View Poll Results: Which Sears related card(s) do you use?
I have both the TYP and SYW versions.
0
0%
My Sears card earns no rewards.
0
0%
Voters: 35. You may not vote on this poll
Jan 3, 2024, 2:04 pm
Last edit by: rrgg
To read previous discussion click HERE
Discussion of the discontinued Sears MasterCards which earn ThankYou Points has been moved to a separate thread, 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.
Discussion of the discontinued Sears MasterCards which earn ThankYou Points has been moved to a separate thread, 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:
- 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)
- Purchasing e-Gift cards from Paypal.com (Adidas posted as Restaurants-COMPUTER NETWORK/INFO SRVS)
- 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 Shop Your Way (SYW) Cards (2023 - 2024)
Feb 18, 2024 | 5:28 pm
#166
Join Date: Jun 2023
Posts: 365
I ran into a problem with Walmart Pay.
Hopefully this helps, let me know if you have any ideas for me.
Problem:
Today I tried to buy a $50 Visa (variable card, the clerk input the amount) plus some tea, using Walmart pay at a human checkout. Total purchase $60. I got the text message that my card was charged without the card present, and my balance decreased as expected. However, the transaction was stuck on pending within the Walmart pay app for over a minute, so I left my items with the cashier and left. A few hours later, it is still pending. I did not receive any fraud alerts/confirmation requests via text or email from SYW. To be clear, when I say "pending," I mean that the Walmart pay app says it's pending, and Walmart support says it's pending on their end. This is different from the expected situation, where it would exit the pending status right away and let me check out with my stuff. Of course the charge is also still pending on my card, but that's not the weird part.
Trying to fix it:
I called SYW consumer protection number, and they said that the charge went through and there was nothing unusual about it. I called Walmart, they gave me the runaround for a long time but I eventually got to someone who seems useful. I said that I wanted to make sure that they could tell that the transaction failed, and I wanted to know why it failed so I could prevent this in the future. They confirmed that they could tell it was stuck in a pending state (so I wouldn't be able to take my items), and they said that they would contact the technical team, and the technical team would call me back in a few days. They emailed me a case number, so I feel somewhat optimistic that this won't just disappear into the void.
Customer service strategy:
In case anyone is interested, the way that I got to this person was that I called 1800-WALMART, selected the choices for talking about a store experience, they redirected me to the Walmart.com people, the Walmart.com people said that they were going to send me back to the store people, I asked for a manager, they said that they would send me back to the store people again, I asked them to talk to the store people directly and tell them that they needed to help me, then I got to a store person who was actually useful and set up the technical team contact. Before all of this, I talked to the actual customer service desk in the store. They were the ones who suggested that I call Walmart. At some point during the call, the people on the phone tried to get me to talk to the service desk in the store, and I had to tell them that the customer service desk didn't know anything about Walmart pay and that's why I called them. So I guess ultimately it was the people on the phone who deal with the store that ended up getting me in touch with the technical team, but I'm not sure it had to be that way. Either way, at least this time my strategy of forcing the two departments to talk to each other (instead of kicking me back and forth) worked, at least to get me to this point.
Background:
The failed payment was using Walmart Pay with my SYW card. I have made many in-store Walmart purchases in the past with this same setup for similar amounts, but I have never bought any gift cards and I have always used the self-checkout in the past. I have never used any of Walmart's money services, bought or liquidated any MOs, loaded Discover or prepaid cards, bought any phone cards, made wire transfers, made a purchase over $200, returned anything, received a refund, or done anything else that I would consider "suspicious." I'm always just buying food and toiletries and stuff, and I've spent more than $60 in the past through SYW+Walmart pay. This is a Walmart that I've been to before multiple times. I had not bought anything at any Walmart in the week leading up to that. My internet was fine, my Walmart account was loading in the app, and of course Walmart Pay was able to send the amount to SYW so that my card was charged. Right after the failed transaction, I was able to make a small purchase at a gas station with the physical card and I was able to make a small purchase at Kroger using Kroger Pay. Right before the failed transaction, I was able to make a $70 online purchase with no issues.
I would understand if SYW thinks I'm suspicious, as I have called them in the past about the promotional offers. But everything seems to have worked on the SYW end, and I think it's a Walmart Pay issue (let me know if you disagree). Presumably either they didn't like that I was buying a gift card or it was a fluke/glitch.
