I’m Using a New Credit Card for 3 Months, One I Hardly Ever Use!

A few days ago I received an extremely appealing flyer in the mail. It was from Bloomingdales offering me up to $75 just for using their credit card. A flyer I could have easily thrown away without reading it, but I am glad I did!
For the months of August, September, and October, if you make 10 purchases at any merchant on your Bloomingdales credit card (of $25 or more), you’ll receive 5,000 Bloomingdales Power Points, which is equal to a $25 Rewards Card. The 10 purchases are per month, so you can take advantage of this promotion for just one month, or all three, it is up to you – up to 15,000 Power Points total or $75 in reward cards.

Ten purchases of $25 each means I’ll be spending $250 to get the $25 Reward Card. That is a 10% return on my purchases which I’ll happily take any day! No other credit card gives a fixed 10% return! I never use my Bloomingdales for purchases (even at Bloomingdales) so will have to take this card out of my desk draw. The only time it is used is for Amex Offers (since it is an American Express co-branded card). I am not sure if this is a targeted offer, but if you have a Bloomingdales credit card and did not receive the offer in the mail, the number and offer code to enroll is: 1-888-566-4236, offer code 307.

Now, some might say you are better off purchasing Bloomingdales gift cards with a card that earns 5x points at office supply stores (i.e., using a Chase Ink card at Staples), but this will not give you a fixed 10% return. If you value your Chase Ultimate Reward points at 2 cents per point, it will equal the same 10% return, but it is not money in your pocket now, assuming you’d be using the Bloomingdales gift cards anyways.

Thanks American Express!