When we were in Charlotte for #FT4RL over dinner, a reader, Bret, asked me a great question. He asked me if there are any lessons that I’ve learned with the credit card points and miles if I applied it to other areas. The first thought I had was making any kind of purchase online that I must check all the portals and dig around for the best deal.
Here’s a perfect example of learning many of the available programs. There is something that I want to buy on Newegg so I checked the portals.
The Example
There’s a lot of choices for portals for Newegg, especially under the Travel Mileage/Points. However, I don’t think the rates are worth it for my purchase because it’s $93 and I’d rather have cash for it so I looked around.
Then I found the product on eBay and know this is my route to purchase the device.
![ebay_cashbackmonitor](https://saverocity.com/chasingthepoints/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2015/04/ebay_cashbackmonitor.png)
eBay Cashback Monitor Rates
So if we look at the listing on both Newegg and eBay it’s the same price and the same shipping. I purposely redacted many of the details because this is an area that I am testing and want to keep it under wraps for as long as I can until everything plays out correctly before broadcasting the message.
With eBay bucks, of at least 2% and the 1.5% back from any of the portals, I will be coming out ahead. I will likely wait until there’s a targeted eBay bucks offer for extra before buying as I am in no rush for this device.
What Does This All Mean?
Shop around and figure out what’s best for your needs.
I was telling my husband the other night about how paying attention saves money. I wanted to buy something for our home, and found that, among other places, Macy’s had the lowest price.
I knew that I needed to get a few Alaska Air miles to keep my account current, so absolutely was buying through their portal.
But because I also checked GiftCardGranny for rates on Macy’s GCs, I paid 13% less for item, while also earning 2X miles on it, along with the 1.5 miles (bonused through 6/30) with the old USAir card.
It made me happy!
I would be happy too! Sounds like a good deal