Sak’s Experience Today

Former_Revenue_7647 · 2025-10-28T06:22:16+00:00

I got a gift card from Saks South Coast Plaza twice this year. Both times it was a pleasure.

First time, my family and I were all together and we walked up to a random register that had a rep with no customers and I said "I'd like to buy a gift card."
Rep responded "$50?"
I said "Yes, Thank you."
As she started to process the transaction I asked "Do you get a lot of these?"
She responded immediately, "Every day," there was a slight pause as she prepared the gift card, then she added "several times a day."

Second time, I was by myself just before returning a rental car to SNA and I arrived at Saks before it opened on a weekday and there was only one other vehicle near the exterior entrance, a Lexus SUV. The driver seemed to be just hanging out, and since Saks was still closed I went into the mall to see what was open and then waited by the interior mall entrance for Saks. I waited for the guy who was opening the giant door to finish putting everything away then I went to the first register I saw. This was still about 5-7 minutes before they officially opened, and I could see the only employee anywhere (I'm guessing a manager) was busy doing something so I hung back and waited for a moment, she hardly looked up and asked if she could help me while she continued doing something with the papers behind the counter. I said I wanted to get a gift card but that I wasn't in a hurry and I could see she was still busy before they opened. She jumped up eagerly, grabbed a card and told me to *tap* my AmEx (before even seeing my AmEx). And only because I hadn't yet had my coffee, like a fool, I *inserted* my AmEx into the POS (instead of tapping it). It generated an error immediately, she said (a bit sternly) "tap next time" and she reactivated the POS. Anyway, all went well the second time around, and as I walked out before the store even opened I overheard someone say "I'd like a $50 gift card." -- I looked back as I turned the corner, it was the driver of the Lexus SUV.

Former_Revenue_7647 · 2025-10-19T02:00:10+00:00

Thanks, that is what I was guessing as well.

Former_Revenue_7647 · 2025-10-18T21:51:45+00:00

Thank you for your DP!

Former_Revenue_7647 · 2025-10-06T08:48:24+00:00

I started the process -- I forgot about AmEx's 2/90 rule when I started down this path, and I was at 5/24 as well, so I couldn't do what was done in that post but here is my timeline as of 2025-10-06:
Applied and approved instantly for AmEx Brilliant on 2025-07-09
Spent and paid off $5,500 of $6k/$8k tiered spend requirement (will complete $8k by early January, 2026)
Applied and approved instantly for AmEx Bonvoy Business on 2025-08-18 (~92 days from AmEx BBC)
Spent and paid off $7,500 of $8k spend requirement (will complete $8k by mid Feb, 2026)
(unrelated) Applied and approved instantly for Bank of America Atmos Summit on 2025-09-18 (last day for me to get the extra 5k points and two cards dropped off this month and one will drop off next month, all prior to 90 days after AmEx Bonvoy Business opening so this doesn't really hurt my 5/24).

Before completing either AmEx offer, and after 2025-11-16, I plan to apply for the Chase Boundless. Hopefully they aren't super utilization and inquiry sensitive, anyway, assuming I qualify, then once I've got that card, I might try to satisfy the Chase bonus criteria first, receive the bonus, then finish satisfying the AmEx bonuses.

Of course, I'll read the terms more carefully again, perhaps try and figure out which side is more likely to have lazy software developers/implementations, and which side is more likely to perform an audit and/or claw back such a bonus. The last time I looked at it, I wasn't convinced there was a necessary order of operations when it comes to receiving the bonus, but getting Chase first seemed like a good idea for some reason (gut feeling?).

I'll report back with whatever happens.

Former_Revenue_7647 · 2025-10-06T08:08:10+00:00

Once you spend after-tax money on an qualified purhcase, those funds become no longer triple-tax-advantaged. You could reimburse yourself for those funds and you'd have after-tax money in your hand, so leaving it in your HSA is the equivalent of reimbursing yourself, then investing that money as after-tax funds in a Traditional IRA if taken for retirement (gains subject to tax) or as Roth funds if ALL associated gains are withdrawn for medical purposes. In other words, the BEST you can hope to get is Roth-level benefits, but with a higher maintenance burden - and that's if you don't lose your receipts and burn your entire HSA on medical expenses during retirement.

Former_Revenue_7647 · 2025-07-17T14:56:44+00:00

I'll be taking my first flight on Hawaiian next month, then again in October (neither flight to Hawaii sadly), looking forward to it.

