Shop card vs shipboard credits

[wyobean]

While I would probably prefer OBC also I am sure that even though we do not live close to a store we do travel where there are stores sometimes and I certainly order on line for delivery. They have everything from tires, appliances, clothes, sheets...the list goes on forever. Sooner or later I am going to need tires, an appliance, deck furniture, a new computer/IPad, etc. If you already have their membership you probably spend some money there besides travel. The OBC is great but, I am not sure this change would cause me to change TA’s.

[AlanF65]

21 hours ago, StLouisCruisers said:

 

Yes, joking!  However at this point in life, we don't need a lot of "stuff" anymore.  I would end up with so many Shop Cards and it would take years to use it all up.  In fact, tonight I booked a cruise in 2021 and gave it to a TA who is giving me a very big discount.  No Shop Card from Costco on this one.  Costco may regret this decision.

I buy fruits, vegetables, frozen veggies, paper products, glasses,  meat and poultry, prepared foods,  gas, yogurt, coffee, stuff like that. We buy computer monitors for work. My brother gets his hearing aids there. Plus one time big ticket purchases. Dog treats, dog food, bread, wine , liquor.

Lots to buy there that is in the normal day to day needs.

 

 

[AlanF65]

26 minutes ago, StLouisCruisers said:

 

Sounds like Costco Shop Cards are a better fit for you.  Absolutely not a good idea for me.  I will therefore be using the high volume travel agent I have used for a couple of prior cruises (Seabourn is not a cruise line Costco works with), and that agent is giving me great discounts on our cruise fares.  She will be getting a lot more business from me.  I have two more cruises I booked with Princess recently that I will be turning over to her within 60 days.  And this is in addition to the cruise I booked with her last night.  She's happy and I'm happy.☺️

Somethings I don't buy because the quantity is too much. The cash cards were better, you could spend a few bucks and get cash back. You can also use them to buy gift cards in store. Two weeks ago you could buy a Delta Airlines $1000 gift card for $900.

They were gone when I went back to buy.

The store is 10 minutes form work so I go every few weeks, if it was a journey I could use it for online stuff but not for everyday.

 

[Alberta Quilter]

On 12/5/2019 at 10:14 AM, AlanF65 said:

So I sent in the transfer paperwork yesterday and it was moved to Big box TA today. Online if I book through big box I get a shop card. They are giving me $500 in refundable OBC. 

 

 

On 12/5/2019 at 10:37 AM, Alberta Quilter said:

Now that's interesting.  I have a cruise to move over to the BBA in the next couple of weeks (before the 60 days is up) so hope that happens for me, too.  Thanks for posting.

 

I just completed my transfer today and also received onboard credit because the cruise was booked prior to the change.

[mpk]

On 12/11/2019 at 3:32 PM, StLouisCruisers said:

We just spoke with the big box TA and asked about the shop card on a Princess cruise.   She told us the change went into effect on Dec. 4 for Princess.  It seems from reading here the change for HAL went into effect in late November.  We are definitely not happy!  We book many cruises and turn them over to the big box store.  All the bookings we have already transferred will receive the OBC, anything we book or transfer to them now will have a shop card.  Since there are no big box stores near our home we don't shop there a lot, and sometimes the amount of OBC we receive is a couple thousand dollars how am I supposed to spend all that on TP and gas?  I much preferred refundable OBC.

 

Sorry to dig up an old thread, but can the cards be used toward a future cruise?  If so, that would be an easy way to use them up.

[Lido deck main]

6 hours ago, StLouisCruisers said:

 

No, if that were true we would continue with the Big Box store travel agency.  They have to be used at Costco.  You can probably use them for online orders too, but someone who has had one will have to confirm that.

For Canadian customers big box shop card, we can only use in store and online, not for future travel.  We plan to purchase a washer/dryer with ours.  Go on a cruise and then buy appliances.  Works for us.

