Shopping Cart Trick Questions

[Anonymous]

Hello Everyone,

I am requesting some guidance on this matter as I have a very, extremely thin file that goes back to October 2014. I am wondering if someone could advise me when were you able to start receiving those pop ups as I'm frequently on Victoria Secrets and Express as these are regular stores for me and would like to get these before my AAOA increases and they both drop it. My idea is that if i get as many cards as possible at first I won't be killing my AAoA in the future by adding toy cards. I have a clean record, no derrogatories but my thin file. When did the shopping Cart Trick start working for you, how thin was your file?

[Anonymous]

Often the reason it never comes up is because you are 'opted out' for preapproval offers. Do you ever get pre-approvals in the mail for junk card like First Premier and Credit One?

Do you have any revolving lines at all?

[Anonymous]

I opted in I believe early Dec (just to confirm since I never received pre approvals before) I just received a pre approval via mail this week from Conn's for 2,000 But i don't want to apply since I'm not really interested in purchasing furniture or electronics.

I do have 2 secured cards 1 fingerhut and 1 walmart card

[Shokk]

Conn's also requires you to make a purchase to get the credit line.  Just FYI.  That's an INQ I could have avoided.

[Anonymous]

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@Shokk wrote:

Conn's also requires you to make a purchase to get the credit line.  Just FYI.  That's an INQ I could have avoided.

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Thank God I didn't apply since by this being my first pre approval I got all excited hehe

[Anonymous]

I would not worry about trying the shopping cart trick then. Concentrate on those four credit lines. Maintain perfect payment history on those for six months - they will be your AAoA anchors.

AAoA is not that big a part of your score - anything that does affect it will rebound within a few months anyway. Many people put way too much emphasis on AAoA.

[Anonymous]

I know for sure I need to close one of the Secured cards (Cap 1 since it does not graduate). I just wanted to garden with VS and Express and not apply anymore lol. Those are the only 2 Toy cards I could really use. I'll trade my Fingerhut for one of those lol

[Anonymous]

How old are those secured cards?

[Anonymous]

Cap One Secured I opened 10/2014 and Discover Secured 12/2014.....

[Anonymous]

I would not even consider closing them until the end of the year. If they have annual fees you might close them at the 11 month mark, but no real need to do it sooner. You should be seeing decent score growth from them about the 6 month mark and thats when you should try apping for some 'no fee' unsecured cards.