Crackdown on Ebay Rapid Rewards Voucher Sales????
Jul 15, 2005, 9:38 am
#151
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: GSP (Greenville, SC)
Programs: DL Gold Medallion; UA Premier Executive; WN sub-CP; AA sub-Gold
Posts: 13,393
Originally Posted by L Dude 7
You forgot to mention the losers:
1) All Southwest fliers that buy their tickets. They have to pay more for the tickets because the buyer dishonestly frauded Southwest out of $200+
2) Other frequent fliers that accumulate large amounts of RR tickets. Because some people choose to violate the rules and sell tickets, the airline is forced to crackdown on award redemptions. This has resulted in some people receiving letters after (honestly) giving their tickets away. It may also lead to increased restrictions on the ticket redemptions (capacity controls, blackouts, restricted transfers)
3) Southwest. They have lost revenue. They have also needed to devote additional resources to deal with people who violate the terms and conditions of the reward program.
There are plenty of ways to make money selling Rapid Rewards tickets. However, they are all in violation of the terms of the program, which specifically states that the reward tickets cannot be sold.
1) All Southwest fliers that buy their tickets. They have to pay more for the tickets because the buyer dishonestly frauded Southwest out of $200+
2) Other frequent fliers that accumulate large amounts of RR tickets. Because some people choose to violate the rules and sell tickets, the airline is forced to crackdown on award redemptions. This has resulted in some people receiving letters after (honestly) giving their tickets away. It may also lead to increased restrictions on the ticket redemptions (capacity controls, blackouts, restricted transfers)
3) Southwest. They have lost revenue. They have also needed to devote additional resources to deal with people who violate the terms and conditions of the reward program.
There are plenty of ways to make money selling Rapid Rewards tickets. However, they are all in violation of the terms of the program, which specifically states that the reward tickets cannot be sold.
Last edited by JS; Jul 15, 2005 at 9:41 am
Aug 23, 2005, 10:06 am
#152
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Hilton Hhonors, Starwood, AAdvantage, Us AirWays Dividend Miles Southwest Rapid Rewards
Posts: 20
Ebay RR auction crackdown seems effective
My gosh. Ebay really does seem to be cracking down on RR sales. Checked today and only two auctions for RR vouchers. I remember only 2 months ago I checked and there were about 4 pages of RR auctions going on.
I got my RR auction canceled about a month ago before it started.
This sucks
I got my RR auction canceled about a month ago before it started.
This sucks
Aug 23, 2005, 10:30 am
#153
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
Programs: WN Companion Pass, A-list preferred, Hyatt Globalist; United Club Lietime (sic) Member
Posts: 21,624
For years I have argued that an ebay crackdown was critical to allowing RR to remain a generous program, free of capacity controls. Sigh.
Aug 23, 2005, 10:50 am
#154
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: Southwest Rapid Rewards
Posts: 134
Originally Posted by nsx
For years I have argued that an ebay crackdown was critical to allowing RR to remain a generous program, free of capacity controls. Sigh.
Aug 23, 2005, 11:34 am
#155
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 6,359
Originally Posted by maxima01
My gosh. Ebay really does seem to be cracking down on RR sales. Checked today and only two auctions for RR vouchers. I remember only 2 months ago I checked and there were about 4 pages of RR auctions going on.
I got my RR auction canceled about a month ago before it started.
This sucks
I got my RR auction canceled about a month ago before it started.
This sucks
I've noticed every once in a while eBay goes on a tear and cancels a bunch of auctions, trying to weed out certain words in the Auction Title such as "Ticket" and as you now probably see, the words "Rapid Rewards".
Aug 23, 2005, 4:01 pm
#156
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Fort Dodge,Iowa
Programs: Pualani Platinum
Posts: 40
I told you ebay sales was one of the main reasons for capacity controls.....but everyone wants to think it's not.Keep lookin' the other way....I know it's one of the MAIN reasons.
