Quick tip for those redeeming credit card rewards with banks like Discover, Citi, Chase, or AmEx: It’s worth always leaving over at least a little bit in your credit card points balance in order to take advantage of pay-with-points deals on Amazon. You just need 1 point to do those deals, so the cost of leaving over is quite small. I’ve also wondered if the targeted offers don’t activate for someone who they see with a zero points balance.
This tip has been discussed before, but I just noticed myself with zero Discover points due to a recent cashout; figured it was worth a shoutout.
Due to a large refund I have a negative reward balance on my CapitalOne card. Activated the amazon offer but couldn’t actually use it…
Request the CC company refund the money to your bank
Yup, this is good advice. I got bit by this a couple months ago when I needed at least 1 point to spend on Amazon for a 20% off promo but I cashed all of it out the day before. Couldn’t do the promo at all because I needed to wait a whole month for the statement to close to get more points credited to my account. Now I usually leave ~$1 on all my cards just in case.
Same for me. I used all my Discover points towards payment and missed out on the promo.
Does the card have to be in the Amazon account person’s name? For example, P2 has Amazon Prime account but the Discover and MR cards are in my name, would that work?
Yes, you can add your cards to P2’s Amazon account to get targeted for the Amazon offers. I do just that with my Amazon account.
Great tip Doc, been doing this for a while now.
I keep at least $50 worth in points for all my reward point ecosystems, if I have accumulated that much. I’m using my magic 8ball and betting someday there will be once in a lifetime redemption requiring at least that much.
It’s a bold strategy cotton
I’m a gambler.
I have not yet got into the Citi TYP ecosystem, but I was glad when the Double Cash added the option to transfer to TYP so I could qualify for some of these bonuses. I just did $1/100 TYP I think. I need an easy way to get a few Cap One miles as well …
Doesn’t necessarily have to be CapOne miles; you can use your cashback cards to unlock the same offers. Just did it with my Quicksilver card. Redeemed $0.01 and unlocked an extra $20 off $80 offer.
Thanks for the clarification. I do not have any CapOne cards at this time, so I will have to consider if the info you provided makes a difference if/when I ever decide to get one.
With all the restrictions Amazon places on what these can be used for, I can’t remember when one of these offers was of any value to me
Gift cards are eligible
I use them all the time – Kleenex tissues, Bounty paper towels, Amazon trash bags, etc.
Is DoC hacking my laptop? I was just looking at my Discover balance of around $122 thinking I should redeem but how much do I leave for Amazon offers. I was thinking $10, perhaps I should leave $1?
What is everyone else doing, how many points/$ are you keeping?
I keep less than $1 in my points balance.
What are you all redeeming Discover cash back for? Even redeeming for gift cards discounted at 20%, I can’t seem to spend them fast enough.
I keep $1. Assuming one day that’s the minimum you will have to redeem to do these deals.
I agree DoC! Thx for the reminder!
Thanks for the tip!