Review of the Sears Card and Sears Shop Your Way Mastercard

The Macy’s American Express® Card (Review) provides rewards and benefits depending on how much you spend in a year with Macy’s.

A decent alternative if you don’t shop much at Sears, the Macy’s card features three membership tiers: Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Each one adds more perks. So the more you spend, the more you’ll get out of this card.

The real draw comes from the annual benefits, like the Star Passes, which give you 25% off Macy’s purchases. That’s a pretty solid discount compared to the Sears cards. Not to mention you can use this card anywhere, and it also earns points at restaurants, on gas, and at supermarkets, making it a pretty rewarding choice when it comes to store cards.

So if Macy’s is your preferred department store (or one of them), and if you usually end up spending quite a lot there, you might want to consider adding this card to your arsenal.

• Star Passes: Get Star Passes each year, which can be used to get 25% off at Macy’s on any chosen day.
• Perks and Offers: Receive occasional special offers at checkout, event invitations, access to exclusive sales, and more.
• Birthday Surprise: Get a special birthday surprise during your birth month.
• Star Money Days: These are limited-time events during which members can earn points on eligible Macy’s purchases when spending with their credit cards.
• Amex Offers: Access the Amex Offers program, which provides opportunities to save money by earning additional points at a changing selection of retailers.
• Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 25.24% Variable
• Annual fee: $0

• 3X points per dollar at restaurants, 2X points per dollar at gas stations and grocery stores, 1X point for all other purchases
• Macy’s Star Pass mailings
• Surprise savings at checkout
• Star Money days
• Registry star rewards
• Free shipping for Gold and Platinum members only
• 5% back in rewards at Macy’s for Platinum members only
• Birthday surprise every year
• No annual fee

The Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card (Review) is a great way to earn rewards on the slew of items offered through Amazon. You’ll need a Prime membership in order to get it; otherwise you can get the Amazon Rewards Visa Signature Card.

If Sears has it, you can be sure that Amazon most likely carries it as well. And with this card, you’ll get 5% cash back on every purchase you make through Amazon, which is more rewarding than what the Sears cards offer. The non-Prime version of the card also earns cash back on Amazon purchases, so even if you’re not a subscriber it’s still something to think about.

Both Amazon cards also offer rewards at Whole Foods, and on gas, at restaurants, and drugstores, expanding where you’ll earn cash back even further. That makes it far less limiting than the Sears cards.

• Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection: At eligible hotels you’ll get a $25 food and beverage credit, automatic room upgrades when available, VIP guest status, and more.
• Visa Signature Concierge: Call any time for non-emergency assistance, like help making dining or travel reservations.
• Shopping and Travel protections: Including Travel Accident Insurance, Lost Luggage Reimbursement, and Purchase Protection.
• Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 14.24% to 22.24% Variable
• No foreign transaction fee
• Annual fee: $0 (Amazon Prime membership required)

• Requires active Prime membership
• Cash back can be redeemed for statement credits or at Amazon.com checkout
• Earn 5% back at Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market
• Earn 2% back at gas stations, restaurants, and drugstores
• Earn 1% back on all other purchases
• Get a $70 Amazon.com Gift Card instantly upon credit card approval

The Target REDcard™ Credit Card (Review) offers rewards and discounts for Target shoppers, providing another avenue for those who’d rather not shop at Sears.

As the name suggests, the Target card can only be used at Target, where it features some nice discounts. You’ll get 5% off every purchase, with additional annual discounts received through the mail.

Compared to the changing (and therefore somewhat restricting) 5% discount the Sears cards sometimes offer, you might end up saving more at Target and gaining some flexibility by saving with every purchase.

• Free 2-day shipping: Get free two-day shipping on eligible purchases from Target.com.
• 30-day extended returns: Get 30 extra days to make returns on purchases made with a REDcard.
• Anniversary bonus savings: Sign up for Target marketing emails to receive a 10% off coupon for Target purchases by email on your account anniversary.
• Early access offers: Receive occasional early access offers to Target events, promotions, and sales. These offers may be based on your previous purchases and location.
• Exclusive extras: Get opportunities for exclusive deals and discounts, only available when purchasing with a REDcard.
• Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 24.40% Variable
• Annual fee: $0

• 5% off every day at Target & Target.com.*
• Free 2 day shipping on hundreds of thousands of items at Target.com.*
• Early Access to products and promotions*
• Exclusive Extras including special items and offers*
• Starbucks discount on in-store locations – get everyday 5% savings when you pay with your REDcard*
• Cartwheel – save 5-50% on hundreds of items in store & get everyday 5% savings when you pay with your REDcard*
• Target Subscriptions – save 5% on everyday essentials delivered on your schedule when you subscribe, plus get everyday 5% savings when you pay with your REDcard*
• Get everyday 5% savings on specialty gift cards when you pay with your REDcard*
• Target Wallet, easy and fast checkout. Use Wallet in the Target app to save with Cartwheel and pay with REDcard by scanning your phone at check out in store.
• *Some restrictions apply. See Target.com/redcard for benefits and program rules

The Citi^® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer (Review) is arguably one of the best cash back cards on the market, offering a flat 2% back no matter where you choose to shop, for no annual fee.

With this card you won’t be restricted at all. You could use it at Sears, or anywhere else, and reap in the cash back. That flat rate, and flexibility it provides, is the most attractive part of this card, but you’ll also get a nice balance transfer offer.

Or, if you’d like, you could get both cards. That way, you’ll still get your Sears discounts on eligible purchases, and you’ll have a go-to option when using a Sears card doesn’t make sense.

You can convert the your cash back rewards into ThankYou points. From there, you can transfer them to Citi’s airline partners, where you may find a more lucrative route for redeeming. You might be able to cash them in for a value higher than one cent, increasing your return on spend.

• Free FICO credit score: See your Equifax-based FICO Bankcard Score 8 on statements, online, and by mobile app.
• Citi Concierge: Get restaurant suggestions, reservations, travel arrangements, shopping research, and more.
• Citi Entertainment: Get preferred access and pre-sale tickets to events and experiences, from music to movies.
• Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 18 months on Balance Transfers, then 13.99% – 23.99% (Variable)
• Annual fee: $0

• Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.
• To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time.
• Balance Transfer Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 13.99% – 23.99%, based on your creditworthiness.
• Balance Transfers do not earn cash back.
• If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
• There is a balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
• The standard variable APR for Citi Flex Plan is 13.99% – 23.99% based on your creditworthiness. Citi Flex Plan offers are made available at Citi’s discretion.