First of all, this is satire. If you don’t like you don’t have to read it so Buzz off! It has not been approved by any compliance department and so far we like it this way! I always welcome feedback, any feedback.
This is the action from blogs on Thursday September 19, 2014. See what I am going through for YOU? šĀ Regular TBB non angry post coming on Saturday and I think those are pretty good too. Trying to find a groove I can keep going…
This post is required reading to “get” TBB: The āTravelā Miles/Points Blogosphere Has Turned Into a Giant Credit Card Pumpization Scheme!
TBB Blog Mission: To Entertain. Educate. Inspire. In That Order
You can support TBB by clicking/forwarding any of our Referral Links and starting your online shopping at our Amazon affiliate link . Or click on the Amazon Banner on the right, thank YOU!
Transferable Points from Bank of America: The Weekly WishĀ –Ā The Points Guy Ā Ā [How come these weekly wishes always revolve around credit cards? We all know Bank of America credit cards are crap but the site still sells them! This was good for about ten cards to push. Which was way less than I originally thought! Am I losing my touch?]
How Rich Would I Need to Be to Buy First Class – Milevalue Ā [We are selling a lifestyle here folks. And we get paid by selling credit cards. Too bad we don’t link to the best credit card offers so you can fly First Class for free! Instead, we keep linking to the cards we are allowed to sell every freaking post we do: the Barclay Bank issued cards for US Airways and Arrival. This is how readers are treated like sheep. Eeeek]
An 18,000+ point Delta Mileage Run: The run to Sweden & embracing Delta coach travelĀ – Delta Points Ā [ Part 5 of 8. Finally gets to Sweden! Been here before of course. And Cayman Islands. And on and on about the trip, yawn. But don’t you worry reader. You can travel like this if you click on the Barclaycard Arrival card and the Flex cards so we can get paid. Three more for the end, can’t wait! You see what I am going through so YOU don’t have to! You’re welcome]
Credit Card to Use at Hyatt HotelsĀ –Ā Deals We LikeĀ Ā Ā [We only like deals that pay us so we adjust our content to fully reflect that at every chance we get. So, one of the few times we actually put some thought into a longer post…of course we are going to pick a topic that will allow us to pump a bunch of our affiliate credit cards. Because we deserve it. Or something like that]
Time to Register to Earn 5 Points Per Dollar at Amazon and More!Ā –Ā View from the Wing Ā [In the blogging world, these promos are like a layup to sell more credit cards. Been there, seen that numerous times.]
4xĀ Fuel Points On Gift Cards Back At Kroger! Save $1 Per Gallon On GasĀ –Ā Points, Miles & Credit CardsĀ Ā [Kroger “deal”. Please click on our three credit cards. Probably felt justified for writing more than the Coke Rewards post.]
26,250 Miles & $500 for Round-Trip Flight From Chicago to LondonĀ –Ā Million Mile Secrets Ā [Okay, we all know that this is a horrible deal, especially when you add the ridiculous surcharges. But noooooooo! This business will attempt to sell you about two dozen cards so you can get these miles so you can be mauled. This crap should make you not just angry, but livid! “Big Travel. Small Money” should be “Big Sucker. Small brain” for everyone who falls for this crap! Shameful. Barf. I need to get me some more buckets using my Amazon link lol.]
How To Maximize Current Club Carlson PromotionsĀ – The Credit Card Guy Inc. Ā [Headline should have ended with “…with the Club Carlson Credit Card”. I bet this would not be posted if it was not for the presence and dinero from the affiliate credit card link. What do YOU think?]
CitiĀ Launches New Expedia Credit CardsĀ – The Credit Card Guy Inc.Ā Ā Ā [What did you really expect to read? That “these credit cards suck so don’t get them!”. Of course not. So you get the “these cards are solid” blah blah blah and here is some more cards you can buy because we exist to sell credit cards!]
