Chase 4th quarter 5% categories

[thelethargicage]

Those categories suck. Surprising since the categories in the first 3 quarters were actually pretty good.

[thelethargicage]

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@kdm31091 wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

Has Freedom won any quarter this year? I certainly don't remember there being any use for a Freedom since summer 2014.

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It's pretty sad, since really Freedom is the only "cash back" card Chase even offers. All the rest are cobranded/travel focused/etc.

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Don't forget the AARP Visa. Chase's cards are useless if you don't travel. I love banking there, they make everything so easy, but their credit cards are definitely overrated. 

[kdm31091]

Ok, I guess with AARP they have 2 cash back cards haha.

But yeah, Freedom is just, IMO, weak. There's no comparison to Discover and like the other person said, there really hasn't been for awhile now. They need to step up their game. Many of the people who really like Freedom are pairing with CSP and using it that way vs people just using the cash back.

[thelethargicage]

Discover has really stepped up their game this year, what with the Double Cashback Bonus and handing out CLIs every 2 weeks, not to mention their Cashback Checking account, which IME earns me more rewards than most banks do interest.

[Anonymous]

Freedom is getting very little use from me this year. First off no way would I use it over Discover for Amazon since Discover has double cash back (10% vs. 5%). It's of little value to me in the gas categories because of Sallie Mae card (if I cap it I can use Chase). When it overlaps with Discover I will almost always use Discover.

[CreditCuriosity]

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@kdm31091 wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:
This makes me reconsiderapping for the freedom. Discovers4th quarter is100x better compared to these four stores.

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There's definitely no need to app for a Freedom, trust me. The categories are basically the same as Discover for Q4, except as usual Discover's are more broad (you can go buy shoes at a "clothing store" under Discover, etc). I haven't looked, but zappos and diapers.com are probably on discover deals anyway for 5% or more. In short, Freedom needs to step up the game.

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Freedom/CSP still trump's discover for alot of people, especially the ones that don't have the double cash promotion..  So can't use such a broad statement.  I know alot of people leave the CSP out of the equation, but for alot of us it is part of the equation.  I value UR's alot more than cash back.  I agree they could of done better this quarter though.. Although I certainly will use my Freedom over SM for Amazon purchases due to transfers.  Also alot of people don't have the double cash back on discover.

[kdm31091]

Ok but even with transfers, the spending categories still leave a lot to be desired lol

[CreditCuriosity]

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@kdm31091 wrote:
Ok but even with transfers, the spending categories still leave a lot to be desired lol

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I agree the cat's suck other than Amazon.  some might use Zappo's but not me lol..  Not their best quarter as it seems Amazon lets everyone have 4th quarter.

[yfan]

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@kdm31091 wrote:

Many of the people who really like Freedom are pairing with CSP and using it that way vs people just using the cash back.

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Which my guess is exactly why the categories keep getting weaker. This is Chase's way to nerf the UR program by substantially weakening one of the cheapest and easiest ways of earning UR points. And they don't even have to send cardholders a letter saying, "hey, we're nerfing your card!"

[Callandra]

Never even heard of Audible.com or Diapers.com. Doubt many people will be thrilled with Audible.com and there's definiely a niche group for Diapers.com but I'm very disappointed. I'm making one more big charge on Freedom so I can cash out and then I'm done with the card. Going to get QS as a backup to SM. I'm tired of these rotating categories that are useless to me.