Other Credit Card Programs - Discover Open Road card devaluation




rove312
Sep 25, 09, 11:27 pm
I got the Discover Open Road card last year as gas prices were getting high, with a 5% Cashback bonus for gas and auto maintenance. With usually two fill-ups a month, the $100 monthly limit for rebate-eligible purchases was seldom an issue. I mostly only used the card for these charges.

Yesterday I got an e-mail offering a special $5 for one charge at certain local businesses near me, nice. Today I got a snail-mail that first showed some changes that probably weren't applicable if I paid my balance in full. Then the other note that, effective 1/1/2010, they were changing the cashback to 2% for gas and restaurant purchases up to $250 :(

I might as well stick to the Schwab Visa, with a 2% rebate on everything. The one thing to consider is that a $20 cashback became $40 off with some merchants; I've used that with Alamo. It had become an effective 10% rebate: $40 off after $400 in charges. Now, if they maintain the double amount, it would be $40 after $1000 in charges. I'm left wondering whether to keep using the card, adding restaurant charges (usually dining solo, not a big amount) to get these rental car discounts.


andyli
Sep 26, 09, 3:09 pm
Between Discover Card's increase in threshold (now $50 from $20 for cash back) and the lower %age for gas and auto, I am maxing out the spending now to get to $50, then socking the card.

I am going to move gas purchases to PenFed (still offers 5% back as a statement credit right away, no minimums) and auto to my Citi Drivers Edge (1% base, but I have a lot of drive miles to match, which I use for student loan rebates at TYN).

I only used my Discover Card for auto repairs and gas since I got it. It won't affect me very much if they close it for inactivity as it is a pretty low CL.

skofarrell
Sep 27, 09, 8:37 am
Open Road has been discontinued (no new applications), so not surprising that they are gutting it...




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