Topic Wiki

https://www.dansdeals.com/more/dans-commentary/dark-side-earning-credit-card-points-psa-dont-swipe-others/

https://www.mixcloud.com/zev-brenner/talkline-with-zev-brenner-on-credit-card-scams-affecting-the-orthodox-jewish-community/

http://podcast.headlinesbook.com/e/31616-credit-card-miles-and-points-swiping-for-rewards-buying-and-selling-miles-is-it-assur-and-a-chillul-hashem-or-a-great-way-for-a-side-parnassah/



BEFORE SWIPING FOR SOMEONE READ THIS: (first hand story)

https://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=36812.msg2062371#msg2062371
https://www.dansdeals.com/more/dans-commentary/dark-side-earning-credit-card-points-psa-dont-swipe-others/#comment-1399884


Dan's warning to DDF:
I hope people realize that any buying group or anyone else that gets merchandise in advance of payment can go south at any time. That's even if you get a check at the time of delivery.
X-posting as I don't want anyone to say that I never put a warning here.

A story that ended up in court - https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/nyscef/DocumentList?docketId=iRcRHuyZUdOIx69D00a5XQ==&display=all&courtType=Kings%20County%20Supreme%20Court&resultsPageNum=1


I am one of the biggest buyers for buying groups, I have done millions in transactions and have sent to every group there is over the past 3 years. Most buying groups are okay, some scan in slower than others, some pay slower than others - most will lose a few packages over the year. You can research and find which are better for you.

However there is a bigger problem now with Amazon itself.  Amazon in the past has been great with any problems always ready with a refund for lost packages even if it was thousands of dollars. Lately Amazon has clamped down and has tagged these buying groups addresses  in their systems as "freight forwarder" and now no longer will fix any problem you have whatsoever. Doesn't matter what the problem is, even if it shows the package was never delivered, amazon will not help you in any way. Their copy and paste response will always be "this item was sent to a freight forwarder and we're unable to replace or refund the item. We recommend contacting your freight forwarder for more details, as we don't have any more insight or information regarding this matter, For more information about sending items via freight forwarders, please visit our Help Pages: https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=201117950." As well the amazon drivers either must know this or have been increasingly bad at delivering packages because the numbers of packages missing has gone up astronomically. Previously you would have very few packages missing, now the past 3 months I have had 59 "lost" packages. I now have over $15,000 of loses and some guy in Delaware is probably living the life with all the stuff he stole from me. I will survive, I have made a lot more than $15,000 over the years however just a warning to others here that things are not as they used to be and it really is no longer worth doing buring groups with all the loses piling up

« Last edited by Yo ssi on July 24, 2023, 06:47:26 PM »

Author Topic: PSA: Don't swipe recklessly for others  (Read 1572960 times)

Offline Euclid

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Re: Buying Group Tips, Tricks, & Discussion
« Reply #5700 on: December 02, 2024, 08:07:21 PM »
I have the same question.
Does USA buying group pay on time?
Is their delaware address marked as "Freight Forwarder"?
If so, how do you CYA for "lost" packages?
They revamped recently and now offer insurance

Offline Essen est zich

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Re: Buying Group Tips, Tricks, & Discussion
« Reply #5701 on: December 03, 2024, 09:51:16 AM »
I have mentioned this before.

Stay away from buyers for points. Payments are issued 2.5+ months after being requested.

They happen to have a lot more deals than the other groups but don't seem to be getting any better at payments.
Shloffen Shloft Zich

Offline Shmueli

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Re: Buying Group Tips, Tricks, & Discussion
« Reply #5702 on: December 03, 2024, 01:11:13 PM »
With proliferation of cheap amazon gift cards (you can get in high 80%s) has anyone else been tempted to use them with BGs? I've heard the stories that make it sound like I am playing with fire and I may lose my gc balance at any time, but I've been dabbling anyway
Stay FAAAAAAR away!

