Check out our Top Rewards Cards to boost your points earning and travel more!
The morning in miles and points started with word of an eye-popping promotion from Wyndham: donate all your SPG points to charity and get a 1 to 4 match with Wyndham. Before the promotion start time of 12:00 Eastern, Wyndham had already pulled the promotion, citing unspecified cases of ‘fraud.’ Those who already dumped their SPG balances should see this notice for next steps.
I am happy that I hit delete on every message I saw about this promo. Why did I?
First, I have no personal track record with Wyndham. I have never stayed at one of their hotels. I have never dabbled in their points. I have never gotten their credit cards. I have no plan for how I would use the points.
In contrast, I know SPG and I know the best time in a loyalty program is during a merger (and worst is after).
Second, Wyndham has a track record of devaluations and sneaky dealings.
The much-heralded change to 15,000 points/night at all hotels is evidence to me that just as wild a swing can happen in a new direction. Any points I may get from them I should expect to burn immediately.
How about not honoring a promotion? Done that.
How about burying the lead on credit card everyday spend devaluation? That was last week (though now Wyndham claims this will only affect new card members).
Wyndham created irrational exuberance by shouting, “TODAY ONLY!”
People went nuts. Some perhaps have never done anything with Wyndham and chased a ‘deal’ just because.
The mistake was to empty SPG accounts even before the promotion launched, not even waiting to see if it is real and working. I can see people worrying that a deal will be pulled soon if numbers are too high, in which case they should rethink taking such a big risk. Instead, I think a lot of us didn’t even read the fine print about starting at noon and plunged in.
The lesson for us all is to weigh risk and reward, and now unnecessarily increase risk for the same potential reward. If the promo had gone live and then you donated SPG points you would be in a much better legal position.
Well, charity is good thing, right?
I hope the charities involved get a good shake from donations via SPG points.
Check Out Our: Top Rewards Cards ¦ Newsletter ¦ Twitter ¦ Facebook ¦ Instagram
I agree with everything but the value of Wyndham points comment. I have used their 3k points + cash per night rooms consistently in the past year to get between 4-7 cents/point in value. Max I have got from SPG is like 5 cents/point.
But I wouldn’t still jump to convert SPG to Wyndham as Wyndham’s are easy to earn while SPG isn’t. Diversification is crucial in the points and miles game.
[…] super promotion you plan to do by me first? You know, it may save you some face…if you have any left that is, […]
It’s always about the fine print! Always!!!!!!
@italdesign – NY Chinatown and Nadi Fiji come to mind of ones I walk past.
“Never stayed in Wyndham/Ramada properties…. and after this PR mistake, I won’t even look at Wyndham ever again.”
You might be surprised at the (few) treasures that exist in the current 15k/night system.
My Thoughts exactly….
When I saw this promotion, I thought.. but.. but.. it’s Wyndham… give up my SPG points for Wyndham? Never stayed in Wyndham/Ramada properties…. and after this PR mistake, I won’t even look at Wyndham ever again. There are too many other great hotel brands to be dealing with this nonsense.
“Wyndham Has No Credibility and Took It to a New Level Today”.
My thoughts exactly. Happy to exploit their sweet spots though while they last.