Ok, let’s have some fun here, you know TBB is mostly entertainment:-)
I will give away TWO AA Admirals Club Lounge passes to the winner who will be picked randomly. Please enter only once with either a valid email address (will not be added to an email list to be spammed…I don’t have an email list yet!) or a link to your website or twitter account. In other words, I need to get a hold of you!
The passes expire December 31, 2013.
You all know that we are about to face an incredible sell job on the virtues of the SPG Amex Card that goes on sale for 30k (instead of 25k) SPG Points. Please answer this question:
βIn your opinion, which is the most ridiculous blog post pushing the Amex SPG card and why?β
Wait a minute, I just thought about this! Entering only once may be unfair as another ridiculous post will surely beat what you thought was the most ridiculous post:-) So, okay, have at it. How about once a day? Or six entries max? Hell, I don’t care. I just want to make it manageable so I can pick the winner in an easy and fair manner:-)
I could ask for originality and all that jazz but I highly prefer random contests requiring no skill whatsoever! But please please try to make us all laugh, especially me:-)
Deadline to enter: As long as the ridiculous posts keep coming, you keep entering lol.
Example: ” It was XYZ blogger who insisted the SPG Amex card is so good it even does the dishes for you” or something like that:-)
Yes, it is a solid card and yes 30k is a great bonus. I need to see when was the last time I had this baby. #toomanycardstojuggleallthetime
Oh, and here is the NON affiliate link if you care to use it by the way. If not, please reward good blogging practices! Getting pumped to oblivion about the virtues of a specific card is NOT considered a good blogging practice, at least in my book!Β Now I need to get to under 1,000 on my Feedly list. I was doing so well I had it down to 400 only! #gettingthere
TBBon:-)
Jeff says
Nice one! Hope there are no US resident restrictions π
TravelBloggerBuzz says
Just checked. It must be an Admirals Club. But I did notice it says “Pass holder must be 18 years of age and hold a same-day ticket for travel on American Airlines” and “up to three children under 18 years of age admitted for free when accompanied with the adult”.
So…you can give it to your dad:-)
Kidding. You can easily exchange them at the FT Coupon connection.
I have used these one time lounge passes on United. Never had an issue being allowed to enter (and was not flying United!)
Tom says
does anyone know where i can find an linky for the SPG Amex? I’m desperate π
TravelBloggerBuzz says
You are in too!
I think that was a trick question? Do you want me to pull out my red arrows now, come on π
Tom says
That was a bit of snark I’m afraid. I couldn’t resist once you opened the contest us to any remark.
My favorite part of your blog is where you call out all the linky fiend bloggers. I love it! What is the deal with the travel blog that seems to always have linkies for groupon? groupon? really? How low? I think we’re almost there….
TravelBloggerBuzz says
I know which one you are talking about;-)
I know many readers read me for this aspect. I like to make it entertaining. I hope you don’t abandon me if I ever join the circus and give me hell if I ever try to post something like “My top 10” list to use this or that card, thanks:-)
Tara @ Miles To The Wild says
I’m tempted to write a ridiculous blog post about the SPG Amex just so I don’t have to read all the other ones to find one to nominate! We have a flight from LAX-OGG next month on AA so it’s the ONE time I can actually use one of these giveaways!
TravelBloggerBuzz says
You are in for another entry! I think I should think about the end date…was hoping to get it all the way to the end as I am certain some are saving the SPG BIG BANG ( yes it will get worse) over the last few days of the promo!
How late in Sept are your flights?
Steve says
If I win I can give one to my sister so she finally experience all the good “lounge life” stories I’ve been telling her
TravelBloggerBuzz says
If you intended to enter the contest I have no email address for you, just fyi. Thanks!
Lee says
You should add also how many times xyz blogger has repeated mentions of the SPG card.
TravelBloggerBuzz says
My intention was to do a separate post with every SPG pump Title…but quickly got buried:-)
Tom says
Seth will have it covered. He did one for the Chase Ink I think.
Jay says
The most ridiculous blog pushing it is canadian kilometers… a blog for canadian travelers pushing a card that’s only available for americans…
TravelBloggerBuzz says
He is young, I forgive him…once lol
Jeff says
LOL I have no affiliate link for the SPG Amex don’t you dare accuse me of pushing. I probably have the strongest and most ethical policies of disclosure IMHO.
