Like nearly all credit cards issued by retailers, the Sears card offers extremely limited benefits and zero convenience while charging obscenely high interest rates. While this card may be easier to get than traditional credit cards for consumers with a mediocre or limited credit profile, any consumer that can qualify for a general credit card offer will find better value, lower rates, and better rewards.

The Sears card is about as far from a low interest credit card as there is. All approved consumers are charged a 25.24% variable interest rate which can and will increase when the Prime Rate increases. This is 10 full percentage points above the current national average and more than twice what is charged by many major credit card companies. (more…)

The Home Depot credit card is a member of the Citi Credit Card family, which means you benefit from the quality of Citi credit cards in addition to the ability to make interest-free purchases at Home Depot. One of the best features of the Home Depot consumer credit card is the ability to get instantly approved in store  and get immediate access to your account to make purchases.  The ability to shop instantly upon approval is ideal for people who need to replace an appliance or need products from the store without waiting.

Unfortunately, the Home Depot card has significant drawbacks. Although it has many of the features of a 0% APR credit card, 0% promotions on the Home Depot card are much shorter than those offered with most credit card offers. Additionally, the Home Depot card is the polar opposite of a low interest credit card, as the lowest available rates they offer are often 30% higher than what is available on typical cards.

Nevertheless, some consumers can definitely benefit from this card, especially those who apply and use their 10% discount on an expensive purchase, like appliances, carpeting or a kitchen redo. (more…)

The Gap offers two credit cards: a store use only card and a Gap Visa. Both the store only and Visa versions of the Gap card offer good benefits at the Gap and Gap owned stores including Banana Republic, Old Navy, Piperlime and Athleta. However, both Gap credit cards suffer from the same issues common to store credit cards: limited credit card rewards, high interest rates, and in the case of the store only Gap card, limited acceptance. Consequently, Gap credit cards are typically not the best credit cards for most consumers to have, although consumers who frequently shop at Gap owned stores or online at their official brand websites can benefit from using a Gap or GapVisa Credit Card. (more…)

Cabela’s, the sporting good retailer, offers a Visa credit card that is targeted towards shoppers who frequent their wildly popular stores. Unlike many store credit cards, the Cabela’s card charges a reasonable interest rate and can be used wherever Visa is accepted. However, as is the case with all credit cards that earn limited, merchant focused rewards, consumers are often better off with a 0% interest credit card that offers cash back or some other form of rewards that permits greater redemption flexibility.

How It Works

In a nutshell, the Cabela’s credit card promotes shopping at Cabela’s with incentives to earn Club points. While shoppers who spend a lot of time and money at the retailer can benefit, most people spend the bulk of their money at a range of stores. However, Cabela’s fanatics who opt for their credit card earn two Club points for every dollar spent in store.  An additional 1,000 points is granted as a bonus when a  customer applies and gets approved for the Cabela’s Club card. This is a nice perk as far as store credit cards go, but it pales in comparison to the $100 and greater sign up bonuses offered with the best credit card offers. All purchases at other locations earn 1 point for ever dollar spent. (more…)

One year ago, consumers were still finding it difficult to gain approval for credit cards. Today, credit card companies are rolling out the red carpet, offering applicants sky high sign up bonus, ultra long 0% interest rates, and just about everything else under the sun.  Finding a good credit card is no longer an issue, and the deals available right now may be the best credit card offers in history.

Here is what you can expect to find in the most popular credit card categories:

Cash Back Credit Cards:  For a while it looked like cash back credit cards were on the decline. Today, credit card companies are not only offering better cash back rates, they’re also offering $100 sign up bonuses. In most instances, all that needs to be done to obtain these bonuses is spend about $500 within three months of signing up. This is usually not a problem and is as good a reason as any to ditch your old credit card.

Rewards Credit Cards:  General rewards cards are offering even greater sign up bonuses than cash back credit cards. Recently, some companies have floated $500 sign up bonuses. Incentives like these have never been bigger. And, while only two cards have come out with $500 sign up bonuses, close to a dozen airline credit cards offer bonus worth $250 or more. (more…)