2015 Great Gift Wrap-up dates established

[Dan Druff]

Dan good point and I did mention earlier that the free play cost is more attractive at 30k per $100. But I do use Shell and there is one low priced Shell near me which also gives the Total Rewards discount. The Shell gas cards can also be used as gifts. I'm not saying the free play is a bad idea but the Shell cards give me more utility. $700 of free play is a one time event and the Shell cards could be utilized for a year.

Let's see what really happens. I might need a new blender by then.

I don't understand. Even with a Shell that you like to visit anyway, cash always has more utility than gift cards, even if you get it in a lump sum up front (unless you can't hold onto money).

While freeplay isn't cash, the 14.3% markup on gift cards makes them very unattractive, unless you find yourself unwilling to gamble a bit on the freeplay. But if you are unwilling to gamble, why are you playing VP at all?

[Alan Mendelson]

In the past I looked at the GGWU as an opportunity to walk away with something tangible: bikes, jewelry, gift cards, sports memorabilia are some of the things I've gotten in years past.

In years past going to the GGWU was never a gambling trip. It's unlikely it will be one this year.
If I were in Vegas to gamble it would make sense to use the free play option before using my own cash.

[Dan Druff]

I posted this about 1 1/2 years ago. I assume it is still true today, and is useful info if so:

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There is a "back room" with hosts who will supposedly "round up" your points if you are just barely short to buy something, but it's not what you think.

I needed 600 points (worth $2) to get a $10 Shell card.

I went into that back host's room, and the guy laughably offered to give me the 600 points "in exchange for 1200 RCs."

1200 RCs are worth $12.

So I asked, "You're charging me $12 in RCs for $2 in GGWU points?"

He replied, "Well, um, yeah, but you have $2200 in RCs, so you can easily afford that."

I then asked, "So you're saying that since I have a lot of RCs, I should just waste them? I should spend $12 in RCs so you can round up my GGWU points by $2? How does that make any sense?"

He then stammered, "Ummm... well... I mean, I try to tell people this isn't a good deal and you probably shouldn't do it, but.... uhhh... a lot of people want to anyway..."

This was a lie, because he didn't try to talk me out of it at all, and in fact was trying to rationalize why this was okay.

He then insisted that "We can't round up points here, we can only trade for RCs".

I was frustrated and left the room. I went to check out, and figured I would take another shot at asking the checkout woman if she could round it up for me. She consulted her supervisor, who agreed to do it for me, without charging me any RCs!

BOTTOM LINE: If you want your points rounded up, do it at checkout (ask for a supervisor), and don't bother with that terrible host's room where they try to charge you RCs at a 6-to-1 factor!

(On a side note, why was Caesar's trying to nickel-and-dime people with their RCs like that? It just served to get people mad. I think they were aiming it at people who wanted to buy something big, and figured they would be happy to spend $12 to round up their points $2 in order to buy something worth $1000. But still, it's a crappy thing to do to your customers.)

[Alan Mendelson]

I am glad you posted that again Dan. Always good advice.

[Alan Mendelson]

The Gift Cards are now listed on the GGWU site. I noticed there are now $50 Shell cards. I don't recall $50 cards in the past. Is this new. $100 and $10 cards still available.

$50 cards are perfect for fill-ups and they come with the same point ratio so you are not losing any points by opting for the $50 cards.

[Alan Mendelson]

Also on the GGWU site is a $100 Simon Gift Card. Same cost (in points) as the Shell card. Simon has two outlet malls near Los Angeles: one in Camarillo (closest to me) and the other in Cabazon (near Palm Springs). Both outlet malls have quality outlet stores and I've been going to them for years.

I've checked the www.Simongiftcards.com website and cannot find specific info if these gift cards are valid at these outlet malls. I sent an email inquiry. Does anyone know or have experience using them?

I happen to love outlet mall shopping -- heck I made a career reporting about it.

[Dan Druff]

I don't like outlet mall shopping anymore. In the '90s this was a great value, as you were getting the same products that sold in the department stores for much more.

Unfortunately, as with all great deals, the companies offering them figured out a way to exploit and ruin it.

In the case of outlet malls, it changed to where they were offering inferior products (or irregular) products that they would never sell in their mainline stores.

Thus, you were paying less and getting less.

However, the outlet mall craze of the '90s keeps these stores doing well, as people still see them the same way.

Alan, you should look into this. Perhaps this isn't true of all retailers with outlet stores, but I know it's true for a lot of them.

