Citi cards targeted 5X TYP promo

[coldfusion]

I got this targeted emailed offer this morning for my Citi Premier card, but given the way it was phrased there could easily be versions that targeted holders of any cashback or TYP-earning core Citi card. Basics of the Premier promo is that you activate a targeted offer to earn 5X TYP/$ on up to $500 spend through 3/31/2022 in select categories.

"CF, Use Your Citi Card to Earn Bonus ThankYou Points on Eligible Purchases

Make life more rewarding.

Earn 5X ThankYou points on eligible purchases through 3/31/2022.

Spend on eligible purchases you make at:

Consumer Electronic Stores

Department Stores

Clothing Stores

Game Stores, Hobby, and Toy Stores"

[Anonymous]

Got the same offer on my Premier today

[Crash_Log]

Apologizes if my question/utterance is somehow hi-jacking this thread...but, I've been with Citi since Aug '21. I get that that is not very long in the eyes any bank but I have not gotten a single offer of any type from Citi. I have the Premiere and the Custom Cash. Two products that really enjoy and use..often. I'm easily on track to do about 20k spend per year between the two (and like 0~3%UTI). Is it reverse logic? Since I'm already spending enough for them? Or am I too new? Is Citi typically slow to send out offers?

Note to Citi: I would spend a lot with the targeted 5%... 

[Loquat]

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@Crash_Log wrote:

Apologizes if my question/utterance is somehow hi-jacking this thread...but, I've been with Citi since Aug '21. I get that that is not very long in the eyes any bank but I have not gotten a single offer of any type from Citi. I have the Premiere and the Custom Cash. Two products that really enjoy and use..often. I'm easily on track to do about 20k spend per year between the two (and like 0~3%UTI). Is it reverse logic? Since I'm already spending enough for them? Or am I too new? Is Citi typically slow to send out offers?

Note to Citi: I would spend a lot with the targeted 5%... 

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I don't know if there's any rhyme or reason as to how you're selected for these offers.  I often get these offers on my Citi Premier card as well but this time around I receive a slightly different offer on my Prestige card.  The latest one that I received a couple of days ago are for 5x on grocery stores, drug stores, gas stations, and mass transit.  

I hardly ever get targeted for any offers on the Prestige but this time I did.  But again, it's Citi...and they can be a very complicated institution to try to figure out.  

[coldfusion]

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@Loquat wrote:

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@Crash_Log wrote:

Apologizes if my question/utterance is somehow hi-jacking this thread...but, I've been with Citi since Aug '21. I get that that is not very long in the eyes any bank but I have not gotten a single offer of any type from Citi. I have the Premiere and the Custom Cash. Two products that really enjoy and use..often. I'm easily on track to do about 20k spend per year between the two (and like 0~3%UTI). Is it reverse logic? Since I'm already spending enough for them? Or am I too new? Is Citi typically slow to send out offers?

Note to Citi: I would spend a lot with the targeted 5%... 

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I don't know if there's any rhyme or reason as to how you're selected for these offers.  I often get these offers on my Citi Premier card as well but this time around I receive a slightly different offer on my Prestige card.  The latest one that I received a couple of days ago are for 5x on grocery stores, drug stores, gas stations, and mass transit.  

I hardly ever get targeted for any offers on the Prestige but this time I did.  But again, it's Citi...and they can be a very complicated institution to try to figure out.  

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I haven't been able to figure out a general pattern of what Citi looks for either, other than it seems to usually take at least 1-2 years before they start extending these offers.  I do get a lot of them especially on my Sears Mastercard, which from a value returned % perspective has turned out to be my best earner over the last 5 years (averaging just under 12%).

The other thing I do is that I always enable a Citi promo even if there is no way I'm going to meet the spend requirement.  Enablement confirms I pay attention to their offers, not trying to meet it should suggest that they try a different one next time (different category and/or lower spend threshold).

[ptatohed]

Sorry if this is too off topic, and I know I should probably know this already, but having the Citi DC for years now, and the soon to arrive (I hope) Citi CC, I still have no idea what a TYP is used for.  I take cash back and that's how I like it.  If I were to receive an offer like this for 5x TYPs, is that the same as 5x CB or no?  And *cough* what exactly is a Thank You Point used for *cough*?    

[coldfusion]

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@ptatohed wrote:

Sorry if this is too off topic, and I know I should probably know this already, but having the Citi DC for years now, and the soon to arrive (I hope) Citi CC, I still have no idea what a TYP is used for.  I take cash back and that's how I like it.  If I were to receive an offer like this for 5x TYPs, is that the same as 5x CB or no?  And *cough* what exactly is a Thank You Point used for *cough*?    

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As the OP I have no problem with a topic shift. 

As a general guideline, TYP (ThankYou Points) are usable much like how Chase Ultimate Rewards or AMEX Membership Rewards points can be used.  Different cards can earn points at different rates, they can all be consolidated into a single account, points can be used to buy gift cards, be applied as statement credits, used as currency to book travel using Citi's travel portal, be redeemed directly as cash (the actual redemption rate varies between cards), or if the TYP account has the right card as the primary like the Premier or Prestige (but not the DC as primary) they can be converted to a participating travel partner's miles/points program.   Premier cardholders can redeem TYP for cash at a penny a point.

Citi often does run multiple variations of the same promotion when the actual redemption type aligns with the card.  The Premier is a TYP earner so the promotion would be tied to earning TYP, but since a DC is a cash back card (with the option to later convert the cash back to TYP) the equivalent promotion would pay out as cash back.   A slightly different example is with the Sears Mastercard, where depending upon the actual program that the card is aligned to the payout can be in TYP, in SYW (Shop Your Way) points, or in cash back.

[ptatohed]

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@coldfusion wrote:

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@ptatohed wrote:

Sorry if this is too off topic, and I know I should probably know this already, but having the Citi DC for years now, and the soon to arrive (I hope) Citi CC, I still have no idea what a TYP is used for.  I take cash back and that's how I like it.  If I were to receive an offer like this for 5x TYPs, is that the same as 5x CB or no?  And *cough* what exactly is a Thank You Point used for *cough*?    

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As the OP I have no problem with a topic shift. 

As a general guideline, TYP (ThankYou Points) are usable much like how Chase Ultimate Rewards or AMEX Membership Rewards points can be used.  Different cards can earn points at different rates, they can all be consolidated into a single account, points can be used to buy gift cards, be applied as statement credits, used as currency to book travel using Citi's travel portal, be redeemed directly as cash (the actual redemption rate varies between cards), or if the TYP account has the right card as the primary like the Premier or Prestige (but not the DC as primary) they can be converted to a participating travel partner's miles/points program.   Premier cardholders can redeem TYP for cash at a penny a point.

Citi often does run multiple variations of the same promotion when the actual redemption type aligns with the card.  The Premier is a TYP earner so the promotion would be tied to earning TYP, but since a DC is a cash back card (with the option to later convert the cash back to TYP) the equivalent promotion would pay out as cash back.   A slightly different example is with the Sears Mastercard, where depending upon the actual program that the card is aligned to the payout can be in TYP, in SYW (Shop Your Way) points, or in cash back.

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Thank you very much.  Much appreciated.

I think I'll stick with my CB.  I do, however, often partake in gift cards instead of CB when they are discounted and I shop there anyway.  It does look like Citi has a small handful of GCs discounted 10%. 

https://www.thankyou.com/gcLanding.htm