AgendaGuy says
Ok keyboard is ready to go π Looks like the used-car salesmen have already looked at this piece!
Btw loved your comment at MP blog about PR Restructuring@TPG after she got the TV segment haha
TravelBloggerBuzz says
Hehe,thanks for catching it.
ABC says
@Jay, they’ve got kids to feed (and starwood hotels to stay at) in Canada too.
TravelBloggerBuzz says
Come on guys, the circus fest is on! Please make me laugh:-)
Fyi, the only valid contest entry so far is Tara (hint:because I can track her down)
Secretary Toaster says
Well if you look at the post on dansdeals it looks like he copy / pasted from the points guy. Too lazy to screenshot, but this:
Read more: http://thepointsguy.com/2013/08/starwood-preferred-guest-amex-30000-point-sign-up-bonus-is-back/#ixzz2bCJD9bhJ
Follow us: @thepointsguy on Twitter | thepointsguy on Facebook
Read more: http://thepointsguy.com/2013/08/starwood-preferred-guest-amex-30000-point-sign-up-bonus-is-back/#ixzz2bCJD9bhJ
Follow us: @thepointsguy on Twitter | thepointsguy on Facebook
TravelBloggerBuzz says
Wrong link? Or maybe it was the other way around? π
Jay says
Odd… My email address isn’t coming through?
TravelBloggerBuzz says
It is not coming through, sorry! Hmm…maybe it is a fault of this WP feature? Sorry no techs support dept. My fear is if you win and announce it here….anyone can email me saying “Hey I am Jay I won) π
Jay says
i’ll try one thrid time. if i do win, i’ll prove that it was me that emails you. my middle name starts with the letter r. my email address combines my full name, and my last name is only four letters. i use google and i’m from upstate ny (which that will verify).
if someone goes to the trouble to fake all that for 2 lounge passes – they can have em!
TravelBloggerBuzz says
Jay:
It is not coming through here on the site but it does show in the emails I get sent to me when someone comments on my site! I used to delete those as I always come here to reply to comments! Not anymore, I save the ones who enter the contest!
Gracias senor!
Carlos Danger says
@ Agenda Guy….MEA Culpa …..I was wrong and you were right about Dealkiller aka MMS. Buzz, those home improvement card comments were funny, so many people stuck with mass quantities of them……………….ps the new kinder, gentler Agenda Guy is ok.
TravelBloggerBuzz says
Ok guys, we are all kinder and gentler, sure beats being angry lol
AgendaGuy says
Personally the dislike stems from the shadiness involved in his business. It has very little to do with him killing deals. It would take a very lengthy post to describe everything and I am sure it will not be worth each others time. π
TravelBloggerBuzz says
What I truly despise about it is how NON transparent the payment arrangements are. It’s like salesmen pushing crappy annuities or ridiculous life insurance policies! I think I have a mental block in entering this crap land:-)
bluecat says
Ok, I always love Dan’s Deals way of pushing things to the max. Here he is pushing the new SPG card.
“4BM Success! (2 consumer card and 2 business card approvals with just 1 hard pull!) ”
Hey, if I had 4 BM’s at once, I would feel enormous success! (Not sure what the hard pull would be in that context…)
TravelBloggerBuzz says
I would feel the same if I had just three:-)
harvson3 says
It’s Typo Tuesday!
Mommypoints:
Saverocity:
MMS:
Okay, that’s not a typo, just logically inconsistent.
I point these out because I’m editing today and of course I’m an a–hole.
I’m not interested in the AA passes. We have no immediate plans to fly American. The JFK club was much nicer once my wife figured out that non-alcoholic drinks from the bar were complimentary. The ORD club with its tower of sodium snack mix, unripe apples, and ice water was … [shrug] eh.
TravelBloggerBuzz says
You are such an a-hole. Just kidding of course;-)
Ok on the AA passes. I think so far Tara is the winner!
