I love credit cards so much! v2.0 (see first page for add'l details)

[miztressuz]

After not having the Marriott AmEx offer trigger when we used it in July, not getting emails about 2 other offers on another card started me wondering if there was something wrong with my account all of a sudden. But after 10 days those offers credited, with no notice or anything. Still nothing for Marriott though. Hope this is a passing phase. I was one of the lucky ones that instant emails 99% of the time.

 

[amalone1013]

Phew, Amazon is sending a replacement out and I already see it in my orders. I was worried they would just want to refund and I would lose my MR deal.

 

[smmco]

The "Site who shall not be named" shared this earlier this week:

• 2-night/3-day stay starts at $3,300 for one person, or just over $1,000 per person, per day. Cabins do sleep up to five passengers, so there’s also the option of maxing out the cabin occupancy for a relatively cheaper price per person. A cabin with five passengers would cost $7,200, or roughly $1,440 per person

That is just steep (they stay 3 days but in today's presentation Disney was referring to it as 2 days, and based on check-in/check-out times I bet you it is < 48 hours)... I'm not sure how they're figuring the math but we're talking over $6k for a family of 4. It seems like there's a base charge for the room then a per person charge on top of that... They could be way off base with how it extrapolates, but regardless, it seems on the surface like a family of 4 won't be spending less than $5k to experience 2 days here and that's a tough pill to swallow...especially when I start to break it down by the hour and realize how much of that time might be spent eating, sleeping, showering and doing other basic necessity things . Our dream Disney World trip costs < 40% of that per day...

Yeah, but look how many MSR's you could meet by staying there.

 

[speedyfishy]

I think I found the pics of all the options. I am leaning towards an R2 unit with a translucent head

I didn’t research and spent so much time watching all the pieces go by on the belt. It must have taken me like 15 mins to pick. lol



This is what I built. SO says it’s ugly because it doesn’t match lol. He is going to get an R series at some point. That one can match lol

 

[Lain]

Roundup of current Visa and Mastercard Gift Card Deals:

Safeway/Vons/Randall’s/Albertsons/Tom Thumb/Acme/Jewel/Shaw’s is running a deal on Visa Gift Cards, now until 8/31/19.

• Save $10 on 2x $50 VGC ($4.95 activation fee/each, $0.10 savings)

• Save $15 on 2x $100 VGC ($5.95 activation fee/each, $3.10 savings)

Safeway/Vons/Randall’s/Albertsons/Tom Thumb/Acme/Jewel/Shaw’s is running the same Save $10/$15 deal on Mastercard Gift Cards, now until 9/7/19.

• Save $10 on 2x $50 MCGC ($4.95 activation fee/each, $0.10 savings)

• Save $15 on 2x $100 MCGC ($5.95 activation fee/each, $3.10 savings)

Safeway et al. tends to stock Metabank-issued MCGCs, which can be used on Plastiq as a debit with only a 1% fee.

Add the Just4U coupons on the Safeway app, or create an online account and add the offer there. Limit 1 per account.

Pay with a credit card that earns a high bonus at supermarkets, like the Amex Gold for 4x Membership Rewards Points, Amex Hilton Surpass for 6x Hilton Honors Points, or Amex Blue Cash Preferred for 6% cash back; another card that has supermarkets as its quarterly bonus category; or a card on which you're working on the MSR. Amex cards on which you're working towards MSR are generally fine to use for gift cards at grocery stores as long as you mix in some actual grocery items to give your purchase an odd number.

Office Depot/Office Max has a Save $15 deal on $300+ Visa Gift Cards, now until 8/31/19.

Limit 1 per customer, but YMMV when purchasing more.

OD/OM sells fixed denomination VGCs in $100 (with a $5.95 activation fee) and $200 (with a $6.95 activation fee). To maximize this deal, it’s best to buy 2x $200 VGCs, paying with a CIC for 5x UR at office supply stores.

$206.95 x 2 = $413.90 - $15 = $398.90 (a $1.10 discount off face value) x 5x UR = 1,994.5 UR

You won’t earn as many points buying $200 and $100 VGCs, and multiple $100 VGCs will increase your fees.

$105.95 + $206.95 = $312.90 - $15 = $297.90 (a $2.10 discount off face value) x 5x UR = 1,489.5 UR

$105.95 x 3 = $317.85 - $15 = $302.85. ($2.85 in fees) x 5x UR = 1,514.25 UR

Pay with a credit card that earns a high bonus at office supply stores, like the Chase Ink Cash or Ink+ for 5x Ultimate Rewards Points, or a card on which you're working on the MSR. DO NOT purchase gift and prepaid cards at office supply stores with an Amex while working on that card's MSR.

These $15 off deals are about as good as they get, so act fast or expect your store(s) to be picked clean within a day or two. (A few of my local Safeways have already been cleaned out of $100 VGCs, and the promo has another week left.)