[Alan Mendelson]

Oh come on, Dan. I figured out the outlet stores years ago. Sure there are some seconds sold in them but the seconds can be exceptional values. And sure there are companies such as Polo that manufacture merchandise intended only for their outlets but these are also exceptional values.

Years ago I bought a Movado watch at their outlet for $350 which was a $1250 retail watch. I've always bought my Polo shirts at the Polo outlet. I buy my shoes at the outlets because they are the same damn shoes.

And what is a "second"? It might be nothing more than an inside stitch that's out of place or the end of a run which is no longer being carried in the main retail stores.

If you know what you are looking for, then outlet shopping can be very profitable. It's like being an "advantage player" in retail. LOL

[lucky]

I have close to 230000 tier points this year but my GGWU points is only 22500.....is that right

[Alan Mendelson]

I have close to 230000 tier points this year but my GGWU points is only 22500.....is that right

I learned from some of our forum members that some Caesars casinos outside of Nevada do not give points for the GGWU. Where were you playing this past year?
Also, there are no GGWU on "bonus tier points" but only on the basic points you get from actual play. If for example you played 5,000 tier points in a day and got a 10,000 tier point bonus -- there are no GGWU points on that 10,000 point bonus.

[lucky]

I made all my tier credits at CET properties in Atlantic city....but u know I think that part about bonus not being included towards GGWP might be the answer.....

[Alan Mendelson]

I made all my tier credits at CET properties in Atlantic city....but u know I think that part about bonus not being included towards GGWP might be the answer.....

I don't know what the "bonus" program is in Atlantic City. Did you get a 10X bonus?

[lucky]

i don't know if I got the bonus or not......

[Luckylisa]

I made all my tier credits at CET properties in Atlantic city....but u know I think that part about bonus not being included towards GGWP might be the answer.....

AC has their own GGWU. If you played primarily in AC, you should have a large amount of points available to use at the AC GGWU. Vegas GGWU points are earned as follows:

Bally's Las Vegas Manager, LLC on behalf of Parball Newco, LLC d/b/a Bally's Las Vegas Desert Palace, Inc. d/b/a Caesars Palace Flamingo CERP Manager, LLC on behalf of Flamingo Las Vegas Operating Company, LLC d/b/a Flamingo Las Vegas HLV CERP Manager, LLC on behalf of Harrah's Las Vegas, LLC d/b/a Harrah's Casino Hotel, Las Vegas 3535 LV Newco, LLC d/b/a The LINQ Hotel & Casino Paris CERP Manager, LLC on behalf of Paris Las Vegas Operating Company, LLC d/b/a Paris Las Vegas Rio CERP Manager, LLC on behalf of Rio Properties, LLC d/b/a Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino PHW Manager, LLC on behalf of PHWLV, LLC d/b/a Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians d/b/a Harrah's Resort Southern California by HCAL, LLC, as manager Ak-Chin Indian Community d/b/a Harrah's Ak-Chin Casino by Harrah's Arizona Corporation, as manager Caesars Entertainment Operating Company, Inc. d/b/a Harrah's Casino Hotel Reno Laughlin CERP Manager, LLC on behalf of Harrah's Laughlin, LLC d/b/a Harrah's Laughlin Harveys Tahoe Management Company, Inc. d/b/a Harrah's Casino Hotel Lake Tahoe Harvey's Tahoe Management Company, Inc. d/b/a Harveys Resort Hotel/Casino Cromwell Manager, LLC on behalf of Corner Investment Company, LLC d/b/a The Cromwell

[lucky]

Just found out that unlike Vegas CET players, those of us in AC do not get gift points from Teir points earned throughout the year. We here in AC get our gift points only from the tier points we earn in October and November......if any AC players have any information about this, let me know.....no wonder I have only 22500 gift points, while I have over 250000 tier credit....seems like we got the short stick

[Alan Mendelson]

lucky, you definitely are shortchanged there. I will take a stab and say if you had played 250,000 tier points in Vegas you would have about $600 worth of gifts at the GGWU here.

[lucky]

Bummer, why would CET do this, it makes no sense...

[pkspins]

I'm going through my stash of random gift cards from casino giveaways and I have a number of Shell cards.
Since a lot of you get these, can you tell me - can these be used to pay at the pump or do you need to go into the store?

[RS__]

They work for "pay at the pump", as well as in-store -- you can use them to buy snacks and whatnot.

[pkspins]

They work for "pay at the pump", as well as in-store -- you can use them to buy snacks and whatnot.

Thank you. Normally I use all my random cards as extra holiday gifts to my friends and loved ones but I'm keeping these.