Quote:
Originally Posted by Tintinpoker
I don't see how it can offset the "small" fee. Say you register to a 1500$ event (one of the most common price point). It is a 45$ fee!
I checked how many points I would get with my credit card, a Chase Saphire (pretty good one). It is 18$ back.
Different cards have different rewards structures, to include how things like points might be further maximized. You also appear to ignore the number of cards that have cash-back sign-up bonuses for the first 90 day spend (some are as little as $1K in that window while some want a $3K or $5K spend). When you look at the fact that some cards are offering more than a few hundred bucks back on those bonuses, it becomes VERY easy to offset the fee.
I do not know what the Sapphire structure is or even what the current Chase SUB's might be. I don't do much with Chase. But $18 back says that it is NOT a good structure. But there is ALSO more to rewards than just a cash-back component. Different point programs exist that can ALSO be used to the advantage of the prudent consumer.
And, as noted, some of us prefer not to be standing around in lines. To us, time value of money is a part of the equation in whether it makes sense to use a card...
Quote:
IMO, if you can come the night before the event, and register then, it is way better. There is basically no lines after 10PM and registration is open 24/7.
Now if you want to arrive straight from the airport, I understand!
If I am not staying at the Rio, then coming in the night before is both an added expense and a waste of time for me. I would rather log on from my room or, for subsequent events, just use the kiosk (which never has a line in my experience across the past few years).
Having options like the ability to put it on a card is something that I wish other properties would offer. Obviously the use of a card makes more sense for those of us who pay in full each month as it would be foolish to pay a fee and then ALSO be paying interest on the purchase. The only way it would make sense to revolve the entry fee is if one had a card with a 0% promo (some of those ALSO exist).
Admittedly, the ones who revolve balances with an APR north of 20% are the ones who help to finance the rewards that some of us take maximum advantage of...