Chase Reward Calendar

[edro]

What is the purpose of the 5% Chase Rewards Calendar?
Do you think they have these seasonal categories to give more rewards to consumers, or prevent more rewards to consumers?

Jan - Mar: Gas Stations, Movie Theaters, Starbucks
Apr - Jun: Restaraunts, Lowe's
July - Sep: Gas Stations, Kohl's
Oct - Dec: Amazon, Zappos, other dept stores

I bet they sell the store specific seasons to stores (Lowes, Starbucks, Amazon probably pay for that advertisement).

I am guessing we travel least in Jan-Mar (gas), eat out least in Apr-Jun, probably drive a lot in summer Jul-Sep, and buy a lot online Oct-Dec for X-mas.

 

[feralkid]

Life is Hell.

 

[Newell Steamer]

 

[edro]

It's a question about marketing/sales/economics... not a rant.

 

[Newell Steamer]

It's a question about marketing/sales/economics... not a rant.

Mix it seems. They are looking to help certain businesses, by giving the consumer an incentive to buy more of something during the less demanding months.

i.e. Jan - Mar: Gas Stations, Movie Theaters, Starbucks
Gas is most expensive during the summer (the most it is in demand). And, summer time is when most people hit the movies. So, Chase is going to do these businesses a 'favor', they are going to entice people to spend,.. by offering 'rewards'.

And, it's not just pandering to the businesses.

i.e. July - Sep: Gas Stations, Kohl's
Again, gas is most expensive during the summer... so, might as well let the consumers reap in additional benefits.

 

[Exterous]

I'm sure its a balance of both. It allows them to market themselves as being above the 1 or 2% cash back cards while making sure they don't pay out too much in terms of rewards. There must be some significant slack in there because it seems like there are a lot of ways to game the system but only the most extreme cases are blacklisted.

 

[pete6032]

Buying a lot of my Xmas gifts on Amazon due to Chase calendar.

 

[overst33r]

Just get another card(s) to fill in the blanks.

 

[rcpratt]

Yeah. Gives them the opportunity to market these slots to retailers and consequently keeps things slightly confusing for consumers so people don't know whether they're actually getting 1%, 1.1%, 1.5%, 2.0%, etc.