Many – if not most – Americans have at least a credit card in his or her wallet, but many don’t carry a traditional shopping card. While you don’t have many of the same convenient options as a Visa or MasterCard, shopping cards have a lot of benefits, especially if you carry one for your favorite department store.
There are a lot of great shopping cards with impressive benefits for those loyal customers. This week, we take a look at a few of them. The first thing consumers usually notice is the lack of a credit check or even an employment check as part of the approval process for many (not all – but a fair number don’t require this kind of information). Take a look at a few of the newer offers and what each has to offer.
Fingerhut
Fingerhut has been around for decades. It’s known for its easier credit approval process, lack of annual fee and of course, the convenience. Depending on your credit rating, you may or may not be required to put a down payment into place. There’s no shortage of merchandise to choose from and Fingerhut also offers many of the name brands consumers are drawn to. When you apply, you can get an instant decision, which certainly adds to the convenience factor. With great sales and sometimes-free shipping offers, this is often the first shopping card people turn to. The Fingerhut card is issued by Meta Bank.
Diamond Platinum Card
This shopping card offer includes a $7,500 unsecured credit line and guaranteed approval. Your employment isn’t verified and there are no credit checks. Part of the USA Shopping Club, all of your purchases are interest fee. You can purchase your prescriptions each month as well as participate in the Live Well Plan, which ensures substantial savings for doctor visits, dental visits and eye tests. Be sure to review the terms and conditions for all information on this offer.
Student Advantage Card
Looking for a great shopping card for your college student? The Student Advantage shopping card allows card users the flexibility of buying online or in campus bookstores. Plus, there are impressive travel deals that equate to big savings, which is advantageous for college students far from home. A few of the participating retail and service companies that accept the card include 1-800-Flowers, AT&T, Barnes & Noble, Apple Online store, Alamo Rent a Car and many more. No interest and an affordable annual membership cost of $20 is waived the first year.
Merit Platinum Card
Finally we take a look at the Merit Platinum shopping card. This offer includes an unsecured $500 credit line and no annual fee. No credit or employment checks, qualifying is easy and quick. The 0% APR is an added bonus. There are more benefits, too. You’ll enjoy access to universal prescription programs, roadside protection and even legal assistance benefits – which is usually not included in other shopping card benefits.
In the long run, a shopping card might be the better option for those concerned about their credit scores and especially for those looking to improve their overall credit history. Even if you’ve been declined for a traditional credit card, the odds are good that you can gain approval for these specific credit cards. Be sure to review the terms and conditions since they will greatly vary from what you’ll find in those traditional credit card offers.
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