Previously - whenever you buy gift cards, be vigilant that the gift card's packaging hasn't been compromised and made susceptible to being drained. @Lain shared some tips to avoid buying tampered gift cards.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/i...t-page-for-addl-details.3729982/post-60519331

 

[3 DD love princesses]

so checked the status line multiple times last night and this morning. hoping it gets updated to approved soon.

question about the 0% on the CIC is there a way to tell what the date the interest will start accruing? I'd rather float the balance for a couple weeks if I can but I don't want to pay the interest

 

[shairpdrh]

No CF? That is so arbitrary. I want to PC to a CF next month. Guess I will try HUCA?

Yeah, that is what I would have done, but getting my husband to call again (and believe he might get a different answer for the effort) was not worth it.

 

[amalone1013]

I didn’t research and spent so much time watching all the pieces go by on the belt. It must have taken me like 15 mins to pick. lol

I just want to make one, I don't really want to take it home I asked DH if when his brother goes, if I can go as the guest if he makes one lol

Roundup of current Visa and Mastercard Gift Card Deals:

Safeway/Vons/Randall’s/Albertsons/Tom Thumb/Acme/Jewel/Shaw’s is running a deal on Visa Gift Cards, now until 8/31/19.

• Save $10 on 2x $50 VGC ($4.95 activation fee/each, $0.10 savings)

• Save $15 on 2x $100 VGC ($5.95 activation fee/each, $3.10 savings)

Safeway/Vons/Randall’s/Albertsons/Tom Thumb/Acme/Jewel/Shaw’s is running the same Save $10/$15 deal on Mastercard Gift Cards, now until 9/7/19.

• Save $10 on 2x $50 MCGC ($4.95 activation fee/each, $0.10 savings)

• Save $15 on 2x $100 MCGC ($5.95 activation fee/each, $3.10 savings)

Safeway et al. tends to stock Metabank-issued MCGCs, which can be used on Plastiq as a debit with only a 1% fee.

Add the Just4U coupons on the Safeway app, or create an online account and add the offer there. Limit 1 per account.

Pay with a credit card that earns a high bonus at supermarkets, like the Amex Gold for 4x Membership Rewards Points, Amex Hilton Surpass for 6x Hilton Honors Points, or Amex Blue Cash Preferred for 6% cash back; another card that has supermarkets as its quarterly bonus category; or a card on which you're working on the MSR. Amex cards on which you're working towards MSR are generally fine to use for gift cards at grocery stores as long as you mix in some actual grocery items to give your purchase an odd number.

Office Depot/Office Max has a Save $15 deal on $300+ Visa Gift Cards, now until 8/31/19.

Limit 1 per customer, but YMMV when purchasing more.

OD/OM sells fixed denomination VGCs in $100 (with a $5.95 activation fee) and $200 (with a $6.95 activation fee). To maximize this deal, it’s best to buy 2x $200 VGCs, paying with a CIC for 5x UR at office supply stores.

$206.95 x 2 = $413.90 - $15 = $398.90 (a $1.10 discount off face value) x 5x UR = 1,994.5 UR

You won’t earn as many points buying $200 and $100 VGCs, and multiple $100 VGCs will increase your fees.

$105.95 + $206.95 = $312.90 - $15 = $297.90 (a $2.10 discount off face value) x 5x UR = 1,489.5 UR

$105.95 x 3 = $317.85 - $15 = $302.85. ($2.85 in fees) x 5x UR = 1,514.25 UR

Pay with a credit card that earns a high bonus at office supply stores, like the Chase Ink Cash or Ink+ for 5x Ultimate Rewards Points, or a card on which you're working on the MSR. DO NOT purchase gift and prepaid cards at office supply stores with an Amex while working on that card's MSR.

These $15 off deals are about as good as they get, so act fast or expect your store(s) to be picked clean within a day or two. (A few of my local Safeways have already been cleaned out of $100 VGCs, and the promo has another week left.)

Previously - whenever you buy gift cards, be vigilant that the gift card's packaging hasn't been compromised and made susceptible to being drained. @Lain shared some tips to avoid buying tampered gift cards.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/i...t-page-for-addl-details.3729982/post-60519331

Yay!! I was just making a list for this

 

[Tikitoi]

Amex, no. Basically everything else, yes.

Thanks. Wouldn't be Amex. I won't mess with the only no fee card I have from them. But may consider for my Cap1.

 

[Alexle2007]

So let's say we wanted to go away for Thanksgiving. With SW changing the schedule, I am thinking I book the cheapest flight and then adjust once they start doing the Cupid Shuffle. Thoughts?

 

[PolyRob]

I didn’t research and spent so much time watching all the pieces go by on the belt. It must have taken me like 15 mins to pick. lol

View attachment 429665

This is what I built. SO says it’s ugly because it doesn’t match lol. He is going to get an R series at some point. That one can match lol

Awe, I think it is cute! I was honestly thinking it would be neat to see an R2 unit with all different color pieces.

