Karnidge 2 Posted July 4, 2013 Share Posted July 4, 2013 Just a heads up to other people who like me until today might have ignored 'points' and stuff on Visa or other credit cards. I just phoned up and claimed 8000 yen worth of Amazon gift cards through points I had got over the last year or however long. Feel a bit Worth a shufty. Link to post Share on other sites
Chriselle 158 Posted July 4, 2013 Share Posted July 4, 2013 I get about 20,000 yen in visa point. I convert the points to gift cards since most places take them in Japan. Link to post Share on other sites
snowdude 44 Posted July 4, 2013 Share Posted July 4, 2013 I always convert my visa points into gift vouchers. Last year I ended up with 33000 yens worth of vouchers some of which I used for a hotel. I actually use my visa quite a lot on purpose just to build up points. I have a lot of bills such as my phone, gas, etc charged to my credit card. Serves two purposes, easy to pay everything in one go and builds up points even if I dont use the card. Of course if you dont pay everything off in one go then there is no point because you would pay interest fees. I always pay my card off the following month in full without fail. Gaining these points reaally is worth it as it is a genuine gift for using their card, and if like me you pay it all off in full each month then you win and the card company looses out. I think in many cases people don't pay off their cards in full each time so they make money from them. In my case they don't make any money from me, but I make money from them. I guess I am both a very good and very bad customer as I always pay everything back each month without fail, which they like as it is easy and no hassle having to chase up the money, but at the same time not a good customer because they do not make a penny from me! It is a win win situation for me! So I happily use my card even though I have the cash! Link to post Share on other sites
Chriselle 158 Posted July 4, 2013 Share Posted July 4, 2013 That's pretty much our case Snowdude. If I use cash where I could have used my card my wife gives me grief. Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted July 4, 2013 Share Posted July 4, 2013 same here. Some points converted to FF points (just booked the cub to Japan for the season on points - thank you Qantas) Will have a gander at rewards in case there are any good value items that will make perfect Christmas Gifts, the rest in gift cards. Christmas shopping for extended family is often 80% done on reward point gift cards. Link to post Share on other sites
Slippery Jim 65 Posted July 4, 2013 Share Posted July 4, 2013 Wife and I did a biz-class visit to two US destinations on cc points a few years back, and will probably be doing another next year. A tip for those who buy JR East commuter passes: you can tack on a Y10K cash reload of your Suica card each time you renew your pass if you use cc at the machine. every little bit helps! Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted July 4, 2013 Share Posted July 4, 2013 Yep, these days you're missing out if you don't pay your leccy bill and whatnot by credit card. We do it with ANA and JAL cards for airmiles. You don't need that many to start redeeming them on domestic flights. I don't suppose I need to promote Hokkaido on a ski forum but Okinawa is well nice too. Link to post Share on other sites
JA2340 16 Posted July 4, 2013 Share Posted July 4, 2013 My VISA has a "retirement" for points - If they aren't used they die. So ... I have to make sure I get in there and use them before that happens - bad enough having to pay for t he "loyalty" program, without losing the bloody points! Link to post Share on other sites
hellyer 216 Posted July 4, 2013 Share Posted July 4, 2013 We did out recent Samoa trip on Visa and Amex points, P aying all business expenses racks up the points pretty quickly. Have an auto direct debit arrangement at the end of each billing cycle so I never get interest charges. Link to post Share on other sites
Slippery Jim 65 Posted July 4, 2013 Share Posted July 4, 2013 Right, the key is pay it off fully every month so you're never paying interest. I'd like to work out a way to pay my Amex bill with my Visa card, double-dip! Link to post Share on other sites
Hokkaidough 4 Posted July 4, 2013 Share Posted July 4, 2013 Good idea that to pay bills on cc. Will have to look into changing that. Link to post Share on other sites
Thundercat 60 Posted July 5, 2013 Share Posted July 5, 2013 Interesting. My points get converted into cash and deposited into my bank account directly each year. Link to post Share on other sites
hellyer 216 Posted July 5, 2013 Share Posted July 5, 2013 how you do dat? Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted July 5, 2013 Share Posted July 5, 2013 I convert to gift card things. It's best to time it though because if you have a certain amount you get much more. For example: 350 points = 1000 yen gift card 1000 points = 4000 yen gift card Link to post Share on other sites
Thundercat 60 Posted July 5, 2013 Share Posted July 5, 2013 how you do dat? I don't know. Seems it was an option when I got the card. Link to post Share on other sites
seemore 66 Posted July 7, 2013 Share Posted July 7, 2013 Same I get mine paid out everymonth and put everything on it. Just cashed in for $800 of Myer Gift Cards which we do every year roughly Link to post Share on other sites
Chriselle 158 Posted July 7, 2013 Share Posted July 7, 2013 $800..? Wow...that's good. I thought we were doing pretty good at getting around $250-$300. Link to post Share on other sites
sunrise 0 Posted July 8, 2013 Share Posted July 8, 2013 Wow, I wonder if I have some points I don't know about on my DC JAL card, or maybe just miles... (which have served me well). Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts