The Offer
- Chase has sent out a targeted e-mail (with personalized link) offering people a $50 bonus when they convert their Chase Freedom to a Chase Freedom Unlimited and make a purchase with their new card by March 31st, 2017.
The Fine Print
- Subject line:Â Switch From Chase Freedom to Freedom Unlimited And Earn $50 Bonus (can somebody send it to [email protected], thanks)
- No credit pull
- Keep the same account number
Our Verdict
We talked about if it makes sense to complete this product change in some detail here. The TL;DR (too long; didn’t read) is that for most people this product conversion isn’t a good deal. I’d say that argument holds true for people even with this $50 bonus (although you might be able to complete this product change and then get it back to a regular Chase Freedom using this trick).
This change makes most sense for people that don’t really use the 5% categories on the Chase Freedom, value Chase Ultimate Rewards highly and also have a lot of unbonused spend.
Hat tip to DDF
I got a $500 VGC issued by Sunrise Banks. Would it work to get MO at either WM or PO? Please advise.
Metabank works at WM and Bancorp works at PO.
How about this VGC i got got from Sunrise Banks?
Were you able to get it to work?
Thx Doc, I think this makes sense for me as I am mostly in to getting new cards soley for the sign up bonus and rarely using them for categories. Even with groceries coming up I can instead use my BlueCash Preferred card and get 6%. The $50 seems worth it to me and like you said it still might be possible to product change back down the road 🙂
I meant to add, I am going to secure message Chase and ask them for this, even though I wasn’t targeted. Will let you guys know the results.
Were you able to get it to work?
I understand why people would do this. I have both the Freedom and Freedom Unlimited (and CSR) and I suck at rotating categories. Then again I am not a hardcore churner like many who follow this page so I might be in the minority here. The only reason I have the Freedom is because I did a PC on my Preferred when the Reserve came out.
This quarter I did remember to use it to add a extra money to my metro card, bought Uber and Lyft gift cards for myself, but the gas station I usually use does not sell gift cards so I probably will not max it out. This quarter is probably the best I have ever done with rotating categories. Next quarter who knows if I will remember!
Yes, the Freedom Unlimited can be a good deal and it might be for you!
Is the trick to downgrade to Chase Sapphire still available? I couldn’t find that card on chase site and saw only Pref and Res.
Yes, still works. You can’t apply for the card directly but it’s still a downgrade option.
How about BoA Travel Rewards with Platinum Honors? That seems to beat almost any 2% card. Honesty at that rate, I question even using SPG.
I have to say, I’m a bit surprised by everyone’s view of the Unlimited. It is the ONLY card on the entire market that offers 1.5 miles per dollar on ALL purchases (the Everyday Preferred does as well, but you need 30 purchases per month and plus, UR are better than MR for most). There isn’t a card out there that’s better for unbonused spend. Sure there are 2% cards byt 1.5 UR is worth WAY more for most people (obviously only if you also have a Chase annual fee card that allows transfers to airlines/hotels). Especially for people who have more than one Freedom between them and a spouse (my spouse and I each have 2 for 4 total), it makes sense for most people to convert just ONE in the household to an Unlimited. Can’t see why it’s not a no-brainer.
2% vs 1.5x points/miles isn’t as easy of a choice you’re making it out to be. Also if you’re maxing out the 5x categories with Freedom then you need to put a LOT of unbonused spend on there for it to make sense.
Next Quarter is grocery AND drug store.
So spending $1500 on a Freedom very conveniently gives you the same amount of MR as it would take $5000 in spending on a FU. THAT is the no brainer to me…
I don’t really see where the FU belongs here. If you value CB, the Citi DC / C1 Venture / FIA 2% all offer no AF (c1 = just call). If you are a points junkie, wouldn’t you take 1x SPG over 1.5 UR anyday? I sure would.
1UR = 1 hyatt pt which is worth close to 3 cents. If you want to play the pts conversion game, you could value UR conservatively at 2 cents. I find miles game to be a chore and only good for people that are hardcore flexible about traveling.
Valuation of 3¢ per Hyatt point is very generous. Can’t you usually buy them for a lot less than that? I even think a valuation of 2¢ per Chase UR is very very generous.
Drug store is fairly easy to do MS since most CVSs still sell VGC and you can usually find a post office which will sell a money order. Gas seems to be regional – the few gas stations I find VGC at are only selling $100 VGCs max (in Southern California) or 7-11’s which stopped selling VGC on cards years ago. On the other hand, last quarter I prepaid for the future year’s Costco spending by maxing out the warehouse category on Freedom.
Instead of taking a one time $50 bonus, I could get at least $50 in value every year by keeping Freedom. If the bonus was 5000 UR points instead, I might think twice, but probably would still keep the Freedom, unless for some reason I needed more UR points.
The average person can’t see/think passed 1 cc, that’s why.
I have too many points/miles and need a 2% cashback card to balance the currency portfolio
Not interested
not interested!
With three two percent cards, I see no reason to to get this substandard card. Second calendar quarter will present MS risk with most cards presenting wholesale clubs and grocers and drug stores.