[Loreto]

7 hours ago, StLouisCruisers said:

 

No, if that were true we would continue with the Big Box store travel agency.  They have to be used at Costco.  You can probably use them for online orders too, but someone who has had one will have to confirm that.

I , too, was annoyed that OBC is no longer offered.  You can use the shop cards toward one of their "vacations." I have yet to get a shop card since every cruise has been cancelled.

We rarely shop there and the shop cards would last forever🙁.

[Alberta Quilter]

I booked a cruise, with my PCC, in Jan/21 to sail in Aug/22.  In Mar/21, I sent in the form to transfer it to the big box agency (BBA).  I was contacted by my PCC to get the details of the offer from the BBA and they would try to match it, if I kept the booking with HAL.  Well, they did better than match it. They gave us the equivalent in USD OBC!  I was pleasantly surprised and grabbed that deal!  I got 30% more (well, I guess it could be 25% now) due to the exchange rate and I got it in OBC which I much prefer. 

 

So you could always try that route, if you'd rather have OBC than a shop card.  It's just not refundable in cash at the end of the cruise.  We'll have no issues spending it onboard.

Edited June 3, 2021 by Alberta Quilter

[mpk]

On 6/3/2021 at 2:28 PM, Alberta Quilter said:

I booked a cruise, with my PCC, in Jan/21 to sail in Aug/22.  In Mar/21, I sent in the form to transfer it to the big box agency (BBA).  I was contacted by my PCC to get the details of the offer from the BBA and they would try to match it, if I kept the booking with HAL.  Well, they did better than match it. They gave us the equivalent in USD OBC!  I was pleasantly surprised and grabbed that deal!  I got 30% more (well, I guess it could be 25% now) due to the exchange rate and I got it in OBC which I much prefer. 

 

So you could always try that route, if you'd rather have OBC than a shop card.  It's just not refundable in cash at the end of the cruise.  We'll have no issues spending it onboard.

 

Interesting...   the times I've transferred bookings to Big Box Agency, I was never contacted by the cruiseline rep.  This is for NCL, RCL, Carnival.

 

Perhaps at these other lines, once the ball is in motion, there's no stopping it.  I wonder if a hint to the PCC that the booking will transfer unless some OBC is tossed in might help get a match, or at least somewhere close to a match.

[chisoxfan]

A couple things and excuse me if they were addressed earlier:

-California and Washington (I believe) allow cash refunds on shop cards

-the Executive Membership does allow an additional 2%

 

While we have used C for the past six years exclusively and the shop card is convenient for us

our latest attempts at communication have been a disaster -for ten days wait times have been

over one hour or a 'call  back later'.

 

This is unacceptable - I wrote  letters to management on this. I even called corporate offices to try and get a back door into an agent without success.

 

We will likely rethink our use of them in the future. To us the advantage of C was simplicity vs. Maximum credits, but this current situation has challenged mightily.

 

 

[DaveOKC]

I have always used HAL PCC, but have considered big box.  Since we normally book with either a casino offer or casino discount, would this still work?

 

Also, I like to try for an upsell offer, and have done many, but  does this work with big box (I have heard that they do not pass them on)?

 

[Loreto]

1 hour ago, DaveOKC said:

I have always used HAL PCC, but have considered big box.  Since we normally book with either a casino offer or casino discount, would this still work?

 

Also, I like to try for an upsell offer, and have done many, but  does this work with big box (I have heard that they do not pass them on)?

 

They do not let you make upsell offers and they won't offer an upsell.  You can mark your booking "any cabin upgrade" and hope for the best.

[kazu]

1 hour ago, DaveOKC said:

Also, I like to try for an upsell offer, and have done many, but  does this work with big box (I have heard that they do not pass them on)?

 

 

My experience is it won’t happen.  Most of the big box stores/ huge cruise agencies do not offer upsells.  They are too busy booking new people.  JMO and experience and one of the reasons I don’t use them.

[DaveOKC]

Loreto and Kazu - thanks for confirming this for me.  No upsells is a deal killer for me.