Comments on: Looking for Your Opinion – Making Money from Credit Card Offers

By: ASAP Credit Card

ASAP Credit Card — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 20:15:34 +0000

Take full advantage of credit card offers and credit card companies! Like you said, they’re more than willing to “stick it to you”. So… you shouldn’t feel guilty about taking advantage of the benefits they’re offering.

For the most part, credit card companies are aware of the loop-holes. But they know most people won’t take the time or effort to take advantage of them. So in the end… they win anyways(as usual)!

By: James

James — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 01:18:39 +0000

yeah, I wouldn’t even mess with the credit cards. It sounds like a lot of hassle for only a very small return. Your time might be better spent on a second job or something along those lines.

Best,

James

By: Golbguru

Golbguru — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 19:40:20 +0000

Like Flexo, I think it’s too much of a hassle for $100. On the ethical side, personally I wouldn’t do it, but I won’t have a strong opinion against anyone who does this (like ‘3 things about money’ says above)…everybody has a different yardstick to measure what is “ethical”. To each his/her own.

By: Matt

Matt — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 15:31:02 +0000

Personally I would have no problem keeping the gift card. CC companies have been using questionable tactics to make their money why not turn it around and make some money from them?

As Flexo said I’m sure the card companies have thought about this and I think they’re mitigating most of their losses by the fact that most people simply won’t bother returning anything, it’s too much effort for the money. The people who do do it are truly few and far between.

By: 3 things about money

3 things about money — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 12:54:13 +0000

Like Tricia, I have nothing against nor any judgement of people who go for this kind of deal but for these kinds of things I always ask myself 3 questions. Is it legal (yes), is it ethical (depends), is it worth my time (no)? My take on it is that it kinds of skims the edge of my ethics, counterbalanced by my extreme disbelief that a CC company has either the intent to do anything ethical, the corporate values to support ethical behavior, or the expectation of same from customers. Whenever I engage in “what’s good for the goose is good for gander” behavior though, I feel skeevy. Thankfully, I don’t have to worry about it too much because I hate malls with a passion and the idea of a mall card is like a passport to hell. So it isn’t worth it to me. YMMV.

By: Tricia

Tricia — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 12:18:49 +0000

Flexo – I don’t think Jonathan was the first one, and I should note that I don’t have anything against anyone who does it. With being burned by the credit cards a few times, I am hesitant to do anything with my cards except pay them off. I’m sure they probably are aware some people will do what Jonathan did, but I also wonder if somehow they will come back and say, “Wait a minute here…”

Kim and Hustlermoneyblog – the offer I saw was one certificate, but I have heard of others like you mentioned. It probably depends on what card you have.

By: Hustlermoneyblog.com

Hustlermoneyblog.com — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 04:03:09 +0000

not true Kim, the $100 free gas came in one certificate. you get to keep the $100 even after you cancel.

By: kim

kim — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 02:22:53 +0000

don’t bother with those 30 day free offers. The $100 in free gas in broken up into 4 – $25.00 coupons. They are dated i.e. JAN 07 – MARCH 07
APRIL 07- JUNE 07
AND SO ON
I believe that if you cancel before 30 days to avoid being charged for their service, then the coupons become void.

By: Flexo

Flexo — Mon, 27 Nov 2006 23:31:07 +0000

For me, I think it’s too much work for the gift card. I don’t really think of it as an ethical question at all. The CC companies take into account this will happen occasionally. They pay for smart lawyers to think of these things ahead of time, and there’s no reason to assume that Jonathan was the first person to think of this scheme; again, CC companies pay for the smart lawyers. If the lawyers aren’t concerned (that is, if it’s not against the terms of service), then the CC companies must asume that a small percentage of people will do this and have figured it into their offering.