Chase Q2 5% Categories
Apr 9, 2015, 12:42 am
#62
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 632
Apr 9, 2015, 2:23 am
#63
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 3,504
I wouldn't do the VGC's. Example:
$400 (2 VGC's) x %5 CB = $20 UR points - $13.90 fees = $6.10 profit (610 UR Points)
But..forgo buying those VGC's (which you'd otherwise be stuck with and have to liquidate by purchasing other stuff at any store/online in lieu of a higher earning CB or travel card such as the Barclays Arrival at 2.2% back on travel purchases):
$400 x 2.2% CB = $8.88 profit
$400 (2 VGC's) x %5 CB = $20 UR points - $13.90 fees = $6.10 profit (610 UR Points)
But..forgo buying those VGC's (which you'd otherwise be stuck with and have to liquidate by purchasing other stuff at any store/online in lieu of a higher earning CB or travel card such as the Barclays Arrival at 2.2% back on travel purchases):
$400 x 2.2% CB = $8.88 profit
Also who said anything about getting stuck with $400 worth of VGCs. Are you new here? I would easily dump the $400 via BB/Serve/RB so that is no issue. No need for regular spend at another store as suggested. I think you missed the entire point. Again I want to reiterate that using the 5% for restaurants or any other shopping at BBB or H&M is much preferred than buying VGCs. It is to be used as a last resort if you are short of the $1.5K cap. If I was short $400 of the $1.5K cap after all possible spending I can think of, I am not going to buy $400 worth of restaurant/store GCs (assuming I have no immediate use and can drain) that I have to monitor the balances for. I don't know about you but I hate monitoring GC balances for any GC period. I would much rather buy VGCs , pay the fees and get a little bit less on overall % back to get a quick turnaround on paying back the CC instead of having to float it even though its just $400.
What were you exactly looking for? Yeah VGCs at BBB are available all year but not for purchase at 5% back. That is a huge difference. Even if you buy them with an Arrival card for 2.2% with no cap all year it doesn't even compare to a 5% offer that is currently active on the Freedom card. Even if they were available all year, why would I buy them at BBB? If I was using a 2.2% card, I would much rather go to a grocery store and buy a variable VGC and pay less fees.
Last edited by ericdabbs; Apr 9, 2015 at 2:37 am
Apr 9, 2015, 7:11 am
#64
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 3,688
However, if I'm near a BBB, I'd pick them up to max out the Freedom offer quickly since we have 3.
Apr 9, 2015, 9:52 pm
#65
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 33
without the 5% Freedom offer at BBB this quarter, this isn't enticing to me either ($200 with 6.95 fees). The most I'm willing to pay is 4.94 (Sunnies at WMNM) and 3.95 (PP travel at grocery store) which are still abundant where I am. I get 5% RD for them using OBC.
However, if I'm near a BBB, I'd pick them up to max out the Freedom offer quickly since we have 3.
However, if I'm near a BBB, I'd pick them up to max out the Freedom offer quickly since we have 3.
Apr 10, 2015, 7:25 am
#70
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CLT
Programs: AA, UA, BA, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 2,074
What were you exactly looking for? Yeah VGCs at BBB are available all year but not for purchase at 5% back. That is a huge difference. Even if you buy them with an Arrival card for 2.2% with no cap all year it doesn't even compare to a 5% offer that is currently active on the Freedom card. Even if they were available all year, why would I buy them at BBB? If I was using a 2.2% card, I would much rather go to a grocery store and buy a variable VGC and pay less fees.
Apr 10, 2015, 7:53 am
#71
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 3,504
I think DaveinLA was referring to $200 VGC @ 5x being available year-round (at OSS). I'm more interested in the "no cap" comment. While Ink's cap is high, it is there. Even if you have multiple Inks, you're not getting unlimited capacity. Is there something I don't know about?
Apr 10, 2015, 9:07 am
#72
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CLT
Programs: AA, UA, BA, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 2,074
That's what I figured, but I'm always open to hearing about something I don't know about. I completely agree with you that Freedom @ BBB is equivalent to Ink @ OSS. Not sure why people are negative on Freedom @ BBB.
Apr 10, 2015, 9:43 am
#73
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 1,153
Because not really equivalent unless you are going for cashback. Transferring to one of the AF cards from Chase has more value I understand.
Apr 10, 2015, 6:33 pm
#74
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 103
I think it's exactly equivalent.....
$207 x 2 x 5 = 2070 UR Points
For ~$14 in fees
This is true for both the Ink (at OD year round till you hit the cap) and now, the Freedom (at BBB for Q2, up to $1500).
Transfer the Freedom points to CSP or Ink, obviously.
Apr 10, 2015, 11:22 pm
#75
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 3,504
But I have also said that filling up with VGCs should only be used at the very end if you are short of the $1.5K cap if you want to max it out quick and easy. The selection at BBB for GCs isn't that great and they mostly have restaurant cards which if I was $400-500 short, I sure as hell will not stock up on restaurant cards just to avoid paying any fees. There are gas cards but then again Freedom Q3 categories is gas anyways so it wouldn't really make much sense to stock up on gas cards.
By the way the $50K for Ink is very easy to pass. Throw in $5K/mo for BB/RB/Serve (assuming you only have 1 card which a lot of people have multiple) and on top of that throw in your cable/internet and cell phone bills and that is easily $50K. The way I think of this is as a way to shift some of the burden off of the Ink cards for VGCs is welcomed.