I love credit cards so much!

[tink1970]

SOME of these tales of people having issues converting at Target make me wonder...I'm sure some people had problems but it seems to me that some of these stories are just people trying to scare others off.

It's one thing to keep your secrets to yourself in this game but to lie to "protect things" drives me nuts. Maybe I'm just seeing a conspiracy that isn't really there but some of the stories are just fishy to me...

I'm sure some of those are duplicate stories from really pissed off people. Unfortunately some of them are also real so here's my thoughts on the matter (besides the caution I've preached for 2 weeks on the topic for those who've been on the gc thread and are sick of me at this point )

Honestly I appreciate @gottalovepluto's cautionary posts. At my local Target we have Seriously Overzealous Manager (aka must hide from her).

--two years ago during the $5 target gc if buying 2 DGC event, she limited purchases to $300 in DGC. "Corporate policy" she claimed. I dragged my girlfriends, mom, people off the street (jk) in to buy them with me, literally writing them checks in the parking lot. She would stare and give me the evil eye every time I walked in the store.

--then, with my stack of $5 target gc I went to the electronics counter where they said, "sorry we can't use gc for payment of other gift cards" resulting in a purchase of pink Beats I regifted to my niece a year later.

--this year I'd warned my DH about the possibility of her being difficult (I bought $300 and he bought $200) so we went in separate lanes and his clerk was having trouble so she was helping. As I slunk out to the parking lot, she was instructing the cashier "Only one per household," while asking DH if he was aware of the rule. Fortunately DH plays dumb well

So I think some managers have made a few of us super sensitive (I'm debating whether I'll even try to use mine for DGC or just keep them on hand for necessities) and we want others to know that YMMV. That's my .02 anyway.

 

[havaneselover]

CIP 100,000 point offer via BRM- I'm assuming it's her business though. Otherwise, a hotel credit card for her AND double dipping it for her spouse, idk which one since I haven't been to Europe but I know others here can help.

Thank you. I don't follow business cards but I did some research after reading this and sent her the information (and now I want a business. Seems like a no brainer to me. It gives them a lot more flexibility than a hotel card which I think they need as a family of five.

 

[amalone1013]

My restaurant charge finally posted which put me at $5016 for my Marriott card. Just SM'd chase that I met the target. The charge shows as the date my card was run, then says it posted on Dec 4th so I should be good.

 

[platamama]

CIP 100,000 point offer via BRM- I'm assuming it's her business though. Otherwise, a hotel credit card for her AND double dipping it for her spouse, idk which one since I haven't been to Europe but I know others here can help.

@havaneselover The nice thing about UR points is that she could at least use them as a statement credit to offset the hotel expenses. In Paris, rooms tend to be small and finding a chain hotel that can accommodate 5 is tricky. She would have more success by looking into Air BnB/VRBO type places. Food is expensive in Paris (everything is expensive in Paris) and restaurants spaces are cramped so staying somewhere with a kitchen when you have kids is really nice.

ETA: Does your friend have the CSR? It would make a lot of sense to put the travel expenses on that card to get 3x UR and separately meet the minimum spend for CIP for the signup bonus. If she doesn't, then she should get the CIP first and then get the CSR bc of 5/24. With kids in tow, the Priority Pass Lounge access would be great as well as the good trip interruption coverage on the CSR.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Thank you. I don't follow business cards but I did some research after reading this and sent her the information (and now I want a business. Seems like a no brainer to me. It gives them a lot more flexibility than a hotel card which I think they need as a family of five.

Get one! Sold a couple things on ebay this year and boom, business. At least Citi agreed when they issued me my first biz cc!

And absolutely look into the CSR! If she can handle the minimum spends having both will really help making her trip a little bit nicer- especially because she could get the CIP bonus and then transfer the points to her CSR and redeem them at the 1.5x instead of the 1.25x rates!

 

[gottalovepluto]

Panicked myself this morning when I looked at my calendar and thought I missed my amex delta bonus minimum spend deadline. Thought it was 3K in 2 months (it's 2k in 3 months) and I'd missed it by a week. After 30 mins of googling if amex has a grace period like Chase (they don't, clock starts at approval) I thought to check my master spreadsheet. Convinced as I was I'd wasted a once in a lifetime amex bonus on a $50 statement credit I came to find out I was perfectly fine, another 3 weeks left... The holidays aren't stressing me out, not at all

 

[amalone1013]

Already got a response for my extra 20k Marriott points. Now what to do with them?

 

[mefordis]

Does Amex Platinum still offer the perk of Hamilton tickets at face value? I want to get them for my in laws (and maybe for us) for their 50th wedding anniversary. Is there another way to score cheaper tickets?

 

[kmc8826]

http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2017/12/05/new-marriott-credit-card-agreement/

Looks like both AMEX and Chase will be offering a Marriott Card. I have the SPG Amex primarily for ability to transfer to Delta. Hoping Marriott Amex might have that as an option...will be interesting. New cards is always a good thing I think!

