Question
Since I cant find a thread for this so I thought to start one as I have a question.
Please post Questions, promos, bonus etc for shopping via the TYN here.
Im trying to shop via TYN on drugstore.com but the link is down (every other link works.... anyone with same prob?
on with CS and they cant figure out why... drugstore.com on its own works just fine
ETA: CS says they also see the link down on their end and have "escalated" a claim to the IT dept to figure out why... ill wait and see.
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This is a very good idea! Good job.
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I'm curious about the shopping portal.
Parts of it seem very primative.
I get a "page with error" message with the little yellow triange in bottom left of frame when using Internet Explorer.
This does not instill a lot of confidence.
The best value I see is OVERSTOCK.com at 7 points per dollar
I'm curious if others find their promised points post like clockwork,or that you have to chase Citi or somewhere in between.
A question I had was with Drugstore.com and other Beauty would we "double dip " 3 select points or 2 select for PP elite cards and these 'shop with us ; bonus points.
This portal seems to be operated by a third party vendor without a lot of info available on them.
WWW.Vesdia.com (http://www.Vesdia.com)
I have heard Chairman CSR say/ admit that there are a lot of problems with the portal/Vendor
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Im trying to shop via TYN on drugstore.com but the link is down (every other link works....
ETA: CS says they also see the link down on their end and have "escalated" a claim to the IT dept to figure out why... ill wait and see.
well not every other link.
SEVERAL do not work!
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I have the Chairman Card and have bought a few items via links on the TYN "online shopping" site. I find it almost impossible to track whether or not I receive the points. It seems they show up not on my online statement (Citi or TYN) but on my printed Citi bill if I subtract the earned points from the Transferred points. The difference seems to be those bonus points from shopping via the site. This seems a poor way to track them. I also have no idea how long it should take to show up. Am I missing a better way to track these?
Thanks!
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The lack of tracking is a very annoying "feature." On the old site (last September or so before they made things this integrated with ThankYouNetwork.com), there used to be a page on the ThankYouMerchants.com page where you could view account activity. IIRC, you could see points post, but not necessarily where they were coming from. Then once a month you would see the accumulated points transfer to the credit card account.
I think that's gone now. Supposedly points now post directly to the TYN account, and not to the credit card. I haven't used it recently so can't comment on that.
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how do we know without doing a full ‘audit’ with a calculator and phoning chairman each statement that our points are posting???? My question applies to FLIGHT points as much as shopping points. While I have my chairman card for less time than you, I have yet to see a SINGLE flight point post and I am using the Chairman card for all legitimate revenue tickets for me and family members. This 4 to 6 weeks after your itinerary commences language is quite vague, depending on statement cut off date, This can be 1 ,2, or even 3 statements after the statement in which flight was charged.
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I am seeing Flight Points on the statement after the period during which the first flight on the intinerary occurred. For example Flight Points for an itinerary shown to begin on November 7, 2006 posted on the statement which closed January 9, 2007.
The key is the departure date which appears on the credit card statement when the transaction is billed. In this instance 11.7.2006 is actually incorrect, the flights will be in April. I have another ticket where the transaction shows the flight date as 00/00/00, and it will be interesting to see if the Flight Points ever post.
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I am seeing Flight Points on the statement after the period during which the first flight on the intinerary occurred. For example Flight Points for an itinerary shown to begin on November 7, 2006 posted on the statement which closed January 9, 2007.
So I assume your statement closed on NOV 9 as well.
So am I correct that it will be the third statement after the first designated departure date???
Finally do the points post individually for each Itn, Or is it an aggregate monthly total.
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Do these post on the SAME statement that the charge is made?
This is definately a quirky program, I'd think that they would want to show you the accural so as to encourage the economic behavior that they are trying to influence,
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pls don't flame me for this question.
I think its valid.
ALL TY points members are eligable for shopping on the portal.
Presumably, even a non citi card holder who had a checking account with Citi and thus a TY acct # can earn bonus points for 'shopping with us'.
But, in addition, certain citi card holders get SELECT points for certain merchant catogories.
One example.
Chairman 3 pts per $ for drugstores
Premier Pass Elite 2 pts per $ for drugstores
need this be a B&M drugstore?
If I shopped from Drugstore.com using the AA.com portal would I get SELECT points from an internet retailer???
If so , would I get 3 select and 6 bonus if I use TY shopping portal.
Now Amazon is a much better shopping experience and top quality site as well as better prices.
BUT;) I'm a pointswhore.:D So for 9 bonus points , I'd use Drugstore.com via ty portal if prices were only a little more than Amazon.
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writetorich,
With regards to specialty merchants like drugstore.com or others within the promotional bonus category you will essentially be able to double dip. What I mean by this is that if your card offers 3X points for drugstores and the merchant is coded properly by mastercard/visa/amex then you would receive the 3X points for making a purchase at a drugstore along with the 6X points for making a purchase through the thankyou network at drugstore.com.
With regards to drugstore.com, sometimes you earn the 3X points and sometimes you do not. I have been shopping with them for several years and initially in 2004-2005 they were classified as a drugstore. Then they changed to general internet store in 2006. Around october of this year using my AT&T Universal Rewards card from Citibank I once again received my 5X thankyou points for purchases at drugstores with them along with the 6 or 7 thankyou points for using the thankyou network shopping portal. So with regards to drugstore.com the situation is fluid.
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writetorich,
flight points post directly on your Chairman or PP/E statement, and are itemized at the bottom of your statement. They take anywhere from 1-2 statements to show up, but I've only ever had 1 flight not post automatically, and that was part of a vacation package. It'll even list your 'banked' flight points that haven't been transferred due to lack of available matching spend/bonus/select points, if that will allay any of your concerns.
The TY Network is a very poorly managed part of the entire program. As others have pointed out, there is no easy way to track your purchases, and I have never found my bonus points posted anywhere. We used perhaps 5 different TY retailers during the holidays, and I have no idea whether I ever got those points, where they might have showed up, etc. I can tell you they did NOT get posted directly to my TY Network account; nor to my Citibank account. Possibly they're buried in the PPE card account that I used to make the purchases, but I haven't bothered to look. Also, that would not be consistent with their stated policy that these types of points don't require a Citi card to participate. My guess is the points haven't posted at all. This is a minor feature of the program, to me, accounting for no more than 500-1000 'missing' points in the last 12 months, and it's not worth it to me to track. I don't shop/spend much online anyway.
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For example Flight Points for an itinerary shown to begin on November 7, 2006 posted on the statement which closed January 9, 2007. So I assume your statement closed on NOV 9 as well.
So am I correct that it will be the third statement after the first designated departure date???
No, the charge appeared on the December statement, and the Flight Points appeared on the January statement. Perhaps not the best example because of the error in reporting the travel date.
Another example: two tickets billed on 10.10.2006 statement with depature date 10.26.2006. Flight points posted on 12.8.2006 statement. Flight points are earned based on travel date, not billing date, and post one cycle after the period in which travel begins.
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i was away for a couple of days and mrs psyflyer (who has been dutyfully instructed to buy stuff via the TYN) told me she had to do some shopping away from TYN as some of the stores she was looking to buy from the links didnt work... (again). For example the petco or petsmart... :td:
Is this TYN shopping portal reliable at all in terms of actually BE a portal in your experiences? Or has your experience been hit or miss?
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writetorich,
With regards to drugstore.com, sometimes you earn the 3X points and sometimes you do not. I have been shopping with them for several years and initially in 2004-2005 they were classified as a drugstore. Then they changed to general internet store in 2006. Around october of this year using my AT&T Universal Rewards card from Citibank I once again received my 5X thankyou points for purchases at drugstores with them along with the 6 or 7 thankyou points for using the thankyou network shopping portal. So with regards to drugstore.com the situation is fluid.
I tried, as an experment, to order via BEAUTY.COM the drug store items.
It's a sister site, more 'upscale' I saw 7 points , not 6 per $. But from your thoughtful detailed reply, I get the intuative impression that BEAUTY.COM is more likely to be a select cat. merchant.
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Well, according to this thread:
http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/arcmessageview.php?catid=52&threadid=668915
It stikes me as a crediable thread because its about a very specific aspect of TY program.
Read for yourself and decide.
I have no way of knowing that its accurate.
I am of the strong opinion that the discussion of the issue is intelligent and knowledgable. But it can be that and still be inaccurate.
Joe 1690 , a poster on Fatwallet says "But more importantly it appears that points won't post directly to your credit card statement so you won't get the matching flight points with your premier pass, premier pass elite, or chairman card. "
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Well, according to this thread:
http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/arcmessageview.php?catid=52&threadid=668915
It stikes me as a crediable thread because its about a very specific aspect of TY program.
Read for yourself and decide.
I have no way of knowing that its accurate.
I am of the strong opinion that the discussion of the issue is intelligent and knowledgable. But it can be that and still be inaccurate.
Joe 1690 , a poster on Fatwallet says "But more importantly it appears that points won't post directly to your credit card statement so you won't get the matching flight points with your premier pass, premier pass elite, or chairman card. "
well this is an intersting development... can anyone confirm other than the credibility of FT?
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well this is an intersting development... can anyone confirm other than the credibility of FT?
I have gotten merchant bonus points (in store - tracked by using my linked Citi PPE card) that posted directly to my TY account. You have to click the "detailed statement" (or something similar) link to see them - I only noticed because my points changed when no statement was due to post.
This would indicate that they won't match to flight points anymore (since flight points are tracked by Citi, not TY).
jon
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well this is an intersting development... can anyone confirm other than the credibility of FT?
Well I won't be the "tester' any longer.
Given the poor web site interface and the lack of matching flight points ,
TY shopping Portal is not the way to go. Its a poor value.
Case in point, yesterday, I spent about $200 at Saks.com
I kept getting 'page done with errors', on a little yellow triange on bottom left of screen using internet explorer 7 as my browser.
this along with it not being itemized on my Chairman statement does not instill a lot of confidence.
I had thought that I was getting 3 ty pts per $ and 3 flight points released for an effective 6 ty pts per $.
Now it appears that I get get 3ty per $ at most and perhaps none.
AA.com shopping portal offered 2 AA miles Per $$.
With e mail confirmation and itemization of miles actually being credited.
3 ty Vs 2 AA- No brainer.
I'll go elsewhere in future.
Another Flyertalker , I think Beckles (???) was gracious enough to share this really good resource. I find it helpful.
http://www.evreward.com/
Basicaly it allows you to do a 'competitive analysis ' of vaious affinity programs shopping portals in a moment without driving yourself crazy.
something good that I learned is that HOTEL programs have portals also. (I use to think only in terms of either AA miles or Fat wallet rebate
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Talked to my Chairman CSR today...TYP shopping points will show up 2-3 statements after purchase and will fall under the category of "Bonus Points" on your credit card statement..
So, this means that if you earn 5pts per $ spent, you will actually earn 10pts per $ spent !!!!
See..."writetorich" if you would call the CSR and talk to them nicely and ask a question, they will usually give you the answer...
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Talked to my Chairman CSR today...TYP shopping points will show up 2-3 statements after purchase and will fall under the category of "Bonus Points" on your credit card statement..
So, this means that if you earn 5pts per $ spent, you will actually earn 10pts per $ spent !!!!
See..."writetorich" if you would call the CSR and talk to them nicely and ask a question, they will usually give you the answer...
Great to hear. You didn't happen to ask them how the points would be posted if you used a non-TY network card to make the purchases did you?
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Great to hear. You didn't happen to ask them how the points would be posted if you used a non-TY network card to make the purchases did you?
For online merchants, it has never mattered which card was actually used to make the purchase. If you went through a TY Merchants link and paid with an Amex or a Chase card, you'd still get the bonus TY points. The points historically would post to the "primary" credit card account (basically your first TY-earning card). Regardless of what anaggie's CSR says, it is unclear whether that is still the case. I'm surprised there isn't an FTer who hasn't had direct experience since the changeover in October.
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Regardless of what anaggie's CSR says, it is unclear whether that is still the case.
no offense to Anaggie , but he did not really address the changeover or the comments in the fat wallet thread. He's more a 'rah rah Chairman is great' kind of poster. c'mon my Texan friend we want substance not corp. cover and cheerleading
I'm surprised there isn't an FTer who hasn't had direct experience since the changeover in October.
well when u have the type of consumers that we are and we can't decipher the statements or make heads or tails out of it then that speaks volumes.
I need to know that shopping portal points will offset or set free flight points??
Where do flight points wait while they are pending release????:eek:
Citi purgatory??
This is getting very existential like waiting for Godot.
waiting for ty points to post
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Another Flyertalker , I think Beckles (???) was gracious enough to share this really good resource. I find it helpful.
http://www.evreward.com/
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^ ^ ^ Thanks Rich.
I still think that TYN points for shopping are still valuable given the double dipping feature AND the fact that essentially they are purchase points/TYN points...
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^ ^ ^ Thanks Rich.
I still think that TYN points for shopping are still valuable given the double dipping feature AND the fact that essentially they are purchase points/TYN points...
well, what do you mean by 'Double dipping'.
"AND the fact that essentially they are purchase points/TYN points.'
Well are we completely discounting the Fat wallet thread discussion?
IMHO, the fact that you can earn points now using a non citi card and have them post directly to TY acct. does kind of support the logic that they are no longer 'doubled' by flight points.
Afterall Banking points post directly to your TY acct.
And no one , not even self proclaimed 'ypoung pup' Citi P.R. guru Anaggie, will contend that Banking points offset flight points.
This is no small issue.
If true, it is a defacto 50 % devaluation to the shopping portal program!
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well, what do you mean by 'Double dipping'.
"AND the fact that essentially they are purchase points/TYN points.'
Well are we completely discounting the Fat wallet thread discussion?
IMHO, the fact that you can earn points now using a non citi card and have them post directly to TY acct. does kind of support the logic that they are no longer 'doubled' by flight points.
Afterall Banking points post directly to your TY acct.
And no one , not even self proclaimed 'ypoung pup' Citi P.R. guru Anaggie, will contend that Banking points offset flight points.
This is no small issue.
If true, it is a defacto 50 % devaluation to the shopping portal program!
True this is no small issue but i also think that its not a deal breaker imho. Given the flight points i will accumulate and the purchase pts associated with my spending i see the bonus points as gravy. (sorry to have been vague...)
essentially illidude showed his statement and it showed bonus points as combinable iirc. Ill just wait and see how my statement shakes out.
My Bottomline: 1 Bonus Point has more value than 1 airline mile.
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Talked to my Chairman CSR today...TYP shopping points will show up 2-3 statements after purchase and will fall under the category of "Bonus Points" on your credit card statement..
So, this means that if you earn 5pts per $ spent, you will actually earn 10pts per $ spent !!!!
See..."writetorich" if you would call the CSR and talk to them nicely and ask a question, they will usually give you the answer...
well 'your' CSR gave you the answer you wanted to hear.
perhaps because you browbeat and badgered her/him for your desired answer.
you ':rolleyes: young pups' have all the energy.
?
But was it the accurate Answer?
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showpost.php?p=7174503&postcount=9
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Being only 1 month into my PP Elite card and trying to weave the best way to maximize points, I have a question which perhaps some seasoned TYN shoppers might help with:
What do you buy most from the TYN Shopping portal and why?
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With regards to drugstore.com, sometimes you earn the 3X points and sometimes you do not.
Made three purchases from drugstore.com in Februray 2007, all posted as Pharmacy category and earned Select Spend points ^ .
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I made a couple of purchases thru TYN during Thanksgiving. The charges I believe appeared on my PPE on either Nov or Dec statement. I still did not receive any TY points as of Mar statement. Can anyone who received TY points from shopping tell when exactly did you receive the TY points after purchases had been made?
PS: I just received 1000 TY points from Google Chkout on this statement for purchases made during thanksgiving though.
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IME things post within a few months or they won't post automatically. I don't have any experience with the new system though. I'd contact them and see what they say.
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Update: TY points were posted on 3/19/2007 for my purchases made between 11/22-11/29/2006. I confirmed that TY points posted on my TY network acc directly but not my PPE acc, so no double points.
I made a couple of purchases thru TYN during Thanksgiving. The charges I believe appeared on my PPE on either Nov or Dec statement. I still did not receive any TY points as of Mar statement.
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I noticed today that my TY account increased in points without a statement transfer. I've been shopping a lot on eBay through the TY portal in the last 2 weeks, so thought it was those points. However, I posted 222 points for a Gap purchase made in November/December instead. Points did not come through my PPE statement, but rather came directly to the TY account. I guess this leads me to believe that portal shopping bonus points will not add to my PPE purchase points (except the actual purchase IF Citi card was used), but will only add to my TY total. Not to mention, that's 3-4 statements for points to post. I will keep using it for stuff I'd already buy, but I won't go out of my way to buy through a TYN retailer.
By the way, anyone who's a big eBay user, like me, it's 100 points per purchase/transaction. So, small purchases can bring in big points if you're shopping there already. I haven't figured out if the 100 points is per item, per payment, or what. But for little stuff I'd buy anyway, it'll add up.
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I just had all my TY shopping portal points post and this is how it looks:
03/19/2007 Base Points Points for Shopping -1-800-FLOWERS.COM 03/19/2007 1,290
03/19/2007 Base Points Points for Shopping -CIRCUIT CITY 03/19/2007 82
03/19/2007 Base Points Points for Shopping -COOKING.COM 03/19/2007 445
03/19/2007 Base Points Points for Shopping -DICK'S SPORTING GOODS 03/19/2007 216
03/19/2007 Base Points Points for Shopping -OFFICE DEPOT 03/19/2007 60
03/19/2007 Base Points Points for Shopping -OMAHA STEAKS 03/19/2007 344
03/19/2007 Base Points Points for Shopping -TARGET.COM 03/19/2007 1,002
03/19/2007 Base Points Points for Shopping -WINE.COM 03/19/2007 216
They do not post to your credit card account but instead directly to your TY acct....
This should answer all questions about how the TY portal posts the bonus points...
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I just had all my TY shopping portal points post and this is how it looks:
They do not post to your credit card account but instead directly to your TY acct....
This should answer all questions about how the TY portal posts the bonus points...
So a defacto 50% shopping portal program devaluation as shopping portal thank you points no longer "free up" or "release" or "offset" flight points.
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So a defacto 50% shopping portal program devaluation as shopping portal thank you points no longer "free up" or "release" or "offset" flight points.
not really...how do you figure 50%....considering that I did approx 100k in charges last year....and the above ty points are like maybe $300-500 in charges....
you are just looking to put the typ program down since it beats the s**t out of the MR program....just admit that it is a good program and that you will eventually bow down....:D :D :D
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I just had all my TY shopping portal points post and this is how it looks:
03/19/2007 Base Points Points for Shopping -1-800-FLOWERS.COM 03/19/2007 1,290
03/19/2007 Base Points Points for Shopping -CIRCUIT CITY 03/19/2007 82
03/19/2007 Base Points Points for Shopping -COOKING.COM 03/19/2007 445
03/19/2007 Base Points Points for Shopping -DICK'S SPORTING GOODS 03/19/2007 216
03/19/2007 Base Points Points for Shopping -OFFICE DEPOT 03/19/2007 60
03/19/2007 Base Points Points for Shopping -OMAHA STEAKS 03/19/2007 344
03/19/2007 Base Points Points for Shopping -TARGET.COM 03/19/2007 1,002
03/19/2007 Base Points Points for Shopping -WINE.COM 03/19/2007 216
They do not post to your credit card account but instead directly to your TY acct....
