https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/store-credit-cards Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Fri, 22 May 2026 03:43:44 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/store-credit-cards#post-47020 Fri, 30 Jan 2009 15:41:16 +0000 Sarah 47020@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>JCrew is the only retail card I have. I shop there fairly consistently and I enjoy the benefits, especially the personal shopper. It's worth it to me ONLY if I pay off the card each time I use it.<br /> How it effects your credit depends entirely on you and your personal situation. Your bank might have a personal banker who could help you with that? All I know is that closing cards isn't ideal for your credit score (according to Suze Orman). So I'm cautious with what I open initially.<br /> I like other stores, but the perks don't benefit me nearly as much. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/store-credit-cards#post-46859 Thu, 29 Jan 2009 02:45:23 +0000 shana 46859@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>GG, J crew gives a 15% discount to teachers &#38; students (though I always seem to forget my grads school id when I am at the store). I believe that you just have to show ID. I am not sure how this works online but I you could easily find out by calling customer service. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/store-credit-cards#post-46853 Thu, 29 Jan 2009 02:17:05 +0000 greenglove 46853@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Good advice Eva,<br /> I don't shop regularly at JCrew or anywhere in particular so maybe it is not a good idea.<br /> Sales can really make you crazy. I love a bargain but the hassle of having another card might not be worth it. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/store-credit-cards#post-46851 Thu, 29 Jan 2009 02:10:39 +0000 Eva 46851@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hi GG. Very good advise already posted (especially about paying off your card balance each month). So I will just add a few thoughts. </p> <p>Is the $20 savings worth the card or would you want to wait for a really expensive item that you want to open the account. That way the total dollar savings is more. </p> <p>Does JCrew give good card benefits? BP, AT and Macy's do, but don't have experience with JCrew. Nordstrom give points, too, although I let that card expire. </p> <p>Also, is this a store that you would frequent a fair amount of time. It isn't worth keeping track of the card and increasing your risk for ID theft or card theft if you don't plan to shop much at JCrew. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/store-credit-cards#post-46850 Thu, 29 Jan 2009 02:08:32 +0000 taylor 46850@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>If your credit is good and you pay your balance off monthly...the 10 % is an added bonus, as Nicole mentioned there are also other perks as, free shipping, extra coupons and those awsome secret sales. </p> <p>The real reason Dept. stores push this is because people who have say, a Jcrew card tend to spend more at that particular store, and shop more often than those who don't. That's the pay off for them, your more inclined to shop Jcrew (or who ever) because you have the card.</p> <p>And the BR card is good at 4 places..AT is good at three...see the method to their madness!!! It's good business for them. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/store-credit-cards#post-46848 Thu, 29 Jan 2009 01:50:00 +0000 greenglove 46848@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks everyone,<br /> I always pay credit cards off every month and have a good score. I have the velvet blazer in brown that I got on sale , do I really need the green one also? It is only 20.00 if I get the card but maybe I should just skip the whole thing. Oh well I cannot make that decision tonight but thanks for all the useful knowledge about store cards. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/store-credit-cards#post-46846 Thu, 29 Jan 2009 01:16:26 +0000 Maya 46846@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I do not have a Luxe card Shiny. I think Luxe members always get free shipping, but I'm not sure. For me, there was always free shipping on anything over $50, but now it's $100 I think, and I never spend that much there. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/store-credit-cards#post-46844 Thu, 29 Jan 2009 01:06:47 +0000 Nicole 46844@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Well there are a lot of factors to consider. Where your credit score is right now, how much deb you carry, how much potential debt you currently have, and like Shiny said--whether or not you'll need to open a larger line of credit for a major purchase (house or car).</p> <p>The ding you will get on your score to open a new card, if you already have good credit, will probably be negligable and will repair itself and maybe even increase after a few months of using and paying off the card. But if your credit is in the toilet now, then you may not even be able to get approved.</p> <p>Personally, I like store cards, but I'm very careful to pay them off monthly. I like the rewards and free shipping and secret sales etc. But more importantly, I like the way it helps me keep track of my spending. </p> <p>I have a Gap Silver card (which they upgrade if you spend a certain amount of money each year--I don't remember how much $ you have to spend--but I shop at Gap a lot.) Gap Silver gives you free shipping from Gap, ON, BR and Piperlime. Free Alterations at BR too.</p> <p>If you think you will use this card to your advantage in the future--then I say go for it. (unless you are deep in debt and have a low credit score--because if you get denied, then that will really ding your score.)</p> <p>Good luck! