Have you noticed this about your credit card rewards?

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Somewhere in the last few weeks, Lizard Queen mentioned using the Chase cash back rewards on Amazon. 

Just now, I was making sure it was set up for our account. 

HOWEVER

If I just take the regular cash back, I'd get more than if I use the points on Amazon or on PayPal. 

Right now, I have 135,000 points. 
I'd get $135 if I took it as cash. 
I'd only get $108 if I use it to buy something on Amazon or with PayPal. 

Does yours say that too?

[Lizard Queen]

I'm not sure. My husband has dealt with everything for that card from the get-go. I can ask him, but he just fell asleep for the night. Maybe someone else can chime in about it before I can get back to you.

Thanks for pointing that out, though. I'll keep a lookout for it.

[minnesotapaintlady]

I only use Chase points for travel, but this site says UR points are only worth 0.8 cents each at Amazon.

www.nerdwallet.com/article/credit-cards/chase-ultimate-rewards-program

[tallguy]

Even if they were redeemed on Amazon at 1:1 you would still not gain an advantage by using them that way.  I am using mine for travel, but if that were not the case I would get the cash back and then charge the Amazon purchase back on the Chase card to earn more points.  You don't earn points by using your points so are in effect losing money redeeming points on Amazon. 

[buystoys]

I only do cash back on my points.  I realized quite a while ago that the other options were not as good.

[TheOtherMe]

This suddenly hit me and I am now doing cashback on Amazon Chase.  

That card is so nice to have because I can use it on Amazon.ca in US Dollars.

[Deleted]

Do those of you who spend your points on travel have to use the credit card company's portal to book it? I've always wondered if the prices were comparable on the credit card company portals and I'm also paranoid about booking through a third party rather than the hotel or airline itself.

Right now I have Fidelity 2% cash back Visa and the Costco Visa which I use for categories where I get more than 2% cash back (travel, gas and restaurants).

[ken a.k.a OMK]

We use our Discover points on Amazon and I thought it was the same as applying the cash to our bill. 

[minnesotapaintlady]

Oct 4, 2021 7:51:14 GMT -5 @athena53 said:

Do those of you who spend your points on travel have to use the credit card company's portal to book it? I've always wondered if the prices were comparable on the credit card company portals and I'm also paranoid about booking through a third party rather than the hotel or airline itself.

Right now I have Fidelity 2% cash back Visa and the Costco Visa which I use for categories where I get more than 2% cash back (travel, gas and restaurants).

I've used the Chase and Choice Privileges portals exclusively the past few road trips.  I just checked a couple hotels in the area and the prices on Chase's site were pretty much identical to the hotel's price, but Chase gives me 1.25X value on points when used for travel so it's 25% off.  

Choice privileges points can only be used for hotels I believe (haven't really checked) and it's a set amount for a hotel, not based on room prices.  I got a room in the Black Hills during peak season that was listed at $250/night for the same points amount as if it was dead of winter and $70/night.  Always had a great experience with their phone app for booking as well.  Plus somehow, I'm a gold member right now (I think just due to the sign on bonus), so they gave me free chips and a drink when I got there and reserved parking.  LOL 

[Artemis Windsong]

I opt for cash then apply it to my cc balance.

[anciana]

Oct 3, 2021 20:25:18 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

Somewhere in the last few weeks, Lizard Queen mentioned using the Chase cash back rewards on Amazon. 

Just now, I was making sure it was set up for our account. 

HOWEVER

If I just take the regular cash back, I'd get more than if I use the points on Amazon or on PayPal. 

Right now, I have 135,000 points. 
I'd get $135 if I took it as cash. 
I'd only get $108 if I use it to buy something on Amazon or with PayPal. 

Does yours say that too?

Yes, I noticed couple of years ago, Amazon does it with all CCs not just Chase. I either get cash or discounted gift cards that are 10% off as I feel that is the best value.