Tara @ Miles To The Wild says
Fingers crossed! You mean I don’t have to purposely write some silly blog post that the SPG Amex is good for eco-tourists because some of the hotels have trees on the property and it is very likely that there are birds in the trees?
TravelBloggerBuzz says
You are on a roll, got you down for another entry! I can see it now “Apply for the birds, doiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit” π
Matt from Saverocity says
You know what, it kinda pisses me off that you call me out for a typo when I am trying to write about something that is pretty important.
I actually appreciate being called out, and have an email and comment section on my site for that, but putting it in here, completely unrelated to the post in question is a little irritating.
I’m just saying it here because I am an a-hole too xx
TravelBloggerBuzz says
The next phase of TBB will be:
“An eclectic journey through the a-holes of the blogosphere”
Lol
Nguyen says
I would love to enter the contest. It is hard for me to answer this question since when I see the Amex SPG post on any blog, I just skip it immediately π Thanks George.
TravelBloggerBuzz says
So….you are in or out? π
Spencer F says
I’m going with Delta Points who reminds us that “If you send 20,000 SPG points to Delta you will get 25,000 Skymiles”
TravelBloggerBuzz says
You are in! Liked it, always a reliable choice for my material:-)
Linda S. says
I saw one site that says it’s way better than other cards, and a real value, but notes that you don’t get 2.3 cent value unless you use it at hotels, and you pay annual fee after first year, and it’s not great for buying gift cards…so why say it’s way better?
TravelBloggerBuzz says
For the lower rated SPG properties this card is still one of the best. And the transfer w/bonus to airlines comes in handy too. I get these every other year. I have enough hotel points and I don’t really stay in hotels that much. I did manage to go 12 for 12 in my latest vacation though:-)
I never liked SPG hotels in general. Hiltons always did well for me. But after latest devaluation I am mad at them. So I look to burn in Club Carlson properties and always spend some (free, naturally) nights in Fairmont taking advantage of LIfetime Platinum status I have.
In other words, it may be better to have specific targets coming up and then get the cards accordingly. And yes 30k SPG offer is indeed great if you can use them!
I am rambling…
Your email did not come through…so you are not the contest as it appears you did not intend to enter it? Let me know if not.
bluecat says
Waiting for a blooger to write “A single SPG point can be worth OVER 5000 mile points on airlines!” (referring not to points 1 thru 19,999 when you transfer, but to the very next point, which is worth exactly 5001 points”)
Now THAT would be marketing!
TravelBloggerBuzz says
Lol, I would not be surprised! Maybe someone will slip it in near the final scramble:-)
Not sure if you intended to enter. Your email did not come through. Since you are a regular I entered you. Let me know if you do not want to be entered for the AA passes!
bluecat says
Yes, I enter, but I am too lazy sometimes to reenter my email address.
NOTE TO OTHER BLOGGERS OUT THERE: George does not require anyone to log in to WordPress or other thing before posting a comment. This is great because I am getting too old now to remember all of my freaking passwords. I sometimes cannot find the sheet of paper where I write down all of the passwords! I know that Tara and Miles to the Wild and others have some nice blogs but too much hassle to post.
Yes, I am not only getting old, but cranky too. π
TravelBloggerBuzz says
My fear in moving to WordPress from Blogger was additional crap commenters may have to jump through to express themselves. I am glad it worked out great! I believe in freedom of expression, go at it!
I made a comment today at Frequent Miler’s site and I had to watch a freaking video for a minute and then had to type some stupid security code before my comment would appear. THAT will pretty much stop me from commenting.
FM: fix that if you can por favor!
Oh, and you are in.
Being cranky sometimes is under rated:-)
Tim says
I think Mommy Points claiming 30K SPG has a $1200 value wins as most ridiculous. 30K points cost $1050 direct from Starwood/points.com. No need to go into all the other math she’s missing in those calculations.
Also, her $450/nt hotel seems to be $269/nt all April on booking.com. Reminds me of the timeshare pitches I’ve had to sit in on.
Mommy Pointe says
My example references peak ski season rates since that’s when I redeemed. I wish it was $269/night then. Let me know if you find early March at that rate. ;). I also say conservative value is 2.5 cents each but my own personal redemptions are often 3-4 cents which puts 30k points worth $900 – $1200 for me…and likely most that read this site.
