We go back to the TBB comments mayhem and select the best ones. Wrapping up the #WestCoastDO shortly. And happy birthday to me as today marks TWO years of blogging. I am the one who is most surprised I am still here!
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Pumpization of my hobby & TBB Gem Comments
DiffPaul: I’d say what’s wrong is that anyone reading advice posted on ThePointsGuy.com, which generally involves signing up for credit cards, should be clearly informed that a company that profits from credit card referrals has an ownership stake on the site! I believe we should now refer to the site as, “The Credit Card Referral Entity Formerly Known As ThePointsGuy.com”
Jared: I can’t believe now you’ve got me getting in on this TPG thing:
thepointsguy.com URL is managed by, gasp, creditcards.com, which is part of bankrate:
http://www.whois.com/whois/thepointsguy.com
The address of the admin (9430 Research Blvd Bldg) is the creditcards.com office.
And if you look at the page source for “WalletUp by Creditcards.com”, you’ll see that the email address for “email us” is appsupport@thepointsguy.com:
http://walletupsupport.creditcards.com/customer/portal/articles/1516933-walletup-overview?b_id=3457
(look in your page source tool in your browser to see that email address)
That all certainly makes posts like these (about “great tools” like one from creditcards.com) a little suspect:
http://thepointsguy.com/2013/08/maximizing-targeted-offers-and-the-card-match-tool/
And it’s probably just a coincidence that the PR contact on the TPG press release is, gasp, a PR Manager at Bankrate:
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/half-of-americans-dont-know-what-travel-insurance-covers-213110521.html
Or that Zoominfo lists that guy as both a PR Manager at Bankrate and at TPG:
http://www.zoominfo.com/p/Ted-Rossman/1653101307
(This is sorta fun, actually)
Trademarks, Marathon Man MS Rant, Tove Lo Flying Jets, Torres del Paine, SNL Lincoln Cars, Check Point Charlie
Jason Steele: Common knowledge. Brian has been on TV for years where the screen shows “The Points Guy presented by Bankrate” [I am still amazed at this statement that it is common knowledge of the onwnership status! Replies are interesting and…entertaining! And TBB is primarily about entertainment, see Mission above lol]
ITA Matrix, Blogs That Copy/Paste From Other Blogs, San Pedro Sula, Mussolini’s Bunkers, World Cat Show, Investing Dictionary
[Great exchange between Karen and TBB! ]
Sam: I’m glad TBB now has a credit cards link because it gives me a way to point my card apps so as to support an independent, critical eye on much of the FF world.
In my mind, TBB has never been against getting miles through credit cards. It’s been about good information, provided without bias or excess marketing caused by conversion commissions or any other slanting.
It’s also great in my view since it means this place is more likely to be around a while.
Any critics who want to slam George for this should first pledge to do as he has:
Agree to put only one discreet card link in their blog, and keep all other “advice” on which cards are hot, etc., out of their blog. Let’s see who signs the pledge for that. [There was a rush of bloggers who signed this pledge. LOLOLOLOL]
Delta Points: So today is the day Tabloid Buzzard becomes a CC pimp! LOL Will he print what he is paid per card? (Oh wait he can’t)!
Is there a long list of NON-affiliate offers ie direct links on his cards tab? NO! Just a link to his CC.com link. Humm… When Buzzard talks about some offer, will he just put a a direct bank link or will he just direct to his cards tab and pump his link? (you know the answer)!
The hypocrisy of this blog never ends. I am sure the angry readers will pile on and say it is OK when Buzzard does this just not when others do! #Stunned #Sad #Expected! [Thank you for helping TBB stay true to the entertainment mission, we actually love your non sense! Giggles!]
[A very interesting exchange between Scott and TBB ensued…trying to keep the length of this post to manageable levels for dhammer53 🙂 ]
Steve: I know where I’ll be signing up for the Hawaiian Airlines Mastercard…. [LOL]
Hidden Gems, No Mas Hyatt Diamond Challenges, Trans-Siberian Odyssey, Drone over Mexico City Airport, Google Products, CVS Receipts
Two year anniversary and finally chooses a affiliate link program. Interesting to see George align with an affiliate program that pumps secured credit cards for those with lousy credit scores and payday loan sites that charge outrageous rates. (402%APY Wow) Always looking out for his readers for sure 
But he “really” appreciates your support.
And the speakers you tried to coerce not to go to seminars, do go, in spite of your efforts, and enjoy the crowd, their fellow speakers and the event?
#CredibilityFalling
IdHATE2BGeorge
[Gotta love the few haters, so entertaining! The responses to this are hilarious if you want to make the time!]
MilesMath: I would recommend visiting the credit card advisor at the FTG website to get recommendations on which cards to apply for. Don’t worry how many they recommend. You should apply for them all. [ not all, just seven at a time!]
TravelMore, BA Customer Service, Etihad Residence, Club Carlson Promo, Eye Know, Jumbo Jet Hotel, My take on Monetizing TBB rant, Betterment
[A very healthy and respectful debate between TBB and Matt of Saverocity on cold calling, selling, financial advisors and stuff like that. TBB has a very strong bias against hard sell tactics…can’t help it! ABC captured it perfectly with this…]
ABC: This makes me think about Glengarry Glen Ross
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AO_t7GtXO6w
HikerT: I would view the credit card link similar to the amazon link. If your readers are already planning to buy a specific item at amazon then they can use the amazon link to support TBB. You are not saying that amazon always has the best prices on every single item. This is very different than highlighting a specific item for readers to buy at amazon thru your link.
New ANA Award Chart, Eagle Over Paris, Argentina, Baby Bats, How To Ruin Your Life, Southwest Companion Pass
Best Offers Patrol (BOP):
Thanks to Andy who kindly left this comment with the best offers in the TBB cc page:
Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® MasterCard®
Citi® Hilton HHonorsTM Visa Signature® Card (40K is the best now)
British Airways Visa Signature® Card
The Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite MasterCard®
Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express
Barclaycard Arrival Plus™ World Elite MasterCard®
Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
The Choice Privileges® Visa® Card (32K is the best now)
Citi® Hilton HHonorsTM Reserve Card
The Frontier Airlines World MasterCard®
Premier Miles & More® World MasterCard®
Only go for the Capital One, Choice, Frontier, & Lufthansa (Premier) cards if you have lost it.
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First
Proud to be 2nd on your 2nd!
Bravo!
Third? George, there are many hotels in Cancun. We stayed at the Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort. It is an all inclusive resort, and is one of our favorite vacation place. Thanks.
Ok, good to know,thank you!
I really like HikerT’s comment about your CC links page, that you listed above (re: how it is similar to your Amazon link). If you can (compliance-wise), consider adding it to your page.
I think that is a great idea. I hope I get to it. Comcast is punishing me right now at my workhorse desktop computer at home…
Happy birthday George! I hope someone took pictures and notes from westcoastDO for a good blog post – I was too busy enjoying the company of everyone there!
I was way too busy to take even one picture!
Thank you for the comments I need to pack!
George,
I offer to buy you out for a United Club pass+ 4 drink certs + a ticket to anywhere Southwest flies. I figure it will take 6 months for me to breakeven using the referral links on TBB!! 😉
Sold! 🙂