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/store-credit-cards#post-46824 Wed, 28 Jan 2009 23:27:04 +0000 shiny 46824@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>GG, assuming you're going to not miss payments, I believe it's only relevant to your credit if you are going to go make a major purchase, such as buying a house. Then they add up all the lines of credit you have, and extrapolate "if you were to rack up all your cards to the max, what would your total monthly minimum payment be" and they add that in to consideration. </p> <p>This is why when I bought my house in 2003 I got myself down to only one credit card. :-)</p> <p>Since then, that number has multiplied and I've lost count of how many I have, but I always pay the balances in full. </p> <p>On the plus side, store cards can be great because you get advance notice of sales, special exclusive sales, rewards cards, free shipping, etc. I don't know about Jcrew because I don't have a card, but Macy's, Bloomie's and BR have great benefits. I have done away with my bloomie's card (read on!) but when I had it they swamped me with special offers and coupons and private sales and such. </p> <p>Maya - is your BR card a Luxe? You have me worried about losing free shipping! That's always been one of the key benefits for me of having the Luxe card - that, and the rewards cards (for every dollar you spend, you rack up reward points). </p> <p>On the negative side, the interest rates are obscene and if you miss a payment you blow away any savings from having the card. Sad, but true! </p> <p>What's more, as I wrote here last month, watch out for Bloomie's credit card. What a mess!!! I closed it out in mid-December because their statement was designed to deliberately confuse. Anyway, yesterday I got another bill - even though it is closed out!! - and spent an hour and a half on the phone with them. I did speak with someone who was very helpful and went over and above the call of duty - so I will give them that. She went over every line item because she worried I'd been victim of identity theft. We eventually figured out that at one point a sales clerk charged shoes to the wrong code - to the code for furniture - which opened up a second Major account line. Hence, why their statement was so confusing. This is hard to explain - you have to see the bill... </p> <p>Anyway.... I wasn't the victim of identity theft, just a simple mistake. However, we discovered that I'd been signed up for Credit Pro services .... on BOTH lines of credit... to the tune of $22 extra dollars a month!!!! And I never, ever signed up for this... I wouldn't. I never do. </p> <p>So now I'm waiting for my refund. But it's one of those things, you just have to be really careful and look close at the bills. If it is confusing, then call them right away and don't let it go. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/store-credit-cards#post-46820 Wed, 28 Jan 2009 23:08:51 +0000 Maya 46820@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I also have the BR card, which I got to get a discount on a coat many years ago, and other little perks along the way. However, I no longer get free shipping, which was pretty major to me. I just got that 10% off thing too, but in all honesty, it's not really all that spectacular. 10% off isn't a whole lot and I feel like it just makes me buy a lot more than I usually would just to get a negligible discount. That said, I just got my $10 rewards card, which when combined with sales, can yield some amazing deals.</p> <p>Still, I don't think I care much for it anymore. Free shipping was the dealbreaker for me and now I have to spend $100 or $150 or something nuts like that to get it. No thanks.</p> <p>I don't know about credit scores and all that, but I did hear in the news that it's frowned upon, even if you use them responsibly, because the common belief is that anyone who is responsible doesn't need one. Whether it's true or not is definitely debatable, but maybe now isn't the best time to take that chance. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/store-credit-cards#post-46818 Wed, 28 Jan 2009 23:00:57 +0000 tarzy 46818@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>GG - this is something I've been thinking about lately, too!</p> <p>I have a few store cards, which I first got to take advantage of a discount, like you. I think as long as you always pay them off in full, it's okay. They tend to have much higher interest than other credit cards, so I would never use one without knowing I could pay it off.</p> <p>I have a card from BR, and it gets me free shipping on anything online from BR, GAP or ON, which can be nice. I also get a little "reward" if I spend a certain amount - usually a $10 or $20 gift card that I can only use at BR or GAP. I think they sort of "get you," though, in that I think I might spend more money in those stores because I think "Oh, I'll get free shipping," or "I'll get a discount." But, I think if you're disciplined and only use it for things you really want and can pay for, it's not a bad thing.</p> <p>I also have a card with Macy's, and I get free shipping online up to a certain amount. They charge so much for shipping that it's easy to reach that amount fairly quickly, though. But again, as long as I am disciplined about it, it does help. That card also gets me free alterations and gift wrapping - neither of which I have ever used! </p> <p>I actually have quite a few cards from stores, and I've been thinking lately that I shouldn't really use them. Although I am very good about not spending over my budget, I think I'd rather have one bill from one card so I can really see how much I'm spending in one fell swoop. I'm honestly not sure that the free shipping here and there is worth it, if it lures me into spending more. </p> <p>I don't know for sure, but I don't think it hurts you to open a charge card somewhere (as long as you pay it off, as I said.) But someone else might know more about that. </p> <p>As with any other kind of credit, I think as long as you use it responsibly, it can be fine. But in these rough economic times, I feel more and more like I don't want to take any chances - and I can really get tempted by some fabulous jacket or a pair of shoes that is just calling to me! LOL. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/store-credit-cards#post-46816 Wed, 28 Jan 2009 22:38:16 +0000 greenglove 46816@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I just saw the velvet jcrew blazer in olive green, my size on sale online. I could get an extra 10% off plus free shipping if I sign up for their card. Is that a stupid thing to do? Does it ruin your credit if you have too many cards or get too many credit checks? The jacket would end up being 20.00 as opposed to 43.00. I would not buy it at 43.00 but do not know much about the cons of getting another card. Any ideas?.</p> <p>Thanks!!! </p>