Chase Sapphire VS Chase Ink Bold/Plus: Which one to keep/use?
Mar 8, 2012, 12:04 pm
#16
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: SEA
Posts: 1,887
Yes, this is why I think Ink or Ink bold are much better cards to get than Freedom, because Freedom only gives you 5x in rotating categories and you are limited to $1.5K in purchases every quarter ($6K/year). The 5x on Ink is good up to $25K/year and Ink Bold up to $50K/year, so you can do better with Ink or Ink Bold buying GCs in more categories and higher amounts than you can earn 5x with Freedom.
Mar 8, 2012, 12:23 pm
#18
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: SEA
Posts: 1,887
Suggest reading this most excellent blog article (and consider supporting the laboratory the next time you apply for a card). Good stuff and should give you a pretty good idea re. your question about buying GCs at Staples.com thru the UR mall:
http://boardingarea.com/blogs/frequentmiler/laboratory/
http://boardingarea.com/blogs/frequentmiler/laboratory/
Mar 8, 2012, 6:08 pm
#20
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 769
Well, in my first post I mentioned dining when I was thinking travel, that by itself is no reason to think that I did not have the card.
The other thing re the Staples gift card was below and yes, you only get 9x on SWA gift cards, not 13x if you go through a gift card (which you can't use).
Dont know the first switch of dining for travel would cause a rational person to think I did not have the card.
The other thing re the Staples gift card was below and yes, you only get 9x on SWA gift cards, not 13x if you go through a gift card (which you can't use).
Dont know the first switch of dining for travel would cause a rational person to think I did not have the card.
Because you sound like you dont know much as you would if you actually had these cards...
Incorrect, Ink bold gives you 2X on gas and hotels, not dining.
It is in the welcome pack as well. But at least you found additional details on it online.
Incorrect, as you cannot use Staples gift cards online.
Sage advice my friend....
Sorry you got a little frustrated leftpinky, but I'm just saying, you didnt sound all that sure about these details.
To the OP, both offer some very nice sign up bonuses, transfer partners, and earning potential. If you are comfortable with signing up for both, you have a year before you need to decide to renew. Might be worth going for both as a lot of people have.
Incorrect, Ink bold gives you 2X on gas and hotels, not dining.
It is in the welcome pack as well. But at least you found additional details on it online.
Incorrect, as you cannot use Staples gift cards online.
Sage advice my friend....
Sorry you got a little frustrated leftpinky, but I'm just saying, you didnt sound all that sure about these details.
To the OP, both offer some very nice sign up bonuses, transfer partners, and earning potential. If you are comfortable with signing up for both, you have a year before you need to decide to renew. Might be worth going for both as a lot of people have.
Mar 8, 2012, 6:10 pm
#21
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 769
Mar 8, 2012, 11:47 pm
#22
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 676
Yeah, if you use Staples a lot and the other high bonus UR mall stores, Ink is probably better. But other than the Mall, it does not appear there is a big difference since Ink Bold does get you 2x on dinning and gas? But realistically, between spending the new threshold bonuses, is anyone really able to put a significant spend on these cards?
So, to the OP, why not both?
Last edited by Ducati; Mar 9, 2012 at 1:12 am Reason: Grammar
Mar 9, 2012, 1:02 am
#23
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 769
Btw, does anyone know if you get bonus points for insurance? Just charged a quarterly payment to meet the spend and it shows up as insurance, so wondering if we would get a multiple bonus. Would switch car and house payments over to this card too.
Mar 9, 2012, 1:15 am
#24
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Kobe, Japan
Programs: Bonvoy Platinum, IHG Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 1,526
Got me thinking
I hadn't really considered the Ink Bold, but now I am. I will miss out on the US bonus stuff, but the 50,000 UR looks good, especially as it can fit with my Sapphire.
I have a $20,000 tuition bill coming up in a couple months. The question is whether I can spread that spend over a few new cards. They need to be FX free though, as this is not a USD spend.
I have a $20,000 tuition bill coming up in a couple months. The question is whether I can spread that spend over a few new cards. They need to be FX free though, as this is not a USD spend.
