cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 

Why do people apply for store cards?

tag
neonsign82
Member

Why do people apply for store cards?

During my app spree last year, I was denied for a Bloomingdale's card which i thought was odd because at the same time, I was approved for Amex Zync, Discover, DCU and Associated Bank cards.

 

I'm preparing for another app spree sometime this year and I couldn't help but wonder, why do people apply for store cards?

Most of them have low limits, high interest and you can only use them at a specific store.

 

Why waste a hard pull when you can app for a Mastercard/Visa/Amex/Discover/etc or on a card that you can use at a lot of places...

 

Is there a special incentive with store cards aside from the occasional discount etc?

FICO: 714 (EQ) 11/08/2013
Creditsecure FAKO: 744 (TU) | 744 (EX) 11/08/2013; CreditKarma FAKO: 781 (TU) 11/09/2013
Wells Fargo ($15K) 11/11 | Amex Zync 06/12 | Discover ($15K) 06/12 | Associated Bank ($11K) 06/12 | DCU ($8K) 07/12 | Amex Blue Cash ($16K) 12/12 | Amex Platinum 11/12 | BofA Cash Rewards ($20K) 08/13 | Chase Sapphire Preferred ($54,000) 11/13 | Citi AAdvantage ($15K) 1/14 | Lufthansa MC ($16K) 01/14 | Citi Exec AA ($20K) 02/14
Message 1 of 18
17 REPLIES 17
pizzadude
Credit Mentor

Re: Why do people apply for store cards?

 

Many people get approved for store cards, albeit with low limits, when they can't get approvals from other banks / CUs, etc..    Some store cards have lower approval criteria due to this fact, so they are popular with rebuilders.

 

Also some store cards like Target offer a discount every time you use the card in store.

March2010 FICO® ~ 695 TU, 653 EQ, 697 EX
Message 2 of 18
Open123
Super Contributor

Re: Why do people apply for store cards?

Ah, some store cards will confer added benefits and perks that are unique.

 

For instance, the Nordstrom card will give you some extra discounts, invitation only events, and even make their return policy more liberal, if you can imagine that.  Nieman Marcus used to be the only other card they accepted other than Amex.  Or, at Macy's, some of their coupons and specials can only be used if you have or pay with the Macy's card.

Message 3 of 18
Repo-ed
Senior Contributor

Re: Why do people apply for store cards?

I have a Belk store card because I used to work there and the discount with the card atop of my associate discount was quite nice.

 

I have a Amazon store card because I do 99% of my shopping via Amazon

 

I have a Walmart store card because I like the FREE monthly TU FICO Score.

 

All of which are GE backed and offer NICE CLI 3x/yr.

5/2012: 560 credit scores across the board
12/2014: 750+
3/2017: 780+
11/2019: 833
2/2023: Experian via Chase United Explorer CC pull - 891
Message 4 of 18
jsucool76
Super Contributor

Re: Why do people apply for store cards?

Also some store cards offer financing options (like walmart and amazon)
Message 5 of 18
ilovelisa
Established Contributor

Re: Why do people apply for store cards?

I only have a Sams and Walmart store card because they would not approve me for the Discover version.

Amex BCE $10,000 | BofA Power Rewards WMC $10,000 | Discover It $10,000 | ICBC Preferred Gold UnionPay $8,000 | Local CU Visa $3,500
Message 6 of 18
youngandcreditwrthy
Senior Contributor

Re: Why do people apply for store cards?

Easy to build credit!
Higher limits!
And MONEY SAVING benefits!!!
Marriott PR$25k | BCE $24.5K |BankAmericard Visa $25k| BOA Better Bal $17.5k |Wmt Discover $12.5k | BR Visa $17.5k | Amex Delta Gold $10k | Discover IT $10k | Paypal Extras MC $15k | Amazon Store $10k|Smile Gen $7.25k | Dillard's $10k | West Elm $4k| Express $3.05K | Mypoints.com Visa $4.5k | Freedom Visa $1k| Amex Surpass $1k
Message 7 of 18
chnceit
Valued Contributor

Re: Why do people apply for store cards?

+1 to everyone

 

I love my Amazon card because of the special financing and multiple CLI 


Last Pulled EQ: 809
Last Credit Card App: 02/05/2016
Last CLI: 02/06/2016
Find Me: Gardening
Message 8 of 18
Sparkz1920
Frequent Contributor

Re: Why do people apply for store cards?

You might start off low but you can end up with high limits

I have mine simply for the perks. Especially NYandCo and Gap and Old Navy.

I think I average about 4 or 5 20.00 certificates a year from NyandCo

Starting Score: 601
Current Score: 670
Goal Score: 700


Take the FICO Fitness Challenge

NFCU Rewards- 8K......AMEX Delta Skymiles-5k.....Citi AAdvantage AMEX-3.5K...WalMart Discover-4K....Old Navy Visa-2k...BOA-3000...AMEX Green-NPSL....Discover More-1K
Message 9 of 18
Wolf3
Senior Contributor

Re: Why do people apply for store cards?

If you are a regular shopper, Store cards offer a lot discounts and special deals.   Some offer lot 0% deffered interest deals.   For me, store limits have bigger CL.

 

Your assumptions seem to be based on people who get store cards and don't use them.    Only in that case is the inquiry a waste.

Message 10 of 18
Advertiser Disclosure: The offers that appear on this site are from third party advertisers from whom FICO receives compensation.