Difference between revisions of "Rakuten card"
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=== Collecting the Signup Bonus === | === Collecting the Signup Bonus === | ||
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=== Choose Your Own Categories === | === Choose Your Own Categories === | ||
Revision as of 17:36, 1 October 2020
No annual fee
$10
Signup Bonus Chart3% or 3x MR on purchases through the Rakuten (eBates) shopping portal
3% Foreign Transaction Fee
The Rakuten card allows you to optimize your rewards on some of your online purchases.
Collecting the Signup Bonus
The normal signup bonus is only $10 on your first purchase. Its better than nothing, but not the reason you would get the card.
Choose Your Own Categories
Along with a few other lessor-known cards, the U.S. Bank Cash+ card allows you to choose your bonus reward categories from a large set of options. Credit Cards that Offer Bonus Rewards on Less Common Categories
- You can change your choices each quarter. You don't need to stick to a single set of bonus categories. You can shift your choices around based on the purchases you plan to make. It is relatively easy to postpone a large purchase until you have a chance to change your categories. For example, if you are thinking about buying a new TV, you can wait until the beginning of the next calendar quarter, switch one of your bonus categories to Electronic Stores, and make sure to get 5% on your purchase.
- Your bonus rewards are limited to your first $2,000 worth of bonus spending each quarter. Without the first-year bonus, the maximum bonus you can earn in your "Choose 2" categories is $400 per year.
- You'll earn 5% cash-back on your choice of two categories. Official Details.
- You'll also earn 2% back on your choice of one "Everyday Category". You can choose between Gas, Restaurants, or Grocery stores each quarter. Normally, this isn't any better than a general-purpose reward card. Even with the extra .5% in your initial year, it is lower than what you'd get from any of the cards that earns bonus rewards in these common categories.
- You don't want to use this card for your everyday spending. You'll earn higher rewards from a good general-purpose reward card. Get a Great General Purpose Reward Card and Use It for All of Your Spending.
| Ground Transportation | Select Clothing Stores | Cell Phones and Services | Electronic Stores |
| TV, Internet and Streaming | Gym / Fitness Centers | Home Ultilites | Fast Food |
| Sporting Good Stores | Department Stores | Furniture Stores | Movie Theaters |
It often makes sense to choose categories, like Furniture Stores or Fitness centers, where you can't earn bonus rewards with your other cards, or categories where the 5% rewards is a significant boost to what you would otherwise earn. Of course, you'll want to choose categories each quarter where you are likely to come close to the $2,000 quarterly cap. If you aren't going to hit the quarterly cap, you can often purchase gift cards from a merchant within your bonus categories, and then use the gift cards at other merchants.
Other Notable Benefits
- Access to the Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection. As with all Visa Signature cards, you'll get access to Visa's luxury hotel program. Whenever you book one of the 900+ participating hotels, you'll receive a set of valuable benefits, including free breakfast, late check-out, and a $25 food and beverage credit. The Visa program has slightly weaker benefits than the other luxury hotel programs, but includes a larger number of more affordable hotel options and a best price guarantee. Take Advantage of Luxury Hotel Programs for Valuable Extra Perks.
- Access to Visa Signature Offers. Your card entitles you to a set of special offers available from Visa.