Jan 3, 2024, 2:04 pm
Last edit by: hurnik
To read previous discussion click HERE
Application link for the Shop Your Way (SYW) MasterCard is HERE.
Accumulating points, expiration, and redemptions:
You can accumulate SYW points in some of the following methods:
Not all points have the same expiration timeframe. Some bonus/incentive points expire in 30 days or less. Most are 1 year. You can check in the SYW app, or the shopyourway.com website. Make sure to redeem the points before they expire!!!!
Redemptions:
You can only redeem $200 worth per day. So if you redeem for a $200 GC, you have to wait until the next day to make another redemption of any amount.
What counted as online purchase with Sears card (alphabetical order)
Credit Line Increases
This is very odd, but according to the Chatbot on the website:
Q. When requesting a credit limit increase, is the credit inquiry a hard or soft credit inquiry?
A. Unfortunately, until we process the request, there isn't a way for us to know if a credit line increase request will be a soft or hard hit on your credit report. For this reason, we have to receive your permission to pull a copy of your credit report before we process the increase request. If you process the request online, you will see a message stating "By submitting this form, you authorize Citibank, N.A. to obtain your credit report."
To request an increase online:
In order to request an increase, you will need to go to your “Credit Home” page, and find “Available Credit” at the top of the page. Then, click on the link that says “Request Increase” to begin the process.
Application link for the Shop Your Way (SYW) MasterCard is HERE.
Accumulating points, expiration, and redemptions:
You can accumulate SYW points in some of the following methods:
- Bonus offers sent to your email (ie: Spend $750 on Online and get 200,000 SYW Bonus points)
- Regular spend - categories: 5% in gas, 3% in grocery/restaurants, 2% in SYW Merchants, 1% everywhere else
- "Missions" in the SYW App (iPhone/Android)
Not all points have the same expiration timeframe. Some bonus/incentive points expire in 30 days or less. Most are 1 year. You can check in the SYW app, or the shopyourway.com website. Make sure to redeem the points before they expire!!!!
Redemptions:
You can only redeem $200 worth per day. So if you redeem for a $200 GC, you have to wait until the next day to make another redemption of any amount.
What counted as online purchase with Sears card (alphabetical order)
- Amazon purchase or re-load
- Carters.com (Merchandise-CHILDRENS / INFANTS WEAR STORE)
- Costco.com
- Ebay seller fees (direct entry) (MCC: N/A)
- Fluz (MCC varies, YMMV)
- Gift Card Mall
- Homedepot.com (Merchandise-HOME SUPPLY WAREHOUSE STORES)
- Iherb.com (Merchandise-MISC FOOD STORE,SPECIALTY,CONVENIENCE)
- Kygunco.com (Merchandise-DURABLE GOODS, NOT ELSEWHERE CLASSIFIED)
- Lockedloaded.com (Merchandise-SPORTING GOODS STORES)
- MileagePlusX (MCC varies)
- Pirateship.com (Services-COURIER SERVICE, FREIGHT FORWARDERS)
- Plastiq (Restaurants-UTILITIES-ELECTRIC,GAS,SANITARY,WATER)
- Scholastic.com (Organizations-MISC SCHOOLS / EDUCATIONAL SERVICES)
- Usmint.gov (Services-MISC GOVERNMENT SERVICES)
- united.com (Air Travel-UNITED AIRLINES)
- Texas de Brazil (.com site for GC, VIP cards) - Merchandise - NOVELTY/SOUVENIR SHOPS
- Fluz (MCC varies, YMMV)
- Geico.com (Services-INSURANCE-SALES / UNDERWRITING)
- Paypal (MCC varies)
- Cable, Satellite, TV (Restaurants-CABLE,SATELLITE,PAY TV/RADIO SERVICES)
- Telecom (Restaurants-TELEPHONE SERVICE)
- Telecom (Services-TELEPHONE SERVICE/EQUIPMENT)
- Utilities (Restaurants-UTILITIES-ELECTRIC,GAS,SANITARY,WATER)
- VRBO
- Texas de Brazil.com (GC,VIP cards, etc.) - Merchandise - NOVELTY/SOUVENIR SHOPS
Credit Line Increases
This is very odd, but according to the Chatbot on the website:
Q. When requesting a credit limit increase, is the credit inquiry a hard or soft credit inquiry?
A. Unfortunately, until we process the request, there isn't a way for us to know if a credit line increase request will be a soft or hard hit on your credit report. For this reason, we have to receive your permission to pull a copy of your credit report before we process the increase request. If you process the request online, you will see a message stating "By submitting this form, you authorize Citibank, N.A. to obtain your credit report."
To request an increase online:
In order to request an increase, you will need to go to your “Credit Home” page, and find “Available Credit” at the top of the page. Then, click on the link that says “Request Increase” to begin the process.
