I love credit cards so much!

[wendow]

Bought 2 $25 Disney GCs from BB hoping to get the RMN offer. I did not get an instant notification. All the offers that have worked for me have given an instant notification so I'm not optimistic but I think others have maybe had a different experience.

 

[amalone1013]

Bought 2 $25 Disney GCs from BB hoping to get the RMN offer. I did not get an instant notification. All the offers that have worked for me have given an instant notification so I'm not optimistic but I think others have maybe had a different experience.

What kind of instant notification do you get?

 

[wendow]

What kind of instant notification do you get?

I get both an email and a notification on my phone that I used the offer. I get it for activating also. With all my Walgreens, and my one Staples that worked, it popped up on my phone as I was walking out of the store.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

..I think your fine if it closed on the 17th...that was the close date right not the due date

yeah statement date. thx!

 

[platamama]

Another option for Costco if you are working on the Mastercard spend is to buy Costco gift cards online. (You can do that with Mastercard, but not with Amex). It would not be a huge savings but at least that way you are helping meet your spend.

That's what I did with my Staples MCGCs that I got 10% back on AMEX offers; I happily transfered those funds over to Costco cash cards effectively getting 10% off at Costco. I did have problems with the MCGC, not as much as @wendow, but it took a couple of phone calls so I guess I got lucky on that. The question is, do I feel lucky in doing it again?? (Staples has them now for no fee online, limit 3.)

Little bit of a funny story about those, DH went to Costco with two Costco cash cards, one with $100 (purchased with the Staples MC), and another with $43. The total came to just under $100 so DH thought it would be clever to use the $100 cash card -- leaving $.83 cents on it. So now I have two cash cards, one with less than a $1 on it. If it had been me, I'd have used up the $43 card and then paid the rest on the $100 card, so that I just have one cash card to keep track of. I'm going to make him carry the $.83 card around in his wallet.

Well thats better

https://onemileatatime.com/marriott-travel-packages-refunds/

That is really good news. They just needed to get enough backlash, I guess, to do the right thing. smh They took a gamble to be greedy and stick it to us at the risk of losing faith with their customers. Bad gamble, now the sour taste is left.

 

[SBWB48]

@Lain how hard is it to use the VGC's at Costco? Do you have to know the exact amount on the card for them to run it? For some reason, I have issues using Visa GC's. Not all the time but enough to where I shy away from buying them.

I'd also like to know this. Wouldn't mind it if I pick up a $100 one on my way there, but want to make sure I don't run into any other issues.

Super easy. Just slide the card, type in the PIN (usually the last 4-digits by default), and select no cash back (wouldn’t work anyway). Costco’s POS auto-drains the card. If your VGC balance is more than the total, it’ll process normally and close out the transaction. If there’s less than enough on the card, the POS will drain it to $0 and the register will give you a remaining balance, then just swipe another card.

I take advantage of those Safeway (Albertsons) deals on VGCs (currently $10 off 2x $50s and $15 off 2x $100s, until 8/25/18, which more than covers the activation fee), OD/OM/Staples deals, and will sometimes eat the $5.95 activation fee on a $500 VGC (1.19%) when I’m working on an MSR.

I would never use an Amex on which I’m working on MSR to buy prepaid cards at OD/OM/Staples (L3 data), but I have no problem buying VGCs (or MCGCs) at grocery stores (no L3 data) and having it count towards an Amex MSR.

Thank you! That does sound easy. Do the VGCs have any of the issues activating that the MCGCs have? I bought one from Staples and had to make 7-8 phone calls to get it working. Never doing that again!

I usually get the Metabank VGCs from the grocery store. If you're just swiping the VGCs in store, no issue at all. They're activated when you buy them and you use the last 4-digits as the default PIN. If you want to use them online, you'll need to go to the website to register them. I think you can also customize your PIN. The Vanilla VGCs from Walgreens work similarly. They're activated when you buy them. But I think you have to set your own PIN by typing in your pick of 4 digits when you first use them. You also need to register them if you want to use them online. I've never had problems using either Metabank or Vanilla VGCs online after registering them.

To echo @Lain and also having used both Metas and Vanilla VGCs regularly at Costco (just yesterday actually), it's incredibly easy. I actually don't even register my cards (either variety) and the Costco here (MD) doesn't prompt me for a PIN either (if it does, I usually just press enter and it will run as credit presumably). As @Lain mentioned, they auto-drain, which is lovely, since it's one place I can easily get rid of all the $0.XX leftovers from buying MOs. I think I finished off a stack of 5 $0.XX cards once (at the pharmacy or else others in the long normal checkout lines might not be happy with me lol.

And if you use them in store, the VGCs are wonderful, no activation required once purchased.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

Oh sorry! Missed that. Thought you were rolling dice on Staples online. Ok, I may roll dice with you

me too since I can use amex and still count towards my amex $30/300 offer and BB rewards.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

I feel like someone advised me on this but I can't find it...

For buying Disney GCs in store at Sam's with a Walmart GC, will I have trouble trying to use GCs earned from Swagbucks, Microsoft rewards, or shopkick?

I have used SB just fine.

 

[wendow]

me too since I can use amex and still count towards my amex $30/300 offer and BB rewards.

I’m still working on that Amex offer as well so not total loss if the RMN doesn’t work.

 

[wendow]

I feel like someone advised me on this but I can't find it...

For buying Disney GCs in store at Sam's with a Walmart GC, will I have trouble trying to use GCs earned from Swagbucks, Microsoft rewards, or shopkick?

