Shopping cart trick

[Anonymous]

I have heard about the "shopping cart trick." I just don't quite understand what it is and how it works. Can someone please explain and remember I'm a Newby at this.

Thanks

[Anonymous]

Basically it's a method that is used to get a card using only a "soft pull" (doesn't affect credit score). 

You go a site (there are lists if you google "shopping cart trick stores" or some similar iteration of the phrase), put a few items in your cart, go to the checkout phase. Once you put in your address you may or may not get a pop-up (have ad blocker/pop up blocker disabled) that states that you are preapproved. Then you just fill out the requested info. 

Some of these have been found to be a "hard pull" which will show up on your report. Again, you will find lists via Google that should indicate if it is a soft pull or hard pull. 

Based on my reading, Victoria Secrets is the easiest to acquire with this method. 

In order to receive these offers you must be sure that you are "opted in" to receive credit card offers via https://www.optoutprescreen.com/. Once you opt in it can take a few days before you can receive the offers. 

[ddemari]

OP- here is some good info on what and how the SCT works. 

https://creditcardcreditcard.wordpress.com/shopping-cart-trick/

[_NERD]

I learned something new today. Thanks asheltonphoto2!

[RobertEG]

...and you end up with only a store card.

[Revelate]

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@RobertEG wrote:

...and you end up with only a store card.

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+1

Unless you shop there and the rewards are better than what you can get anyway out of a card, then don't bother with store cards.

Lowes / Homedepot are like the only ones I don't scratch my head at, or some you can get 5% off (Target I think) that makes sense if you shop there, but the overwhelming majority of 1-2% cards simply don't.  Junk tradelines, and there's no need to add them for FICO scoring purposes.  

One can do better.