Do You Use Store Cards?

Published on June 11, 2006 By JillUser In Blogging

It seems like every store I go into now has its own store customer member card. I have them from a couple of local grocery stores I frequent and have a bookstore card also. Of course I have a video rental card but luckily they also accept my driver's license because I never seem to have the darn card on me.

That is the problem with those cards. It seems I never have them with me when it would actually do me any good. Half the time the grocery stores don't even require them to get any discount. Of course, when they are have a big "custome card member only" sale, I'll have switched purses and left it at home.

So, do you have many of these cards? Do you go for the store credit cards like at Target or Sears, etc? Do you remember to have your card with you? Is it worth the hassle?

Comments

Texas Wahine

on Jun 11, 2006

We have a GameStop card, which my husband keeps, a Borders card, and a Blockbuster card.

The people at Blockbuster know us so well that we don't have to show a card or ID. Hahahaha.

We used to do the store credit cards, too, because they push that "10% off your first purchase"...but they typically have really crummy interest rates and really, do we need to put that stuff on a credit card anyways? Kind of silly. The only store card I've kept is our Firestone card for car emergencies.

I think it's generally a hassle and very few of the store cards or the store credit cards really offer any benefit worth the trouble.

bakerstreet

on Jun 11, 2006

I use the Kroger one. It is well worth it; I save $5 or $10 dollars on the average weekly grocery trip. They have a nifty keyring version, but with kroger all you really have to do is punch your phone number in the little credit card box and you don't even need the card with you.

Trudygolightly

on Jun 11, 2006

The only grocery store here where I live doesn't have them. The old Super Valu store, it's gone now, used to have them, and they had good products cheaper if you used the card.
Cards like Target charge tooooo much interest, if I don't have the cash, I don't get it!

Adventure-Dude

on Jun 11, 2006

I have King Soopers/City Mkt card and a Albertson's. I don't really do much else enough to get any other cards.

if I don't have the cash, I don't get it!

That's the best financial practice!

terpfan1980

on Jun 11, 2006

I use these cards at most of the stores I frequent (frequent being shop at more than 1 time a month).

The Safeway Club card I have has gotten me about 90 (yes, that is correct, 90) free Starbucks drinks (I get one free for every 7 I buy, no matter what size/type I get when I get that 7), and has earned me several thousand frequent flyer miles on United Airlines (if they don't go completely out of biz).

BlockBuster Rewards was useful when I rented there regularly, but since I do my renting with NetFlix now, it became not worth the renewal fee.

Best Buy RewardsZone has paid for itself many times over. For $10 a year I've gotten back about $200 over the last few years.

Other super market cards are decent, giving me the "sale price" as opposed to the non-member pricing, though I don't normally get the extra bonuses that Safeway offers with those.

terpfan1980

on Jun 11, 2006

Oh, btw, I wouldn't touch a store credit card if someone paid me. 10% off or no, they just are not worth it. The interest rates are the highest allowable by law and late fees (if you miss a payment due date) are just insane. Far better off getting a regular credit card some where or using a debit card and trying to live within your own means.

crimson

on Jun 11, 2006

I don't have any credit cards, but have a Chapters/Borders discount card, Galaxy theatre card that has paid for more than10 free movies for both me and my daughter including concession giveaways. We belong to the Mexicali Rosa's internet mailing list and regularly get free meals. My favorite card is for The Piggy, a dive bar. 3 more stamps and I get a free pitcher!

Cheers.

island_gurl12

on Jun 11, 2006

Here all the shops agreed on having discounted products for members of what they call the advantage card. I dont have it because it's for stores i never go to anyway and i'd rather pay everything right now than worry about it later and check if my account isnt whacky.

JillUser

on Jun 11, 2006

We have a GameStop card, which my husband keeps, a Borders card, and a Blockbuster card.

I don't have GameStop but have the other two. Blockbuster is the one that will take my driver's license and I have one of those little keyring cards for Borders.

I use the Kroger one. It is well worth it

I have Kroger too. It saved me a bundle on the last Harry Potter book!

Cards like Target charge tooooo much interest, if I don't have the cash, I don't get it!

Very smart! Target always asks if I want to sign up for their credit card and always asks for my phone #. I say nope to both.

My favorite card is for The Piggy, a dive bar. 3 more stamps and I get a free pitcher!

I do like the stamp cards. I have one for a local coffee shop and one for the car wash I go to. Oh, and one to the children's resale shop.

Dr Guy

on Jun 12, 2006

I have got several of the snoopy cards, but no store credit cards. It is just one more bill to hassle with, so I dont bother with them.

Tova7

on Jun 12, 2006

My keyring is full of member cards. Grocery stores, gym, fabric stores, etc.

If they don't make a keyring card I probably won't have it......the weirdest thing....my Speedway member card works at Kroger!

I was self check outing and scanned my speedway card because it is red like my Kroger card and I wasn't paying attention. IT worked just fine, welcomed me as a Kroger member.

But it doesn't work the other way round...isn't that weird?

lifehappens

on Jun 13, 2006

I think the discount cards are great if you remember to bring them (I don't) and store credit cards count on your credit score.....If you get a Sears card and one for Target and JC Penny and the Gap and Walmart and Home Depot....plus your car loan and credit cards and mortgage....Well, then your credit can start to look bad even if you have no huge bills or late fees.
Check it out. Sometimes (Like when going for a home loan) they will look at more than just the pretty number up top. If your avalible credit is really high compared to your income (even if you don't use the store cards) it can work against you for your credit.

When I got married, we had 15 or 20 different cards. We used them once for the discount and then paid them off and never used them again. Well, flash forward a few years and some of them still showed up as Active on the credit report. we had to close out the (unused) cards so they wouldn't look detrimental on the report. Anyway, some is fine....20 is pushing it!

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