Comments on: Reward Points: The Real Deal http://www.mint.com/blog/saving/reward-points-the-real-deal/ The blog of the free, simple personal finance solution. Track all your spending automatically, find the best deals, save more money. And save the world. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 18:26:43 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: GS http://www.mint.com/blog/saving/reward-points-the-real-deal/comment-page-1/#comment-46128 GS Wed, 03 Mar 2010 19:35:12 +0000 http://www.mint.com/blog/?p=6503#comment-46128 I use the Chase Sapphire card, I receive 1 point for every $1 spent on all purchases. For my initial sign-up I received 10000 points. No annual fee. If you purchase airline tickets off their rewards web portal you receive 2 points for every $1 spent (there is no additional charge to book flights from their web portal and the airline prices are no different from airline carrier sites. In the past 6 months since I have had the card I have received close to $500 in cash and gift cards. The point structure is simple 2500 points ($25 gift card or cash), 5000 ($50 gift card or cash), 7500 points ($75 gift card or cash), and 10000 points ($100 gift card or cash). Also if you shop at certain vendors through their web portal you can earn up to 5-10 points for every $1. Plus the card offers excellent customer service any time you call you receive a live rep no hitting 0 # 1, 2 or 3 options they even sent me a courtesy of 2500 points just for being a valuable customer during the holidays. I highly recommend the card. Since I pay off the card every month the card has only made me money, how can you complain with that? I use the Chase Sapphire card, I receive 1 point for every $1 spent on all purchases. For my initial sign-up I received 10000 points. No annual fee. If you purchase airline tickets off their rewards web portal you receive 2 points for every $1 spent (there is no additional charge to book flights from their web portal and the airline prices are no different from airline carrier sites.

In the past 6 months since I have had the card I have received close to $500 in cash and gift cards. The point structure is simple 2500 points ($25 gift card or cash), 5000 ($50 gift card or cash), 7500 points ($75 gift card or cash), and 10000 points ($100 gift card or cash). Also if you shop at certain vendors through their web portal you can earn up to 5-10 points for every $1. Plus the card offers excellent customer service any time you call you receive a live rep no hitting 0 # 1, 2 or 3 options they even sent me a courtesy of 2500 points just for being a valuable customer during the holidays. I highly recommend the card.

Since I pay off the card every month the card has only made me money, how can you complain with that?

]]> By: templerel http://www.mint.com/blog/saving/reward-points-the-real-deal/comment-page-1/#comment-42052 templerel Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:13:09 +0000 http://www.mint.com/blog/?p=6503#comment-42052 Thank you for a very instructive article Thank you for a very instructive article ]]> By: Justin http://www.mint.com/blog/saving/reward-points-the-real-deal/comment-page-1/#comment-41048 Justin Sun, 25 Oct 2009 13:28:49 +0000 http://www.mint.com/blog/?p=6503#comment-41048 I've been using the Amazon Visa for years and totally agree here. The $25 certificates have been great and given that it's Amazon, you can find just about anything you would want to redeem them on. I’ve been using the Amazon Visa for years and totally agree here. The $25 certificates have been great and given that it’s Amazon, you can find just about anything you would want to redeem them on. ]]> By: John http://www.mint.com/blog/saving/reward-points-the-real-deal/comment-page-1/#comment-40933 John Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:46:25 +0000 http://www.mint.com/blog/?p=6503#comment-40933 The logic here is completely wrong and it seems likely that Rudy himself is a merchant. Rudy ignores the reality of the tradgedy of the commons. Sure, you can stop using a rewards credit card but the merchant is not gonig to charge you less to do that. Meanwhile other people will use a rewards card and because your all paying the same price in the end - those using the rewards card will be better off. If some government agency could make a law that said nobody use rewards cards and all merchants lower their prices 2%, everyone might be better off. But, untill then, work your rewards card for all it is worth. http://www.thedelibero.com/2009/09/stop-paying-the-cash-tax/ The logic here is completely wrong and it seems likely that Rudy himself is a merchant. Rudy ignores the reality of the tradgedy of the commons. Sure, you can stop using a rewards credit card but the merchant is not gonig to charge you less to do that. Meanwhile other people will use a rewards card and because your all paying the same price in the end – those using the rewards card will be better off.

If some government agency could make a law that said nobody use rewards cards and all merchants lower their prices 2%, everyone might be better off. But, untill then, work your rewards card for all it is worth.

