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Discover Card - Do I Need It?

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AndySoCal
Senior Contributor

Discover Card - Do I Need It?

I have been trying to set aside my complete disdain for the merger of Capital One and Discover.  My three favorite rotating catagories were grocery stores, Restraunts and Amazon Walmart/Target.

Grocery stores - I was shopping at Kroger or Safeway store today most of my groceries comes from Walmart the rest from a local grocery store. 

Credit Card used - Redstone for Walmart ar Custom cash or Langley if grocery stores are 5 percent catagory .

Restraunts credit card used  Redstone FCU or Langley depending on their 5 percent catgory

Walmart or Target  Redstone FCU 

Amazon - My primary use for Amazon is Kindle Ebooks and couple of other things. Between gift cards that I have been given or shop with points option I can use Custom Cash points to make purchases.  
Credit Card used State Department FCU 2% this is very rare. 

I have thought about Wells Fargo Attune - 4% at bookstores which is how Amazon is classified. or Affinty FCU Cash Rewards

I do not see Dicover card getting any use other than taking up space in my wallet or in the "sock drawer". My question is would you keep it or close the card? If Capital One implements the matching the spending to the credit limit on Discover at some point in the future my credit limit would take a drastic hit.

 

FIC Scores XPN v8 808 V2 831 (SDFCU) TUC V 8 803 03/25 EFX Bankcard v8 822 EFX FIC0 v8 800 Vantage score 4.0 817 via JC Penney )
JC Penney 10/2008 4700, US Bank Cash 08/2010 12,000 Citibank Custom Cash 5/2015 11,100 State Dept. FCU 20,000 06/2023 , 02/2024 Redstone FCU Signature VISA 10,000 08/23/2024 Langley FCU Signature Cash Back Visa 10000
Banking: Langley FCU Credit Unions: Lafayette FCU Fortera FCU State Department FCU Pelican State CU Red-stone FCU Hughes FCU
My personal blacklist Axos Bank, Bank of America, Synchrony Bank Capital One TD Bank Comerica Bank BMO
Message 1 of 11
10 REPLIES 10
unsungivy
Valued Contributor

Re: Discover Card - Do I Need It?

Discover was my first new card when I started fixing my my credit card balances with transfers etc. They had their place, and I'm grateful to them.

 

That being said, I outgrew them and closed the card (partly because my limit wouldn't grow without heavier use). I had P2 keep their card, but honestly, it so rarely gets touched unless the category is PayPal or Digital Wallet. I picked up a CFF last year which at least has the constant Drugstore/Dining categories outside of the rotating ones, so it's not useless if the categories are, unlike the Discover.

 

If you've outgrown it as well, close it. You'll be fine.

Biz - Authorized User -
Sock Drawer'd - Debit Cards -
Chopping Block -
Message 2 of 11
Gregory1776
Valued Contributor

Re: Discover Card - Do I Need It?

Will I close it? Nah, I'll let them CLD, not use it and have it closed for non use. Not really a fan of cap1 just because of what I readon them.

BT, taking a 10 mo loan out on the card and 0% offers is why I mostly use it. Useless otherwise really. Don't like rotating categories.



Experian [809] TransUnion [818] Equifax [828]

Total Revolving Limits [$224,000]

PenFed Loan: $679/$8,000
Message 3 of 11
Realist
Frequent Contributor

Re: Discover Card - Do I Need It?

I find there to a be an accumulation of credit cards, just for the sake of credit cards.  Whether that's to acquire a credit total, use as a tool, whether to help build out available credit, whatever it may be that doesn't offer you a reward.

 

The next elevation of acumulation of credit cards, is acquiring credit for rewards.  Whether that's airfare, hotel, cash back, or otherwise.

 

After tasting the cash back opportunities, the cards that won't offer don't suddenly seem as enticing any longer.  This is where Discover comes in.  However, all cards do play a role.  How long have you held them, and what is the age on the account?

 

Today, we only secure cards that offer rewards.  I want free airfare welcome bonuses, or a free hotal stay for a week or so. I don't have the time to play for anyone that doesn't put out.  That was an intentional smirk.  They sell our data for massive profits, I want a cut.

 

I don't close lines unless they no longer fit the profile.  I let instituations close out undesireable cards.

$XXX,XXX in credit lines. First digit isn't a one or two.
4-5 weeks in free credit reward vacations, booked through 2028.
$X,XXX in bank rewards in only 12 months.
I like FREE...

800+ FICO.

Making all numbers dance on a financial ledger.
Abuse that score responsibility for maximum gain.
Message 4 of 11
TrapLine
Frequent Contributor

Re: Discover Card - Do I Need It?


@AndySoCal wrote:

I have been trying to set aside my complete disdain for the merger of Capital One and Discover.  My three favorite rotating catagories were grocery stores, Restraunts and Amazon Walmart/Target.