Someone else on DoC had an issue with straight-up declines from Walmart pay after making a few large gift card purchases. I think that's a different issue because the charges never made it to SYW.
Hopefully this helps, let me know if you have any ideas for me.
Problem:
Today I tried to buy a $50 Visa (variable card, the clerk input the amount) plus some tea, using Walmart pay at a human checkout. Total purchase $60. I got the text message that my card was charged without the card present, and my balance decreased as expected. However, the transaction was stuck on pending within the Walmart pay app for over a minute, so I left my items with the cashier and left. A few hours later, it is still pending. I did not receive any fraud alerts/confirmation requests via text or email from SYW. To be clear, when I say "pending," I mean that the Walmart pay app says it's pending, and Walmart support says it's pending on their end. This is different from the expected situation, where it would exit the pending status right away and let me check out with my stuff. Of course the charge is also still pending on my card, but that's not the weird part.
Trying to fix it:
I called SYW consumer protection number, and they said that the charge went through and there was nothing unusual about it. I called Walmart, they gave me the runaround for a long time but I eventually got to someone who seems useful. I said that I wanted to make sure that they could tell that the transaction failed, and I wanted to know why it failed so I could prevent this in the future. They confirmed that they could tell it was stuck in a pending state (so I wouldn't be able to take my items), and they said that they would contact the technical team, and the technical team would call me back in a few days. They emailed me a case number, so I feel somewhat optimistic that this won't just disappear into the void.
Customer service strategy:
In case anyone is interested, the way that I got to this person was that I called 1800-WALMART, selected the choices for talking about a store experience, they redirected me to the Walmart.com people, the Walmart.com people said that they were going to send me back to the store people, I asked for a manager, they said that they would send me back to the store people again, I asked them to talk to the store people directly and tell them that they needed to help me, then I got to a store person who was actually useful and set up the technical team contact. Before all of this, I talked to the actual customer service desk in the store. They were the ones who suggested that I call Walmart. At some point during the call, the people on the phone tried to get me to talk to the service desk in the store, and I had to tell them that the customer service desk didn't know anything about Walmart pay and that's why I called them. So I guess ultimately it was the people on the phone who deal with the store that ended up getting me in touch with the technical team, but I'm not sure it had to be that way. Either way, at least this time my strategy of forcing the two departments to talk to each other (instead of kicking me back and forth) worked, at least to get me to this point.
Background:
The failed payment was using Walmart Pay with my SYW card. I have made many in-store Walmart purchases in the past with this same setup for similar amounts, but I have never bought any gift cards and I have always used the self-checkout in the past. I have never used any of Walmart's money services, bought or liquidated any MOs, loaded Discover or prepaid cards, bought any phone cards, made wire transfers, made a purchase over $200, returned anything, received a refund, or done anything else that I would consider "suspicious." I'm always just buying food and toiletries and stuff, and I've spent more than $60 in the past through SYW+Walmart pay. This is a Walmart that I've been to before multiple times. I had not bought anything at any Walmart in the week leading up to that. My internet was fine, my Walmart account was loading in the app, and of course Walmart Pay was able to send the amount to SYW so that my card was charged. Right after the failed transaction, I was able to make a small purchase at a gas station with the physical card and I was able to make a small purchase at Kroger using Kroger Pay. Right before the failed transaction, I was able to make a $70 online purchase with no issues.
I would understand if SYW thinks I'm suspicious, as I have called them in the past about the promotional offers. But everything seems to have worked on the SYW end, and I think it's a Walmart Pay issue (let me know if you disagree). Presumably either they didn't like that I was buying a gift card or it was a fluke/glitch.
Someone else on DoC had an issue with straight-up declines from Walmart pay after making a few large gift card purchases. I think that's a different issue because the charges never made it to SYW.
Last edited by TyrannicalDuncery; Feb 18, 2024 at 5:51 pm
Feb 19, 2024 | 7:27 am
#167
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: EWR
Programs: World of Hyatt, Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, UA Mileage Plus
Posts: 1,650
My brother in arms you seem a little overzealous. My recommendation is to find what works and keep at it. If it stops working look elsewhere. Don’t keep calling.
Feb 19, 2024 | 9:47 am
#168
Join Date: Jun 2023
Posts: 365
You're probably right! 💔
I might try and see whether I can get the same result from Kroger pay.
I might try and see whether I can get the same result from Kroger pay.