Do I win AA passes now? π
AgendaGuy says
@Hull
Not a fan of your blog, but that morning TV show piece was well done.
Yah the SPG post was pretty ridiculous. You have some stiff competition though.
TravelBloggerBuzz says
One topic I do not want to jump in is…valuations; well, for obvious reasons:-)
$1,200 appears to be on the higher end of scale but I have seen worse lol.
I understand this whole field is…marketing pretty much now. Aggressive marketing makes more money.
MP: The contest is random. And requirement is to offer the most ridiculous blog post regarding the SPG Amex offer. Are you volunteering yours? If yes…you have complied with the T&C of the contest and you are in:-)
Tim says
You wrote a post recently telling everyone to recheck hotel rates and wait for price drops?
You’re right on 2.5 as a baseline, but the full retail cost of SPG points is 3.5. With points transfers a family of 3 can buy 60K, maybe more.
I still don’t understand how you say the value of the credit card bonus points can be $1200 when the cash cost of the points is $1050? Am I alone in thinking that’s crazy?
And for the first week in March I see Westin $295, Four Seasons $317 Hilton $250 (both rated higher than the Westin). Whistler right? This is just a generic Kayak search. No codes/discounts.
TravelBloggerBuzz says
I would like to know how much MP made today:-)
Darn non disclosure contracts….so conveeeeenient lol
Mommy Points says
I don’t think how much you can buy points at is terribly tied to what you can get for them when you redeem….especially when you get them from a sign-up bonus. Everyone here seems hung up on the highest number in the post when that was simply an accurate range of the value I usually get from them. I put 2.5 cents in there as I think that is a safe baseline for people to consider the value at. The real life example I have I think came in a 5-6 cents per point which is honestly not unusual for SPG redemptions, but I didn’t even dare use those numbers. π
Tim, thanks for doing some checks! I do see some non-refundable rates for that hotel at around $340-ish per night with taxes. So a bit lower than what SPG’s website is showing, but the non-refundable portion would strike it off as an option for me. I do appreciate the reminder to keep an eye on prices for that trip, too. Worth doing some more digging and comparing soon. Sometimes the trips that are still far off get a bit neglected for a while.
AgendaGuy, sorry you don’t like the blog, but thanks for the nice words about the TV segment. Big learning curve there for sure!
TBB, I was just playing. π If I thought the post was ridiculous I would fess up and enter it, but I think it was pretty par for the course. Not spectacular, not ridiculous – though the sign-up bonus is pretty good. π
TWA44 says
Jeez Louise, I don’t read ’em; I just delete ’em! One of ’em already used “baack” or some thing like that – that huckster language makes me cringe but I guess it is appropriate!
TravelBloggerBuzz says
I call the shots here. “huckster language makes me cringe” Oh me toooooo!
You are in the contest. Let me know if otherwise
Jeff says
I’d love to win because I’ve got three layovers in 24 hours and I’m gonna need a break from the mess of humanity in airport terminals during all of that.
TravelBloggerBuzz says
Ok, you sound so desperate and I am a good hearted soul so I entered you. Hope flights are not soon!
David says
The most ridiculous reason given was by TPG that he didn’t know it was a public offer. Puh-leez. Just be honest. That guy doesn’t write about anything unless he can profit from it. To
TravelBloggerBuzz says
I read his blog post in the gym. I lost count how many OTHER credit card links he also pushed. Unbelievable!
You are in, thanks.
Joseph M says
Not Funny but in that category has to be anything “The Frugral Travel Guy” posts. bleh
TravelBloggerBuzz says
The corporations exist to make money for their shareholders, it is capitalism. Or something like that lol. Not sure if you are entering the contest. I think no?
Tara @ Miles To The Wild says
Ding ding ding! TPG just managed to put the new SPG card on one of those “last minute AOR” type posts!
Tara @ Miles To The Wild says
He pimped cards from 6 banks and a ridiculous number of cards all at once!
TravelBloggerBuzz says
See my comment above. Read his posts and my eye sockets were so sore I almost lost my balance. I could have been greatly injured but I managed.
