PB Kids and then see about free/reduced shipping on the fact you spent so much $ with them. I know some of the online office supply stores do that. When all your merchandise arrives, try to return it for store credit and then use that in the regular store for your needs. Make sure a purchase at PB Kids will yield store credit at a regular potery barn and make sure online purchases can be credited back at a regular store as well. Check by testing this at a local store or two.

:)MM


PS: when I know I have to do lots of home improvement work, I often use the AA mall to get Home Depot gift cards. they come rather quickly and while many online stores thru malls do not allow GCs to earn miles, this one does. Sometimes the offer is 2:1 and so when they come, if I had to spend $2,000 at HD, I just earned 4k miles on AA! Check out if PB Kids offers GCs and if those will earn you miles. I know on AA's mall is says this: "Merchant Exclusions: Purchases of gift certificates and gift cards are not eligible to earn AAdvantage miles." Check the other sites and read the fine print.

It is always a good idea to both read and print out EVERYTHING involving online mall purchases that are to award miles. Reasons for this include the fact that often times, these sites make mistakes when posting your awards and you may need to fax them proof of your portal use. be sure to USE the proper links or oinline portals to do your transaction and that all addresses and names match up as best they can. I would keep all records of this sort of thing in a folder until every mile posts.

Unfortunately-Home Depot GC's no longer earn at AA--I agree it was good while it lasted-I believe they gave credit because you could not use GC's to purchase online,thus double dip-perhaps this is a sign HD will begin accepting GC's for online purchases

Merchant Exclusions:
The following are not eligible to earn AAdvantage miles: Gift certificates, gift cards, Installation Services, Contractor Services, and purchases made from links where the customer is leaving the Homedepot.com web site.

AS OF JUNE 8, 2006 THE HOME DEPOT WILL NOT REWARD THE PURCHASES OF GIFT CARDS!

BUMMER.
Well, my last one posted in june for an April purchase...This is from my AA statement on that period:

04/21/06 ESHOPPING - HOME DEPOT 800 0 800
04/21/06 ESHOPPING-SPRING HOME PROMO 0 400 400
TOTAL MILES POSTED 800 400 1,200

WHY do they make it so hard, eh?
oh well, the other idea about PB kids works I guess.

Dear

Really amazing information for me, thanks!