Marine helpful credit card

J

jstates

New member
Does anyone have a credit card that gives something useful besides air miles for points earned outside that specific store. [REI or W Marine]

We used Cabelas visa for binoculars but am not interested in their fishing and hunting gear and they don't have high end or quality kayak, climbing, back packing equipment.

On another post - I will ask about Cabelas Yamaha generator vs Honda from somewhere else.

We always pay off monthly so interest rates are not a concern.
I guess one option is cash back -

Any ideas will be appreciated
thanks
Jim
 
I change cards frequently and currently use Chase Freedom card. You earn points and can cash them and they mail you a check and can use them for shopping on their web site. You earn 1% on every purchase and up to 5% in some categories and is no annual fee. A couple years ago, they had a special that for every $100 of points redeemed they gave you $150. I was skeptical but cashed-in my points and drove to Florida. They were paying 5% of gas purchases for a 90 day period, too. When I returned, their check was in the mail for the full amount stated in the redemption site. Sorry I have not explored all of features and just cash out points but I did start paying for nearly everything with this card just for the points and cash backs. Zero problems A happy customer

I found them originally at the www.creditcards.com
and
www.dealnews.com has a section on the new cc deals. I see many deals for new customers and use this info when applying
for a new cards. I use a card for a while, pay off monthly balance nearly 95% of time ( I dont mind carrying balance for a couple of months) then cancel and get a new deal. My credit report on CC looks like Russian novel
.

Be sure to read the terms of conditions and save it.
Call them for the complete ToC b/c it is more detailed, easier to read and looks like a small book
They can charge alot of fees for late payments, cash advances, ATM withdrawals, many, many more conditions, etc
This is where you need to understand the conditions if you use multiple services. CC companies label me a deadbeat and parasite b/c I pay off balances and change cards often
Best
 
I have a Wells Fargo CC that pays 1% cash back on all purchases. It has a high interest rate, but I don't carry balances.

Capital One does not charge an international currency conversion fee, that can be as high as 3% on some cards. Saves money when in Canada.
 
They do have an REI Visa card that pays 1% toward your REI dividend and earns full dividends on card purchases at the store. We could end up with about 700 per year in bonus gear money and that was good. Then we found a 2% (on everything) cash back visa when combined with a investor checking account from Charles Schwab. There are no fees including foreign transactions. Now we easily get a 1000+ bucks back in cash credited to the account each year.

I don't think they have that deal right now but someone else might and it is worth looking.
 
jstates":3ifd2yox said:
We used Cabelas visa for binoculars but am not interested in their fishing and hunting gear and they don't have high end or quality kayak, climbing, back packing equipment.
Click to expand...

I am currently using their AGM batteries and automatic inflatable PFDs, both purchased via their "Captains Club" Visa promotions. I agree that there isn't much that they have that I want, but the do manage to make one or two items tempting each month.
 
Discover card pays cash bach benefit, and is a good card. I have one, rarely used it but now when I do, I get a call from them checking to see if I know where the card is. Right now they have a 5% back on certain categories. Those change from time to time. Travel, gas, books etc.

Check with Boat US, I think I have seen some card info with there mailings. Not sure what the returns are on that one.

Just my thoughts. I try not to use them but there are some times where there isn't another convenient way.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
Here are the cards I have:

Citi Forward-3.5% cash back on restaurants and bookstores (including everything on Amazon). Max of about $2600 cash back per year.

American Express Blue Cash-1% cash back on "everyday" purchases (gas, groceries, drug stores) and .5% on everything else for the first $6500 in annual spending. Rates go to 5% on everyday purchases and 1.25% on everything else after you spend $6500 in a year.

Chase Freedom-Unlimited 1% cash back on everything and up to $1500 cash back per quarter at 5% on rotating categories.

Capital One-Unlimited 1% cash back and no foreign transaction fee

Charles Schwab Visa Debit Card-No ATM fees anywhere

Other cards to consider-

PenFed Platinum Cash Back Rewards Card-5% back on gas paid at the pump. You have to join Pentagon Federal Credit Union to get the card.

Fidelity has an AMEX that's really similar to the old Schwab Visa that Aurelia mentioned. I think it has unlimited 2% cash back and no foreign transaction fees. Not sure if you have to have an account with Fidelity and AMEX has somewhat more limited acceptance.

AMEX TrueEarnings-free with a Costco membership, and a tiered rewards structure that earns anywhere from 1-3%

I don't even know the interest rates on my cards, but I'm sure they're much higher than the rewards I earn from them. If you don't pay off the balance every month, a rewards card typically is not a good deal.

There are LOTS of cards out there, and the needs of each person are slightly different. Good luck choosing the card(s) that suit you best.
 
