30x Gravy Train

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The 30x gravy train on magazines has ended.

While you can earn 30 extra points per dollar spent when you shop at Magazines.com via the Ultimate Rewards mall, you won’t be able to get 30x for magazines.

The little fine print caveat that has killed the 30x gravy train is this little phrase, “Magazine subscriptions that are automatically renewed are not eligible.”

I loved ordering magazines from Magazines.com.  Not only was it an easy way to earn 23 – 30 extra miles/points, I was able to get magazines like Popular Science, Scientific America, and Smithsonian as gifts for my father in law.

Up until a few months ago none of the magazines were enrolled in the Automatic Renewal Service.  So if you or someone you had gifted a subscription to didn’t like a magazine, no worries. Once the subscription ended, that was that.

Now, however, all the magazines offered by Magazines.com through the Ultimate Rewards Mall portal are part of the Automatic Renewal Service.

I know you’re thinking, “What? That can’t be right. All of them.  I think you need to check your facts.”

And that I did. Here’s what I found:

Saveur Magazine now part of the Automatic Renewal Service.

Okay. Granted Saveur is a popular magazine and appeals to a wide demographic, so let’s look at one that isn’t as popular.

Road Runner Motorcycle Touring – popular but a more focused demographic and also part of the Automatic Renewal Service.

And finally, Reptiles Magazine – a narrowly focused demographic and yet also part of the Automatic Renewal Service.

While I didn’t not check the description of every single magazine on Magazines.com, I did look through more than 3/4 of the titles, all with the same result.

Every magazine I checked was part of the Automatic Renewal Service and per the fine print was not eligible to earn 30x.

And by the way, books aren’t eligible for the 30x gravy train either.

Should I skip getting my father in law new magazines this Christmas now that it’s not as lucrative in terms of miles and points? Or should I just stick with the plan and get him magazines even if it’s only 1x?

How about you? Has the end of the 30x gravy train impacted your Christmas shopping?

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