Y’all know I don’t like in-store shopping!
It’s a lot of hassle, and I’ll do just about anything to avoid it. I’d rather shop online, where I can get bonus rewards from airline and hotel portals!
But for those of y’all that enjoy shopping in person, did you know you can also earn bonus rewards through online shopping portals?
Before You Swipe Your Card at the Register, Check an Online Rewards Portal for Even More Savings
I’ll show you how to earn portal rewards while you’re inside brick-and-mortar stores!
These Online Shopping Tricks Are for Every Kind of Shopper!
Link: How One Easy Everyday Change Can Earn You More Miles & Points
I make a lot of internet purchases. And earn lots of extra rewards through travel rewards portals.
But plenty of folks like shopping in-store. If you’re one of them, you don’t have to give up portal rewards. You can use these online shopping tricks to have both!
Step 1. See If the Stores You Use Earn Portal Rewards
You can quickly find the portal rewards for your store by visiting sites like Evreward or Cashback Monitor. Make sure the stores you plan to shop offer rewards you want.
You Can Earn Cash Back, Airline Miles, and Hotel Points
Step 2. Check the “Pick-Up” Rules for Your Store
Some stores will NOT let you order items online and pick them up in-store. And some portals will NOT give you bonus points if you pick-up your item at the store.
Discover Deals Is a Fantastic Option for Earning Portal Rewards – But Do NOT Pick-Up Your Item at the Store!
Step 3. Go Shopping!
Shop as you normally would. Try out that leather office chair, pair of penny loafers, or purse to see if you like them.
When you find items you’d like to buy, pull out your phone!
Step 4. Navigate to Your Favorite Shopping Portal
Instead of checking-out at the cash register, use your phone to visit the online store through a rewards portal.
Read the fine print, and make sure the items you want to purchase are eligible for portal rewards.
Step 4 – Visit the Store Website Through a Rewards Portal – and Make Sure Your Purchases Will Qualify!
Step 5. Locate the Items You Want to Buy
Find the items you plan to purchase, and make sure they’re available for in-store pickup.
Step 5 – Find Your Items Online
Step 6. Choose to Pick-Up the Item in Your Store
Your items will likely be available in multiple stores in your area. Make sure to choose the store you’re currently inside to pick-up your items!
Step 6 – Select the Correct Store
Then, check-out on your phone like you normally would!
Step 7. Note How Long It Takes Until Your Order Is Ready
It’s important to know how soon your items will be ready. Some stores will prepare your items in under an hour. And some will take longer.
If you’re purchasing something that must be shipped from another store, you might have to wait a few days for your order.
If your order will be ready in an hour, you can continue to shop to pass the time. Or walk to the nearest ice cream parlor for a celebratory waffle cone!
Lots of Stores Are Eligible for Portal Rewards
If you don’t think your favorite store participates in a shopping portal, you might be surprised!
Nearly all national chain stores are available for extra rewards. Currently, Macy’s and Home Depot are offering cash back when making purchases through a portal and picking up in-store. That’s free money!
You can also use a portal to buy items through Walmart (just make sure the portal does NOT restrict store pickup)! It may be referred to as “Grocery-to-Go” or similar.
If You Want Fresh Food Items, You’ll Still Have to Purchase Those In-Store
Some items (perishables or products containing hazardous materials) can only be bought in-store. So you won’t be able to buy milk or eggs online. But just about everything else should be available!
Instead of spending lots of time at the store, you can purchase most of your items online and earn bonus rewards. Then head to the store, purchase the items you weren’t able to buy online, and head to the pick-up desk, where the rest of your items will be waiting for you!
This will not only earn you bonus points, but it will save you time.
Pay With the Right Card!
Make sure you’re using the right credit card to get the most rewards from every purchase.
For example, if you’re shopping at an office supply store, you’ll earn 5X Chase Ultimate Rewards points for with your:
- Chase Ink Cash
- Chase Ink Business Preferred
- Chase Ink Plus (no longer available)
- Chase Ink Bold (no longer available)
And if you’re shopping at wholesale clubs, you’ll earn 5% cash back for using your Discover It card through March 31, 2017, when you register. Plus, if you’re a new cardmember, Discover will match all rewards you earn during the first 12 billing cycles (including any rewards you earn through the Discover portal!).
You’ll earn these bonus points in addition to the portal rewards points you earn!
Bottom Line
You don’t have to be sitting behind a computer at home to earn portal rewards. You can earn them in-store, too!
When you find an item you want to buy, open your phone, navigate to your favorite rewards portal, and purchase the item online. At checkout, select “store pick-up“.
Most orders don’t take long to prepare for pick-up, so continue to shop until it’s ready. Then drive home with more miles or cash back than when you started!