Farewell D. Walden: Chase Sapphire Has a New CustomerĀ –Ā Frugal Travel Guy Inc Ā Ā [This, even to the low quality standards this business exhibits, just outdoes itself. Never fails to exceed my non-existent expectations of this being a sorry excuse of operation to pump credit cards to its readers who obviously educating them is just not part of the agenda! The agenda is CREDIT CARD CONVERSIONS, NADA ELSE MATTERS! I told you guys yesterday they took a blog post off and now they had to make it up. So, here comes FTG Staff (dead giveaway of a major pump action ahead!)…What do they use as an excuse to go pumpy? The name in front of the Chase Sapphire card has changed! OMG, I kid you NOT! What the hell do you say to the ridiculousness of this post that then pumps out ELEVEN CREDIT CARDS! Of course nobody left a comment, that would be so so embarrassing! If you don’t get a little angry with this crap do you have a pulse? Or a brain?]
YummyĀ Delta Sky Club SnacksĀ – Points, Miles and Crappy SnacksĀ Ā [Wow, look….photos of crappy snacks in the Delta Sky Club]
DeltaĀ Sky Club Atlanta Shower Review Terminal EĀ –Ā Points, Miles and ShowersĀ Ā [Wow, look…photos of a shower in one Delta Sky Club]
Saw a picture of Delta Swag they gave away as a sponsor to all the Boarding Area bloggers at the Las Vegas BAcon 2014 conference. Out of all sponsors…Delta? WTF!!! Well, it is about the money I guess š
And never underestimate what this hobby has become and what it is all about:
Check out my updated blog lists: Blogs I Love, Blogs I Like, Blogs I Ignore
Please pass my blog link to your friends and family if you think they will enjoy it too.
TBB
travelbloggerbuzz@gmail.com
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Spencer F says
Correct formatting 1st!
TravelBloggerBuzz says
Had no doubt you will be Number 1 once again!
Shaun says
Second!
Next time give me a heads up before you post and I’ll use your amazon link š
TravelBloggerBuzz says
Sounds like a deal!
tv7 says
Third the best of all the rest!
TravelBloggerBuzz says
No doubt!
MilesMath says
Off the medal podium. FWIW one of my co-workers got a 50K US Airways sign up bonus offer in the mail yesterday with no min spend. Highest I’ve seen.
TravelBloggerBuzz says
Wow, looks like Barclays is turning it up try to get some to hold its card!
TWA44 says
“Big Travel. Small Money” should be “Big Sucker. Small brain” – this made me laugh!
But Holy Moses, Buzz, do you know there is an ad along the right side of the screen (immediately below the Amazon link) to six different types of credit cards? I took a few screen shots and will email them to you. I know from seeing a tweet that you had some formatting issues on the blog’s right side – something must have gone very wrong when you got it working again!
TravelBloggerBuzz says
I have no control about what cards show up on the right hand side below the Amazon banner. I hear it is tailored to YOUR browsing so I would not be surprised if you get credit card related ads…I do too! Please you and everyone: Ignore these ads. I just make a few pennies to justify my blog “business” and its separate Federal Tax ID so I can get more miles for business cards š
TWA44 says
I thought it might be that, and have heard you guys talk about some ads that popped up, but I have never seen CC ads here. Glad to verify that it wasn’t some glitch where you checked the wrong box during formatting or something. What was most amazing to me is when I clicked it to investigate, the new info appears over the blue map header that you use, so it shows as background for the ad. To an unwitting clicker, that really can make it look like you do have some connection. Sneaky. On the ad’s part.
Indeed, my husband received an email from ol’ Chase-y United Explorer, offering a referral bonus for folks who signed up using his referral. I was trying to figure out the specs of that offer and if the fee was waived, to see how it compared to other offers out there. So that may have led to what appeared on your site.
TravelBloggerBuzz says
All ads are sneaky š
Anonymous says
I just wondered something. If you don’t like what these bloggers do, why do you give them attention every day?
