Discover card options?
Aug 31, 2017, 10:20 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2008
Programs: N/A (kid =! no travel :( )
Posts: 236
Discover card options?
So we just started at a new daycare and the only credit card they take is Discover (kind of amazes me as I thought Discover had a higher charge rate vs others but whatever). I don't have a discover card but figure this is a reason to get one as I expect daycare to run around 8-10k a year. The question is which one.
Seems the two most popular right now are the IT CB and IT Miles. The IT Miles seems like the best option simply because it is essentially 1.5% CB it just has to be used towards travel purchases you made with the card, correct? The 5% back on the IT CB I am not sure is as useful as I already have the Amazon prime card but then again at least the first year for Q4 I could get 10% back at amazon but after the first year it seems like minimal benefit as we also have Chase Freedom.
So wondering if anyone here has any suggestions/advice? Are there other discover brand cards out there worth looking at?
thanks
Seems the two most popular right now are the IT CB and IT Miles. The IT Miles seems like the best option simply because it is essentially 1.5% CB it just has to be used towards travel purchases you made with the card, correct? The 5% back on the IT CB I am not sure is as useful as I already have the Amazon prime card but then again at least the first year for Q4 I could get 10% back at amazon but after the first year it seems like minimal benefit as we also have Chase Freedom.
So wondering if anyone here has any suggestions/advice? Are there other discover brand cards out there worth looking at?
thanks
Aug 31, 2017, 11:35 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,933
No, I don't think there any other cards.
For decades, Discover basically had one card at a time. They just updated it periodically.
Right now it's a more confusing, since for the first time they seem to have two.
But two is "a lot" of cards for them!
Meanwhile, while Discover CB and Chase Freedom both have rotating 5x categories, and sometimes have the same 5x categories, sometimes they have different 5x categories in the same quarter. For example, IIRC last year Chase and Discover had 5x on restaurants in different quarters. So Discover isn't always a duplicate of Freedom, even if it often is.
For decades, Discover basically had one card at a time. They just updated it periodically.
Right now it's a more confusing, since for the first time they seem to have two.
But two is "a lot" of cards for them!
Meanwhile, while Discover CB and Chase Freedom both have rotating 5x categories, and sometimes have the same 5x categories, sometimes they have different 5x categories in the same quarter. For example, IIRC last year Chase and Discover had 5x on restaurants in different quarters. So Discover isn't always a duplicate of Freedom, even if it often is.
Aug 31, 2017, 11:49 am
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: GE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,507
There used to be another bank that issued Discover cards but I believe they stopped. I don't remember who they were, unfortunately, nor what rewards were offered.
Aug 31, 2017, 12:36 pm
#4
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: New York, NY, USA
Programs: UA 1K - 2.1MM, HH LT Diamond, IHG Diamond, Bonvoy LT Titanium, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 766
There used to be several cards, including Discover Card, Discover Card Private Issue (Annual Fee), Bravo Card.
Aug 31, 2017, 12:38 pm
#5
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 3,537
I don't remember the actual bank but the cards had weird names like Matrix and horrendous fees and interest rates. Like First Premier. But worse.
Aug 31, 2017, 5:01 pm
#6
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 378
So we just started at a new daycare and the only credit card they take is Discover (kind of amazes me as I thought Discover had a higher charge rate vs others but whatever). I don't have a discover card but figure this is a reason to get one as I expect daycare to run around 8-10k a year. The question is which one.
Seems the two most popular right now are the IT CB and IT Miles. The IT Miles seems like the best option simply because it is essentially 1.5% CB it just has to be used towards travel purchases you made with the card, correct? The 5% back on the IT CB I am not sure is as useful as I already have the Amazon prime card but then again at least the first year for Q4 I could get 10% back at amazon but after the first year it seems like minimal benefit as we also have Chase Freedom.
So wondering if anyone here has any suggestions/advice? Are there other discover brand cards out there worth looking at?
thanks
Seems the two most popular right now are the IT CB and IT Miles. The IT Miles seems like the best option simply because it is essentially 1.5% CB it just has to be used towards travel purchases you made with the card, correct? The 5% back on the IT CB I am not sure is as useful as I already have the Amazon prime card but then again at least the first year for Q4 I could get 10% back at amazon but after the first year it seems like minimal benefit as we also have Chase Freedom.
So wondering if anyone here has any suggestions/advice? Are there other discover brand cards out there worth looking at?
thanks
Aug 31, 2017, 6:29 pm
#7
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: HHonors, TrueBlue, Delta SkyMiles, Hyatt Discoverist, Starwood Preferred Guest, American Airlines.
