vpFREE2 Forums

Seven Stars - lots of comps... now what?

#1

I recently made 7-Stars at Harrah's Atantic City. And, I got there with 220,000 ($2,200) in comps.

As 7-Stars, I get Room, Food and Beverage (RFB), free show tickets, spa, etc.

However, the free food part of RFB only kicks in after I have ZERO comps. That is, if I go eat a $200 dinner with $2,200 in comps, I end spend $200 in comps and up with $2,000 in comps. If I eat that same dinner with $0 in comps, I end up with FREE dinner.

Seems to me, I would get more (mostly eat better meals) if I didn't have comps and used the RFB benefit to cover my meals!

The best comps to cash I am aware of is 2:1 ($1,100).

The items in the Total Rewards catalog are so expensive (even when they are on special/sale), that the 2:1 cash is a better deal than buying anything from the catalog.

Before I convert to cash, am I overlooking anything?

Thanks!

#2

I agree. I don't understand why a 7* player has to use their comps for food. Who cares if we build up comps. In Vegas I can use it in some stores, and I'd rather do it that way.

Congrats on making 7*. Make sure to take advantage of it

···

________________________________
From: Ted <ted.troccola@gmail.com>
To: vpFREE@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2012 12:20 PM
Subject: [vpFREE] Seven Stars - lots of comps... now what?

I recently made 7-Stars at Harrah's Atantic City. And, I got there with 220,000 ($2,200) in comps.

As 7-Stars, I get Room, Food and Beverage (RFB), free show tickets, spa, etc.

However, the free food part of RFB only kicks in after I have ZERO comps. That is, if I go eat a $200 dinner with $2,200 in comps, I end spend $200 in comps and up with $2,000 in comps. If I eat that same dinner with $0 in comps, I end up with FREE dinner.

Seems to me, I would get more (mostly eat better meals) if I didn't have comps and used the RFB benefit to cover my meals!

The best comps to cash I am aware of is 2:1 ($1,100).

The items in the Total Rewards catalog are so expensive (even when they are on special/sale), that the 2:1 cash is a better deal than buying anything from the catalog.

Before I convert to cash, am I overlooking anything?

Thanks!

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

#3

Thanks Becky - I like the "next in line" benefit most :slight_smile:

I have talked to a few other 7* people from the casino. They have different approaches to maximizing their benefits.

One guy doesn't use comps for a couple of visits and eats at the free places (7* Lounge and Diamond Club). He lets his comps build up, converts to cash when he arrives and makes it a "fancy" weekend (his word, not mine *grin*) in which he schedules dinners at the gourmet restaurants, uses room-service, etc. He gets all of the "fancy" stuff for free because he converted his comps to cash when he showed up.

Another guy burns his comps every time he leaves. He found wine, socks and a few other items that he said were "reasonably priced". He eats at gourmet restaurants, uses room-service, etc. every time he is on the property after burning his comps on the way to valet.

Both seem a bit shady to me (the second one more so than the first), but they both said they have been doing it for a while and no one ever said anything.

Of course, like me, they both play all weekend every weekend. Average put through a weekend is about $30,000 - so, maybe that's why?

···

--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, Becky Kirk <becca9bec@...> wrote:

I agree. I don't understand why a 7* player has to use their comps for food. Who cares if we build up comps. In Vegas I can use it in some stores, and I'd rather do it that way.
Â
Congrats on making 7*. Make sure to take advantage of it

#4

I'm on the West Coast and I don't think you can exchange your comps for money here. I have been in the mid-west and south where they've told me I could, but at that time I kept thinking 2for1, yuk. At one point I had over $6000 in comps. I finally just bought some nice jewelry at Caesars and at Harrah's in Lake Tahoe, but still have a little over $2000. That's a lot of food LOL

···

________________________________
From: The Big Guy <ted.troccola@gmail.com>
To: vpFREE@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2012 12:43 PM
Subject: [vpFREE] Re: Seven Stars - lots of comps... now what?

Thanks Becky - I like the "next in line" benefit most :slight_smile:

I have talked to a few other 7* people from the casino. They have different approaches to maximizing their benefits.