TravelBloggerBuzz says
Thanks for taking the time to comment.
This probably could take a whole blog post but got no time for dat…as Feedly just crossed 100 since this morning!
TBB reviews blogs. I have almost 370 blogs in Feedly and I go through them and then I speak my mind here. I do it for several reasons:
-It is unique. I think of it as satire first and foremost. “Hobby”, err, Business has gotten so large that it was time for a business review Yelp like site I thought. I was not going to start blogging about how you can get 5% at office supply stores or quarterly bonus categories. How boring is THAT repeated to death!
-I do it so my readers do not visit these blogs but keep up with the ridiculous pumpy posts they do every day. I want my readers to laugh because laughter is the best medicine.
-For new readers, I want them to UNDERSTAND that these blogs are not the source where they can get unbiased and good advice. I want to steer them towards the Love and Like lists. This is my own PSA I guess.
-I have ridiculous goals and love going against the mainstream. This has become my ridiculous crusade. In other words, TBB is ridiculous. You should laugh at it…I do! LOL
-This acts as a creative energy release for me. It just makes me feel better and my therapist loves it I “let it all go”.
– I have this ridiculous expectation that my reviews will prompt bloggers to improve and put their readers first. But lots of them are so greedy I would never trust my mother to read them. My mother in law? Yes š Lol.
– I am a big Roger Ebert fan. He used to say “Condemning and helping”. I like to be like Roger. I get all kinds of crap but hopefully I am helping some of these bloggers see how their posts are seen by others who have not lost all perspective yet what this should be about.
I think there is more. Just have not had as much coffee yet, may edit later to add more. Mind you I am doing this for just a few dollars per day. When the revenue breaks double digits here we have a party at TBB World Headquaters. Some of these bloggers have called me despicable things and have threatened me with lawsuits. It comes with the territory I guess. But one thing nobody can accuse me is me being greedy and obeying the banks by pumping credit cards every freaking day. Even when everyone realizes by now that it is the only way to make some money to get compensated for the time spent on a blog. I am learning and getting it. Key is to enjoy every day on this planet. If you don’t enjoy my blog please do not read it, it’s perfectly okay!
fan of the Buzz Off says
………..” give them attention every day?”
So George and his readers have something to whine about every day. Soime blogger pump for credit cards. George pumps for “whines and whiney comments”
“Winners laugh and tell jokes, while losers piss and moan !!!!!”
Stay angry my friend
TravelBloggerBuzz says
Thank you for taking the time to comment in my blog. You sound angry.
Jules Vern says
It’s Buzz’s ridiculous crusade. Sometimes he sounds angry. Sometimes he’s funny. Sometimes the posts he highlights are pathetic. You have to enjoy Buzz pretty ironically. There’s something a bit satisfying about Buzz complaining about fluff and putting out fluff. Take it for what it is. Buzz reviews blogs. Sometimes he’s on, sometimes he’s not, I’m sure this blogging is hard which is why I don’t do it! I just wish some of the people that do would take the same advice. LOL. And sometimes I give the bloggers a bit more slack than Buzz does. He knows how hard it is to put out regular content, some of his stuff is crap and he knows it and he keeps on keepin’ on!
Constructive suggestion: instead of making mega-lists of every blog post that had a credit card link in the day or days before, it would be more manageable and your posts would be more readable and funnier if you would stick to the most egregious examples. “Deals We Like posted about a credit card with an affiliate link” is like “The clock hit 6 o’clock twice today and my dog peed on a bush.” Totally expected. We can pretty much just assume that happened. Entertain us with the most blatant stuff. That way, you can read the blogs so we don’t have to!! Thanks, Buzz!
TravelBloggerBuzz says
Excellent suggestions!
I need to find a groove, working at it. You are so right about DWL š
TBB reflects my personality: highly volatile, channels my anger from seeing my dearest hobby being prostituted to the banks, want to add value by entertaining/educating/inspiring, keeps me out of trouble, laugh at it by entertaining myself first š
Thanks.