This should answer all questions about how the TY portal posts the bonus points...
crap. That means I never got credited for my TY portal purchases :mad: I used both my CC linked to TY network and other CC. The website says that I dont necessarily have to use a "sponser CC" so I didnt think it would be a problem. But I didnt even get credit for the sponser CC...:mad:
EDIT: Oops, I take it back. I checked my TYN acct and I just got credited today =D Man it takes FOREVER!! I just got credited for purchases I made for Xmas gifts... we're talking atleast 12-16 weeks!!
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I just had all my TY shopping portal points post and this is how it looks:
03/19/2007 Base Points Points for Shopping -1-800-FLOWERS.COM 03/19/2007 1,290
03/19/2007 Base Points Points for Shopping -CIRCUIT CITY 03/19/2007 82
03/19/2007 Base Points Points for Shopping -COOKING.COM 03/19/2007 445
03/19/2007 Base Points Points for Shopping -DICK'S SPORTING GOODS 03/19/2007 216
03/19/2007 Base Points Points for Shopping -OFFICE DEPOT 03/19/2007 60
03/19/2007 Base Points Points for Shopping -OMAHA STEAKS 03/19/2007 344
03/19/2007 Base Points Points for Shopping -TARGET.COM 03/19/2007 1,002
03/19/2007 Base Points Points for Shopping -WINE.COM 03/19/2007 216
They do not post to your credit card account but instead directly to your TY acct....
This should answer all questions about how the TY portal posts the bonus points...
apologies for the dumbness of the question but after logging in to your TYN account how do you get into the particulars of activity in your account? When i click on view account it asks me for a date range... what do you select?
Kind of bummer that it takes so long to post the select spend, but as long as they post im fine....
writetorich, why do you dog this program so much?? id like to get your perspective. the FACT IS: that if your strategy is to redeem F/J long-haul award tickets this program is #1 hands down... no discussion there.
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apologies for the dumbness of the question but after logging in to your TYN account how do you get into the particulars of activity in your account? When i click on view account it asks me for a date range... what do you select?
Kind of bummer that it takes so long to post the select spend, but as long as they post im fine....
writetorich, why do you dog this program so much?? id like to get your perspective. the FACT IS: that if your strategy is to redeem F/J long-haul award tickets this program is #1 hands down... no discussion there.
there is a option for 90 days or current statement view.... it is right below the date option...
writetorich dogs this program because of a hidden jealousy that he has....all these yrs he has been screwed by the mile programs and especially by the MR program which has continually "enhanced" benefits for their cardholders...:D :D :D :D
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EDIT: Oops, I take it back. I checked my TYN acct and I just got credited today =D Man it takes FOREVER!! I just got credited for purchases I made for Xmas gifts... we're talking atleast 12-16 weeks!!
I got credited on 3/27 for a purchase made on 12/21. Disapointingly slow:td: I wish TYN had a way to see pending points (e.g. like Fatwallet)
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Slow, but they do disclose that it will take "45 to 90" days.
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They're pushing it, even for 90 days. I had some spends in late November and early December: Points just posted 3-19-07.
Plus, until last week they had a 100 point eBay bonus, 100 points per eBay purchase. Then it disappeared, now it's a whopping 1 point per dollar spent. Dang, you wouldn't believe how many things I could buy, that I actually needed, for a few bucks off eBay at 100 points a pop.