Money saving tip for the season

[thelerner]

From http://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-greatest-most-underused-credit-card-perk-2013-11-19?siteid=rss&rss=1

The greatest, most underused credit card perk

Published: Nov 10, 2015 10:06 a.m. ET

 

Price matching is not a new credit card perk, but it’s one that consumers often overlook — potentially forgoing hundreds of dollars in holiday savings.

 

Some call it price matching, some call it a price guarantee, but no matter the name, many credit card issuers and network, including Discover, Citi and MasterCard MA, +0.52%  , are offering consumers refunds for the difference in price should they buy an item and then find it for a lower price later on. Discover will refund the difference up to $500 if you find your item at a lower price within 90 days of making a Discover card purchase, Citi says it will refund the difference in price up to $300 per item if its price-finding service discovers a lower price within 60 days of the purchase, and MasterCard will refund up to $250 within 60 days or 120 days, depending on which type of MasterCard you use.

 

They say they’re offering this perk because it’s popular with customers. Discover says that their program, which they launched in June 2012, has been “very well received” by cardmembers and a MasterCard spokeswoman says “these benefits test extremely high in our research with consumers.” Citi says it launched a limited version of its price-match program in 2010, and then, due to positive consumer feedback expanded it to cover all of its cards in 2012 and last year it expanded again by increasing both the amount it will reimburse consumers and the number of days with which it will have its price-matching service look for lower prices for consumers.

 

Still, experts say that a lot of consumers have cards that offer this feature and don’t even realize it. Ben Woolsey, president of credit card discussion and review site CreditCardForum.com, estimates that less than 1% of consumers who have the price-match perk know about it.

 

“Cardmembers just aren’t aware of it and rarely if ever make claims.” For the card companies, that makes it a relatively low-risk perk, he says. “They’re hoping this benefit just increases people’s willingness to buy things without worrying about prices being lower in the near future or at another retailer.” (Citi, MasterCard and Discover didn't share numbers with MarketWatch on the percentage of their consumers who used this perk.)

 

 

me> This is worth remembering during the gift giving season and beyond it.

[soaring crane]

I think there are a lot of loopholes involved in this. Does it count if I find an item at ebay from a private seller cheaper than at Best Buy?

 

My credit card tip: don't charge more than you can pay at the end of the month. Pay your bill in full at the end of the month.

[Owledge]

Participation in this scheme will further empower the super-capitalist price warriors. You're actually doing their job for them. Cheaper CHEAPER CHEAPER cheapens yourself.

 

(Not a deeply thought-through comment, just flow of mind.)

[thelerner]

eh, seems more like it'd be useful in a scheme to buy from a full price local retailer and screw the credit card companies. 

[Owledge]

Something like "If you cannot control the credit card fraud, lead the credit card fraud."? ^^

[thelerner]

??

 

No, just buying from a local store, then showing the credit card company that amazon has it advertised for cheaper and getting the difference from the credit card company.  No fraud, just taking advantage of a benefit that usually goes unused. 

 

 

Credit cards can be good tool if used with discipline. 

 

 

Looking at post below..

<sigh>, I don't like to feed the ..   never mind

1. Don't flatter yourself.  I don't know or think of you enough to like or dislike you.

2. You don't need to copy an entire post.  A partial gist is usually fine. 

Edited December 12, 2015 by thelerner

[dayzhaze]

From http://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-greatest-most-underused-credit-card-perk-2013-11-19?siteid=rss&rss=1

The greatest, most underused credit card perk

Published: Nov 10, 2015 10:06 a.m. ET

 

Price matching is not a new credit card perk, but it’s one that consumers often overlook — potentially forgoing hundreds of dollars in holiday savings.

 

Some call it price matching, some call it a price guarantee, but no matter the name, many credit card issuers and network, including Discover, Citi and MasterCard MA, +0.52%  , are offering consumers refunds for the difference in price should they buy an item and then find it for a lower price later on. Discover will refund the difference up to $500 if you find your item at a lower price within 90 days of making a Discover card purchase, Citi says it will refund the difference in price up to $300 per item if its price-finding service discovers a lower price within 60 days of the purchase, and MasterCard will refund up to $250 within 60 days or 120 days, depending on which type of MasterCard you use.

 

They say they’re offering this perk because it’s popular with customers. Discover says that their program, which they launched in June 2012, has been “very well received” by cardmembers and a MasterCard spokeswoman says “these benefits test extremely high in our research with consumers.” Citi says it launched a limited version of its price-match program in 2010, and then, due to positive consumer feedback expanded it to cover all of its cards in 2012 and last year it expanded again by increasing both the amount it will reimburse consumers and the number of days with which it will have its price-matching service look for lower prices for consumers.

 

Still, experts say that a lot of consumers have cards that offer this feature and don’t even realize it. Ben Woolsey, president of credit card discussion and review site CreditCardForum.com, estimates that less than 1% of consumers who have the price-match perk know about it.

 

“Cardmembers just aren’t aware of it and rarely if ever make claims.” For the card companies, that makes it a relatively low-risk perk, he says. “They’re hoping this benefit just increases people’s willingness to buy things without worrying about prices being lower in the near future or at another retailer.” (Citi, MasterCard and Discover didn't share numbers with MarketWatch on the percentage of their consumers who used this perk.)

 

 

me> This is worth remembering during the gift giving season and beyond it.

 

I know you don't like me, or any other members of our group, but here are some tips for you.

 

1. Zennioptical for prescription glasses, they have nice pairs of glasses from $10 and up.

 

2. Goodrx for the cheapest prescriptions discounts and price comparisons.

 

3. Republic wireless offers $10 per month for unlimited talk and text plans on the Sprint and Verizon network. Used RW phones cost $40 on eBay.

 

4. Roku 4 media player, year subscriptions of hulu are available for $20 on eBay.

Edited December 3, 2015 by dayzhaze