You are in for a third entry, wow!:-)
Sandeep says
Phew….feed overload with all these SPG 30k offers….skipped through most of them. I think MMS was the only one to actually include the reconsideration phone number in the blog post. Something that could come in handy to many I am sure.
PS – Yep, I did apply and was approved for the 30k offer today. Used Frequent Miler’s link as I always do. I am hard pressed to find someone in the blogosphere who deserves these commissions as much as he does (you are second in line George!).
AgendaGuy says
You win the internet today. Good job. I have an AOR coming and I will use his link as well, the only blogger not to pimp it today or for that matter in general.
TravelBloggerBuzz says
Hey Sandeep, thanks for the kind words, I sure appreciate it!
Yeah, I am going for it too and I will use Frequent Miler’s link too. Even though I am very upset as I stopped at my friendly 711 tonight and they were all sold out of Vanilla ice cream. I think it was him (he also lives in Ann Arbor). Or was it you D or S? Come on guys, leave me some bones please!
One of these days I will enter the fray and do it the way FM does it.
Good blogging practices should be rewarded. One of them should be “don’t freaking keep pimping me your cards while you offer, well, not much”. But they have to in order to keep them. It is a vicious circle indeed.
So, are you and AgendaGuy both entering the contest? Let me know if you are!
Sandeep says
Sigh…you should consider yourself lucky you can still buy some ice cream at the local 711. All my 711’s now want cash.
You can count me out for the AA lounge passes…my Plat card gets me in anyways. But thank you for the giveaway nevertheless!
TravelBloggerBuzz says
Ok, got it!
bluecat says
Everyone, be very careful about churning this SPG card. Yeah, these blogger guys sometimes conveniently forget to mention how strict Amex is about the churn rules. One of these rules is that you cannot have the card for 12 months. NOT 12 months since you last applied (akin to Citi) but 12 months since you CANCELLED. Big diff that most of the touts forget to mention. What do they care, though, they get the commiss if you get the bonus or if you do not.
(There may be a 2nd rule about churning that requires you to have a new SPG number but I’m too lazy to research that.)
TravelBloggerBuzz says
Yep, it is the CANCEL date. And yep bloggers get paid per approval, they could care less if you screwed up in trying to get the bonus. And Amex has become so freaking stingy lately…I wonder why!!
MaryE. says
I’d love to have these. Flying on Monday from SLC to DFW, and then on Wednesday ABI-DFW-SNA. Thanks.
TravelBloggerBuzz says
Sorry Mary this is just too soon!
Jay says
how about an award for bloggers who shameless promote the card, acting like experts – when they don’t even know the BASICS of the program
http://www.extrapackofpeanuts.com/hot-deal-alert-starwood-preferred-guest-spg-sign-up-bonus-up-to-30k-until-september-3rd/
First line – “With the increased bonus, youβd get FOUR free nights at a category 3 hotel!”
One of the main advertised features of SPG is five nights for the price of four, so you’d get FIVE nights, not four. You’d think the so-called experts would know a bit about the programs they promote through cards… eyeroll
AgendaGuy says
Well that is pretty much the entire blogosphere. Number of real gurus/pioneers who have been on this from the day 1 like Gary et al can be counted on with fingers on one hand. Circle and Arrows proudly started by ripping off a thread on FT couple of years ago and then bragging about it in FT itself like he did everyone a favor.
TravelBloggerBuzz says
Excellent catch Jay! Yep another expert, so many lately!
I ‘ve been reading Gary since day one, fyi:-) Fact is in the past couple of years this space has just exploded with “expert” wannabees!
AgendaGuy: MMS has smartly taken advantage of the market place. His asset is in his “even a caveman can do it” packaging. I don’t like it too but what can we do? Nada. He is not going away. Most “experts” will only go away when the easy dough from the affiliates stops. Unless a mega banking crisis hits us again, I don’t see it happening anytime soon. So expect more new “experts” coming aboard.
Got a binder full of experts lol
Steven says
So are you saying that if I apply through your link that I will also get 2 AA lounge passes?