Mar 9, 2012, 2:55 am
#25
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 432
I hadn't really considered the Ink Bold, but now I am. I will miss out on the US bonus stuff, but the 50,000 UR looks good, especially as it can fit with my Sapphire.
I have a $20,000 tuition bill coming up in a couple months. The question is whether I can spread that spend over a few new cards. They need to be FX free though, as this is not a USD spend.
I have a $20,000 tuition bill coming up in a couple months. The question is whether I can spread that spend over a few new cards. They need to be FX free though, as this is not a USD spend.
Mar 9, 2012, 9:17 am
#26
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 305
Post 20 says you can't use Staples GCs online. Post 21 says you can't purchase Staples GCs online. I wanted to buy 6 $100 SWA GCs to pay for some upcoming flights. But now will I not only not be able to purchase them online, but also not be able to use them online?
Mar 9, 2012, 10:46 am
#27
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Near ORD
Programs: AA LT Gold, Hyatt Diamond, HH Gold, SPG Gold, PC Plat Ambassador
Posts: 739
Post 20 says you can't use Staples GCs online. Post 21 says you can't purchase Staples GCs online. I wanted to buy 6 $100 SWA GCs to pay for some upcoming flights. But now will I not only not be able to purchase them online, but also not be able to use them online?
1) Go to the Ultimate Rewards Mall and log in through your Sapphire card
2) Click on "Staples" and you will earn 4 extra points per dollar
3) Buy 6 x $100 Southwest gift cards on Staples.com but USE your Ink Bold/Classic so you get the 5x points on Office Supply purchases
You will then earn a total of 5400 UR pts for this purchase! (+7% dividend at the end of the year since you went through the mall via your Sapphire card)
You can purchase the gift cards online, but you can't *use* Staples gift cards online.
Mar 9, 2012, 11:09 am
#28
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 769
If you have an Ink Bold (or Ink Classic) AND a Sapphire card, here's what you do:
1) Go to the Ultimate Rewards Mall and log in through your Sapphire card
2) Click on "Staples" and you will earn 4 extra points per dollar
3) Buy 6 x $100 Southwest gift cards on Staples.com but USE your Ink Bold/Classic so you get the 5x points on Office Supply purchases
You will then earn a total of 5400 UR pts for this purchase! (+7% dividend at the end of the year since you went through the mall via your Sapphire card)
You can purchase the gift cards online, but you can't *use* Staples gift cards online.
1) Go to the Ultimate Rewards Mall and log in through your Sapphire card
2) Click on "Staples" and you will earn 4 extra points per dollar
3) Buy 6 x $100 Southwest gift cards on Staples.com but USE your Ink Bold/Classic so you get the 5x points on Office Supply purchases
You will then earn a total of 5400 UR pts for this purchase! (+7% dividend at the end of the year since you went through the mall via your Sapphire card)
You can purchase the gift cards online, but you can't *use* Staples gift cards online.
Mar 9, 2012, 11:22 am
#29
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 305
So you can't use Staples GCs online, but I can use Southwest Airlines GCs purchased through Staples online when buying my flight, right?
My wife's got the SP and I've got the Ink. Would that mess up the plan? Or should I just do it all through my Ink card and forget the 7% SP bonus?
My wife's got the SP and I've got the Ink. Would that mess up the plan? Or should I just do it all through my Ink card and forget the 7% SP bonus?
Mar 9, 2012, 2:07 pm
#30
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 769
You have to buy with your Ink Bold because the Ink Bold gives you 5x miles on spending at Staples. But you can buy using the Shappire mall (login into chase, click on mall under your Shappire card.
So you get 5x bonus for using Ink Bold
You get 4x for going through the mall (plus 7% for Shappire yearly bonus).
So you get 5x bonus for using Ink Bold
You get 4x for going through the mall (plus 7% for Shappire yearly bonus).
So you can't use Staples GCs online, but I can use Southwest Airlines GCs purchased through Staples online when buying my flight, right?
My wife's got the SP and I've got the Ink. Would that mess up the plan? Or should I just do it all through my Ink card and forget the 7% SP bonus?
My wife's got the SP and I've got the Ink. Would that mess up the plan? Or should I just do it all through my Ink card and forget the 7% SP bonus?
Last edited by leftpinky; Mar 9, 2012 at 4:48 pm