Express Next Store Card or No?

[Anonymous]

I wanted to come over here and talk this through before I decide whether to apply for an Express store card. 

I have an excellent credit profile, Fico scores over 800. My current card lineup is in my signature. Lowest limit is $10,000, highest is $34,000. I know that store cards are kind of frowned upon in the credit community but I have my eye on the Express Next. I wanted to get advice from the experts (you) to either talk me down or tell me its OK to app. 

I only spend about $600/year there and  it is the primary store that I buy clothes from. I know the biggest thing with store cards is since they reward you with cash back that can only be used at the store, it theoretically has you spending more there than you normally would have. I think I am am OK with this, as I could definitely benefit from additional wardrobe items. Currently I shop via the Upromise portal, which gives me 5% cash back and use my Blispay card, giving me another 2% cash back. I also get free shipping and free returns because my Barclay Commence card gives me a free Shoprunner membership...about the only thing that card is good for! HA

With the Express Next credit card, they'll give me $10-15 (store credit) every time I spend $125 + a "birthday gift". That's 8-12% back and I'll still shop through the Upromise portal, getting that 5% back.

I just don't know if it's actually worth it. I'm really stingy with my hard inquiries. I only have two on my report and they're both falling off at the end of this year. I've tried the SCT but I can't get it to work...I have been doing it "Incognito" but no luck. 

Basically, I just need a consensus to either tell me the store card is not worth it or to go ahead and app!!

[jbsilva21]

Not sure if I did the math right, but on $600 with the 5%/2% deal that you use that is about $41.00 back vs the Express's "cashback" at the $15.00 is about $72.00. Again I am not sure if my calculating is correct. I am guessing with no AF and not carrying a balance that is the only time that the Express card might make sense. But the other argument is what if the go out of business or something like that. Then again it's not a whole lot of money but it is money none the less. I think US Bank Cash + has department store category that you can choose for 5% cash back if they consider Express a department store. 

[Anonymous]

I have Express Next card but never use it.  If your score is over 800 then why do you care about a hard pull on one bureau? Hard pulls have such little effect on score and the small effect is gone after 12 months.  If you find benefit to the card get it. 

[Anonymous]

Do the shopping cart trick for a soft pull. I’m 1000% sure any Comenity site you go to will have a pre approval notice on every screen with that score lol

[Anonymous]

How many hard pulls are currently on your report presently? Inquiries only take a few points off score.

[Anonymous]

I assume that you're already an Express Next member? When I was shopping in the store this past weekend, I was told I was pre-approved for their credit card after I provided them with my Express Next ID. 

I haven't done it yet myself but one of the reason's I will eventually do it is for the free shipping.

I hope this helps.

[NRB525]

Do you have access to a US Bank branch? Any US Bank checking or other accounts?

The Cash+ card has two selectable 5% categories. Department Stores, and Specialty Clothing stores. Specialty Clothing probably covers Express Department Stores gives you even more options to earn 5%. And other categories like cell phone, sporting goods, rental cars, electronics stores, furniture stores.

And of course it is not a store card.