Jack Ma says
@fan of the Buzz Off……………….only you and Grandpa Rick use the phase ” losers piss and moan” everyone else who used to use it are dead from old age……………………
Chris says
What’s wrong with moaning while pissing? It’s always a great feeling to relieve yourself when you have been waiting for a while š
TravelBloggerBuzz says
I agree, it is very healthy. Add the barfing that goes on and it is a great way to lose weight too š
M says
^ Shouldn’t you be having a high powered lunch with bankers and clinking your glasses over all the people you’ve screwed over by outright lying? You are what is wrong with this country where making money at the expense of non informed people under the pretense of helping them is considered “winning.”
I hope you get #%^*ed by a cactus.
TravelBloggerBuzz says
Who said that?
harvson3 says
Incivility on the internet! Well I never! Get me my fainting couch! Buzz, this is all your fault.
TravelBloggerBuzz says
I get credit (haha) for incivility, woohoo!
Raffles says
Greetings from the Four Seasons Las Vegas! No, I am not joining BA. Neither I assume is Drew who is scheduled to be here as well. Randy asked me to come last year but I couldn’t make it, but he generously (as this year 3rd party bloggers have generally not been invited) let me roll over the invite.
I’m looking forward to it. Some of the BA guys were very helpful to me with various aspects of setting up HFP, some I have read for years but never met before and others generously backlink to me. I have never, IIRC, even met the 2 UK based BA bloggers before.
And my massive Four Seasons suite is tax deductible š
Raffles says
PS. What is the ‘Delta swag’ you mention above?! I haven’t seen any! Not that I want it ….
PPS. Flew Virgin America First Class up from LA yesterday. Wow. It is a weird world when it turns out that a US airline has probably the best short-haul business class seat in the world …..! WTF about keeping the window blinds closed during boarding, the flight and landing though?!
harvson3 says
Four Seasons? VX First Class?
Vendoming! Vendoming! We got ourselves a Vendomer here, everybody!
ETA: Have an enjoyable weekend.
Raffles says
Both paid with cash, please note!
harvson3 says
Posh one, you.
{{ emoticon wink }}
TravelBloggerBuzz says
Thanks for the note Raffles.
Nobody invites me anywhere…
Andy Shuman @ Lazy Travelers says
Duly noted. You’re a better man than I am. I… WOULD… NEVER… š
Ramsey. says
Raffles, do me a favor… por favor…………….when you go to the pool at the Las Vegas Four Seasons. They will bring you a pitcher of ice water and a little later on they will come around with chilled Peppermint Patties Candies (I’m not kidding here)……………….Please pull a Gleff and demand that the candies be served frozen and unwrapped.
Raffles says
Just seen this. They did bring candy … but I hate peppermint! Did have a frozen melon ball though ….
Sam says
As a service to my fellow commentators, here’s a link to a free online dictionary:
http://www.merriam-webster.com
Dictionaries are excellant tools if you have weak spelling skills. As a bonus, the website linked above can help you find Scrabble words too.
On another topic, it’s fine to express your opinions here. But when throwing darts at the culprits who caused the financial collapse, please bear in mind that some TBB readers might be former mortgage originators, and that forgiveness is a virtue.
The common man says
>>>Dictionaries are excellant tools if you have weak spelling skills.
Um.
TravelBloggerBuzz says
Delta Points and Ingy will never forgive me š
Jules Vern says
US Airways flight attendants need to be added to blog buzz. They’re worse than most.
They hawk credit cards and don’t disclose that they get a commission. They donāt mention the card’s annual fee when they sell the benefits. And they create false scarcity (āWeāve only got few applications onboard for this limited time and exclusive offer.ā)
Come to think of it, The Credit Card Sales Guy would be proud! He’ll probably hire some of them to write.
Captain Nemo says
@Jules Vern…. they are just doing what they are told to do by the skynazi’s.