http://www.thedelibero.com/2009/09/stop-paying-the-cash-tax/

]]> By: Ash http://www.mint.com/blog/saving/reward-points-the-real-deal/comment-page-1/#comment-40707 Ash Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:26:47 +0000 http://www.mint.com/blog/?p=6503#comment-40707 I don't have any cards where you have to earn points. But it seems like there's no harm in them if there aren't any fees attached. My problem is having all of these cards from different stores, I myself have around 15. If you have any opinion about the quantity of rewards cards please take a look at this survey: http://www.surveypirate.com/Survey.aspx?surveyid=6971 hash=PflA8Pgvk6-1X9NcJxtczQ%3d%3d I don’t have any cards where you have to earn points. But it seems like there’s no harm in them if there aren’t any fees attached. My problem is having all of these cards from different stores, I myself have around 15. If you have any opinion about the quantity of rewards cards please take a look at this survey: http://www.surveypirate.com/Survey.aspx?surveyid=6971 hash=PflA8Pgvk6-1X9NcJxtczQ%3d%3d ]]> By: ask lee http://www.mint.com/blog/saving/reward-points-the-real-deal/comment-page-1/#comment-40231 ask lee Fri, 16 Oct 2009 23:50:45 +0000 http://www.mint.com/blog/?p=6503#comment-40231 A few months ago, my Chase Freedom card sent a notice that said it would eliminate the $250 check for 20,000 points option effective October 2009. Then they sent another notice saying that no changes would be made to my account. I still have the 1%/3% and $250 cash option (which is the only useful reward) and no annual fee. So I guess the changes are being made selectively. I opened this card about two years ago after receiving an offer in the mail and a 25,000 point opening bonus. It can pay to receive "junk mail". Don't use your card for any "foreign" transactions as you'll often pay a 2 to 3% transaction fee thereby eliminating any rewards. For example, some international airlines which process the transaction outside the US are subject to this fee even if this is done entirely in US$. To avoid this, try booking though a travel agency (which may charge you a service fee, but this could still be less that the bank fee). A few months ago, my Chase Freedom card sent a notice that said it would eliminate the $250 check for 20,000 points option effective October 2009. Then they sent another notice saying that no changes would be made to my account. I still have the 1%/3% and $250 cash option (which is the only useful reward) and no annual fee. So I guess the changes are being made selectively. I opened this card about two years ago after receiving an offer in the mail and a 25,000 point opening bonus. It can pay to receive “junk mail”.

Don’t use your card for any “foreign” transactions as you’ll often pay a 2 to 3% transaction fee thereby eliminating any rewards. For example, some international airlines which process the transaction outside the US are subject to this fee even if this is done entirely in US$. To avoid this, try booking though a travel agency (which may charge you a service fee, but this could still be less that the bank fee).

]]> By: Lockerz http://www.mint.com/blog/saving/reward-points-the-real-deal/comment-page-1/#comment-39766 Lockerz Mon, 12 Oct 2009 19:37:48 +0000 http://www.mint.com/blog/?p=6503#comment-39766 reading on my new iphone!! reading on my new iphone!! ]]> By: Facebook User http://www.mint.com/blog/saving/reward-points-the-real-deal/comment-page-1/#comment-39758 Facebook User Mon, 12 Oct 2009 16:19:45 +0000 http://www.mint.com/blog/?p=6503#comment-39758 Ben, If you love to travel and like a bit of flexibility, I would look into the American Express Starwood card. Not only can you use those points for Starwood hotels, you can transfer them 1:1 to large number of airlines. The annual fee is a great deal at $30 and the first year is free. http://money.cnn.com/2006/03/31/pf/goodlife_fortune_travel/index.htm Ben,

If you love to travel and like a bit of flexibility, I would look into the American Express Starwood card. Not only can you use those points for Starwood hotels, you can transfer them 1:1 to large number of airlines. The annual fee is a great deal at $30 and the first year is free.

http://money.cnn.com/2006/03/31/pf/goodlife_fortune_travel/index.htm

]]> By: Jon http://www.mint.com/blog/saving/reward-points-the-real-deal/comment-page-1/#comment-39451 Jon Sat, 10 Oct 2009 14:02:37 +0000 http://www.mint.com/blog/?p=6503#comment-39451 I also have a Chase Freedom card and think in general it's a great card. But they have recently done away with the $250 check for $200 worth of points. They're also now charging an annual fee. It's still probably the best cash back card out there, just not quite as good as it was before. I also have a Chase Freedom card and think in general it’s a great card. But they have recently done away with the $250 check for $200 worth of points. They’re also now charging an annual fee. It’s still probably the best cash back card out there, just not quite as good as it was before. ]]> By: ChaseFreedomRocks http://www.mint.com/blog/saving/reward-points-the-real-deal/comment-page-1/#comment-39272 ChaseFreedomRocks Fri, 09 Oct 2009 13:56:36 +0000 http://www.mint.com/blog/?p=6503#comment-39272 Why was Chase excluded from this article? I've had the Chase Freedom Rewards card since it was first introduced. Since then, it looks like they've changed it a bit for new cardholders. But, I get... - 1% on all purchases (no cap) - 3% on my top 3 spending categories ($12/month cap). Looks like this has changed to a quarterly bonus on rotating categories. - I earn cash back. When I reach $200, I can redeem it for a $250 check! That's $50 "free points". - No annual fee. Why was Chase excluded from this article? I’ve had the Chase Freedom Rewards card since it was first introduced. Since then, it looks like they’ve changed it a bit for new cardholders. But, I get…
- 1% on all purchases (no cap)
- 3% on my top 3 spending categories ($12/month cap). Looks like this has changed to a quarterly bonus on rotating categories.
- I earn cash back. When I reach $200, I can redeem it for a $250 check! That’s $50 “free points”.
- No annual fee. ]]>