How can you sell a ticketless reward and promise the ebay buyer he can use it for any flight he wants? Not working now.SWA snuffed out that option.
How can you sell a ticketless reward and promise the ebay buyer he can use it for any flight he wants? Not working now.SWA snuffed out that option.
Aug 23, 2005, 5:20 pm
#157
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: NYC
Programs: AA Exec PLT; Marriott PLAT
Posts: 1,120
I seriously doubt ebay sales affected the decision to add capacity controls. Some fliers wanted credits that expired later and capacity controls were seen as the counterpoint to that.
Originally Posted by Ben Dover
I told you ebay sales was one of the main reasons for capacity controls.....but everyone wants to think it's not.Keep lookin' the other way....I know it's one of the MAIN reasons.
How can you sell a ticketless reward and promise the ebay buyer he can use it for any flight he wants? Not working now.SWA snuffed out that option.
How can you sell a ticketless reward and promise the ebay buyer he can use it for any flight he wants? Not working now.SWA snuffed out that option.
Aug 23, 2005, 6:35 pm
#158
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Hilton Hhonors, Starwood, AAdvantage, Us AirWays Dividend Miles Southwest Rapid Rewards
Posts: 20
Originally Posted by gregorygrady
I just found 73 under the search terms "Southwest Voucher". Which is about 1/3 - 1/2 of the number there used to previously be for sale at any one time. Hmmmmmmm.........come to think of it, SWA has devalued RR in half since then, so I guess the number is correct.
I've noticed every once in a while eBay goes on a tear and cancels a bunch of auctions, trying to weed out certain words in the Auction Title such as "Ticket" and as you now probably see, the words "Rapid Rewards".
I've noticed every once in a while eBay goes on a tear and cancels a bunch of auctions, trying to weed out certain words in the Auction Title such as "Ticket" and as you now probably see, the words "Rapid Rewards".
Aug 24, 2005, 2:07 pm
#159
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: The Big D
Programs: AA, CO, DL, WN, SPG Gold
Posts: 1,842
Originally Posted by Ben Dover
I told you ebay sales was one of the main reasons for capacity controls.....but everyone wants to think it's not.Keep lookin' the other way....I know it's one of the MAIN reasons.
How can you sell a ticketless reward and promise the ebay buyer he can use it for any flight he wants? Not working now. SWA snuffed out that option.
How can you sell a ticketless reward and promise the ebay buyer he can use it for any flight he wants? Not working now. SWA snuffed out that option.
Uuuuuuuuuuuuummm... let me see, now. First of all, if a person wants to, they can easily do it thru Jan 31, 2007 for any RRs accumulated thru till Jan 31, 2006.
Then, after that, they don't have to promise!
Aug 24, 2005, 4:23 pm
#160
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: BUR/LAX
Programs: SPG Platinum,Hilton Diamond,Hyatt Diamond,WN Companion Pass, AA Plat, Hertz Plat
Posts: 226
I have been recently dealing with Ebay and their rejection of my SWA RR auctions. My first auction was removed as I tried to sell 2 RR vouchers. My next effort was to only sell 1 voucher and it too was cancelled within hours of closing. It appears that Ebay will only allow you to sell a SWA RR voucher if you become a "Square Trade Dealer" at a cost of $85 per year!! To me, it's a joke!!
It may be that SWA is cracking down, but Ebay wants $85 to allow you to sell your tickets.
The other issue involves Ebay's selective enforcement of these new rules. While they seem to have their eye on me, others are selling tickets successfully left and right.
It may be that SWA is cracking down, but Ebay wants $85 to allow you to sell your tickets.
The other issue involves Ebay's selective enforcement of these new rules. While they seem to have their eye on me, others are selling tickets successfully left and right.
Aug 24, 2005, 4:26 pm
#161
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Fort Dodge,Iowa
Programs: Pualani Platinum
Posts: 40
Originally Posted by DallasBill
Dear Ben Dover,
Uuuuuuuuuuuuummm... let me see, now. First of all, if a person wants to, they can easily do it thru Jan 31, 2007 for any RRs accumulated thru till Jan 31, 2006.