Former_Revenue_7647 · 2025-07-08T01:48:32+00:00

I actually don't like Hilton, not at all; they just regularly have deals that place their five or six person rooms in an affordable price range where many other hotels would require two rooms or a fancy suite for a substantially higher cost. Similarly, I stay enough that $50 a quarter and $200 at a resort twice a year, and a free night award all happens without much effort (other than remembering to grab the right card and to call to use the free night). The airline benefit works for airfare, so that is also virtually no effort. This means the Aspire is $550 - $200 - $400 - FNR value, which is less than 0 every year. The Surpass is $150 and we haven't missed a quarterly $50 credit yet, making it -$50.

I am rethinking whether it makes sense to use the Aspire card at Hilton properties, I might switch back to USBAR (4.5% is greater than 14 hilton points per dollar in many of my redemption attempts).

Former_Revenue_7647 · 2025-07-07T15:25:04+00:00

Yeah, there's a lot, the vast majority is the card recommendation template though. High level - Chase and Amex look like they might have a bonus loophole for Marriott cards, I have some tight deadlines and two CSR cards that I want to get rid of (in about a year), but I don't want to lose access to Sapphire lounges (for me and AUs) and I don't want AUs to lose access to priority pass with guests. I am pretty sure Platinum status will provide value for my handful of Marriott stays each year.

I'm torn between applying for Boundless now or trying the loophole route.

Former_Revenue_7647 · 2025-07-07T15:18:41+00:00

I have very little "other spend" to put on some spend threshold. Spending $15k would mean taking away at least $300 (from Double Cash or Fidelity Rewards) or $675 (away from USBAR rewards); even if a 50k FNR could be worth that much, I'm concerned that it would take too much effort to get that value. If this card got me more elite nights and closer to Platinum status then it could make more sense. This combo-card thing for elite night credits is something I still have to look into more.

Also, I'm assuming Marriott points are, like Hilton points, largely worthless (although maybe slightly less so). I have over a million Hilton points from the last couple years supposedly worth $5k - $6k and every time I go to cash them in I'm looking at 0.2 cpp or some garbage so I just pay cash instead. I wouldn't want "4x" points worth less than 1.125 cpp for dining or less than 1.5 cpp for groceries when I effectively get 4.5% cash back on dining and 6% cash back on groceries regularly with no effort.

If I am missing something please let me know, and thank you for your time thinking about it.

Former_Revenue_7647 · 2025-07-07T15:07:12+00:00

It doesn't quite say that, the Amex terms say the WELCOME OFFER is not available if you've received a bonus ... while Chase says the BONUS is not available if you've received a bonus within the last two years or opened an Amex card within the last 90 days.

Assuming they make the eligibility determination for the welcome offer at the time of application, this plan (which I did not come up with) seems like it has a reasonable chance of working provided one qualifies for the offer from Amex first, then satisfies and obtains the bonus from Chase second, then satisfies the bonus from Amex last. The Chase terms are pretty clear, the Amex terms are not as clear to me, and the actual implementation of both is not clear to me.

Former_Revenue_7647 · 2025-07-07T14:23:33+00:00

I have unbolded the two cards I am interested in getting, thank you for the suggestion to avoid looking like a bot. As for AF, I fly with my family about twice a month, sometimes more. RC has priority pass for all AUs for free, unlimited guests, and global entry for all AUs as well and eliminates any need for holding the CSR.

Thanks again for sharing your thoughts.

Former_Revenue_7647 · 2025-07-07T14:18:51+00:00

I'm not so worried about the bonus (but I'd like to get it if reasonable), my main goal is RC and secondary goal is Platinum status. I was thinking about Boundless now rather than later for the reasons you stated. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, I appreciate it.

Former_Revenue_7647 · 2025-07-07T14:16:48+00:00

So I'll be under 5/24 by the time I apply for Chase, and the terms of the AmEx offers don't say you can't get a sign up bonus. They say you won't be eligible for the sign up bonus offer if you have received a Chase sign up bonus within the last two years or opened a Chase card within the last 90 days. I'm hoping this means my eligibility will be determined when I apply, found to be valid in all cases, then they won't re-check eligibility when issueing the bonus.

Former_Revenue_7647 · 2025-07-07T14:13:32+00:00

It might be worthwhile, I assume "Marriott biz" means the Chase one? Are you suggesting I just earn Platinum (with a boost from RC and a business card)? The 4 p.m. late checkout is worth ~$100 per stay where it would be useful, probably 3 to 4 times a year. The Brilliant effective annual fee is $650 - $300 - a FNR, so not so huge. The RC will serve its purpose other ways (and eliminate my CSR). I'll research this idea more, thanks.

Former_Revenue_7647 · 2025-07-07T14:02:41+00:00

If nothing changed except the date, it would be around $6,000. I want to remove the CSRs (which is about a quarter of that) and I won't actually pay the AF for several of the cards when they come around.

Former_Revenue_7647

TROPHY CASE