They can void all ur GCs at their whim. Happened to me.

At the very least, only upload what are about to use to your account. (meaning don't upload all the GCs at once, bec if they take one, they take em all).

See here, https://www.ecommercebytes.com/C/abblog/blog.pl?/pl/2023/5/1684012958.html or just google "amazon voided all my gift cards" and you will see...

Offline Shmueli

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Re: Buying Group Tips, Tricks, & Discussion
« Reply #5703 on: December 03, 2024, 01:13:09 PM »
Just curious if anyone else can confirm BFMR is paying out on time and has no other issues.
I recently was burned by a different group so I'm a little wary to go back in...
BFMR is the best in the biz.

Payout this year over black fri weekend was within 3/4 days. Typically it's same or next day.

Professional and honest, I use them exclusively (and I've tried plenty)

Offline AJK

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Re: Buying Group Tips, Tricks, & Discussion
« Reply #5704 on: December 03, 2024, 01:15:11 PM »
BFMR is the best in the biz.

Payout this year over black fri weekend was within 3/4 days. Typically it's same or next day.

Professional and honest, I use them exclusively (and I've tried plenty)

One would arguably have to be mentally unwell to use a buying group without insurance in this environment (and that's setting aside the concerning issue of being less than candid who owns them).
2015: 116K bkd | 1.6M brnd | F: OZ,NH,AA,EK | J: UA,CA,TK,DL,TN,AF,VA | LIH,NRT,ROR,PEK,CNS,BOB,MEL,TLV & Pacific Hopper

Offline shlomoandtam

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Re: PSA: Don't swipe recklessly for others
« Reply #5705 on: December 03, 2024, 02:07:22 PM »
after a lackluster 2 years, who are you kidding lol
if it is so bad why wouldn't BGs just start paying full price. i think a lot more people would do it for 5% than 2%
« Last Edit: December 03, 2024, 02:10:41 PM by shlomoandtam »

Offline Euclid

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Re: Buying Group Tips, Tricks, & Discussion
« Reply #5706 on: December 03, 2024, 02:27:53 PM »
MYS shut down?

Offline Redbull3

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Re: Buying Group Tips, Tricks, & Discussion
« Reply #5707 on: December 03, 2024, 02:33:06 PM »
One would arguably have to be mentally unwell to use a buying group without insurance in this environment (and that's setting aside the concerning issue of being less than candid who owns them).
What kind of insurance are you referring to?

Offline Melech

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Re: PSA: Don't swipe recklessly for others
« Reply #5708 on: December 03, 2024, 03:18:21 PM »
It’s definitely a valid point! For liquid funds, there are indeed better options out there, like money market accounts or CDs, to maximize returns. That said, when it comes to credit card spending, the opportunity cost is lower since it doesn’t tie up your cash directly.

You’re right that some groups rely heavily on delayed payouts because they lack sufficient working capital. However, there are a few well-funded groups, like BG, that strive to minimize payout delays and maintain a strong, reliable process.

oyoyoy this guy is just advertising for his own BG...

Offline PaternalPrince

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Re: Buying Group Tips, Tricks, & Discussion
« Reply #5709 on: December 03, 2024, 07:41:43 PM »
What kind of insurance are you referring to?
some buying groups cover the payout if the package gets lost, like mod and usa i think

Offline PaternalPrince

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Re: Buying Group Tips, Tricks, & Discussion
« Reply #5710 on: December 03, 2024, 07:43:57 PM »
One would arguably have to be mentally unwell to use a buying group without insurance in this environment (and that's setting aside the concerning issue of being less than candid who owns them).
every business comes with risks, it would only be unwell to take risks you can't afford to lose. There is a lot of money to be made using buying groups for the record

Offline PaternalPrince

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Re: Buying Group Tips, Tricks, & Discussion
« Reply #5711 on: December 03, 2024, 07:49:02 PM »
BFMR is the best in the biz.