Thanks for the suggestions - we have some annual corporate expenses and wanted to maximize the benefit from using a c-card - I agree - with pay completely every month.

Thanks
Jim
 
Pentagon Federal Credit Union has a Visa Platinum Card, No annual fee, 5% cash back on pay at the pump gas, 2% on groceries and 1% on everything else. To get one, you need to "join" and put $5.00 in a savings account. We pay the balance every month too...

You might also consider one of those new life insurance policies. They give you the money now and when you die, your kids have to pay it back... :mrgreen:

Charlie
 
I got a Elite Rewards MasterCard from BofA in 2003 that gives me 1 point for each dollar I spend. Some of the stores rate 2 points for each dollar.

I can "cash in" points for gas cards, gift cards, etc. on line. Only takes a few minutes to place an order and it's in my mail box in a week or if I opt to send it as a gift it will be sent to their address. Latter is great for birthdays or special occasions.

90 percent of my monthly purchases are made with the card. Sure wish the mortgage could go on it. I tried but as the bank told me - you can't pay a debt with a debt.

I pay my bill in full monthly so there's only been one instance of paying interest. That was because I scheduled an automatic deduction from checking account on a due date that was also a holiday. Never made that mistake again - now pay it off a week before due date.

Cal - The Deckhand
 
It will be interesting to see what happens with these credit cards with the new rules on limited fees from merchants which are going into effect.

Someone has to pay for these "extras"--the merchants may not be, the credit card companies no longer can charge as much for service. I suspect that many of these good deals will go away shortly.
 
Captains Cat":1jq3zm5t said:
Pentagon Federal Credit Union has a Visa Platinum Card, No annual fee, 5% cash back on pay at the pump gas, 2% on groceries and 1% on everything else. To get one, you need to "join" and put $5.00 in a savings account. We pay the balance every month too...

You might also consider one of those new life insurance policies. They give you the money now and when you die, your kids have to pay it back... :mrgreen:

Charlie
Click to expand...

Well, Damn. Pentagon Fed Card was compromised. Someone charged an Apple Laptop at the Apple Online store. I check my cards every day, this one had not been posted yet. The Apple Store called me to check on validity. I use the card everyday, there were three unauthorized charges on there, two for $1.00 (checking to see it worked) and then the Apple Charge. I never charge anything online without the https:// protection. Must have happened when the card was out of my hands at a restaurant or in one of the gas station readers.

Beware Brats, check your charges every day if you can. New card on the way, no loss to anyone in this case. Wish I could follow the "laptop" to its' destination in Portsmouth, VA and see who picks it up.

Charlie
 
Charlie said:

"Beware Brats, check your charges every day if you can. New card on the way, no loss to anyone in this case. Wish I could follow the "laptop" to its' destination in Portsmouth, VA and see who picks it up."
Click to expand...

Someone should be able to do that for you. Sometimes they wear Blue. :star

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
Yes, beware brats. We got the call earlier this week that there were suspicious charges on our account. Our credit card company froze the account and called us, and indeed the charges were fraudulent. I have no idea how the card was compromised, but it was. Kudos to the CC company for finding the problem. New card on the way.
 
The real credit card bonus would be if merchants could offer a cash discount for not using a credit card. Our legislators made that illegal due to the lobbying of the credit card companies. Our country should change it's name to the United Corporations of America. "The only difference between the Democrats and the Republicans is how fast their knees hit the floor when corporations knock on their doors". I know the quote isn't exact but it is close.
 
c-ness":14h980so said:
Yes, beware brats. We got the call earlier this week that there were suspicious charges on our account. Our credit card company froze the account and called us, and indeed the charges were fraudulent. I have no idea how the card was compromised, but it was. Kudos to the CC company for finding the problem. New card on the way.
Click to expand...

This has happened to me twice in the past few months. First with my American Express, then with my Master Card. Both times the CC companies caught the charges and did not let them go through.

Warren
 
I would have caught this one too but the Apple Store (bless them) beat me to it. They called to check before they shipped a laptop.

NFCU has caught several charges, even called me to make sure it was me when the card got used on the Gulf Coast (I was on travel).

Charlie
 
We use a Hilton Honors American Express. We don't carry balances, but it does offer points that we usually use for free stays at Hiltons,Double Tree Resorts, Hilton Garden Inn, Embassy Suites, Hampton Inn, or Homewood Suites. Nice to be able to put together trips that have all free hotel stays. Most usually include a decent breakfast. The points can be used for airline flights, restaurant gift cards etc. Hilton has properties almost anywhere you would want to go. Plus you can arrange for free stays for anyone using your points,kids,other couples,etc. We also purchase some of our inventory for the business which are part. This helps to rack up points in a hurry.
D.D.
 
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