One guy doesn't use comps for a couple of visits and eats at the free places (7* Lounge and Diamond Club). He lets his comps build up, converts to cash when he arrives and makes it a "fancy" weekend (his word, not mine *grin*) in which he schedules dinners at the gourmet restaurants, uses room-service, etc. He gets all of the "fancy" stuff for free because he converted his comps to cash when he showed up.

Another guy burns his comps every time he leaves. He found wine, socks and a few other items that he said were "reasonably priced". He eats at gourmet restaurants, uses room-service, etc. every time he is on the property after burning his comps on the way to valet.

Both seem a bit shady to me (the second one more so than the first), but they both said they have been doing it for a while and no one ever said anything.

Of course, like me, they both play all weekend every weekend. Average put through a weekend is about $30,000 - so, maybe that's why?

--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, Becky Kirk <becca9bec@...> wrote:

I agree. I don't understand why a 7* player has to use their comps for food. Who cares if we build up comps. In Vegas I can use it in some stores, and I'd rather do it that way.
Â
Congrats on making 7*. Make sure to take advantage of it

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

#5

You might want to be a bit careful here. To my knowledge, there is no policy that says just having the tier status of Seven Stars gets RFB.

To: vpFREE@yahoogroups.com
From: ted.troccola@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:20:37 +0000
Subject: [vpFREE] Seven Stars - lots of comps... now what?

I recently made 7-Stars at Harrah's Atantic City. And, I got there with 220,000 ($2,200) in comps.

As 7-Stars, I get Room, Food and Beverage (RFB), free show tickets, spa, etc.

However, the free food part of RFB only kicks in after I have ZERO comps. That is, if I go eat a $200 dinner with $2,200 in comps, I end spend $200 in comps and up with $2,000 in comps. If I eat that same dinner with $0 in comps, I end up with FREE dinner.

Seems to me, I would get more (mostly eat better meals) if I didn't have comps and used the RFB benefit to cover my meals!

The best comps to cash I am aware of is 2:1 ($1,100).

The items in the Total Rewards catalog are so expensive (even when they are on special/sale), that the 2:1 cash is a better deal than buying anything from the catalog.

Before I convert to cash, am I overlooking anything?

Thanks!

------------------------------------

vpFREE Links: http://www.west-point.org/users/usma1955/20228/V/Links.htm

Yahoo! Groups Links

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

#6

*from my host:*

···

*
*
But the RFB relies on at least some comp to be available to keep
everything in line. At some point, if you do this often enough, your
account could become overcomped. Then RFB may not be an option. I would
suggest you do keep some credits in your account. *
*
On Wed, Jan 25, 2012 at 4:16 PM, kelso 1600 <kelso1600@hotmail.com> wrote:

**

You might want to be a bit careful here. To my knowledge, there is no
policy that says just having the tier status of Seven Stars gets RFB.

> To: vpFREE@yahoogroups.com
> From: ted.troccola@gmail.com
> Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:20:37 +0000
> Subject: [vpFREE] Seven Stars - lots of comps... now what?

>
> I recently made 7-Stars at Harrah's Atantic City. And, I got there with
220,000 ($2,200) in comps.
>
> As 7-Stars, I get Room, Food and Beverage (RFB), free show tickets, spa,
etc.
>
> However, the free food part of RFB only kicks in after I have ZERO
comps. That is, if I go eat a $200 dinner with $2,200 in comps, I end spend
$200 in comps and up with $2,000 in comps. If I eat that same dinner with
$0 in comps, I end up with FREE dinner.
>
> Seems to me, I would get more (mostly eat better meals) if I didn't have
comps and used the RFB benefit to cover my meals!
>
> The best comps to cash I am aware of is 2:1 ($1,100).
>
> The items in the Total Rewards catalog are so expensive (even when they
are on special/sale), that the 2:1 cash is a better deal than buying
anything from the catalog.
>
> Before I convert to cash, am I overlooking anything?
>
> Thanks!
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> vpFREE Links: http://www.west-point.org/users/usma1955/20228/V/Links.htm
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links

>
>
>

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

#7

Thanks Becky - I like the "next in line" benefit most :slight_smile:

I have talked to a few other 7* people from the casino. They have different approaches to maximizing their benefits.

