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Mar
News and notes from around the interweb:
- $300 of a Westin Heavenly Bed. Comparing like-to-like the W Hotels bed is a bit cheaper, discounts are larger and much more frequent. And shipping on the Westin bed isn’t free. But some prefer it..
- Loyalty Lobby summarizes free signup offers for Regus Gold membership which gets you free access to cubicles at their office locations worldwide.
- Australian merchants widely add fees to credit card charges, and consumers there pay more for their cards, receive less in return, and haven’t seen lower cash prices as a result.
Now new rules allow credit card companies to limit the fees charged by Australian merchants, and Visa plans to cap the fees at 1%. Fascinating that Australia is learning from experience, while the U.S. has been willfully blind to their example.
- Starwood lets you design your own member card. Since I never actually use my card (and I’m just Gold so I don’t even use it as part of a throw down) I opted to just download it to the SPG app for my Android phone.
- Amtrak is offering double points on all routes through May 18, registration required. (HT: Wandering Aramean)
Hangingchad said,
Gary – where are you seeing the W beds for much cheaper than the Westin heavenly bed? I am in the market for a nice king. Just checked both sites and the W looks about the same price. Is there something I’m missing? Thanks!
nsx at FlyerTalk said,
In larger cities you can buy new or nearly new high-end mattresses on Craigslist for 2/3 less than you’d pay at a discount store. $500 to $800 will get you something you’ll be very, very happy with. The depreciation on a mattress the instant it leaves the store is more than 50%.
scott said,
@nsx…I wouldf GLADLY pay a substantial premium to not buy a mattress off of craigslist. That is just gross. Sounds like a massive invitation to bed bugs.
Dan said,
@scott….kinda like buying used underwear…..
Robert Hanson said,
If you stay in hotels, you are sleeping on “used” mattresses all the time.
Gary said,
@Robert Hanson – I don’t know about you, but since I’m a blogger they give me a brand new mattress every time! (rimshot)
Arcanum said,
Is this a good discount for the Westin bed? I tried to Google the date of the last % off deal but it was just a sea of W bed results.
Gary said,
@Arcanum there are very rarely discounts on Westin beds that I’ve seen. That’s why I found this one notable
ben senise said,
We love the westin heavenly beds and bought a Simmons beauty rest with the pad on top. It’s identical to the heavenly bed. Was told that Simmons actually makes the westin beds but don’t know if that’s really true.
Dax said,
So in Australia the credit card companies have the power to prevent retailers from passing along the full cost of the cards to consumers. What exactly is that a solution to again?
Dax said,
The above should say “So in Australia the credit card companies have the power to prevent retailers from passing along the full cost of the cards ONLY to those who actually use them. What exactly is that a solution to again?”
michael said,
Re the SPG DESIGN YOUR OWN MEMBER CARD.
I would not bother with the above for the following
reason :
Being a gold member , over the last 2 years I have
requested 4 times (and been promissed 4 times)to be sent
a new SPG card.
Every time at check-in I am embarassed to have to show
my 2007 expired card.
So although being a loyal member , I don’t trust them.
Michael
Gary said,
Why do you need to show your card at checkin at all?
michael said,
GARY,
I just show my (no status) card to present myself.
I assume that it is easier/faster for them to find my
reservation this way.
Michael in YUL
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