Activate Q4 Chase Freedom 5% Categories: Amazon.com, Zappos.com, Audible.com & Diapers.com

Chase has released their 5% cash back categories for Q4 for their Chase Freedom card and it’s now possible to activate cash back for that period (October 1st – December 31st). The categories are as follows: amazon.com, zappos.com, audible.com & diapers.com. Click here to go and activate.

chase freedom activate

All of those sites are owned by $AMZN, so presumably Chase has made a deal with them in regards to this quarter (and it’s likely Discover has a similar deal). Frankly I find this offering a bit boring, here is what Chase has offered in the past for quarter four:

  • 2014: Amazon, Zappos & select department stores
  • 2013: Online shopping
  • 2012: Hotels, Airlines, Best Buy, Kohls
  • 2011: Dining, Department Stores, Movies, Charity

At least last year you could also get 5% at department stores as well. A discount of 5% is nice at Amazon, but not really anything special as it’s possible to get that year round.

[Read: Best Shopping Portal For Amazon.com]

In contrast the Discover it gets 5% back at Amazon.com, department stores & clothing stores for Q4. In addition to that, the cash back is also doubled as long as you’re registered for that promotion. Discover is the clear winner for my mind, more choice and 10% cash back. I really would’ve liked to see Chase offer restaurants/dining as a category, as it’s getting more and more difficult to get a decent category bonus on those.

What are your thoughts about the Chase Freedom Q4 categories? Are you as disappointed as I am?

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

8 Comments
newest
oldest most voted

leeloodallamultipass
leeloodallamultipass (@guest_173135)
September 16, 2015 12:57

To me it’s weird to be comparing 5% cashback to 5% UR and saying that they’re equal. The absolute minimum value of UR is 1 cpp, but you can often do much better through transfers to partners.

Michael
Michael (@guest_172885)
September 15, 2015 23:11

Meh…. I get 5% from Sallie Mae @ amazon…. the others I can live without… boring.

Chucks
Chucks (@guest_172903)
September 16, 2015 00:11

Yeah, with an 8% Citi Forward these are kind of yawn-worthy.

Joe
Joe (@guest_172765)
September 15, 2015 16:13

“I really would’ve liked to see Chase offer restaurants/dining as a category, as it’s getting more and more difficult to get a decent category bonus on those.” They did that in Q2 this year. In any case, you’re right, Q4 sucks.

Matt
Matt (@guest_172670)
September 15, 2015 11:10

If one wanted to maximize both Freedom and Discover promos, could you purchase a $1500 amazon GC with freedom to max that out and get the 7500 UR points, and just spend it down through 2016? That way you could make Q4 purchases with Discover, and when that’s over, switch over to the amazon GC.

John
John (@guest_172739)
September 15, 2015 14:39

I must admit it is really boring. I have accumulated $1000+ amazon gc last month thanks to Amex offer and I also have a 5.5% year round card.

Carl
Carl (@guest_172646)
September 15, 2015 10:01

Agreed, Discover, Amex Offers, etc. has really killed my excitement for the old Freedom-CSP 1+2. Especially now that UR points seem to be getting worse every time I blink.

Hoping they’re due for a comeback soon, but realistically I’m guessing they’re resting on their laurels after having been known the best offer in town for several years running.