Verizon smart rewards being discontinued

[LibratPDX]

I have a zillion points but do not use them for Carnival cards....I think it's a horrible deal anyway,...90.00 for a 100.00 card

 

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To each their own, but it adds up! I'm saving over $250 on a Jr Suite next year, works for me!

[splintz]

To each their own, but it adds up! I'm saving over $250 on a Jr Suite next year, works for me!

exactly! i have saved over a thousand dollars the last 2 years using the gift cards i buy from verizon. my next cruise in March is over $5,000 just for the booking of the 2 rooms for my kids and us. i have been buying gift cards for the final payment that will save me $500. not to mention i will have gift cards to put towards my on board account. that doesn't sound like a horrible deal to me. it will be missed

[CruzCrazy]

I'm personally going to miss it, especially since they recently added the electronic version of the gift cards where you don't have to wait for UPS and sign. I had a $500 card from Verizon go missing in the UPS system a couple of years ago, and it took forever to get it straightened out, so I had shyed away and had been using AARP rewards until the electronic cards appeared on Verizon rewards. It was 10% of my cruise, a little at a time, plus bonus cards for on-board use. Win! From what I've seen of the "new" revamped program, I don't think it's going to be of any use for me. If we didn't get a discount through Verizon through DH's work, I'd probably switch to Sprint. DH says Verizon's service is way better in our area, though...so we'll have to wait and see.

[richfret]

I have used the Verizon gift cards for Carnival cruises and cruise expenses several times and the savings were substantial. Have also used them for several restaurants. From what I can see, however, I am not impressed with the new Verizon program to replace it. First of all, it is rather secretive when you call Verizon to see exactly what it will be. If you ask if the same gift cards will be offered, they say "not quite". You lose all your points in about 2 months and I have about 200,000. Also seems like you earn less points with the new program than you now do.

 

I get the impression Verizon is unhappy with the current program but I don't know if it is because too many gift cards were being sold or if it is the other way and they want less gift cards sold. I guess we will learn shortly. Strange part of this scenario is that Verizon was the one that kept sending E-mails to me to use the program

 

There is the AARP alternative but you earn less points with them and I doubt their program will remain the same once the new Verizon program begins. In the end, this change will not be good for us.

[LibratPDX]

So far I'm not impressed with what I've read about Verizon's new program either. And earning 1 point per $300 spent and then getting a $5 Starbucks gift card? Really? Hopefully AARP, Citibank, Allstate, etc will continue to offer the discounted Carnival gift cards....

[Tiger0613]

The earnings rate looks horrible, and the first set of rewards are lackluster. The program is only available through the My Verizon app. It will take me three months to earn one credit, but you only need one credit(point) to get a reward.

 

They give you one credit just for signing up. There are new rewards at the beginning of each month. I will be using the free credit to get 1 GB of data. Disney World wifi isn't always adequate.

 

Just remember to opt out of Verizon Selects after joining if you don't want Verizon tracking everything you do with your smartphone. I opted out, but I wasn't kicked out of the program. Hopefully I will still earn credits. The terms say you have to join Verizon Selects to join the new program. Smart Rewards had the same requirement. I opted out then too.

 

 

Also, consider joining AARP even if you aren't 50+. Any adult can join. People under 50 can get an associate membership. The only things that I know you won't be eligible for are their insurance products. You will be eligible for all of the discounts(travel, dining, retail, etc). So you can get discounts on pre and post cruise hotels, car rentals, some flights(book with a British Airways flight number), and at restaurants in whatever US port city you are in.

 

I will be saving $6.86 on a 1 night stay at a MCO hotel in September and $31.19 on a 3 night stay in New Orleans in January.

 

You have to call their 1-800 number to get an associate membership. It is supposed to cost $12 per year(that may be changing). The rep tried to charge me the full $16 per year, but gave me the first year for $12 after I said that I had read it was $12.

[n6uqqq]

I didn't see this this thread earlier so I created a thread about this. My two cents here is that the new program is surely going to be watered down to almost nothing of what it is now. I normally wait to pay off cruises but in this instance I have paid off two rooms for Nov of next year, saving 400 dollars of my cost of about 4000 dollars. Some out here complain that the current program is a waste of time. To me saving 400 dollars is anything but a waste of time :p. Coke rewards used to have a decent little program where one could earn things. Then they changed it and now it is all sweepstakes entries and I fear that is where Verizon is going with this, along with some really small rewards like the 5 dollar starbucks cards. I have saved around a 1000 dollars with this program and am going to miss it.