Citi Sears and Shop Your Way (SYW) Cards
Mar 25, 2024, 4:34 pm
#331
Join Date: Sep 2021
Posts: 37
Mar 25, 2024, 4:35 pm
#332
Join Date: Sep 2021
Posts: 37
I'm not sure whether it also counts as restaurant, but I know people have reported cases where that merchant category is applied and the utility offer triggers. I think it's the same for the online offer but I'm not sure. I will go find links if I have time, someone talked about it in this thread or DoC.
Mar 28, 2024, 8:40 pm
#334
Join Date: Jan 2024
Posts: 28
Another data point
my online spend offer posted a few days after I met the requirements, backdated of course to my statement posting date
My theory as to how the system work. Any offer where you have to spend X in a month is checked for everyone on the same dates. If you completed the offer it will post backdated to your statement posting date.
Anything else is checked a few days after you complete the offer.
What are the VCG fees you are seeing at your Walmart neighborhood?
thinking of switching it up if it is cheaper than what my local grocery store charges.
my online spend offer posted a few days after I met the requirements, backdated of course to my statement posting date
My theory as to how the system work. Any offer where you have to spend X in a month is checked for everyone on the same dates. If you completed the offer it will post backdated to your statement posting date.
Anything else is checked a few days after you complete the offer.
What are the VCG fees you are seeing at your Walmart neighborhood?
thinking of switching it up if it is cheaper than what my local grocery store charges.
Mar 29, 2024, 8:59 am
#335
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,536
Another data point
my online spend offer posted a few days after I met the requirements, backdated of course to my statement posting date
My theory as to how the system work. Any offer where you have to spend X in a month is checked for everyone on the same dates. If you completed the offer it will post backdated to your statement posting date.
Anything else is checked a few days after you complete the offer.
What are the VCG fees you are seeing at your Walmart neighborhood?
thinking of switching it up if it is cheaper than what my local grocery store charges.
my online spend offer posted a few days after I met the requirements, backdated of course to my statement posting date
My theory as to how the system work. Any offer where you have to spend X in a month is checked for everyone on the same dates. If you completed the offer it will post backdated to your statement posting date.
Anything else is checked a few days after you complete the offer.
What are the VCG fees you are seeing at your Walmart neighborhood?
thinking of switching it up if it is cheaper than what my local grocery store charges.
Mar 29, 2024, 11:45 pm
#336
Join Date: Jan 2024
Posts: 28
Everywhere I go, the VGC are $5.95 for the $500 cards. Make sure you get the Vanilla, serviced by Incomm (IMO) vs. the ones serviced by Blackhawk. The BHN are a PITA to liquidate at my WM (IMO). Supposedly will work for under $99 swipes, but I've not been able to do that. It MAY be BIN specific. The VGA issued by Sutton/Pathward, serviced by Incomm seem to work, but you also (it seems) need to "season" them (ie, buy a pack of gum at a box/local retailer first). Attempts to do anything online first, tend to lock the card (grrr). Once that's done, I've not had issues liquidating at WM to load to Discover for the remaining balance, less a little over a dollar. (ie, I have $497.37 left, I load for say, $495) Put the rest on Amazon reload. (they have $1.00 min. reloads now, BTW).
Apr 1, 2024, 8:20 am
#339
Join Date: Dec 2023
Posts: 8
Did a test payment of $25 after reading this, and that amount was reflected in the email I received this morning about progress towards the bonus, so confirmed as counting for online shopping, thank you!
One difference I did notice was the code on the citi retail services site was actually "Services-DIRECT MARKETING - INSURANCE"
One difference I did notice was the code on the citi retail services site was actually "Services-DIRECT MARKETING - INSURANCE"
EDIT: just logged into to get some clarification from support and I see the points have posted so likely just the email not accurately reflecting my progress
Last edited by bergamonster; Apr 1, 2024 at 8:34 am
Apr 1, 2024, 11:14 am
#340
Join Date: Jan 2024
Posts: 28
emails have rarely been accurate for tracking progress. I use the emails as a confirmation of 1. I actually activated the offer 2. Some of my spending is counting.
I manually add what counts once it posts.
I got an email saying I had to spend xxx after I had already gotten the credit for the current month
I manually add what counts once it posts.
I got an email saying I had to spend xxx after I had already gotten the credit for the current month
Apr 1, 2024, 11:17 am
#341
Join Date: Jun 2023
Posts: 158
emails have rarely been accurate for tracking progress. I use the emails as a confirmation of 1. I actually activated the offer 2. Some of my spending is counting.
I manually add what counts once it posts.
I got an email saying I had to spend xxx after I had already gotten the credit for the current month
I manually add what counts once it posts.
I got an email saying I had to spend xxx after I had already gotten the credit for the current month
Last edited by TyrannicalDuncery; Apr 1, 2024 at 8:40 pm
$388 left to spend ($1000 online spend for $250 in points, mid Mar to mid Apr offer).
Apr 2, 2024, 1:38 pm
#345
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 265
I got a 12 month 0% apr offer on individual purchases of $399 and up, but it has this whopper in the terms (seems like they are hoping to trap you):
Similar one last year did not have this
If the balance is not paid in full within 12 months, interest charges will be imposed from the purchase date at the variable purchase rate on your account which is 30.49% APR