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Chargesmart.com

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jenn_bar
Frequent Contributor

Re: Chargesmart.com


@enharu wrote:
Well you can use your CSP as well. If I'm not wrong, I think you break even using a 1% card for GC purchases. UR points are worth more than 1ccp though if you use it the right way.

It really depends. Some people think it's not worth the risk of getting AA if you are just breaking even. Personally I find it too troublesome for what it's worth, but if you can spare the time and effort go for it.

AA?

 

I believe that I can use the BCP at a grocery store for four months, getting 3 $500 gift cards. This results in $360 back and $71 in activation fees. For next month, I can use my Freedom card at Kohls (or gas stations if they have cards) and get 5% back for one month (up to $1,500). After that I can use my BCP for four months at a department store and get 3% for buying the gift cards there. Then process all through Blue Bird.

Message 31 of 54
enharu
Super Contributor

Re: Chargesmart.com

The 5% for freedom and discover applies mostly at pumps only. I forgot which card was it but one specifically mentions at the pump only. The convenience store inside the gas station are sometimes coded as a grocery or convenience or a store of some sort, so it does not fall under the 5% gas station category.

If you are already spending 500 a month on groceries, don't bother using bcp for gift cards. You will reach the cap anyhow without having to pay any activation fee. Use another card instead.

AA = adverse actions. Banks sometimes take adverse action, such as closing account(s) and/or blacklisting the customer, if they feel you have abused the card rewards program.

1-2 thousand worth of GC each month should be fine in most cases, but it also depends on how much you are using on those cards. If those GC purchases make up for the bulk of your charges, then the chances of you running into issues with the banks are higher. Theres no clear definition of how much in GC/VR purchases is considered as abuse as well, so its kinda a YMMV situation depending on your profile and also luck.
JPMorgan Palladium (100k), AmEx Platinum (NPSL), AmEx SPG (46k), AmEx BCP (42k), Chase Sapphire Preferred (47k), Citi Prestige (31k), Citi Thank You Preferred (27k), Citi Executive AAdvantage (25k), JPMorgan Ritz-Carlton (21k), Merrill+ (15k), US Bank Cash+ (22.5k), Wells Fargo (12k), Bloomingdale’s (12.4k), Chase Freedom (5k), Discover IT (5k).
Message 32 of 54
longtimelurker
Epic Contributor

Re: Chargesmart.com

AA = Adverse Action, your lender closing your card or reducing limits etc.   At the rate you are thinking about, this is a very unlikely event.

 

But, per Enharu's point, remember the value of your time!  You are trying to avoid only  $20 a month, so it only makes sense if there is very little extra time and/or driving spent

Message 33 of 54
jenn_bar
Frequent Contributor

Re: Chargesmart.com


@longtimelurker wrote:

AA = Adverse Action, your lender closing your card or reducing limits etc.   At the rate you are thinking about, this is a very unlikely event.

 

But, per Enharu's point, remember the value of your time!  You are trying to avoid only  $20 a month, so it only makes sense if there is very little extra time and/or driving spent


We figured out the numbers and it goes like this:

 

For four months out of the year we use BCP at a grocery store maxing out $6,000 just with gift cards at 3%. Ending up with a net of $289.00.

For one month this year I buy gift cards at Kohls on Freedom maxing out $1500 just with gift card. Ending up with a net of $57.

For four months out of the year I buy gift cards at Kohls on BCP maxing out $6,000 with gift cards at 3%. Ending up with a net of $109.

 

At the end of that I would have purchased $13.5k in gift cards, paid nine months of rent at $12,060 ($1340/month), and therefore end up with $1,440 unspent, which will take on another month of rent, equally 10 months. The additional $39 will be grocery store purchases, etc.

 

For the last two months we will pay the $20 convience fee to our CSP. Subtracting $40 from our net of $455 to $415.

 

I am afraid of getting AA'd then. This seems perfectly legal though.

Message 34 of 54
jenn_bar
Frequent Contributor

Re: Chargesmart.com

No worries about the time! Smiley Happy I spend most of my weeks in the grocery store when I'm not working because I don't eat out! This would not be much time at all. Wal Mart is within 5 minutes of my work.
Message 35 of 54
jenn_bar
Frequent Contributor

Re: Chargesmart.com


@enharu wrote:
The 5% for freedom and discover applies mostly at pumps only. I forgot which card was it but one specifically mentions at the pump only. The convenience store inside the gas station are sometimes coded as a grocery or convenience or a store of some sort, so it does not fall under the 5% gas station category.

If you are already spending 500 a month on groceries, don't bother using bcp for gift cards. You will reach the cap anyhow without having to pay any activation fee. Use another card instead.

AA = adverse actions. Banks sometimes take adverse action, such as closing account(s) and/or blacklisting the customer, if they feel you have abused the card rewards program.