TravelBloggerBuzz says
Lol, good one;-)
Jen says
Can’t do it. As much as I’d like anything for free (especially lounge passes, I’ve never even been in a lounge), I don’t feel good about doing it at the expense of someone else. I’m all for humor, the darker the better, but I don’t usually throw people under the bus until I know them better. π
TravelBloggerBuzz says
You take it personally, I don’t:-) These are businesses. Think of TBB as the blog version of…Yelp!
Jen says
Indeed! Don’t get me wrong. I’m glad that you’re out there calling bullshit on everyone. It helps us noobs keep it all in perspective.
Elena G says
My email blew up with blogger SPG credit card posts. Thanks for the giveaway!
TravelBloggerBuzz says
You are in!
TWA44 says
FM has a great post about the offer today. I say give him a click on his link and a drink coupon!
I have an idea for a better contest – VRs for those of us who live in CVS-less land! And I don’t mean the already used old cards! Now that would get your comment count up there π !!
TravelBloggerBuzz says
Yep, I absolutely thought of that! If this blog ever makes some money I would take most of it and throw it back to you guys. The more you click the more $500 VRs TBB gives away. Create incentives you know lol.
Yeah, gave FM a click too. But if he keeps buying them VRs from our local 711 I would have to have a talk with him;-)
WestMichMark says
SPG points are now more valuable than Chase ultimate rewards !!!I It’s to bad I don’t remember where I read this. So many blogs and so little time (to waste).
TravelBloggerBuzz says
You are in! Who said that, let me know if you find out.
The crap we see is endless….Hey, I like this phrase, I just made it up:-)
Ric Garrido says
One Mile at a Time – Lucky finishes off his SPG Amex signup post today with links for ten other cards you might as well apply for at the same time.
” If I apply for these cards now, which other cards does it make sense to apply for at the same time?
A lot of people like to apply for several credit cards on the same date, the reason being that the (minor) impact of your credit inquiry typically doesnβt show up on your report till the next day or so. With that in mind, some good non-American Express complements for the Starwood Cards would be:”
10 other credit card links follow to end the post.
TravelBloggerBuzz says
Yeah, totally ridiculous. Someone called him out on my Aug 6 post. He learned from TPG on this when he listed…27 cards to go along with the SPG Amex. This crap just…makes me angry:-)
k2o says
I was waiting for this 30k offer to apply for the SPG biz card as I closed it 19 mo ago. I wonder if I can put it up for bloggers to bid for my click on their link for it?
Ps no need to enter me!
TravelBloggerBuzz says
Actually, that was one of my ideas! But the banks require strict no disclosure contracts! A little bit of competition, all transparent, would go a looooong way to clean up the space a little bit;-) So…you are in the contest then! Let me no if not. Thanks
Travel Is Free says
I submit. For the most ridiculous spg post… MYSELF!
http://bit.ly/I-win-spg-tbb-contest
MuhahahahahahaHAHAHAHA *cough*
Yea…
That’s totally allowed. I saw nothing in the T&C against this.
TravelBloggerBuzz says
If the entry was judged on originality and humor,you would win! But it IS random, you are in.
Your post made me laugh so much I would likely feature it in my next Buzz post. I loved it actually. I appreciate originality and humor!
Gracias
Tara @ Miles To The Wild says
Lucky’s post about FAQ regarding Starwood Amex pushes the biz card a bit too much. Aren’t the Amex biz cards the ones that trigger FRs? And he followed TPG’s lead by linking 11 cards from other banks at the end.
TravelBloggerBuzz says
TPG had about 27:-)
dhammer53 says
SInce Rick is out at FTG, my next favorite blogger is MMS. Now I know some of you like to make fun of him, but Darius went out of his way for me last year, so I’ll say MMS will be the winner of TBB contest. I guess you could say this is a shameless plug, but since I’m posting a day late, very few will be reading this except you George.
A Dee O π
TravelBloggerBuzz says
Ok, you are in!
JD- DO IT FOR THE POINTS says
Running for Miles is great.
3 Reasons For The Runner To Apply for The SPG Card
I like how she tried to tie it in with the theme of the blog, but really only #1 really applies to runners. I like the creativity though.
http://runningwithmiles.com/index.php/3-reasons-for-the-runner-to-apply-for-the-spg-card/
TravelBloggerBuzz says
THIS is what I was looking for. At least he put some work into it, give him that. Thanks, you are in!