[SNJCruisers]

For those who wish to purchase cards, the 100 plastic ones as well as 100 and 500 e cards are currently available. I just snagged 5 x 500 for our 2020 or 2021 LNG cruise.

[Gigi 18:)*]

my cruise is paid for, can i use the gift cards to transfer money to the casino? what happens if i have some left over?

[LibratPDX]

my cruise is paid for, can i use the gift cards to transfer money to the casino? what happens if i have some left over?

 

Just have it applied to your account when you board, either at check-in or at Guest Services. It depends on the amount of credit you have left, I have received checks in the mail for up to $40. Their rules say money will be refunded in the form of a gift card but maybe if it's $100 plus? Not sure.....

[sbnuggie]

Do the gift card you buy through Verizon have an expire ration date we don't cruise until June 18, 2018

 

 

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[richfret]

There is no expiration date for Carnival gift cards. I have bought Carnival gift cards for cruises in 2018 and 2019.

 

 

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[n6uqqq]

Do the gift card you buy through Verizon have an expire ration date we don't cruise until June 18, 2018

 

.

 

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There is no expiration date so I am assuming they don't expire at all. My cruise is Nov of next year but I went ahead and paid it off now to get the $400 dollar savings from the Verizon cards.

[JaniceB]

Thanks for the heads up

[rondl1]

They don't expire. You can put them on your sail and sign and then pull the $ out by loading it on one of the slot machines. And then cash out and take your ticket to the casino cashier (and there are no fees).

 

On our last cruise we didn't realize we had a larger balance and about 3 weeks after we returned, Carnival sent us a refund card (about $300).

[Crusin5252]

Well that is disappointing. I used them for pretty much every Carnival cruise over the last few years and I had enough points built up to last for life. My last cruise I paid for everything from the fare, gratuities and Cheers with it; saved 10% across the board on the cruise.

 

Same here. I have $7,000 of the gift cards - enough to pay for the 28 days of cruising we already have booked, plus the gratuities and on Board expenses. I paid the deposits with gift cards, too. I thought about buying more before the program ends, but I read that they become inactive after 2 years. Anyone know if this is true?

[SNJCruisers]

I thought about buying more before the program ends, but I read that they become inactive after 2 years. Anyone know if this is true?

There is no expiration date listed on the physical card or the ecard print out, so they should be good perpetually.

 

 

 

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[nychad10]

There is no expiration date listed on the physical card or the ecard print out, so they should be good perpetually.

 

 

 

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Yep

[cwb348]

So disappointed about the new Verizon rewards plan; we cruise about five times each year and were saving 10% on everything.

I can't see where to opt out of the Verizon Select - help! Thanks in advance!

[Tiger0613]

So disappointed about the new Verizon rewards plan; we cruise about five times each year and were saving 10% on everything.

I can't see where to opt out of the Verizon Select - help! Thanks in advance!

 

Are you looking in the My Verizon app?

1) Open the menu(three lines in upper left corner).

2) Go to Account and log in if it asks.

3) Select Account Settings.

4) Go to Privacy and select a phone.

5) Go to Verizon Selects(fourth choice).

6) Toggle the switch to off.

7) Repeat steps 4 - 6 for all other lines.

I suggest resetting the data Verizon already collected. The Reset button is at the bottom of the same screen as the on/off switch.

I would also suggest disallowing Verizon to share your data for the three other purposes listed on the Privacy screen(Customer Proprietary Network Info, Business and Marketing Insights, and Relevant Mobile Advertising).

Customer Proprietary Network Info includes the quantity, technical configuration, type, destination, location and amount of use of the telecommunications services you purchase.

Business and Marketing Insights includes the websites you visit, the apps and features you use, device location, device type, and information provided by you or others(such as gender, age range, and interests).

Relevant Mobile Advertising(part of the AOL Advertising Network) uses your postal and email addresses, and information about your Verizon products and services(such as device type), information provided by you or others(such as gender, age range, and interests). It also includes information(such as web browsing, app usage, and location) gathered when you use AOL services or visit third-party websites where AOL provides advertising services.

[SNJCruisers]

So disappointed about the new Verizon rewards plan; we cruise about five times each year and were saving 10% on everything.

You can still participate in the rewards programs with AARP and Allstate to save your 10%

 

 

 

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