Why not order online? They are slightly cheaper online and shipping is free. You can also try a RMN offer. The Sam’s offer worked for me with just GCs.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

Anyone on here from the TPA or JAX areas? I am considering flying into/out of these for our Dec cruise. Bad idea for any particular reason, aside from the drive? Specifically 12:30 flight out of TPA on debarkation day ok?

 

[disneedee]

Another DISchurners thread that will meet its "doom" in 3-4 weeks is the Guide to AMEX biz cards: https://www.reddit.com/r/DISchurners/comments/81j5pt/american_express_quick_guide_to_business_cards/

I'm not going to reactivate that one as there was no discussion on it. I think MANY of us here are now well aware of the advantages of AMEX biz cards (especially when you're under 5/24). We can all share that advice with newbies now as they progress in the game.

Please do reactivate it. it has great info and i've gone back to it a couple of times. it is also great info for newbies, and we always seem to have them joining this group!

 

[amalone1013]

Why not order online? They are slightly cheaper online and shipping is free. You can also try a RMN offer. The Sam’s offer worked for me with just GCs.

Only debating because Dosh is 20% back in store for Sam's dor the next few days. Max of $15 per day

 

[Lain]

Looks like I need to jump on the RMN train.

I just finished my 18th $50 BBY+SB run over the weekend. Finished off my 3x BBY Amex Offers, all 3x $30 statement credits posted, and showing 9,5xx SB in my account (1,000 SB from using VGCs from the 10% back Staples Amex Offer), and waiting on those 100 SBs to trickle in.

 

[amalone1013]

Looks like I need to jump on the RMN train.

I just finished my 18th $50 BBY+SB run over the weekend. Finished off my 3x BBY Amex Offers, all 3x $30 statement credits posted, and showing 9,5xx SB in my account (1,000 SB from using VGCs from the 10% back Staples Amex Offer), and waiting on those 100 SBs to trickle in.

Look at you go! I'm ashamed to say weve only stopped 4 times so far, using my card 4xs and DHS 3xs. Well be going everyday now minus when were gone labor day..

 

[amalone1013]

Have we figured out if there are retailmenot referrals?

 

[1st*toright]

To echo @Lain and also having used both Metas and Vanilla VGCs regularly at Costco (just yesterday actually), it's incredibly easy. I actually don't even register my cards (either variety) and the Costco here (MD) doesn't prompt me for a PIN either (if it does, I usually just press enter and it will run as credit presumably). As @Lain mentioned, they auto-drain, which is lovely, since it's one place I can easily get rid of all the $0.XX leftovers from buying MOs. I think I finished off a stack of 5 $0.XX cards once (at the pharmacy or else others in the long normal checkout lines might not be happy with me lol.

And if you use them in store, the VGCs are wonderful, no activation required once purchased.

I'm not big in the gift card game, but my supermarket had a deal for the specific type visa gift cards a few weeks go - I used the "fuel" gift card at the Costco gas pump with no issues - no pin, and my last fill up it drained the card, which had $5.87 or something left on it to zero, then I just did a second transaction to finish filling my car with another payment method. Worked well!

 

[speedyfishy]

They wouldn't lower credit limits?

No. I asked if I could use some from my CIP.

Ugh, that stinks! I was so rooting for you with this plan! I would think lowering in May would have done the trick.

I may need to lower it some more.

I'd move on from the CIC. For whatever reason their Biz side of the business seems to be done with you.

Before applying for CSP/CSR: FWIW I've seen reports Chase CLs top out at anywhere from 75k-95k no matter your income. If you're in that range of CL extended I'd drop more before trying CSP/CSR double dip.

I don’t have that much lol. I think it is time for me to move on tho but I’m struggling with that lol

I'm sorry to read about the denial. That's rough.

Is there any more CL from Chase that you can trim while still keeping enough to reallocate to open a CSR ($10k) or CSP ($5k)?

You won't be able to try for the CSR/CSP until next month. But if CLs are an issue, approval could be tough. You need a minimum CL of $10k to open a CSR. And if you're approved for the CSR, it's usually with a big CL, which might pose a problem for the CSP. So leave some CL on your other Chase cards to offer to reallocate. On the other hand, Chase personal apps more often than not get insta-approval, unlike Chase business apps.

You'll have to roll the dice on the Amex SPG cards. You may still be at 1/90, so you have to choose whether to apply for the SPG Lux or Personal. For the reasons I outlined above, you should go for the Lux or else you'll be shut out of the Lux on and after 8/26. You can go for the SPG personal later. Amex is pretty easy with their approvals, so if you go for the Lux you'll likely get approved. That'll take you to 5/24 in about ~2 months. So going for the SPG Lux forces you to go for the CSR+CSP. In those 2 months, you need to double dip the CSR+CSP or you'll be locked out until your next oldest card ages past of 24 months. But of course, at this point, you don't know if you'll be approved for the CSR and CSP.

Idk now if I should do the SPG. It seems to risky if I can’t get approved in a month. But I really wanted more free night certificates. Ugh, this is so hard. I really can’t just wait around for Chase tho, but I love URs.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

Only debating because Dosh is 20% back in store for Sam's dor the next few days. Max of $15 per day

Dosh is 20% but up to $15. You have to buy $150 worth of disney GC there...so it is really only 10% right...or am I confused?

ETA: Plus the 4% or whatever it is sams discount I suppose.

 

[amalone1013]

Dosh is 20% but up to $15. You have to buy $150 worth of disney GC there...so it is really only 10% right...or am I confused?

ETA: Plus the 4% or whatever it is sams discount I suppose.

I've got $90 in walmart gift cards to put towards them yeah otherwise not as exciting!