Spencer F says
Deals We Like claims his links were broken, so he gets to use his post a second time. Thus giving me a second entry into the drawing
TravelBloggerBuzz says
Yep, you are in! smh
Enjoy Fine Food says
I actually got this [yawn] link [yawn] from you [yawn]. I think it is promoting the SPG 40K [yawn] but not certain. I read it all [yawn]. You should, too. Better than those blue pills you can take to get to sleep at night,
“On Monday afternoon of this week I posted links to the Amex SPG 30k deal. Later that afternoon I received an email from Amex (or, more specifically, from a 3rd party that manages the affiliate relationship with Amex) saying that I was violating the terms of the affiliate agreement I have with Amex (via the 3rd party).
I wrote that I didnβt post affiliate links, I posted direct links to the signup pages. They wrote back saying that those were not official links, which I took to mean that those who signed up earlier than the Tuesday βofficialβ release day may not receive the 30k bonus. I took down the links because I didnβt want to be responsible for people not getting the bonus they thought they would receive.
The next day I received an email from the third party saying they were dropping me from the affiliate relationship because I had posted content that was unauthorized. Specifically, they wrote I made a βnon-compliant posting of this promotion.β Thatβs when it occurred to me that I made an error β they didnβt ask me to take down the links to protect the readers, they were just trying to control the content on the site.
I will speak only for myself here, but I have had other run-ins with the credit card issuer police in the past β they have asked to have a few things removed, primarily taking issue with posting links to landing pages that were not βofficialβ offers (this used to drive Chase nuts), and around encouraging people to call the credit card company to match bonuses received by others. Generally I pushed back and that was the end of it; on a couple of occasions I removed the content because I felt I had made my point.
Those days are over.
Iβm not suggesting that there is some vast conspiracy (as some have suggested) to get bloggers to shill for credit cards. For the most part, the bloggers youβre reading are writing about credit cards because they believe they offer a great way to earn points (myself included). But part of the arrangement of having a direct affiliate relationship with the banks is that they can tell us to take down content they donβt like. And because there are really only 3-4 issuers with credit cards of much value, itβs hard to say no to them when they ask. Iβm not saying bloggers donβt say no to them (and I know several instances where bloggers have told the credit card companies that they specifically will not take down content the bank didnβt like), but I am saying that, especially with bloggers doing this full-time, itβs become more difficult to say no to those requests when the majority of your income comes from a couple of companies.
I am lucky that I can (and will continue to) make a little income off the OTR, and Iβm even more lucky that I have a regular job. With that flexibility comes the ability to make my own decisions. And the decision Iβve made is that I will be upfront about what is being asked of me by banks. Iβm regretful that I wasnβt clearer about the Amex SPG situation earlier this week, and Iβm really pissed at myself for taking the content down. It wonβt happen again.”
etc., etc., yawn. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
TravelBloggerBuzz says
You are in!
TWA44 says
Spin.
TravelBloggerBuzz says
That was…deep:-)
You are in!
GeorgeTravelMonkey says
If you type Starwood 30k into Google first hits are the PointsGuy’s review of the offer and a recap post telling you to read his review of the offer, both with credit card ads at the bottom of the very same Starwood 30k credit card offer!
I submit my entry.
TravelBloggerBuzz says
TPG operation is a master in this SEO stuff!
You are in, thank you.
Robert says
There are other blogs out there?? no way! only TBB!. pick me! =].
TravelBloggerBuzz says
You are in. The random number generator will pick the winner. You can not buy me:-)
dhammer53 says
There was a time Gary at View From the Wing sent out 1 e mail a day. Recently, he seems to be bored at work, sending out multiple e mails a day. He’s becoming competitive with Brian at The Points Guy. And not to leave out my friend darius at MMS, he sends out e mails on the weekends these days. He took those off in the recent past.
TravelBloggerBuzz says
I am sensing the same thing too! It looks like they all know that this just can’t last so lets just go all the way to squeeze every dollar we can in our limited time?
Or just plain greed has taken over the asylum.
