Simon Mall $1,000 Visa gift card promo extended through October

Update  on 10/28/19: The $1,000 Simon Mall VISA gift card deal has been extended “indefinitely.”

Great news for those of you who like hassle-free gift card churning: Simon Mall is extending the $1,000 Visa promotion through October 31, 2019! Simon Mall had originally planned on running this promotion through August 4, then extended it through August 31 when reports surfaced of some locations turning away “new” card churners. 

The fact that this is now being extended through October is great news. The announcement, which was sent around to bloggers, specified the following:

• Extended through October 31st!
• Available to all Loyalty Points purchasers, no restrictions on new or existing Gamer customers.
• New gamers welcome!

When I initially reported this news back in June, I got a lot of flack from people who called BS. Even Simon Mall denied this was happening. I realize I haven’t sufficiently gloated about the fact that I was right and everyone else was wrong.

So I’m pointing it out now, in case anyone who gave me crap for it needs a reminder that I was right and they were wrong. 

If you’re scratching your head about why this promotion is such a big deal, I’ve covered the topic extensively before. Here is a brief refresher on everything you need to know about Simon Mall’s $1,000 Visa gift card promo:

Are $1000 Visa gift cards from Simon a good deal?

As I recently pointed out, Simon Mall’s $1,000 Visa gift cards aren’t the cheapest option out there. Buying Visa gift cards from GiftCardMall and Staples works out much less than $3.95 per $1,000.

In fact, if you have the Dosh app, you can get 4% cash back (up to $10 per day) at Safeway and Kroeger’s with a registered credit card. 

Note: I will get a $10 bonus if you sign up with my Dosh referral link (code ARIANAA10) and link a credit card. 

So why bother with Simon Mall? Because it’s faster and easier than liquidating $500 Visa gift cards. A lot of Walmart stores let you buy money orders in a single transaction, up to four card swipes.

With $500 gift cards that limits you to $2,000, including fees. Using the $1,000 Visa gift cards doubles your liquidation ability. 

Which credit cards should I use to buy $1000 Visa gift cards?

Here’s where it gets tricky. American Express no longer pays out rewards of any kind (sign-up bonuses, regular earnings) on Simon Mall purchases. In fact, they’ve added language to their terms that exclude any gift card purchases from earning points.

Citi is also said to be clamping down on churning, though not to the extent that American Express has. With Chase, you always want to be careful in general and I’ve covered that along with how to avoid a shut-down. That’s not to say you can’t use Chase credit cards at Simon Mall. I  just wouldn’t overdo it. 

So what’s left? Every card, really, as long as you churn in moderation. I personally used this promotion to earn over $1,000 worth of cash back last month. I focused my spending on the Fidelity Rewards Visa and Discover It Miles Card. But do what works for you.

Side note: If you want a referral for the Discover it Miles Card, let me know!

What is the fee on a $1,000 Visa gift card from Simon Mall?

The fee on a $1,000 Visa gift card from Simon Mall is just $3.95. That’s pretty great, considering most other merchants charge $4.95+ per $500 card.

It’s important to note, however, that unlike other merchants, Simon Mall gift cards don’t qualify for credit card category bonuses.

How many $1,000 Visa gift cards can I buy per day?

Simon Mall allows you to buy up to $10,000 worth of Visa gift cards per day (including fees). Beyond that, you’ll have to be established to buy up to $25,000 per day. Doing so requires you to provide your social security number.

What’s the new purchase process?

Simon Mall recently introduced a new procedure for gift card purchases over $10,000. Basically, it involves them storing your information on their computer instead of a binder.

Every time you buy more than $10,000 worth of gift cards, you’ll fill out a much shorter form that simply confirms all of your information is up to date. That shortens the time you spend buying gift cards, which is always a plus.

Final thoughts

Since I’m leaving my job at the end of the month, I can’t liquidate gift cards at my usual Walmart (which was on the way to work). So I haven’t been taking full advantage of this promotion as of late.

Now that it’s been extended, I will probably drop by once a week for a $10,000 purchase that I can liquidate in smaller batches locally. It’s not ideal, but I’m happy to do it since it saves me time. 

Besides, my cash back credit cards and Dosh Rewards will help offset some of the Simon Mall fees. Are you going to take advantage of Simon Mall’s $1,000 Visa gift card promo now that it’s been extended through October?

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