Thank-You Rewards: Aw, You Shouldn’t Have
I love my credit card issuer so much. They are so thoughtful. They appreciate my business so much, they are always including little “Thank-You Rewards” in the bills they send me.
One recent bill included an insert advertising a Chef’s Thermometer (always wanted one of those) for only $12.97, a scissors set with three orange-handled scissors for $7.97, a wireless headphones set for $19.97, a hands-free automatic can opener for $17.97, and my favorite — the talking alarm clock for $12.97. Because really, who doesn’t love hearing an electronic voice recite the time? I also received a back-of-the-envelope ad for a self-inking personal address stamper (in five cool colors!) although that one wasn’t touted under the guise of a “Thank-You Reward.”
Last I checked, a reward meant something given or received in return for service, merit, etc. (at least, that’s true as of 1988, the publication year of my well-worn Random House Dictionary). In this case, however, it seems my “reward” is received in return for the money I send the company (or allow them to charge me), which sounds an awful lot like buying something.
In all fairness, the merchandise company, Gift Services, Inc., is entirely unaffiliated with my credit card company, but I just can’t figure out where the reward is. Perhaps the reward lies in the fact that as much as $132 in savings is available to me, were I to purchase all nine crappy items. Or perhaps the reward is in the fact that the items arrive “beautifully gift-wrapped — perfect to give or keep.” Narrow down the Christmas list.
Another thing that irks me about these offers is that the only payment option is the credit card. What if I really, really need those orange scissors for Aunt Sally’s birthday gift, but I want to write a check? Or my credit card is maxed out? Could it be that these “Thank You Rewards” are just one of many not-so-sly ways for the credit card company to earn interest? Does anybody really buy this stuff?
June 10th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
[…] icanews.coop | the global co-operative news centre wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptThank-You Rewards: Aw, You Shouldn’t Have By Hayli Morrison June 10th, 2008 Posted in credit industry, Credit Card Rewards I love my credit card issuer so much. They are so thoughtful. They appreciate my business so much, they are always including little “Thank-You Rewards” in the bills they send me. One recent bill included an insert advertising a Chef’s Thermometer (always wanted one of those) for only $12.97, a scissors set with three orange-handled scissors for $7.97, a wireless headpho […]
June 12th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
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