Maybe this is why I am resisting entering the circus. As soon as I am ready to learn a bit more…something else comes up (personal life, my other real job, more blogs to review for TBB, travel/work on trip reports, soccer, etc). And on it goes…
Charles Ramsey says
SPG Card earn one point for every dollar spent for ribs or even at Mcdonalds………if I win please fwd passes to Grant, for all the grief I give him. CR
TravelBloggerBuzz says
You are in! For Grant
James says
I’m just waiting for this one – “If you like the DOJ lawsuit, then apply for the Starwood Credit Card…”
If I win, I’d like to donate all the miles to myself, provided I can do the transaction through a shopping portal, get Plink points and 5% bonus…
TravelBloggerBuzz says
Lol, love it!
You are in!
James says
Umm, I meant passes
Steven says
Which blogger will be 1st to write that the (latest) delta devaluation means that it is a super-duper-extra-wonderful time to get the SPG card?
TravelBloggerBuzz says
Lol, yeah…waiting for that too!
You are in!
Steve says
Maybe just a little bit out of context, but in yesterday’s TPG post about buying USAir miles, he actually recommended *not* applying for the USAir Mastercard just yet. Instead?…SPG of course.
TravelBloggerBuzz says
You are in! Just hit my inbox from Mommy Points: Ten Perks of the Starwood Preferred Amex and SPG Program
Everyone recycling the same old crap and links…yikes!
Daniel says
Klinsman is a genius.
TravelBloggerBuzz says
Ok, you are in too!
If you remember, this incredible run pretty much started when “rumors” were rampant that he had lost control of the team. Let’s secure the WC place now and THEN we can confirm (with a little luck too) that Klinsman is a genius for sure:-)
Rick I says
The most ridiculous are the comments here by commenters commenting on text in blogs. Do you have a blog to whine about tv commercials? Billboards? Radio ads? Newspapers?
I nominate all the entries in the contest as most ridiculous, and I’m laughing hysterically at all of YOU
Rick I says
Btw, when I win George, give the admiral passes to somebody else. I get in via my Amex plat card (insert affiliate link here) that had a net cost of $50 and netted me 25 or 50k Amex points after $200 aa airline credit per year from Amex plat card (insert link here again)
TravelBloggerBuzz says
Would you like to nominate who to receive the passes if you win?
And thank you for taking the time to add your hysterical comments, you just never appreciated my humor;-)
Rayn says
MMS is getting ridiculous again on Sun morning!! “Reader Question: Why is the American Airlines Card Not the Best for Earning American Airlines Miles?”
Bang, SPG card is here to bet everyone else.
I bet one can come up one similar post for each airlines that SPG transfers to by answering/helping their reader.
TravelBloggerBuzz says
If someone says SPG is best for transferring to Delta TBB will ban him/her:-)
You are in!
Kevin says
I’ve been seeing a handful of “this is why you should get an SPG card!” or “have a spectacular at an SPG resort …. (by applying for this card)” posts. Problem is, some of these bloggers don’t even frequent an SPG property.
TravelBloggerBuzz says
Kevin, you are in!
Majikow says
I like blogger ________ (insert 90% of bloggers here) who said the SPG card is the best card for you to apply for right now because it pays them an affiliate fee, and without that, they wouldn’t have enough money to afford their new soul.
TravelBloggerBuzz says
You are in!
steve s says
Come on TBB. We all know it’s your blog. I don’t have enough time to write all the reasons why….the contest ends in 2 days!
TravelBloggerBuzz says
Good point;-)
Scott says
Deals We Like….with their currently ongoing ELEVEN part series regarding the SPG program. Good grief. It’s disgusting…
TravelBloggerBuzz says
You are in and I so agree!
Jay says
stuffing the ballot box with a valid entry!
TravelBloggerBuzz says
You are in!
tmorga1 says
Awesome Website – I look forward to reading it every day.
anonymous says
I am entering twice now, so that I may be disqualified and so that you can give my passes to Rick I, who will donate them to some soldiers in uniform and then write a blog post about that.
TravelBloggerBuzz says
That was a funny one!
Ok, entries are closed.
I will pick a winner by the weekend. Thanks for playing!