Payout this year over black fri weekend was within 3/4 days. Typically it's same or next day.

Professional and honest, I use them exclusively (and I've tried plenty)
though they do not have a payout speed that can rival the time you mention I've had amazing experience using d&r and they typically offer higher payout, ninety percent of the Amazon deals on bfmr are below retail

Offline shlomoandtam

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Re: Buying Group Tips, Tricks, & Discussion
« Reply #5712 on: December 03, 2024, 10:26:59 PM »
One would arguably have to be mentally unwell to use a buying group without insurance in this environment (and that's setting aside the concerning issue of being less than candid who owns them).
Who owns them

Offline Redbull3

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Re: Buying Group Tips, Tricks, & Discussion
« Reply #5713 on: December 04, 2024, 10:29:24 AM »
some buying groups cover the payout if the package gets lost, like mod and usa i think
AFAIK, Some groups claim they will cover stuff when things get lost. Others say they will work with you as things happen but aren't willing to publicly guarantee anything. My take is... none of this is legally binding stuff, we're parsing through a bunch of hearsay.
Bottom line is reputation is key - the best way is for buyers to stick together and share data points and we can individually assess the risk. What have various groups done when things have gone awry? Which groups are showing signs of cash flow trouble? Incompetence? Malice? etc
some buying groups cover the payout if the package gets lost, like mod and usa i think
And fwiw, I think MOD (who I use and currently like) is one of the ones that don't guarantee anything for missing packages, BG (Mark) (which I also use and like) is one of the ones that does. But could be wrong.

Offline AsherO

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Re: PSA: Don't swipe recklessly for others
« Reply #5714 on: December 04, 2024, 11:29:51 AM »
What kind of insurance are you referring to?

Yeah, what kinda insurance company would cover you risking your money with shady companies?
DDF FFB (Forum From Birth)

Offline Euclid

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Re: PSA: Don't swipe recklessly for others
« Reply #5715 on: December 04, 2024, 11:49:37 AM »
AFAIK, Some groups claim they will cover stuff when things get lost. Others say they will work with you as things happen but aren't willing to publicly guarantee anything. My take is... none of this is legally binding stuff, we're parsing through a bunch of hearsay.
Bottom line is reputation is key - the best way is for buyers to stick together and share data points and we can individually assess the risk. What have various groups done when things have gone awry? Which groups are showing signs of cash flow trouble? Incompetence? Malice? etcAnd fwiw, I think MOD (who I use and currently like) is one of the ones that don't guarantee anything for missing packages, BG (Mark) (which I also use and like) is one of the ones that does. But could be wrong.
MOD has insurance

Offline Euclid

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PSA: Don't swipe recklessly for others
« Reply #5716 on: December 04, 2024, 11:50:23 AM »
MOD has insurance
Insurance in this game isn't legally binding, the term is just used for shorthand.


Then again nothing in the game is legally binding - you send them stuff blindly and hope they pay.

Offline etech0

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Re: PSA: Don't swipe recklessly for others
« Reply #5717 on: December 04, 2024, 11:51:42 AM »
Yeah, what kinda insurance company would cover you risking your money with shady companies?
Maybe that was the point
Workflowy. You won't know what you're missing until you try it.

Offline AJK

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Re: PSA: Don't swipe recklessly for others
« Reply #5718 on: December 04, 2024, 05:22:02 PM »
Insurance in this game isn't legally binding

Says who?
2015: 116K bkd | 1.6M brnd | F: OZ,NH,AA,EK | J: UA,CA,TK,DL,TN,AF,VA | LIH,NRT,ROR,PEK,CNS,BOB,MEL,TLV & Pacific Hopper

Offline zh cohen

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Re: PSA: Don't swipe recklessly for others
« Reply #5719 on: December 04, 2024, 05:52:29 PM »
Insurance in this game isn't legally binding, the term is just used for shorthand.

Is it legal to call something insurance without following all of the relevant regulations?