Posts: 2,035
No, I don't think there any other cards.
For decades, Discover basically had one card at a time. They just updated it periodically.
Right now it's a more confusing, since for the first time they seem to have two.
But two is "a lot" of cards for them!
Meanwhile, while Discover CB and Chase Freedom both have rotating 5x categories, and sometimes have the same 5x categories, sometimes they have different 5x categories in the same quarter. For example, IIRC last year Chase and Discover had 5x on restaurants in different quarters. So Discover isn't always a duplicate of Freedom, even if it often is.
For decades, Discover basically had one card at a time. They just updated it periodically.
Right now it's a more confusing, since for the first time they seem to have two.
But two is "a lot" of cards for them!
Meanwhile, while Discover CB and Chase Freedom both have rotating 5x categories, and sometimes have the same 5x categories, sometimes they have different 5x categories in the same quarter. For example, IIRC last year Chase and Discover had 5x on restaurants in different quarters. So Discover isn't always a duplicate of Freedom, even if it often is.
Sep 1, 2017, 8:12 am
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2008
Programs: N/A (kid =! no travel :( )
Posts: 236
Thanks for info everyone, guess Discover really is limited to what I was seeing. I think we will go with the IT CB card with the hope that the rotating 5% aligns differently then the chase freedom.
Sep 1, 2017, 10:08 am
#9
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: RDU
Programs: DL(PM), UA(Silver), AA(EXP) Marriott(Ti), HH(Gold), Hertz(PC)
Posts: 2,667
Even when they overlap, keep in mind that the 5% CB is only on the first $1500 of that category, for the whole quarter.
Sep 1, 2017, 7:54 pm
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,933
(Discover was launched by Sears at a time when Sears was America's biggest retailer. Boy, have things changed! Discover is no longer associated with Sears AFAIK.)
Sep 3, 2017, 9:43 am
#12
Join Date: Jan 2005
Programs: UA GOLD MM,WN CP A+list, HH Gold,MR LT Titanium
Posts: 2,184
I know that Discover is not a popular card here on FT, but I have had mine for over 30 years now and have never encountered a problem that wasn't fixed immediately.
Mine is a CB card,which I use exclusively for the rotating 5% categories, along with my Freedom card.
Discover Deals often has some good offers also.
If you plan to redeem for travel,then you would be best to calculate your potential savings vs the CB version. Personally I have enough other cards that earn mileage and hotel points, that my Discover CB works better for me
Mine is a CB card,which I use exclusively for the rotating 5% categories, along with my Freedom card.
Discover Deals often has some good offers also.
If you plan to redeem for travel,then you would be best to calculate your potential savings vs the CB version. Personally I have enough other cards that earn mileage and hotel points, that my Discover CB works better for me
Sep 15, 2017, 12:28 pm
#13
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 4,166
The Discover It card is effectively a 1% card while the Discover It Miles card is effectively a 1.5% card. Both can be redeemed for cash. Why would anyone get the It card over the It Miles card when both double after 12 months and the Miles card earns 50% more per $1 spent?
Sep 15, 2017, 12:36 pm
#14
Join Date: Feb 2006
Programs: HH Gold (again), US/UA/DL non-elite, ZE Presidents Circle, WN reluctant no fee convert.
Posts: 1,449
I know that Discover is not a popular card here on FT, but I have had mine for over 30 years now and have never encountered a problem that wasn't fixed immediately.
Mine is a CB card,which I use exclusively for the rotating 5% categories, along with my Freedom card.
Discover Deals often has some good offers also.
If you plan to redeem for travel,then you would be best to calculate your potential savings vs the CB version. Personally I have enough other cards that earn mileage and hotel points, that my Discover CB works better for me
Mine is a CB card,which I use exclusively for the rotating 5% categories, along with my Freedom card.
Discover Deals often has some good offers also.
If you plan to redeem for travel,then you would be best to calculate your potential savings vs the CB version. Personally I have enough other cards that earn mileage and hotel points, that my Discover CB works better for me
One add on for me. I can get extra cash at a WM with a small purchase, paying the card off by statement date. Nice loan if I am really busy.
Sep 15, 2017, 1:02 pm
#15
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: EWR
Programs: World of Hyatt, Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, UA Mileage Plus
Posts: 1,255
The Discover It card is effectively a 1% card while the Discover It Miles card is effectively a 1.5% card. Both can be redeemed for cash. Why would anyone get the It card over the It Miles card when both double after 12 months and the Miles card earns 50% more per $1 spent?
10% > 3%