JC Penney Rewards Program changing

[masscredit]

My JCP card has been my best rewards card. Great discounts when I used it followed by a lot of very good rewards. I recieved a card that said the program will be changing -

Your JCPenney Rewards program is changing!  Starting October 1, 2015, if you use your JCP card at participating JCP stores or at jcp.com, you will recieve 5% off eligible purchases at the time of your purchase. If you make make eligible purchases at non-participating stores using your JCP card, you will not receive the 5% discount and will not earn JCPenney Reward points toward a 5% off certificate on purchase unless you use an alternative method of payment. 

So it sounds like they are eliminating the $10.00 off certificates that we receive for each $100.00 purchase that we make. Those are great when combined with sales!  Plus, the products that I buy to spend $100.00 or more are usually on sale. I guess they need to make a little money to stay in business. A couple of JCP stores in my area have closed over the last few months. 

[Sharingan]

It's hard to blame them for trying to eliminate those $10 coupons because I'm sure they are highly unprofitable and are primarily purposed to bring customers back into their stores. Then again, 26.99% interest on their credit card surely opens up a lot of opportunities to recoup those funds. Strangely, I would randomly see 3-4 appear out of nowhere and could be used entirely on one purchase. I've had the Platinum level version for several years now, and I just keep it open for history. 

Also, I believe that JCP is currently 10% back via Discover's Deals portal; so that's probably a better route online anyway for those with IT cards, particularly if the double cash back promotion is effective on your account.

[masscredit]

I recently received a card that says  - Please be aware that changes to the program are now scheduled to take place on or before May 1, 2016. Until then, the current program remains effective. 

[Anonymous]

Hopefully you can do a split payment like target and enjoy 5% knocked off across cards.

[Kutuzov]

The $10 coupon it's awesome. It was/is the best rewards out there, combined with in store discounts of up to 30% in some cases, a $200 purchase would go down to $100 ... my wife got the sc and we consistently shop for clothing there for the whole family (my 14 years old teen girl started to ask for a different shop to shop, but with very limited success ...). If you pay in full every month the deal was unbeatable. I'll check the new rewards nerfing they are planning ...

[masscredit]

I like the $10.00 off $10.00 or more coupons. Those are great!  I had a bunch of rewards from shopping last month. Combined them with sale prices, a $10.00 off coupon along with a percentage off coupon in two seperate transactions. Bought $276.00 worth of products before taxes for $18.34 after taxes. It was a king size sheet set and two pairs of kids gloves. 

[Kutuzov]

Yeap JCPenny rewards is awesome, that's why they might want to nerf it.