TravelBloggerBuzz says
I hear there is a lot of dough doing this, verdad?
Anonymous says
Didn’t experience this a couple weeks ago… Flying 4 US segments this weekend, hope not to get the pitch — but have heard it quite regularly on Alaska.
TravelBloggerBuzz says
Word is that Milevalue got the apps to pass out in the next MV dinner š
Ramsey... on Raising Your Kids (part 1 of 2,719) says
My 3 boys are young men now. My latest piece of advice to them was “when you meet someone for the first time and right away they tell you the are Christians, smile, nod your head, and get the hell away from them as fast as possible”…………………………i think I read this in Bill Cosby’s book Fatherhood.
TravelBloggerBuzz says
Good advice, I concur š
Steve says
As usual, MP’s latest Amex Stars advertisement “opinions are mine” post contained the usual over the top ass-kissing that will keep Amex coming back to her in future years
“The service overall at the hotel was above average, though sometimes it might have been too good….”
Oh man, talk about a hart-hitting analysis.
“The property is located in the same building as a Starbucks and movie theater which could actually be pretty handy if you were traveling to NYC with a family! It was also right next to a 42nd Street/Times Square subway station which makes it very handy for getting to/from the US Open”
Wowee! It’s practically impossible in Manhattan to find a hotel right by a Starbucks, movie theater and a dozen subway lines that get you anywhere you want conveniently. I have no idea how SPG pulled such a feat off, but kudos to them! Let me take a wild guess….. there was also a McDonals and a Chase bank near the Westin.
TravelBloggerBuzz says
Lol, you crack me up!
MP has been very busy…Check out “Frequent Flyer Toolkits” on Facebook. Milking the new readers exposure off the Nightline piece.
I am happy for her actually. Just don’t tell me she is an expert in miles or travel related stuff when there are so many better bloggers out there.
If I could sell like this….
Steve says
“Just donāt tell me she is an expert in miles or travel related stuff”
Don’t worry, I won’t
Spencer F says
“Oh man, talk about a hart-hitting analysis.”
Poor Corey, doesn’t deserve to be hit after going through this…
TravelBloggerBuzz says
Corey is the best lol
harvson3 says
Yeah, but is it near a Duane Reade? Duane Reades are handy if you are traveling with a family, or travelling alone, or traveling to see your mistress and forgot your razor, or traveling with your autistic long-lost brother who just happens to have a photographic memory you exploit in order to count cards, or a travelling salesman, or a human being in general who just happens to be in Manhattan and in need of a pharmacy.
Duane Reade is also super-convenient if you are going to the US Open, because you will need sunblock and they sell sunblock. If you are traveling with a family to the US Open, Duane Reade is also a useful store to have nearby, as they sell kid sunblock as well.
This amazing store is probably near a Westin, which you can book with your SPG Amex. Dang, what an amazing credit card.
TravelBloggerBuzz says
I love the SPG card. I suggest you get BOTH because you do have a business don’t you wink š
Steve says
Actually Harvson, that’s a followup Amex-sponsored post…
“20 things you can buy at Duane Reade with your Amex Everyday Card”
icicle says
<3 Love this for many, many reasons. None have to do with MP, though. But totally awesome snark!
icicle says
The heart doesn’t show up. *shrugs*
anyway, the DR post is still awesome.
“traveling to see your mistress and forgot your razor” Best ad tagline for a retail store that we will never see.
Sam says
Common Man-
You found the prize:
>>>Dictionaries are excellant tools if you have weak spelling skills.
Um.
Spellcheck is evan better.
Steve says
FrugalTravelGuy.com is an excellent tool if you want to learn how to redeem Avios
TravelBloggerBuzz says
The name on the CSP card…Still can’t believe it. Always exceeds my expectations…on the downside!
Andy Shuman @ Lazy Travelers says
Yeah. Spelling gods are never kind to spellcheck snobs.