 

[havaneselover]

I know there are a lot of ebags lovers on this thread. It looks like CF, CFU, and CSP have a Chase pay offer for 2000 UR points with $20 ebags purchase.

 

[kmc8826]

Panicked myself this morning when I looked at my calendar and thought I missed my amex delta bonus minimum spend deadline. Thought it was 3K in 2 months (it's 2k in 3 months) and I'd missed it by a week. After 30 mins of googling if amex has a grace period like Chase (they don't, clock starts at approval) I thought to check my master spreadsheet. Convinced as I was I'd wasted a once in a lifetime amex bonus on a $50 statement credit I came to find out I was perfectly fine, another 3 weeks left... The holidays aren't stressing me out, not at all

I met the minimum spend on my Delta Platinum Business about a month ago. Still no bonus. There has been a lot of information lately about AMEX being slow on the bonuses. I figure I will pay the account off and then message them if still nothing. I am the same way...it is stressful. I was even thinking of getting the card back out and using it again just so they now it is being used and I am not manufactured spending or anything.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2017/12/05/new-marriott-credit-card-agreement/

Looks like both AMEX and Chase will be offering a Marriott Card. I have the SPG Amex primarily for ability to transfer to Delta. Hoping Marriott Amex might have that as an option...will be interesting. New cards is always a good thing I think!

This will be an interesting one to track...if AMEX has a new "Marriott" card come out and they plan to transition existing SPG cardholders into the new card, might make sense to proactively cancel so you can apply for the new card. Obviously a long way away but something to keep in mind...

 

[mfly]

I know there are a lot of ebags lovers on this thread. It looks like CF, CFU, and CSP have a Chase pay offer for 2000 UR points with $20 ebags purchase.

I just saw that too! I’m looking to venture into the realm of packing cubes. I’m overwhelmed by the options on ebags’ site. Anyone have recommendations?

 

[havaneselover]

I just saw that too! I’m looking to venture into the realm of packing cubes. I’m overwhelmed by the options on ebags’ site. Anyone have recommendations?

I really like the ebags ones. I have the slim and regular. Prefer the regular. I also have some of the ultralight but don't like those as well.

The value set is on sale with 25% off for $37.50. 10% back in UR plus another 2000 UR points. Practically free if you have CSR.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Everybody see this article? https://www.doctorofcredit.com/amex-clawing-back-signup-bonus-points-gamed-spend/

I trust DoC since he always seems to post reputable info. I'm really hoping this one is just blowing smoke though for those of us who aren't truly MSing to hit Min Spends... I'd be really frustrated if my Target Gift Cards, which I turned into Disney Gift Cards, to pay off my Disney trip didn't count as min. spend on my SPG card. I'd seriously flip out...I get that they're in control of what is "eligible spend" but to take this beyond the cash equivalent gift cards (VGC, etc.) to me is just wrong...

 

[peel]

I just saw that too! I’m looking to venture into the realm of packing cubes. I’m overwhelmed by the options on ebags’ site. Anyone have recommendations?

If I remember correctly, @calypso726 has a mild obsession with packing cubes.

 

[Albort]

This will be an interesting one to track...if AMEX has a new "Marriott" card come out and they plan to transition existing SPG cardholders into the new card, might make sense to proactively cancel so you can apply for the new card. Obviously a long way away but something to keep in mind...

i dont think it makes a huge difference here... not many MS here. haha.

 

[Lain]

Everybody see this article? https://www.doctorofcredit.com/amex-clawing-back-signup-bonus-points-gamed-spend/

I trust DoC since he always seems to post reputable info. I'm really hoping this one is just blowing smoke though for those of us who aren't truly MSing to hit Min Spends... I'd be really frustrated if my Target Gift Cards, which I turned into Disney Gift Cards, to pay off my Disney trip didn't count as min. spend on my SPG card. I'd seriously flip out...I get that they're in control of what is "eligible spend" but to take this beyond the cash equivalent gift cards (VGC, etc.) to me is just wrong...

Ha. I had to let that out because my SPG Biz 25k bonus has already posted but only because I had to buy and then return the iPhone X several times because every copy I received had some kind of defect in it. They’re counting all the spend, but haven’t factored in the refunds. I still have 2 months to hit the actual $6k spend to make up for all the refunds, and I plan to, but with RAT it’s made me a little nervous.

 

[Dugette]

I met the minimum spend on my Delta Platinum Business about a month ago. Still no bonus. There has been a lot of information lately about AMEX being slow on the bonuses. I figure I will pay the account off and then message them if still nothing. I am the same way...it is stressful. I was even thinking of getting the card back out and using it again just so they now it is being used and I am not manufactured spending or anything.

I just met mine the other day and already got the bonus!

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

i dont think it makes a huge difference here... not many MS here. haha.

Oh I was thinking more of them transitioning you to the new card thereby disallowing you to earn the signup bonus (since you're considered a cardholder already somehow).