[jeffreymo]

I try to always take the cash. My wife used some rewards on Amazon last month. I’ve noticed in general the gift card rewards usually have less value then cash, but every now and then it’s worth it to take rewards.

[schildi]

Even at 100% redemption, I would not do it, because I would still loose 5%.

5% is the cash back I receive when I used my Amazon Credit Card on Amazon, and I would basically loose that 5%.

Even if you don't have an AMZ CC, you'd loose any cash back your CC offers (1% / 2% / whatever it is).

Cash is King! 

[Tiny]

I think I accidentally used my Discover Rewards to pay for an Amazon purchase... not sure if that was a 1 to 1 or something else. I was annoyed because I was going to use those rewards for a new winter jacket (via gift card).

I generally redeem rewards for an electronic Gift Card - typically it's a 1 to 1 value sometimes there's a little extra on the Gift card (so 45 worth of points for $50 card or some other variation).

Generally if an electronic Gift Card option is offered - you get the code/pin within a few minutes - so I will shop, have what I want in my cart and then go cash in my rewards to a electronic gift card and then finish checking out (and use the gift card immediately). If I KNOW I'm gonna be shopping I get the electronic Gift Card ahead of time (I tend to print them out so I can rip up the paper so I know I used it). I was saving eGiftCards as PDFs on my desktop - but sometimes I forget to delete the used ones and that lead to some "annoyance" at a later date.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Oct 4, 2021 7:51:14 GMT -5 @athena53 said:

Do those of you who spend your points on travel have to use the credit card company's portal to book it? I've always wondered if the prices were comparable on the credit card company portals and I'm also paranoid about booking through a third party rather than the hotel or airline itself.

Right now I have Fidelity 2% cash back Visa and the Costco Visa which I use for categories where I get more than 2% cash back (travel, gas and restaurants).

We just take the cash back.  As much as we can, we put all of our travel on Costco’s card for 3% cash back.  That gives us the most flexibility for finding the best price.  

[justme]

I never looked because I realized why use the rewards points directly when I could pay with my card, get 5% back, and then use the rewards as a statement credit!

It used to be 1:1 on Amazon at some point years ago though. 

[kadee79]

I always get the cash option.  I can do what I want with the cash including investing it.  Most of the time it's put away in a separate account for "fun money"...like a weekend away some place or some other 'fun' activity.

[tallguy]

Oct 4, 2021 7:51:14 GMT -5 @athena53 said:

Do those of you who spend your points on travel have to use the credit card company's portal to book it? I've always wondered if the prices were comparable on the credit card company portals and I'm also paranoid about booking through a third party rather than the hotel or airline itself.

Right now I have Fidelity 2% cash back Visa and the Costco Visa which I use for categories where I get more than 2% cash back (travel, gas and restaurants).

I book mine through Chase because with the Sapphire Preferred card I get a 25% bonus.  Sapphire Reserve gives a 50% bonus but I don't want to pay that annual fee since I don't really spend that much.  My GF prefers to transfer her points to the airline she intends to fly with, but in comparing costs I have found booking through Chase to be better because of the bonus.  She likes booking through the airline itself because, like you, she thinks they are easier and safer to work with.  I would always advise comparing the cost of the same flights through both the CC company and the airline.  Go with the best deal.

[trimatty471]

Oct 4, 2021 11:39:28 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

Oct 4, 2021 7:51:14 GMT -5 @athena53 said:

Do those of you who spend your points on travel have to use the credit card company's portal to book it? I've always wondered if the prices were comparable on the credit card company portals and I'm also paranoid about booking through a third party rather than the hotel or airline itself.

Right now I have Fidelity 2% cash back Visa and the Costco Visa which I use for categories where I get more than 2% cash back (travel, gas and restaurants).

We just take the cash back.  As much as we can, we put all of our travel on Costco’s card for 3% cash back.  That gives us the most flexibility for finding the best price.  

Travel, restaurant spend, and fuel.