Post Your Wins

[DaveInPgh]

When we bought our refrigerator in 2015, I got $1,200 worth of Lowe's cards. I think I got them at 8% off that time which was a nice savings.

That is awesome. I am not sure what gift card sites existed (if any) when I bought my lawn tractor 12+ years ago, but I used eBay to purchase $1400 worth of gift cards at an average discount over 10%.

Like I mentioned previously, I got out of the habit of buying gift cards. And if I planned things out better, I would have purchased physical gift cards to Lowes in advance. I can get that 7.6% at multiple denominations if I want a physical card, but I am hoping to use the card this weekend. The purchase is still being processed. Keeping my fingers crossed I am able to use it this weekend.

[corn18]

I like getting these Lowes and Home Depot gift cards at 8% off and then using them with my military discount for another 10% off. That's a hefty savings each time I visit.

[FLA]

I like getting these Lowes and Home Depot gift cards at 8% off and then using them with my military discount for another 10% off. That's a hefty savings each time I visit.

do you use a website to buy them from at a lower price?

[disneysteve]

do you use a website to buy them from at a lower price?

giftcardgranny.com is the place to go.

[DaveInPgh]

do you use a website to buy them from at a lower price?

Déjà vu Steve?

[DaveInPgh]

In addition to the 7.6% discount on the Lowes E-card, I scored a 10% off coupon code online. That 10% code saved me another $20!

[DaveInPgh]

Although I am still mentally logging today's transaction as a win, I figured I would stop back and share the hassle that it caused me.

After using the 10% coupon code I found on the internet, my Lowes purchase was lowered to $200.07. I used the $200 gift card I found via giftcardgranny. For those of you that struggle with big $$$ math problems, that lowered my total to 7 cents. I was purchasing online so I couldn't dig in my pocket and hand over a bunch of pennies. So I used my Fidelity Rewards Visa.

That transaction is what caused my evening headache. I made that purchase prior to leaving work, and decided to hit the grocery store before going home. $38 grocery transaction: DECLINED! I swiped my debit card and logged on to Fidelity when I got home. When I clicked on my account, I got a message saying there were technical difficulties. Although it entered my mind that my constant use of this relatively new card may have set up their fraud alert system, I thought maybe they were just indeed having technical difficulties and that is why my transaction was declined.

Then I stumbled upon another Lowes gift card with a discount over 7%. I jumped all over it and it appeared the transaction went through at first. Until I got an email from SaveYa saying my transaction was cancelled. DAFUQ!!! I sent them an email asking why, but they said they could not tell me why for my protection and theirs.

I called Fidelity and my call was put through to the fraud department, which asked me to supply a ton of information along with a DNA sample. Ok, so the DNA request is fictional. I questioned the CSR as to why I did not receive some form of notification as to their concern, and she stated that they are not allowed to contact me regarding transactions on my account unless I provide authorization. I don't recall Chase asking for specific authorization for that, and they used to put a freeze on my account and request I call in at least once a year.

So, although it was still a win, today's deal was a bit of a PITA and it cost me scoring another discounted Lowes gift card.

And for those that made it through this long post...

[msomnipotent]

I had a good week. I have wanted to take my daughter to Fright Fest at Six Flags for a few years now, and I think she is finally old enough now to fully enjoy it. I checked their website to see how much tickets are, and they were having a sale. A 2017 gold season's pass, plus what is left of this year, was cheaper than a one day ticket at normal price. I also bought the premium food plan at a big discount. We decided to go this past Monday, so all this will more than pay for itself when we go to Fright Fest. The wheelchair I bought last Black Friday paid for itself with savings from not paying the wheelchair rental (this was the 4th time I used it).

Then, I called the vet to get my old cat's teeth cleaned and they were having a dental special. I saved $50, plus I didn't have to have the blood work done since she had her physical in July. That was another $100 or so in savings.

And then, I called Quaker because the 4 boxes of oatmeal I bought from Amazon were missing the expiration dates. I just wanted to let them know of the problem and to see if there was another way to figure out the date. I never asked for a refund, but the rep gave me coupons for 4 free boxes of oatmeal.

And then, I found an old Olive Garden discounted gift card while decluttering that still had $35 on it. I found a $5 coupon code if we ordered online. So I got dinner for 3 for about $11. Plus, OG gives you so much food that I had dinner, breakfast, and just finished lunch. Winner, winner! Olive Garden dinner!

And finally, I ordered 8 bottles of different shampoos from Ulta online. Not only did they forget my free samples, but it was packaged so poorly that 2 bottles opened and created a big mess. Again, I never asked for anything because I just wanted them to be aware that someone needs retraining, but she gave me a $10 gift card for my trouble. Combined with the 20% off sale, my coupon code, and the points I had in my account, I got a lot of shampoo for chump change. I'm saving the gc for Christmas.

While this isn't a financial win, I'm extremely happy that I finally got tickets to a Polar Express train! I have been trying to get my daughter on that train since she was 2, and she is now 11! We had to buy a hotel package that was a little spendy, but the good news is that is it during Thanksgiving. Now I don't have to cook for 25 people and I won't be able to waste money on Black Friday since the hotel is practically nowhere, so I might even be saving money this way. Plus, every single one of my extended family has a feud going on, so now I don't have to listen to the fighting.

Sorry for the book, but it is rare for me to have so many things go my way in a short amount of time.

[FLA]

msomnipotent, you scored really well! I always wanted to do the Polar Express train, too but it didn't start up here until my kids were older and they never wanted to go. I STILL want to do it, guess I wait for grandkids, lol

[DaveInPgh]

Today's win did not come without a few headaches. My issue with Fidelity continued into today, despite the fact that I was told the fraud issue was removed from my card.

Stopped at Wendy's for lunch, transaction declined. Called Fidelity and spoke with the fraud department, and was told once again that the fraud alert was removed from my card.

My DW tried to use the card to ship a package at the post office, transaction declined. I tried to purchase concrete at Lowes, transaction declined.

Called Fidelity again. Was told an override would be put on my card so their automated system gets a chance to learn my spending patterns.

This evening I try to purchase another Lowes card from SaveYa, transaction declined!!!

Called Fidelity AGAIN!!!! This time I was transferred to a supervisor that put a different type of override on my card, which he said he would keep in place for a few business days.

So that brings me to today's win. I made another attempt to buy the Lowes gift card from SaveYa while the Fraud supervisor was on the phone. It went through and he didn't see anything show up on his end. Hopefully this win will again be coupled with a Lowes 10% coupon code. But I need my gift card to be processed on SaveYa before I can give that a try.

[DaveInPgh]

The night turned out even better than I hoped. Instead of using a 10% coupon code for my $110 purchase, I found a $15 off $50 coupon code instead.

[FLA]

you are a very patient person! I would've had it with that Fidelity card.

[disneysteve]

you are a very patient person! I would've had it with that Fidelity card.

That's awful that they took that long to get it corrected. I'd be writing a very nasty letter to Fidelity complaining about the trouble they caused you.

[Like2Plan]

My recent win was from a credit card sign up incentive.
I signed up for a card that was supposed to give me $650 towards a new iPhone. The iPhone was purchased and spending requirements were met in Feb of this year.
It took several phone calls to customer service (and several months) before I received the credit, but it finally came through.

[DaveInPgh]

you are a very patient person! I would've had it with that Fidelity card.

Patience is definitely not my norm. The rewards card just happens to fit in well with my goal to invest more into my brokerage account. I like the feature of having my rewards automatically transferred into the S&P 500 index fund in my account.

If the problem resurfaces, then I am going to be forced to bench the card.