I got a mailing a couple weeks ago touting Chase's Blink charge system. The system is basically a way you can charge on your card by simply waving it in front of a special scanner versus swiping the stripe as normal. Anyway, the mailing told me I could earn $10 in cash back simply by completing three "blink" transactions before June 6. I'm all over this! I can get $10 for probably $30 in purchases (or less.) Plus, the $10 will help me get to my award level faster with my Chase Freedom Cash Visa Card, so why not?
My plan is to buy something fairly inexpensive at the following places:
1. Arby's -- Chase sent me a coupon for a free sandwich when I buy fries and a drink -- and my daughter LOVES Arby's.
2. CVS -- They always have great buy one, get one free deals anyway, so it's an easy spend.
3. Office Depot -- The Chase people sent me a $5 off purchase off $25 coupon and we always need something from there.
Anyone else get this offer and/or used it?
Update: I actually wrote this post a few days ago and set it to publish today. Since then, I have made two Blink purchases at CVS -- one a buy one get one free deodorant for a total of $3 and another a buy one get one free cereal at $4.50. I'm now one purchase away from my $10!!!!
I really don't like the idea of the RFID "fast tap", "blink", or other branded card swipe alternatives. My AMEX Blue Cash has one, and it scares me to death, since card skimmers can simply be placed out of sight lines by a card scanner (or disguised in plain sight) and used to steal CC information.
I know I'm protected from fraudulent charges, but the lost time and feeling of being robbed is hard to overcome.
Posted by: Trent D. | May 06, 2008 at 02:24 PM
You can use it at Meijer's too. I just used mine today.
Posted by: Amanda @ Me vs Debt | May 06, 2008 at 02:25 PM
Trent --
Stop by CVS on your lunch hour. I did and I was the only person in the store. ;-)
Posted by: FMF | May 06, 2008 at 02:40 PM
Are you saying I need Deodorant? ;)
I'm not worried about people carrying card skimmers, and I'm really not greatly worried about "semi-permanent" hidden skimmers, but I really think that kind of CC theft will increase in the future, so we should learn to be on the lookout now.
Posted by: Trent D. | May 06, 2008 at 02:46 PM
Did it really say you needed to make purchases at 3 separate stores? I had planned to just do my normal of using it at the gas pump (which I do weekly) and get the $10 that way.
Posted by: Dan | May 06, 2008 at 02:50 PM
I see from your post that you received some coupons from Chase? I have the Chase Freedom card and I have not received any coupons from them. I did receive this offer and will be using it to obtain my $10.00 as well.
Posted by: Allen | May 06, 2008 at 02:52 PM
Dan --
No, you simply need to make "three 'blink' transactions before June 6." As you see from my example, I made the two so far at the same place.
Allen --
Yep, they sent me two coupons as an encouragement to use the system.
Posted by: FMF | May 06, 2008 at 02:58 PM
Hmmm, I always do this at our Jack in the Box since the terminal is right next to the drive thru window and I can avoid giving the card to the clerk. But I haven't received any coupons for the $10. Maybe it's not as widely available here.
Posted by: Kevin | May 06, 2008 at 03:10 PM
I bought a 2 dollar bag of cough drops at CVS on two different occassions. Plan to get that third one in soon. Maybe I'll change up and go with a pack of gum this time. They show up on my statement as Blink transactions so I know it's working properly.
Posted by: David | May 06, 2008 at 03:23 PM
Kevin --
Just to be clear, the $10 is the cash back I'll earn. the coupons are for different amounts (as noted above.)
Posted by: FMF | May 06, 2008 at 03:33 PM
i have not applied for this card yet...what is their $50 bonus rebate?
Posted by: gail | May 06, 2008 at 09:55 PM
So let me get this right, you are advocating that people get this credit card simply because
1. You can complete "blick" transactions easily
2. Your readers will get $10 back if they spend $30 - which they already had in their pockets.
I will give you extra credit for giving me a rational explanation as to why anyone should do this that does not involve use of the party line - that we have to spend money everyday on stuff anyway so why not get paid to do it.
Posted by: Steve | May 07, 2008 at 12:12 AM
Something is not right with your comment system, my name is Steve and I posted a comment
So let me get this right, you are advocating that people get this credit card simply because
1. You can complete "blick" transactions easily
2. Your readers will get $10 back if they spend $30 - which they already had in their pockets.
I will give you extra credit for giving me a rational explanation as to why anyone should do this that does not involve use of the party line - that we have to spend money everyday on stuff anyway so why not get paid to do it.
Your blog abitrarily assigned me the name Gail.
Am I missing something? Can I have my old (and very nice) name back?
- Steve
Posted by: Steve | May 07, 2008 at 12:15 AM
Gail --
The offer is $50 when you get a card and use it the first time.
Steve --
There's so much wrong with your comments -- where do I start? Let's list them:
1. You comment was listed correctly above your name -- you just read it incorrectly.
2. No, I'm not advocating people get a credit card simply to get a $10 reward. Did I say that?
3. You can spend much less than $30 -- and probably even less than the $10 reward offered. See what I've spent so far at CVS and what Dan, Amanda, and David are doing.
4. I'm using this card along with the Amex Blue card to maximize my cash back rewards this year. Read about it here:
http://www.freemoneyfinance.com/2007/09/how-you-can-ear.html
Last year I made almost $800 doing this:
http://www.freemoneyfinance.com/2008/03/just-missed-it.html
5. Taking a rational argument and saying it's not a good idea because it's "the party line" is incorrect thinking. If you prefer not to use a credit card, that's not a problem with me. I simply plan to get some money back for purchases I plan to make anyway -- food, gas, etc. If that's a bad idea, I'd certainly like to know how.
Posted by: FMF | May 07, 2008 at 08:39 AM
I agree with Trend D I think the ability to pick up your personal information is easier on theses systems.
Posted by: "Mo" Money | May 07, 2008 at 10:31 AM
Steve,
I don't think FMF was advocating for this card in this particular post. Most people who know anything probably already have it anyway. But not a lot of people know about this new Blink program so he was just informing people. The $10 bonus is not a reason to get this card. That's just a little extra on top of what is already one of the best rewards cards out there. You should do a little research before you condemn something.
Posted by: David | May 07, 2008 at 11:21 AM