One guy doesn't use comps for a couple of visits and eats at the free places (7* Lounge and Diamond Club). He lets his comps build up, converts to cash when he arrives and makes it a "fancy" weekend (his word, not mine *grin*) in which he schedules dinners at the gourmet restaurants, uses room-service, etc. He gets all of the "fancy" stuff for free because he converted his comps to cash when he showed up.

Another guy burns his comps every time he leaves. He found wine, socks and a few other items that he said were "reasonably priced". He eats at gourmet restaurants, uses room-service, etc. every time he is on the property after burning his comps on the way to valet.

Both seem a bit shady to me (the second one more so than the first), but they both said they have been doing it for a while and no one ever said anything.

Of course, like me, they both play all weekend every weekend. Average put through a weekend is about $30,000 - so, maybe that's why?

>
> I agree. I don't understand why a 7* player has to use their comps for food. Who cares if we build up comps. In Vegas I can use it in some stores, and I'd rather do it that way.
> Â
> Congrats on making 7*. Make sure to take advantage of it
>

···

On this thread, I am not sure what you mean by comps as it refers to CE properties. There is the ubiquitious Reward Credits which are used for comping. There is also an unknown comp amount (unknown to us but not their employees) that we can use. In some locations, LV being one, any charges that you want comped are taken from the RCs you have. In other locations, they take the comps from that unseen comp bucket before they take any RC's. We go to the Horseshoe - Bossier City and they comp us all the time and not touch the RC's. In fact, they set up a value when the host sets the reservation. Any amount over they call and comp when we check out. All of this without any hit to our RC's. So, when you are talking about comps, which are you referring to. Thanks. --- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "The Big Guy" <ted.troccola@...> wrote:

--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, Becky Kirk <becca9bec@> wrote:

#8

The comps I am referring to are Reward Credits.

I know that at Harrah's AC, based on experience, if I charge to the room or go to a dinner that my host set up for me, they take Reward Credits first. This was the case even though I had RFB.

I have double checked this policy with players, Total Rewards people and my host. The fact is that they will use your Total Reward credits first and pick up anything after that (I'm sure there's a limit).

So, if you have a Total Reward balance like I do, you never get to experience the benefits from the RFB. I choose to eat "normal" dinners instead of paying $200 for a dinner every weekend. But, seems I could be eating these gourmet meals if I wasn't so tight with my Total Rewards.

I have to say, even without being able to take advantage of the "free" gourmet meals, I am more than happy with the way I am treated while at their property.

In the end, I may just end up doing what Becky did. Buy something nice for myself and keep a balance for the rainy days.

···

--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "David" <sarahmukasa10@...> wrote:

On this thread, I am not sure what you mean by comps as it refers to CE properties. There is the ubiquitious Reward Credits which are used for comping. There is also an unknown comp amount (unknown to us but not their employees) that we can use. In some locations, LV being one, any charges that you want comped are taken from the RCs you have. In other locations, they take the comps from that unseen comp bucket before they take any RC's. We go to the Horseshoe - Bossier City and they comp us all the time and not touch the RC's. In fact, they set up a value when the host sets the reservation. Any amount over they call and comp when we check out. All of this without any hit to our RC's. So, when you are talking about comps, which are you referring to. Thanks. > > --- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "The Big Guy" <ted.troccola@> wrote:
>
>
> Thanks Becky - I like the "next in line" benefit most :slight_smile:
>
> I have talked to a few other 7* people from the casino. They have different approaches to maximizing their benefits.
>
> One guy doesn't use comps for a couple of visits and eats at the free places (7* Lounge and Diamond Club). He lets his comps build up, converts to cash when he arrives and makes it a "fancy" weekend (his word, not mine *grin*) in which he schedules dinners at the gourmet restaurants, uses room-service, etc. He gets all of the "fancy" stuff for free because he converted his comps to cash when he showed up.
>
> Another guy burns his comps every time he leaves. He found wine, socks and a few other items that he said were "reasonably priced". He eats at gourmet restaurants, uses room-service, etc. every time he is on the property after burning his comps on the way to valet.
>
> Both seem a bit shady to me (the second one more so than the first), but they both said they have been doing it for a while and no one ever said anything.
>
> Of course, like me, they both play all weekend every weekend. Average put through a weekend is about $30,000 - so, maybe that's why?
>
>
>
> --- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, Becky Kirk <becca9bec@> wrote:
> >
> > I agree. I don't understand why a 7* player has to use their comps for food. Who cares if we build up comps. In Vegas I can use it in some stores, and I'd rather do it that way.
> > Â
> > Congrats on making 7*. Make sure to take advantage of it
> >
>