Then, after that, they don't have to promise!
Uuuuuuuuuuuuummm... let me see, now. First of all, if a person wants to, they can easily do it thru Jan 31, 2007 for any RRs accumulated thru till Jan 31, 2006.
Then, after that, they don't have to promise!
The buyers will slack off and slow their purchases without knowing for sure if they can get a flight.Most of the buyers are using these vouchers within a week or two to save money on high priced flights cross country.
Thanks for your help.
Last edited by Ben Dover; Aug 24, 2005 at 4:28 pm
Aug 24, 2005, 4:32 pm
#162
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Fort Dodge,Iowa
Programs: Pualani Platinum
Posts: 40
Originally Posted by onefreetraveler
I have been recently dealing with Ebay and their rejection of my SWA RR auctions. My first auction was removed as I tried to sell 2 RR vouchers. My next effort was to only sell 1 voucher and it too was cancelled within hours of closing. It appears that Ebay will only allow you to sell a SWA RR voucher if you become a "Square Trade Dealer" at a cost of $85 per year!! To me, it's a joke!!
It may be that SWA is cracking down, but Ebay wants $85 to allow you to sell your tickets.
The other issue involves Ebay's selective enforcement of these new rules. While they seem to have their eye on me, others are selling tickets successfully left and right.
It may be that SWA is cracking down, but Ebay wants $85 to allow you to sell your tickets.
The other issue involves Ebay's selective enforcement of these new rules. While they seem to have their eye on me, others are selling tickets successfully left and right.
ONCEfree......here's a hint.........one day auction.
You're welcome
Aug 24, 2005, 6:48 pm
#163
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: BUR/LAX
Programs: SPG Platinum,Hilton Diamond,Hyatt Diamond,WN Companion Pass, AA Plat, Hertz Plat
Posts: 226
Originally Posted by Ben Dover
ONCEfree......here's a hint.........one day auction.
You're welcome
You're welcome
I actually tried that this last weekend and guess who got suspended by Ebay??!!!
Thanks for the idea though.
Aug 24, 2005, 7:26 pm
#164
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Portland, Oregon
Programs: Hilton Platinum, Alaska MVP Gold
Posts: 2,363
Originally Posted by onefreetraveler
I have been recently dealing with Ebay and their rejection of my SWA RR auctions. My first auction was removed as I tried to sell 2 RR vouchers. My next effort was to only sell 1 voucher and it too was cancelled within hours of closing. It appears that Ebay will only allow you to sell a SWA RR voucher if you become a "Square Trade Dealer" at a cost of $85 per year!! To me, it's a joke!!
It may be that SWA is cracking down, but Ebay wants $85 to allow you to sell your tickets.
The other issue involves Ebay's selective enforcement of these new rules. While they seem to have their eye on me, others are selling tickets successfully left and right.
It may be that SWA is cracking down, but Ebay wants $85 to allow you to sell your tickets.
The other issue involves Ebay's selective enforcement of these new rules. While they seem to have their eye on me, others are selling tickets successfully left and right.
Aug 24, 2005, 7:41 pm
#165
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Fort Dodge,Iowa
Programs: Pualani Platinum
Posts: 40
Originally Posted by onefreetraveler
Hey Ben;
I actually tried that this last weekend and guess who got suspended by Ebay??!!!
Thanks for the idea though.
I actually tried that this last weekend and guess who got suspended by Ebay??!!!
Thanks for the idea though.
like I said.......I feel this new rule (limited seats for Rapid Rewards) is to thwart ebay sales.....you can't tell me different....
who really thinks they got enough complaints from Joeblow infrequent flyer that one year was not long enough to get 16 credits?
...please...People that really support this airline and have the SouthWest credit card have 16 credits within 4 months easily...
JMHO