Gift Cards at Supermarkets

[foggy]

My prior health fund said they only allowed 12 months, however in reality allowed me to prepay 30. That was a special situation though, generally I would question the benefit of doing so!

Ok, that is pretty lucky of you. Im with bupa and they told me 14 months.
I think the calculation for prepaying 30months would be if you premiums increases by more than 10% youd be better off? Because you are effectively not paying 3 premium rises.. pretty good if you ask me.

 

[JohnK]

Yes, any amount paid before April 1 will be at today's price. I had 17 x $100 VISA/Mastercards from the Coles and Woolworths deal that I used to prepay part of my health insurance.

So as long as I pay before 31 March it will cover premium at old rates and this will happen automatically?

 

[asterix]

So as long as I pay before 31 March it will cover premium at old rates and this will happen automatically?

That's what is supposed to happen. Keep an eye on it and call them if it doesn't.

 

[SydneySwan]

So as long as I pay before 31 March it will cover premium at old rates and this will happen automatically?

I wouldn't leave it until 31 March. My fund said I needed to prepay by March 29 to get the old rate. I prepaid today until March 31 2018 which was as far ahead as they allow. In the past I was able to prepay 15 months but they seem to have tightened up the software now.

 

[JohnK]

I'll pay on Sunday. Need to get the remaining Only1 gift cards back from mum who has been using them at Woolworths for grocery shopping.

 

[Saurs82]

I need to buy a new microwave are myer and Jbhifi my best bet for giftcards? David jones?

 

[deva22]

I need to buy a new microwave are myer and Jbhifi my best bet for giftcards? David jones?

IMO best bet is to buy wishgift @ 5% off, then use to buy jbhifi vouchers. But depends on where u can get it at the best price.

 

[Saurs82]

IMO best bet is to buy wishgift @ 5% off, then use to buy jbhifi vouchers. But depends on where u can get it at the best price.

Yes that is what i was planning to do just wasnt sure if i had any other options other then those 3.

 

[Chicken]

I need to buy a new microwave are myer and Jbhifi my best bet for giftcards? David jones?

For myself, the best is to run around, get the best quote by getting shops to beat against each other, then ask David Jones to price match, as I am able to buy David Jones e gift cards at 10% off from Reward Gatesway / API.

 

[get me outta here]

Do the quotes that you intend DJs to match have to be written or printed, if so, how do you ensure you get that?

For myself, the best is to run around, get the best quote by getting shops to beat against each other, then ask David Jones to price match, as I am able to buy David Jones e gift cards at 10% off from Reward Gatesway / API.

 

[Chicken]

Do the quotes that you intend DJs to match have to be written or printed, if so, how do you ensure you get that?

Always verbal quotes. I have NEVER bought any expensive stuffs like white goods based on published prices e.g. price label stuck to a fridge, catalogue, internet web site. You are dumb dumb if you buy white goods or expensive stuffs like fancy hair dryers off any published price.

Sales people know if I am asking them to beat a genuine price, or if I'm just fabricating a price for them to match. They know what the bottom price is, and I know I have reached the bottom limit when I am shown the door by 2 sales people.

 

[get me outta here]

Interesting, I've only tried a price beat at DJs a couple of times and they said they need proof such as something written down from JBs or wherever, identifing the other shop and their price.

Always verbal quotes. I have NEVER bought any expensive stuffs like white goods based on published prices e.g. price label stuck to a fridge, catalogue, internet web site. You are dumb dumb if you buy white goods or expensive stuffs like fancy hair dryers off any published price.

Sales people know if I am asking them to beat a genuine price, or if I'm just fabricating a price for them to match. They know what the bottom price is, and I know I have reached the bottom limit when I am shown the door by 2 sales people.

 

[Chicken]

Interesting, I've only tried a price beat at DJs a couple of times and they said they need proof such as something written down from JBs or wherever, identifing the other shop and their price.

Bear in mind that I don't always buy from DJ, as they have not have the model I want; yet I do use this strategy for all large ticket item I buy.

 

[foggy]

I just bought $3300 of only1 cards to pay for health insurance until 2018 oct. Glad i could find them in time.

 

[Mr_Orange]

I just bought $3300 of only1 cards to pay for health insurance until 2018 oct. Glad i could find them in time.

Nice. I bought $3200 and there were still more $100 cards on the rack.

 

[RAM]

I wouldn't leave it until 31 March. My fund said I needed to prepay by March 29 to get the old rate. I prepaid today until March 31 2018 which was as far ahead as they allow. In the past I was able to prepay 15 months but they seem to have tightened up the software now.

When I looked into this three years back (and changing providers etc) I was told there is supposed to be a statutory limit of paying 13 months on top of the EXISTING policy expiry date.

Not 13 months from the date of payment which may be confusing some.

Why a 'statutory' limit? Because of the Fed Govt subsidy.

Now the slightly complicated part....

So you have to pay before March 31 (always aim a few days earlier if possible just to be on the safe side) but your current policy expiry may be July 27th.

So your renewal at the current premium price will (paying for 13 months again) take you to fully paid up until August 27th 2018.

The health fund is happy as they have locked you in as a customer for (in this case) 17 months into the future and you have paid 5 months in advance of the date you needed to. So the health fund gets to use your money for the extra 5 months, gets the Govt co-pay 5 months earlier as well and knows it is not going to lose you as a customer in the next financial year.

The reality is you are not really SAVING the premium increase - merely postponing when you pay it.

So the premium increase from 2013 I ended up paying in 2014, and 2014's increase I paid in 2015. The true saving to me was the actual interest I earnt on the amount of the premium increase for the delay of 13 months. Add in a little annuity/geometric calculation to account for the seemingly perpetual nature of this and you find that apart from a warm inner glow - you've made a little not a lot.

You make the most if you are paying off a home mortgage and leave all excess funds in a set-off account. If you are not organised enough then the amount you make by delaying the annual days of reckoning is significantly less.

... but as a $ in my pocket is significantly better than in some CEO's - I play the game.

Now to convince the call center operator to accept those $100 CMCs.

 

[get me outta here]

Mr_Orange / foggy, I don't remember the add on fee for those cards, so what would $3200/$3300 have added up to?

Nice. I bought $3200 and there were still more $100 cards on the rack.

 

[andye]

Mr_Orange / foggy, I don't remember the add on fee for those cards, so what would $3200/$3300 have added up to?

$5.95 per card so $100.65 per card after discount

 

[get me outta here]

Thanks, which discount is that, they weren't on 'special' this week were they?

$5.95 per card so $100.65 per card after discount

 

[andye]

Thanks, which discount is that, they weren't on 'special' this week were they?

The standard wishcard via cashrewards, Ent Book etc