Carnival gift card discount decreased from 10 to 8 percent- WHY?

[ToddP719526]

As of today, the AARP discount on Carnival gift cards has gone from 10% to only 8%. I am just trying to find out WHO made this decision. Was it AARP or Carnival? I called and got a horrible word salad answer from the rep at AARP who talked about "market conditions, yada yada" but no real answer to this basic question. 

[angelad346871]

WOW!!!  Just bought a 5 year membership last month to take advantage of the Carnival discount. It was bad enough that they dropped the rate to 8%, but livable. I long on today and find it down to 5%. Is it too late to get a refund of my membership? 

[AARPConsumerCare]

We hope you stay with us, @angelad346871. We know changes on the benefits can be disappointing, and we appreciate your understanding. We're still committed to providing valuable rewards and offer the gift card at a 5% discount. I'm sorry to hear you decided to cancel your membership. Please send me a private message with your name and address to locate your membership. You may need to enable your private messages first, here's how: https://aarp.info/47hWcl7 - Diana G.

[jm46071191]

Does AARP realize you can get Carnival gift cards at target for 5% discount daily with no membership!

[AARPConsumerCare]

Hi jm40671191. We are very sorry about the Carnival gift card discount changing. The Carnival gift card with an 8% discount is no longer available, and this change reflects the new discount rate being offered. We understand this is disappointing, and we appreciate your understanding. We strive to offer a wide range of product availability, and pricing can change due to market conditions and supplier agreements. NT

[VictorM394453]

I was looking to purchase a couple cards three days ago and the discount was 8% and today I see this. Why? 😥

[AARPConsumerCare]

Hi @VictorM394453, we do our best to offer a wide range of products at great prices through our trusted brand partners. However, sometimes product availability and pricing can change due to market conditions and supplier agreements. Our main goal is to ensure you have access to high-quality products that meet your needs, even if we occasionally need to adjust the discounts we offer.  We understand this is disappointing, and we appreciate your understanding. - Diana G.

[ShanekaH350543]

I need to cancel as well because it’s the whole reason we joined and within months it’s decreased from a 10% to 5% discount. How do we cancel and request a refund because I did 3 years as well 

[AARPConsumerCare]

I can totally understand your disappointment, @ShanekaH350543. We appreciate your understanding, and we hope you stay with us. We're still committed to providing valuable rewards and offer the gift card at a 5% discount. Please send me a private message with your name and full address. You may need to enable your private messages first, here's how: https://aarp.info/47hWcl7 - Diana G.

[jm46071191]

Now down to 5% when Royal caribbean is still 15% discount, what is that all about?

[JChristopher84]

You do realize that many factors are at work when determining the amount of discount, right? It's not AARP just arbitrarily setting the number.

[leonp574353]

Now down to 5 percent, yikes! 

[ShawnM905383]

Time to cancel AARP

[JChristopher84]

wow, how ungrateful.

[leonp574353]

 I don't think AARP is where the blame lies. Carnival is pinching people everywhere they can now and I am guessing they are selling the cards to AARP for more money with less discount.

[SusanC244610]

IT IS AARP. they make the decision on gift card percentages.  Carnival has issued a response to the issue stating it is the gift card distributor that makes the decision. 

[JChristopher84]

While AARP is responsible for adjusting the discount rate offered on the AARP website, they have no control over the how much Carnival sells the cards to them. AARP receives them at a discount and is able to sell them at a similar discount. but if Carnival no longer sells them to AARP (corporate) as cheaply, they clearly can't sell them for less than they get them for. In what world would that make sense?

[MarkS245273]

NOT GOOD on the reduction to 8% !   AND ... the AARP website is still broken and it is the 19th ... you can put items in the cart, but cannot check out ...   chipping away at reducing the AARP customer base ...

[AARPConsumerCare]

I understand the change to the Carnival Cruise gift card discount is frustrating @MarkS245273. We do our best to offer a wide range of products at great prices. However, sometimes product pricing can change due to a number of conditions. Our goal is to make sure you have access to high-quality products even if we occasionally need to adjust the discounts we offer. AARP Rewards did briefly have an issue with checkout after the maintenance was completed, that issue has been resolved. Let us know if you're still having trouble checking out.
Brandon C.

[bbsdad807]

Also not happy about the reduction of discount.  Not sure who is responsible or if our efforts to express our disappointment would be of any help, but maybe someone on this site will send our comments up the chain.

[jm46071191]

This Is very upsetting, this is one of the reason I continue to renew my membership.  Alot of Carnival cruisers have reach out to Carnival to blame them for your change. SORRY NOT sure I will renew my next membership when it is time because of this change😪

[JChristopher84]

You're still saving 8%. do you really think you're owed something? How entitled. The cost of membership is far lower than the savings you get for using the cards to pay for a single cruise. Go ahead, cancel your membership and pay full price. 😜

[DavidA13235]

You can get 8% off on other sites without paying for membership. AND 10% still on occasion. I just bought $1000 on another site offering 10%. Yea I will not be renewing my membership until the 10% comes back... if it comes back.

[PedroS29699]

what site did you use?

[AARPConsumerCare]

@DavidA13235  I totally understand! We really appreciate your commitment to buying gift cards through the AARP Rewards program. While we can't match the prices you might find on other sites, we hope you continue to enjoy the benefits and convenience of everything our program offers. Let me know if I can help with anything else, and thank you for being a valued Rewards member!  Jodee R.

[ToddP719526]

Can you name the other site?

[DavidA13235]

If they don’t delete this sure: Newegg.com usually sells them on promo for 10% like once a month… gotta keep checking. And Gcx.com has them for 8% already - no membership needed.

[AARPConsumerCare]

I can understand how upsetting this can be, @jm46071191. We hope you stay with us. - Diana G.

[LynetteS426871]

I need to purchase carnival gift cards tonight and of course, there is an update.  Can you help me?  

[AARPConsumerCare]

@LynetteS426871 I'm so sorry that the Rewards site will not be ready until tomorrow, November 19. I invite you to check back for updates here: https://www.aarp.org/rewards/ ?cmp=SNO-LITHIUM---&socialid=15290963692; - Janelle M.