Why the need for Rotating Category Cards?

[Beast26]

98% of my online shopping is on Amazon.  I spend 100+ on Amazon every month.  I shop groceries only at Walmart.  I rarely eat at restaurants.  Fast food is my go to!

[Anonymous]

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@TSlop wrote:

I think it just depends if you want 5% cashback or not. I don't think there is anything above 2-3% on general spend that is no AF. So for the cashback maxers, 5% with Chase/Discover will get you the greatest amount back. But it is up to you if it is worth the effort to get the extra 2-3% cashback.

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I think this overlooks the negative of the rotators.   Yes, most of us would like 5% (or more!) but, for example, if I want 5% off wholesale clubs, I better have that need in Q2 for Discover.   As I said, some categories such as dining and groceries are probably more uniformly distributed over the year, but some other things are less likely to be.

From a pure reward viewpoint, the more (free) cards the better, to have a greater opportunity to maximize each transaction.   But there are diminishing returns, and, IMO, rotators are more subject to this because you do not know what categories will be selected for you.

[AverageJoesCredit]

It makes some people feel all tingly

[Beast26]

This is correct.  All of the cards I listed are "goal cards" that I will have in the end.  My current cards are in my signature.  But I will apply for my next card next week.

[Anonymous]

The thing i don't like about rotators is that you're beholden to that card for that specific period, since I shop monthly all ywar long for grocery I prefer that flat % earner rather then waiting for specific time to try and maximixe every red cent.

Plus the rotating categories may not always line up with my shopping pattern for those places like Target or Walmart etc. To me it just feels like extra work to earn a few precent more in certain quarters than just going on with my life doing what I do.

[Anonymous]

Yes, rotators ARE extra work.

I have Chase Freedom, and one big disadvantage is that (unlike Discover) you cannot know the upcoming quarterly category until 2 weeks before the end of the current quarter.

If you are a structured person, as I am, it makes planning for shopping, to best use the 5% categories, very difficult.

For example, the grocery category is usually offered in the second quarter (April to June). This is useless to me because I have AMEX BCP which offers 6% on groceries all year long. I buy about $6000 annually in groceries, so I do not want to commit any grocery spending to Chase Freedom, in case I have trouble meeting the $6000 cap on AMEX, which runs on a calendar basis. Also, I do NOT play the "buy gift cards at Kroger to meet the $6000 cap" game (too much work).

Restaurants are a useful category, but we are not eating out much these days (like everybody). We do a moderate amount of delivery and takeout, but It is only maybe $50 a month, and over the quarter, that only amounts to $7.50.

Gas is useless for us, since we are both retired and drive much less frequently than when we worked.

Drug stores and warehouses are useful, but you do not know when they are coming. Target quarters are useless because we have the Target Redcard, for 5%.

The bottom line (and sorry for the length) is that quarterly category cards can be a lot of planning, and, for me, at least, a nice flat-rate 2% EDP card like Citi Double Cash, plus AMEX BCP for 6% groceries, are less hassle and easier to use for rewards.

[Credit12Fico]

Agree with above poster. The one benefit is just getting "In" with chase. You can then product change to a few other interesting cards with more perks. 

 So when starting out on your credit journey, a freedom is nice fast track to give you a taste of a high earning category spend, while you wait for your profile to mature. Once you start getting access to things like BCP and other bells and whistle cards, you can product change the Chase Freedom into something else like the Unlimited or the Annual fee Sapphire cards with the travel perks if you travel a lot.  A single chase card is valuable because it can be turned into many of their other cards.

[wasCB14]

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@Credit12Fico wrote:

Agree with above poster. The one benefit is just getting "In" with chase. You can then product change to a few other interesting cards with more perks.   So when starting out, a freedom is nice, but once you get kitted out with a BCP, and other bells and whistle cards, you can product change the Chase Freedom into something else like the Unlimited or the Annual fee cards with the travel perks.

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Better to go the other way IMO...SUB chase the AF cards then PC to the 5% or 1.5%. My CFU was a CSP and Freedom number 2 was a CSR.

Freedom number 1 and Discover are my oldest cards. They sit in the SD some quarters but deliver value over time. When some people fret about whether to close an old Cap1 Platinum because it has no rewards, keeping Freedom is a pretty easy decision for me! (Discover is a little different for me, though, because of the hassles of a joint account. I have considered closing that.)

I like MRs and BBP...but 5% cash never really gets old...especially with minimal travel during COVID.

[sxa001]

I don't believe anyone needs any particular card and I would encourage anyone to get the cards that are going to most match their spend.  If you are looking for simplicity then keeping up with the rotating categories may not be something that you are looking for, I know I am pretty bad about not maximizing my benefits.  There is nothing wrong with a general spend card that will get you 2% on everything, like the Citi Double Cash.  20 grand a year on the Citi Double Cash is $400 a year automatically. If you maxed out the Dicover Quaterly Categories and had no other spend on the card you would be looking at $300 in cash back.

Lots of good advice on these forums from people who do maximize benefits, but they work at it and pay attention.  The best card to pay for something is the one in your wallet (physical or mobile).  

[Anonymous]

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@wasCB14 wrote:

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@Credit12Fico wrote:

Agree with above poster. The one benefit is just getting "In" with chase. You can then product change to a few other interesting cards with more perks.   So when starting out, a freedom is nice, but once you get kitted out with a BCP, and other bells and whistle cards, you can product change the Chase Freedom into something else like the Unlimited or the Annual fee cards with the travel perks.

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Better to go the other way IMO...SUB chase the AF cards then PC to the 5% or 1.5%. My CFU was a CSP and Freedom number 2 was a CSR.

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Perhaps during normal business hours a PC is great, but currently Chase is offering 5% on grocery spend on both CFU and the CF cards as a part of their SUB. So right now those sound better option during the current situation. The AF cards will always be around later.