Update: Please see this post for an update on Macys’ official policy and tips to avoid violating it.
Since the Office Depot/Vanilla Reload/Bluebird deal has more or less died for many of us, there has been a scramble to find the next big thing. I’m happy to report I’ve found a way to earn 2-6 points per $1 AND get your money back.
In high school I worked at my local Macy’s department store and there were a few things I learned about Macy’s policies that had slipped my mind until recently, when I had a giftcard and couldn’t find anything to spend it on.
I remembered that Macy’s lets you “credit” gift cards to your Macy’s credit card. It was drilled into our heads that “this does not count as a payment – it’s just a credit to your account!” Once the gift card is applied (assuming you have a zero balance), you can call up Macy’s credit card customer service and request a refund check.
What does this have to do with points and miles?
Right after that little conundrum was solved, it hit me that this could be a lucrative way to earn free points and miles. Here’s how its done:
1. Get a Macy’s credit card. Either in store or online. If you have a family member or trustworthy friend with a Macy’s card, you can just use theirs.
2. Buy Macy’s giftcards at any office supply store, grocery store, or drugstore. This will earn you 2-6 points per $1, depending on which card you use.
Drugstores
Hilton HHonors American Express                        6 points per $1
Citi Hilton HHonors Visa Signature Card                  3 points per $1
Groceries
American Express Premier Rewards Gold                2 points per $1
Hilton HHonors American Express                      6 points per $1
Citi Hilton HHonors Visa Signature Card                3 points per $1
Office Supply Stores
Citi American Airlines AAdvantage Business Card       2 points per $1
Chase Ink Classic                                    5 points per $1
                                       5 points per $1
Chase Ink Plus                                       5 points per $1
3. Â Head to your local Macy’s store and ask the cashier to “credit” the gift card to your Macy’s credit card. This was very common when I worked there, though I wasn’t trained on how to process this transaction until a customer inquired about it. If you run into a clueless cashier, ask him/her to call a manager and explain that other stores do in fact allow this.
4. Request a check. Once your return posts, call the Macy’s customer service credit line and request a check for the remaining balance.
5. Pay off your balance. Use the funds from the check to pay off your credit card and enjoy the free miles you earned!
Double dip:
- Buy a Macy’s giftcard from a bonus category retailer.
- Use the giftcard to purchase something online via a shopping portal.
- Return the item in store, ask for the refund to be credited to your Macy’s credit card.
- Request a refund check and use it to pay off your card.
Alternative:Â Instead of buying a giftcard, you could also do the following:
- Buy something through a shopping portal that also earns you 2-6 points per $1.
- Return the item in store and ask for the return to be credited to your Macy’s credit card.
- Call Macy’s credit card services and request a refund check.
- Pay off the original credit card.
I don’t know if you’ll lose out on your portal point this way, but it’s worth trying if you don’t have one of the above mentioned credit cards.
As usual, I highly recommend you do this in moderation. I’m sure Macy’s will put a stop to it, if it happens frequently. Also, I would test this with a small giftcard (i.e. $25) first.
Disclosure: I do not earn a referral for any of the credit card links in this post.
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