BLOOMINGDALES CREDIT CARD: CREDITSENSE REVIEW
As usual, we at Creditsense.com want to present an unbiased review of every credit offer and a 360 degree review of its benefits to you as a potential cardholder. The thing to remember about the BLOOMINGDALES CREDIT CARD or any credit card that is sponsored by a retailer is that it actually isn’t a credit card. While it looks like a credit card and acts like a credit card at Bloomindales it is actually a revolving account.
Why does this matter?
It doesn’t matter at all other than for your credit profile, which matters a lot. On your personal credit profile (used for everything in life), this will not show up as a credit card. This will show up as a revolving account at Bloomingdales. In the interest of full disclosure, you should know that a revolving account hurts your credit score while a credit card potentially helps your credit score. For more on this read our section on credit repair and optimization.
I LOVE BLOOMINGDALES! I MUST HAVE THE BLOOMINGDALES CREDIT CARD
Ok. You are definitely a candidate for this card. Actually it does come with a host of benefits for those who like to shop at Bloomingdales. There are three levels of membership, each with increasing levels of benefit. Following we will look at all three—Bloomingdales Premier Insider, Premier Plus, and the Ultimate Premier Insider.
Bloomingdales Premier Insider Card
- Insider Membership Days: These are days that Bloomingdales sets aside for Insiders that allow extra savings for members when they use their card for purchases.
- Insider Shoe Club: This is a benefit exclusively for Insiders that allows you to get 25% off the purchase price of your sixth (6) pair of full-priced women’s shoes. (sorry shoe fetish guys).
- Exclusive Catalogs: Insiders will receive exclusive catalogs showing new items and sale items for personal and home.
- Premier Line of Credit: Once enrolled with a Bloomingdales Insider Card, you will be eligible for an invitation to become a Bloomindales’ Premier American Express cardholder.
- Free Shipping: Insiders will receive free shipping on all orders of One Hundred Fifty ($150) or more if purchased online using your Bloomingdales Insider Card.
Bloomingdale’s Premier Plus Insider Card
You will be invited to join this level if you spend more than one thousand ($1,000) annually at the store. This includes all of the benefits of the premier level. The added benefits include:
Rewards and Certificates: This is essentially a 3% cash back program. You will earn 3% in store credit on all purchases in the store or online when you use the Premier Plus Card.
Double & Triple Rewards Events: These events set aside exclusively for premier and ultimate premier members allow you to earn 6% to 9% credit back on all purchases. This credit may also be applied at Bloomingdale’s outlet stores. Although, purchases at outlets stores will only accumulate credit at 1% instead of the normal 3%.
Bloomingdales will inform Insiders via mail and email of special events that allow you to earn 6% and 9% on purchases rather than the normal 3%.
Twelve Free Deluxe Gift Wraps Per Year: This is not available in some stores (Las Vegas, Mall of America, San Francisco, Stanford and all outlets).
1% Credit on all Purchases Outside of Bloomingdales: This is technically a line of credit which allows you to earn rewards at 1% on every purchase outside Bloomingdale’s excluding cash advances.
Bloomingdale’s Ultimate Premier Insider:
You will be invited to join this level if you spend more than two thousand five hundred ($2,500) annually at the store. This includes all of the benefits of the premier and premier plus levels. Added benefits include:
Ultimate Insider Access: Special events hosted just for Ultimate Premier Insiders.
Ultimate Insider Hotline: Ultimate insiders will have access to a toll-free customer service line.
Unlimited Free Deluxe Gift Wrap: This is not available in some stores (Las Vegas, Mall of America, San Francisco, Stanford and all outlets).
Conclusion
As far as store credit cards go, The Bloomingdales credit cards are pretty good. They offer several perks to the cardholder above the normal 10% off your first purchase. I am impressed at the rewards and the store credit. I am not sure there is another card that also allows the card holder to receive up to 9% store credit on certain purchases. I would consider this if I was a loyal Bloomindales’s shopper and didn’t have another card that offered similar perks on all purchases. Just pay your balance every month so you don't get hit with the high interest charges (25.40%!)