Grocery stores - I was shopping at Kroger or Safeway store today most of my groceries comes from Walmart the rest from a local grocery store. 

Credit Card used - Redstone for Walmart ar Custom cash or Langley if grocery stores are 5 percent catagory .

Restraunts credit card used  Redstone FCU or Langley depending on their 5 percent catgory

Walmart or Target  Redstone FCU 

Amazon - My primary use for Amazon is Kindle Ebooks and couple of other things. Between gift cards that I have been given or shop with points option I can use Custom Cash points to make purchases.  
Credit Card used State Department FCU 2% this is very rare. 

I have thought about Wells Fargo Attune - 4% at bookstores which is how Amazon is classified. or Affinty FCU Cash Rewards

I do not see Dicover card getting any use other than taking up space in my wallet or in the "sock drawer". My question is would you keep it or close the card? If Capital One implements the matching the spending to the credit limit on Discover at some point in the future my credit limit would take a drastic hit.

 


The good ole sock draw may make a "wait and see" a good thing. While I really do not see improvments between Capital One Financial and/or Discover Financial, the opening up of a very "robust" fourth processing network could bring an unforseen value to our Discover Card products. May be the introduction of top tier cards much like the old DIners Club Card in addition to what Cap1 has today could be a potential. While I wonder, decided to put the Discover Card in the sock draw "like a rail car on a siding" and see if something new might befall us??? Smiley Surprised

Message 5 of 11
BearsCubsOtters
Frequent Contributor

Re: Discover Card - Do I Need It?

As a child of the '80s, I remember fondly my mom asking store employees if they accepted Discover, as back then, not many did LOL. When I became of age, I finally got my own Discover Card. For years, it was my main card. But, other cards have surpassed Discover's cash back. Like you, I really only use it for the grocery category-which, I do not even really need anymore with Citi Custom Cash.

 

I always thought about keeping it, mostly for sentimental reasons. But, with Capital One taking over, its days may be over. Just need to see what happens before I make a decision.

Message 6 of 11
DanteJuan95
New Contributor

Re: Discover Card - Do I Need It?


@Gregory1776 wrote:

Will I close it? Nah, I'll let them CLD, not use it and have it closed for non use.


They will close it rather than "CLD" because of so-called "non-use".

@Gregory1776 wrote:

Not really a fan of cap1 just because of what I readon them


"Read on" What? Whatever rules or terms that C1 is doing with Discover isn't set in stone yet.
ACTIVE



DISCONTINUED




AAOA: 1y1m/1y8m







Message 7 of 11
DanteJuan95
New Contributor

Re: Discover Card - Do I Need It?


@BearsCubsOtters wrote:

As a child of the '80s, I remember fondly my mom asking store employees if they accepted Discover, as back then, not many did LOL. When I became of age, I finally got my own Discover Card. For years, it was my main card. But, other cards have surpassed Discover's cash back. Like you, I really only use it for the grocery category-which, I do not even really need anymore with Citi Custom Cash.

 

I always thought about keeping it, mostly for sentimental reasons. But, with Capital One taking over, its days may be over. Just need to see what happens before I make a decision.


Again it's too early to tell on what's going on between the both. So I don't understand on why everyone doomsaying stuff that's far early in the process of things, until whether it happens or not, there's nothing that any of us or me can do anything about it other than if we decided to slash ties with Discover because of what C1 did this or that and what C1 is going to do with Discover once afterwards.
ACTIVE



DISCONTINUED




AAOA: 1y1m/1y8m







Message 8 of 11
MarkintheHV
Frequent Contributor

Re: Discover Card - Do I Need It?

My Discover card has never been used.  I still to this day have no idea why I got it, but its there sitting in the sock drawer with my Citi cards.  When I travel, I am fine with my AmEx BCP and NFCU Flagship.  I should close the Citi cards but I hate the idea of getting rid of a 40k credit card.  Discover and my AA credit card have really no use to me.

Active Cards In My Wallet: AmEx BCP - $70k | AmEx Delta Reserve Biz - 13k | NFCU Flagship Visa - 80k
Inactive Cards Sock drawered: Citi AA World MC - $20.5k | Discover IT - $10k | Citi CCR - $43,500


Message 9 of 11
ptatohed
Senior Contributor

Re: Discover Card - Do I Need It?

I like my Disco it, Cash Back, card. I have no plans to get rid of it. But, honestly, I can't remember the last quarter I used it for anything 5% exclusive.
[ Signature in dire need of updates. It's on my to-do list. Smiley Wink ]


5% CB rotating: ;
Everyday 3% CB: ;
Everyday 5%: ;
Companion Card: ;
Everyday 2.2% CB: ;
Retired to sock drawer after AOD (kept alive w/ 1 purchase every 6 mo): ;
On my radar: ;
Still Waiting for an Invite: ;
No hope:
Message 10 of 11
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