I am currently thinking about black and red or black and blue with the see-through head. I saw these pictures from Disney Food Blog with options:



http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2019/...-own-droid-in-disneys-star-wars-galaxys-edge/

 

[amalone1013]

I see OM/OD is doing the $300 VGCs and get $15 off this week. I have a conveniently located OD so I'll probably pick some up. Feels sacrilege, but I'll do it on my CIP since I'm woefully behind on MSR for it.

I'm tempted to get some even just to spend on whatever I can't use a Disney GC this weekend, or for Universal stuff later in September.. it's either CIP MSR or CIC...

 

[speedyfishy]

I just want to make one, I don't really want to take it home

It was my carryon item lol. I put it in the box in the overhead bin and it was fine lol. When I went through security the TSA agent looked in the box, but I didn't have to take it apart or anything.

 

[Judique]

Is there a trick to using IHG points? They're easy to earn since I can plastiq my mortgage. But, I can never find the room I need on points, it's always only cash. We have a tourney end of Nov and I'd really like to book a suite (2 bed + pullout), but I can only get 2 beds. Of 3 IHG hotels in the area, only that one room is what I'm seeing on points. I wanted to book through IHG rather than CSR.

It's always "reward nights not available for one or more of the selected dates".

This is a 'YMMV' and should be interpreted as such. If I have a need such as 5 in a room for an overnight, as opposed to a longer stay, I will make a comment such as '5 people and would like sofa sleeper and 2 queens'. The ihg card gives platinum status which doesn't count for much but like other hotels it's possible to get an upgrade, so you can ask for it. I used to stay IHG all the time while driving back and forth to Florida, and on some occasions we had 5 or we had people that didn't want to sleep together. We usually got what we wanted. The points themselves only buy standard rooms and once all the standards are gone they stop selling points rooms - my observation, not necessarily gospel, so if it doesn't say sold out, what's left should be upgraded rooms. So if they assign me an upgrade then they have another room that may actually be easier to sell.

A couple of years ago I switched pretty much to Country Inn and Suites because the Hi Ex's were running up there with the Hampton Inn's and trying to be $125-$150 a night - on the road, while I could get a Country Inn for $75 that had a better breakfast at the time (HiEX has improved a bit and both are ahead of Fairfield Inns in my opinion). So I rarely do HiEx any more plus I have a lot of Marriott points to burn and free is free.

So, it's not guaranteed but unless I put 1 as number of people, I'm almost always looking at 2 queens and a sofa bed.

The other option is book the room and call and ask and tell them what you need/want. If they say yes, you are good to go. If they say no at least you tried. And you can slip in I'm platinum but without being demanding.

 

[gottalovepluto]

HAHA I thought the same thing, but with MDE in general. Everything is so buggy, why link it to another interface?!

Because they never learn. Time after time...

 

[gottalovepluto]

I see OM/OD is doing the $300 VGCs and get $15 off this week. I have a conveniently located OD so I'll probably pick some up. Feels sacrilege, but I'll do it on my CIP since I'm woefully behind on MSR for it.

Can these VGCs be used on Plastiq? I don’t think so but thought I’d double check with the experts as it’s time to make my student loan payment...

 

[Judique]

I’d just say “You know what else ‘looks cool’?? Flying for free and taking awesome trips!!”

I'm wondering how many on here have (secretly and won't admit) already gotten the Apple card, the Starbucks card, the Amazon card, etc because it looked cool or worked at the moment. I'm always afraid when I buy on Amazon that I'll click yes by accident and end up with one.

 

[Judique]

People out there have definitely gone for CIP4.

At this point I don’t think there’s anything stopping people from getting more. The only consideration is could there be negative ramifications in the future when Chase finally shuts down the loophole.

I need everybody to stop until next year when my self and others (@calypso726 ?) can join and get our own cippy's. I am so afraid this will go away before I manage to get my 2 or 3.

 

[miztressuz]

so checked the status line multiple times last night and this morning. hoping it gets updated to approved soon.

question about the 0% on the CIC is there a way to tell what the date the interest will start accruing? I'd rather float the balance for a couple weeks if I can but I don't want to pay the interest

It'll tell you on the statement the date the rate expires, as long as you pay off the card before then you won't incur any interest. It also tells you the balance that would be subject to an interest charge at that point. I didn't really pay much attention to it until the last few months when it was a smaller number but for some reason it was always $100 higher than the statement balance. Not sure if that was just how they did their crazy balance calculations or that was accrued interest added. I paid the last statement balance well before the expiration date so I paid no interest at all, and since that was the plan I never bothered to figure it out.

 

[Alexle2007]

Can these VGCs be used on Plastiq? I don’t think so but thought I’d double check with the experts as it’s time to make my student loan payment...

I thought they could but would have 2.5% fee added that you would need to account for. People have been using the MCGC since they have been coding at 1%.