Last edited by TyrannicalDuncery; Feb 19, 2024 at 12:19 pm
Feb 19, 2024 | 10:06 am
#169
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 448
Got my $200 for GGR for JAN. Posted date as 01/22. I checked on Saturday and it wasn't there.
Feb 19, 2024 | 4:01 pm
#170
Join Date: Jun 2023
Posts: 365
For those of you who have received offers in the mail:
Are you receiving paper statements as well? Just wondering whether there are settings that contribute to this.
Are you receiving paper statements as well? Just wondering whether there are settings that contribute to this.
Feb 19, 2024 | 11:49 pm
#171
Join Date: Jan 2024
Posts: 99
I swear their website/how they process transactions is the most annoying design I've used so far. Frustrates me every time I have to login and use the website.
Has anyone had this category before?MERCHANT CATEGORYRestaurants-UTILITIES-ELECTRIC,GAS,SANITARY,WATERI have no idea how my online utility payment can also qualify as restaurant? Will this qualify for the online spending bonus?
Is there a way to track your progress towards an offer?
Feb 19, 2024 | 11:57 pm
#172
Join Date: Jun 2023
Posts: 365
I think the only way to track your progress is either a) receive a progress email (you don't always get one) or b) receive your points (seems like usually the online spend offer credits within a few days, but maybe not always).
Feb 20, 2024 | 12:01 am
#173
Join Date: Jan 2024
Posts: 99
This is also how my gas bill shows up, lol. I think we have seen that some utilities qualify for the online bonus and some do not.
I think the only way to track your progress is either a) receive a progress email (you don't always get one) or b) receive your points (seems like usually the online spend offer credits within a few days, but maybe not always).
I think the only way to track your progress is either a) receive a progress email (you don't always get one) or b) receive your points (seems like usually the online spend offer credits within a few days, but maybe not always).
Can anyone confirm from the past few months if they have had a transaction code as Restaurants-UTILITIES-ELECTRIC,GAS,SANITARY,WATER which qualified for the online purchase offer bonus?
I didn't realize the offer was only for one month. I overpaid on my utilities to hit the $750. I will see in a few days or when my next statement posts. My next statement should post before the offer end date thus giving me time to meet the offer if utilities do not count.
Last edited by supremeflyer; Feb 20, 2024 at 12:09 am
Feb 20, 2024 | 3:47 am
#174
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 144
I do not receive a paper statement. I sometimes receiver offers in the mail. They're almost always duplicates of what I receive in email - I think only once has it been an offer I did not receive in email. I receive like 1-2 mail offers for every 10 email offers.
Feb 20, 2024 | 3:53 am
#175
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 144
Unfortunately, I have not received an online spend to replace the one that expired on the 15th. I only have the 7.5k/15k GGR per month and the 5x Travel/Entertainment active right now. Missing the utilities and online spend for sure.
Feb 20, 2024 | 9:18 am
#176
Join Date: Jan 2024
Posts: 99
Utilities which code as above do count as online.
Got a progress email.
my hunch is one category/one month offers get a progress email since it is easy to autogenerate.
Got a progress email.
my hunch is one category/one month offers get a progress email since it is easy to autogenerate.
Feb 20, 2024 | 10:12 am
#177
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,013
Question re: Plastiq
It shows on the Wiki as "online/utilities, etc"
But does that only apply if you used Plastiq to pay for a utility bill?
Or just anything using Plastiq?
It shows on the Wiki as "online/utilities, etc"
But does that only apply if you used Plastiq to pay for a utility bill?
Or just anything using Plastiq?
Feb 20, 2024 | 10:19 am
#178
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,013
For purchased on united.com coding as "online":
Has anyone used this method to purchase Travel Bank funds?
I know normally Amex/BofA will code this as united.com
I wonder if AA.com works the same for purchasing Gift Cards (AA gift cards, that is)?
Has anyone used this method to purchase Travel Bank funds?
I know normally Amex/BofA will code this as united.com
I wonder if AA.com works the same for purchasing Gift Cards (AA gift cards, that is)?
Feb 20, 2024 | 2:17 pm
#179
Join Date: Jun 2023
Posts: 365
Has anyone tried using Kroger Pay to trigger the online offer?
I will probably be testing it myself and will report back.
However, I have some reason to believe that my online offers don't actually track. So YMMV.
I will probably be testing it myself and will report back.
However, I have some reason to believe that my online offers don't actually track. So YMMV.
Feb 20, 2024 | 2:36 pm
#180
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 372