topic Re: Categories Explained ....Help please lol (Discover IT) in Credit Cards

Categories Explained ....Help please lol (Discover IT)

Girlzilla88 — Sun, 21 Jun 2020 19:59:41 GMT

I'm reading up on Discover IT (shame on me I know lol) But it has Rotating Categories and I see people mentioning Q3/Q4 etc so do you only pick which Quarter would benefit you most and you get the points/cash on that unless you don't hit your max then you can use on Q4 orrrrrrrr someone please explain to me how that works because I see you have to Add it?! But on my Amex and Chase card, Amex I just see something that works for what I plan on buying and add that specific deal and Chase just automatically does it for me it seems?! Unless I'm not doing it proper on there LOL. But I just need a Lame-mans Break Down so I can get a better understanding pretty please :3

Re: Categories Explained ....Help please lol (Discover IT)

Anonymous — Sun, 21 Jun 2020 20:13:11 GMT

You activate the offer once before you spend for the quarter.

If you spend in that category for that quarter you get 5% cash back instead of lower normal rate.

You get the increased spending on each quarter's spending on up to $1,500 per quarter; unused spending does not roll over.

Re: Categories Explained ....Help please lol (Discover IT)

K-in-Boston — Sun, 21 Jun 2020 20:16:24 GMT

Discover's categories are here: https://www.discover.com/credit-cards/cashback-bonus/cashback-calendar.html

When you log into your account, on the lower left side of the screen there is an option to activate each quarter. You can earn 5% back in each quarter for up to $1500 in purchases on those categories. You can get the 5% on up to $1500 in each quarter; there is no rollover if you do not hit the cap.

For Chase Offers, you need to add the offer to that specific card just as you are doing with with Amex Offers.

Re: Categories Explained ....Help please lol (Discover IT)

Anonymous — Sun, 21 Jun 2020 20:25:43 GMT

With the Discover Card, each quarter features a new bonus catagory in which Discover will pay out 5% cash back on those specific catagories-provided that you sign up for them. These catagories are determined by Discover themselves; but year-to-year there are very few changes: Groceries Q1; Gas Q2, Restaurants Q3 and Amazon Q4. Typically, there may be an additional catagory thrown in such as Paypal with Q3s restaurants, but those are the main ones. Keep in mind, that can change at Discover's discretion. You may earn 5% up to $1,500 in spend on the bonus catagory (so $1,500 * 0.05 = $75 per quarter). The standard 1% cashback earned on non catagory spend is unlimited.

You will need to activate the bonus 5% catagory each quarter in order to participate in these catagories. This is typically done online through your account management.

You mention "deals" with both Chase and Amex. Those are most likely small percentage, single-use promotions such as Amex Deals. Either way, you still need to add those to your card before they are redeemable. Note that this is NOT what the Discover Cashback Bonus is. The Discover Cashback Bonus is built into the card (1% cash back on all purchases is standard-but you will have to sign up each quarter for the bonus 5% catagory).

To perhaps complicate things, your first year of Discover Cashback Bonus will be doubled. This I believe is done in a lump sum at the end of the year.

Also, I hate to be that guy...but it is spelled layman.

Re: Categories Explained ....Help please lol (Discover IT)

Brian_Earl_Spilner — Sun, 21 Jun 2020 20:47:08 GMT

I seriously hate the activations. They're hoping you forget. That's not good business in my eyes.

Re: Categories Explained ....Help please lol (Discover IT)

Girlzilla88 — Sun, 21 Jun 2020 21:13:08 GMT

Ok Ty All I think that helps better explain it and @Brian_Earl_Spilner LOL that is my worries that I would forget to add the Category lol

Re: Categories Explained ....Help please lol (Discover IT)

AverageJoesCredit — Sun, 21 Jun 2020 21:22:21 GMT

@Brian_Earl_Spilner wrote:
I seriously hate the activations. They're hoping you forget. That's not good business in my eyes.

If someone has a Discover and doesnt realize what rewards structure their card has thats on that person for not paying attention or understanding the card they applied for, thats not on Discover. Discover routinely sends out emails with reminders to activate ones Reward categories and its on their homepage where one can check info on rewards and categories. Seems like good business to me.

Re: Categories Explained ....Help please lol (Discover IT)

Girlzilla88 — Sun, 21 Jun 2020 21:27:52 GMT

@AverageJoesCredit Oh that's really nice of them I also like that they let you know if it is going to be a HP vs SP to me that is KUDOS points to them

Re: Categories Explained ....Help please lol (Discover IT)

AverageJoesCredit — Sun, 21 Jun 2020 21:35:05 GMT

@Girlzilla88 wrote:
@AverageJoesCredit Oh that's really nice of them I also like that they let you know if it is going to be a HP vs SP to me that is KUDOS points to them

Yes @Girlzilla88 Imho, Discover in transparent in things like rewards and cli requests. Now how they offer cli and to whom, how much, is their best kept secret. Covid is most likely going to change how they lend so most likely our perceptions of them from last year wont be the same now. Im not even requesting cli like before not only due to my personal situation but from what we've seen and read post covid. Good luck with your Disco

Re: Categories Explained ....Help please lol (Discover IT)

Girlzilla88 — Sun, 21 Jun 2020 21:37:26 GMT

@AverageJoesCredit I see ....well hopefully (if I can/do) they will be kind to me LOL. I want to see how things go with my NF CLI and second card before I even seriously consider D-IT but I do like to do a lot more digging now to be more prepared (unlike before when I thought I knew then got hit with so many NO SOUP FOR YOU) LMAO

Re: Categories Explained ....Help please lol (Discover IT)

Anonymous — Sun, 21 Jun 2020 22:12:29 GMT

@AverageJoesCredit wrote:
Yes @Girlzilla88 Imho, Discover in transparent in things like rewards and cli requests. Now how they offer cli and to whom, how much, is their best kept secret. Covid is most likely going to change how they lend so most likely our perceptions of them from last year wont be the same now. Im not even requesting cli like before not only due to my personal situation but from what we've seen and read post covid. Good luck with your Disco

They are also transparent in that they show the categories for the entire year. Chase Freedom (and Citi Dividend) only announce the following quarter two weeks or so before it starts.

