Why do people apply in sprees?

[etothejomegan]

as opposed to getting the ones they truly want? Is there any benefit with either method?

[DaveSignal]

---

@etothejomegan wrote:

as opposed to getting the ones they truly want? Is there any benefit with either method?

---

You can get approved for more cards because the stuff you are approved for doesn't hit your reports instantly.  And the inquiries all fall off at the same time next year.

[Middleswarth]

Inquiries fall off together.  Accounts age together (helps with AAoA).

In my case I'm working toward a mortgage in 2 years.  I apped now so my record will be free of INQs and I will have 5 accounts all aged over 2 years. 

[Repo-ed]

---

@etothejomegan wrote:

as opposed to getting the ones they truly want? Is there any benefit with either method?

---

Whose to say they are not doing the app spree for all the cards they truly want?

[iMacDrew]

---

@etothejomegan wrote:

as opposed to getting the ones they truly want? Is there any benefit with either method?

---

 I think it makes sense to apply in sprees for cards you want!

1) You app in sprees so that when they pull your report the 2 other credit cards you got that day arent showing

2) All your inquiries are on the same day, it wouldnt make much sense to wait 4 or 6 months to app a card at a time, then you would always have an inquiry on your report!

  Apply till youre denied!!!!!!! lol

[CruzImperial]

+1 to all above

[CS800]

+2 to the above statement

[Anonymous]

I know all on the same day is good but how about in a certain time period, like one or two weeks?  I have a pre-qualified JCP offer that expires on 8/10, a pre-acceptance offer for Merrick Bank that is good til 8/23 and I plan on appling to a number of banks/credit unions after I pay off a credit card and it posts to my reports around 8/13.  I don't care if I get the JCP card. I rather refi the car instead and I don't think that will hurt the Merrick offer. I may put an app into Walmart at the same time. If I get it, fine, if not, that's ok too. 

I may just toss the JCP, send the Merrick in around the same time that I apply for the loan then go for the Walmart when I have that approved and before I accept it. 

[Walt_K]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

I know all on the same day is good but how about in a certain time period, like one or two weeks?  I have a pre-qualified JCP offer that expires on 8/10, a pre-acceptance offer for Merrick Bank that is good til 8/23 and I plan on appling to a number of banks/credit unions after I pay off a credit card and it posts to my reports around 8/13.  I don't care if I get the JCP card. I rather refi the car instead and I don't think that will hurt the Merrick offer. I may put an app into Walmart at the same time. If I get it, fine, if not, that's ok too. 

I may just toss the JCP, send the Merrick in around the same time that I apply for the loan then go for the Walmart when I have that approved and before I accept it. 

---

Those expiration dates are meaningless.  If there's some sort of special targeted signup offer attached to a preapproval, the expiration date might mean something, i.e., the bonus offer might expire.  But as far as approval is concerned, the only reason they put an expiration date on it is to manipulate you into applying thinking you might miss out on something.  They do not relax their approval criteria during the time period.   If you'd be approved on 8/9, you'd still be approved on 8/11. 

[drkaje]

Being approved feels good.