#9

You are absolutely right both LFB and RFB - Limited vs. Full are based on
your ADT not your tier score. Also if you book your room on certain promos
neither LFB nor RFB will be included. Limited entitles you to the all
non-gourmet, full RFB gives you run of the house, including gourmet and room
service. You can ask at checkin what status you were booked under or your
host can tell you. Also, if you come in under a promo, your host can
"convert" your reservation to LFB or RFB after you check in.

···

-----Original Message-----
From: vpFREE@yahoogroups.com [mailto:vpF…@…com] On Behalf Of
kelso 1600
Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2012 4:17 PM
To: vpfree@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [vpFREE] Seven Stars - lots of comps… now what?

You might want to be a bit careful here. To my knowledge, there is no policy
that says just having the tier status of Seven Stars gets RFB.

To: vpFREE@yahoogroups.com <mailto:vpFREE%40yahoogroups.com>
From: ted.troccola@gmail.com <mailto:ted.troccola%40gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:20:37 +0000
Subject: [vpFREE] Seven Stars - lots of comps... now what?

I recently made 7-Stars at Harrah's Atantic City. And, I got there with

220,000 ($2,200) in comps.

As 7-Stars, I get Room, Food and Beverage (RFB), free show tickets, spa,

etc.

However, the free food part of RFB only kicks in after I have ZERO comps.

That is, if I go eat a $200 dinner with $2,200 in comps, I end spend $200 in
comps and up with $2,000 in comps. If I eat that same dinner with $0 in
comps, I end up with FREE dinner.

Seems to me, I would get more (mostly eat better meals) if I didn't have

comps and used the RFB benefit to cover my meals!

The best comps to cash I am aware of is 2:1 ($1,100).

The items in the Total Rewards catalog are so expensive (even when they

are on special/sale), that the 2:1 cash is a better deal than buying
anything from the catalog.

Before I convert to cash, am I overlooking anything?

Thanks!

------------------------------------

vpFREE Links: http://www.west-point.org/users/usma1955/20228/V/Links.htm

Yahoo! Groups Links

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

#10

Big Guy: We are fortunate in that our local place that I mentioned before doesn't hit the RC's. We (i.e. my wife) will occassionally buy something at the gift shop so we will use some then. I bank the RC's for trips to Las Vegas. Since both of us are 7*'s, we will invite guests, usually family, and treat them to a great mini vacation - room, great food, shows, spa etc. In the meantime, we fully enjoy the perks. Good luck.

···

--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "The Big Guy" <ted.troccola@...> wrote:

The comps I am referring to are Reward Credits.

#11

You can usually get a better conversion rate, but it will take a little bit of hustle.

The trick is to use your points to pay for other people's purchases and get them to give you cash at a rate that gives them a meaningful discount on the purchase.

Converting points to cash in this way can easily result in getting 75% of value for the points, which is much better than the "official" 2 for rate.

···

--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "Ted" <ted.troccola@...> wrote:

I recently made 7-Stars at Harrah's Atantic City. And, I got there with 220,000 ($2,200) in comps.

The best comps to cash I am aware of is 2:1 ($1,100).

#12

BINGO!!!

Great idea!

Thank you

···

--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "Mr. Hogua" <ckonwin@...> wrote:

You can usually get a better conversion rate, but it will take a little bit of hustle.

The trick is to use your points to pay for other people's purchases and get them to give you cash at a rate that gives them a meaningful discount on the purchase.

Converting points to cash in this way can easily result in getting 75% of value for the points, which is much better than the "official" 2 for rate.

--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "Ted" <ted.troccola@> wrote:
>
> I recently made 7-Stars at Harrah's Atantic City. And, I got there with 220,000 ($2,200) in comps.
>
> The best comps to cash I am aware of is 2:1 ($1,100).