Re: Categories Explained ....Help please lol (Discover IT)

Kforce — Sun, 21 Jun 2020 22:46:49 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Also, I hate to be that guy...but it is spelled layman.

It's better the way he spelled it

Re: Categories Explained ....Help please lol (Discover IT)

Brian_Earl_Spilner — Sun, 21 Jun 2020 23:15:54 GMT

@AverageJoesCredit wrote:
@Brian_Earl_Spilner wrote:
I seriously hate the activations. They're hoping you forget. That's not good business in my eyes.
If someone has a Discover and doesnt realize what rewards structure their card has thats on that person for not paying attention or understanding the card they applied for, thats not on Discover. Discover routinely sends out emails with reminders to activate ones Reward categories and its on their homepage where one can check info on rewards and categories. Seems like good business to me.

Doesn't matter if they send out the reminder. The fact that it needs to be activated every month or you don't get it, when that's the whole point of the card is bad business. They're hoping you forget and can't take advantage of the rewards.

Re: Categories Explained ....Help please lol (Discover IT)

K-in-Boston — Sun, 21 Jun 2020 23:53:41 GMT

@Brian_Earl_Spilner wrote:
Doesn't matter if they send out the reminder. The fact that it needs to be activated every month or you don't get it, when that's the whole point of the card is bad business. They're hoping you forget and can't take advantage of the rewards.

It only has to be done once prior to, or during, each quarter. The point of the card is to get you used to using it for everything and earning 1% on most of your spend with the carrot hanging that you earn 5% on some purchases. Freedom, Cash+, and Dividend are no different.

Re: Categories Explained ....Help please lol (Discover IT)

Ficoproblems247 — Mon, 22 Jun 2020 00:42:26 GMT

@Girlzilla88 You've still not applied for that Disco yet? Pshhh...JK, Although having to activate those categories every quarter manually is kind of weird, I highly doubt you would forget to do it. Like was stated before, they do send your reminders. For me, whenever I log in and glance at my rewards it's a reminder in and of itself. You can activate WAY before the next category begins too, so you'll never be in a time crunch.

Re: Categories Explained ....Help please lol (Discover IT)

Anonymous — Mon, 22 Jun 2020 05:58:57 GMT

@Brian_Earl_Spilner wrote:
I seriously hate the activations. They're hoping you forget. That's not good business in my eyes.

Exactly. There is zero reason for them to do it except they are hoping you'd forget.

Re: Categories Explained ....Help please lol (Discover IT)

AverageJoesCredit — Mon, 22 Jun 2020 11:49:46 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Brian_Earl_Spilner wrote:
I seriously hate the activations. They're hoping you forget. That's not good business in my eyes.
Exactly. There is zero reason for them to do it except they are hoping you'd forget.

If someone is on this forum , especially when it comes to rewards, im willing to bet its not that difficult to click activate once every 3 months or, even in advance as mentioned up thread , as they give ample notice of future categories. Why they would hope you forget when that means more spend for them on their card is beyond me i guess.

Re: Categories Explained ....Help please lol (Discover IT)

AverageJoesCredit — Mon, 22 Jun 2020 11:50:32 GMT

@K-in-Boston wrote:
@Brian_Earl_Spilner wrote:
Doesn't matter if they send out the reminder. The fact that it needs to be activated every month or you don't get it, when that's the whole point of the card is bad business. They're hoping you forget and can't take advantage of the rewards.
It only has to be done once prior to, or during, each quarter. The point of the card is to get you used to using it for everything and earning 1% on most of your spend with the carrot hanging that you earn 5% on some purchases. Freedom, Cash+, and Dividend are no different.

This *

Re: Categories Explained ....Help please lol (Discover IT)

GApeachy — Mon, 22 Jun 2020 11:57:46 GMT

Plus they do add new catagories like Home Depot for a limited time (quarter)......so I guess they want you "in the know" as Disco morphs their rewards- perhaps? Blame it on this guy

Re: Categories Explained ....Help please lol (Discover IT)

Anonymous — Mon, 22 Jun 2020 12:16:11 GMT

I'm not sure it is bad business (presumably they find it net positive) but I don't understand why people are defending the practice! We don't expect to have to call Amex each quarter to confirm that we want to earn more than 1% on groceries on the BCE/BCP etc, and similar arguments apply (they could remind us, and it only is once per quarter). Yes, categories rotate, but having to confirm once prior to the quarter doesn't seem to me to bring big benefits to me in terms of helping me remember or whatever.

I find it more annoying on Cash+, which is more like BCP in that the categories usually stay the same. Sure, I should have the option to change each quarter but a default to keep the same without needing to acknowledge would be good.