1-2 thousand worth of GC each month should be fine in most cases, but it also depends on how much you are using on those cards. If those GC purchases make up for the bulk of your charges, then the chances of you running into issues with the banks are higher. Theres no clear definition of how much in GC/VR purchases is considered as abuse as well, so its kinda a YMMV situation depending on your profile and also luck.

I would be losing money if I used my CSP with only 1:! points. Same with the Freedom. My only other card is the Hyatt, which I don't think that is worth it unless I found a way to spend ~$5k more in order to make $20k/year and get stays towards platinum (whatever that means).

Message 36 of 54
parakleet
Valued Contributor

Re: Chargesmart.com


@jenn_bar wrote:

@enharu wrote:
The 5% for freedom and discover applies mostly at pumps only. I forgot which card was it but one specifically mentions at the pump only. The convenience store inside the gas station are sometimes coded as a grocery or convenience or a store of some sort, so it does not fall under the 5% gas station category.

If you are already spending 500 a month on groceries, don't bother using bcp for gift cards. You will reach the cap anyhow without having to pay any activation fee. Use another card instead.

AA = adverse actions. Banks sometimes take adverse action, such as closing account(s) and/or blacklisting the customer, if they feel you have abused the card rewards program.

1-2 thousand worth of GC each month should be fine in most cases, but it also depends on how much you are using on those cards. If those GC purchases make up for the bulk of your charges, then the chances of you running into issues with the banks are higher. Theres no clear definition of how much in GC/VR purchases is considered as abuse as well, so its kinda a YMMV situation depending on your profile and also luck.

I would be losing money if I used my CSP with only 1:! points. Same with the Freedom. My only other card is the Hyatt, which I don't think that is worth it unless I found a way to spend ~$5k more in order to make $20k/year and get stays towards platinum (whatever that means).


I don't htink you got enharu's point. 


Gardening since 7/16/14
Current: EQ 711 7/13/14; EX 724 TU 721 6/19/14
Goal: 760+
Message 37 of 54
jenn_bar
Frequent Contributor

Re: Chargesmart.com


@parakleet wrote:

@jenn_bar wrote:

@enharu wrote:
The 5% for freedom and discover applies mostly at pumps only. I forgot which card was it but one specifically mentions at the pump only. The convenience store inside the gas station are sometimes coded as a grocery or convenience or a store of some sort, so it does not fall under the 5% gas station category.

If you are already spending 500 a month on groceries, don't bother using bcp for gift cards. You will reach the cap anyhow without having to pay any activation fee. Use another card instead.

AA = adverse actions. Banks sometimes take adverse action, such as closing account(s) and/or blacklisting the customer, if they feel you have abused the card rewards program.

1-2 thousand worth of GC each month should be fine in most cases, but it also depends on how much you are using on those cards. If those GC purchases make up for the bulk of your charges, then the chances of you running into issues with the banks are higher. Theres no clear definition of how much in GC/VR purchases is considered as abuse as well, so its kinda a YMMV situation depending on your profile and also luck.

I would be losing money if I used my CSP with only 1:! points. Same with the Freedom. My only other card is the Hyatt, which I don't think that is worth it unless I found a way to spend ~$5k more in order to make $20k/year and get stays towards platinum (whatever that means).


I don't htink you got enharu's point. 


Maybe not? I just would be then paying $240/year in convience charges if I used another card/did it another way. This way I am eliminating the convience charge and getting rewards in the process.

Message 38 of 54
Open123
Super Contributor

Re: Chargesmart.com


@jenn_bar wrote:

I am afraid of getting AA'd then. This seems perfectly legal though.


For what you're doing, don't fret over AA.  

 

At the amounts you're utilizing, all things being equal, no issuer is going to care or inquire.  You're buying gift cards to pay rent to avoid paying the service fees while earning some rewards from your cards.  Perfectly legal, legitimate and completely above board.

 

I'll only add another option.  Remember the Amex Hilton?  There's a no fee version with 50k sign-up bonus which ears 5X at supermarkets.  You can use this when you've hit the $6k limit on your BCE or BCP.  

 

Just for paying rent, you'll get a free night at any Hilton per year.

 

PS - I think Enharu's point is that with the right card, you can increase your rate of return on spending.

Message 39 of 54
rkinnahan
New Contributor

Re: Chargesmart.com


@jenn_bar wrote:
Did any of you happen to see that Chase is waiving the $5 shipping fee for their gift cards online right now because they're not available at branches?

Could i use these with bluebird?

HOWEVER I wouldn't get 6% so scrap that.

Where can you buy visa reloads on the chase website?

Chase Sapphire Preferred $12k | Chase Freedom $7k | Chase United MileagePlus Explorer $15k | Chase Hyatt Visa $11.8k | Chase Amazon Visa $3k | Citi TY Premier $8.5k | Amex SPG $13.5k | Amex HHonors $5k | Discover IT $9k | BofA Cash Rewards $6k | BofA BB Rewards $2.7k | Banana Republic Visa $3k
Message 40 of 54
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