Considering a Store Credit Card this Holiday Season? Here are Their Pros and Cons

The offer seems enticing. A store offers you a huge discount if you sign up for a credit card. It promises a full year of interest-free purchases, along with cardholder-exclusive perks like coupons and receipt-free returns. But you’ve also heard negative things about store credit cards. So, are store credit cards good or bad. Retailer-specific cards do come with a few benefits, but they also have some pitfalls. Before you agree to a store credit card, consider these pros and cons. 

Pro: VIP Discounts

Stores will promise the moon and stars to get you to sign up. This often starts with a generous discount on your purchase that day, which motivates you to take action. You’ll see other perks like exclusive coupons and discounts, reward points for purchases, enhanced return windows, free shipping and early access to in-store sales.

Con: High Interest Rates

Ideally, you’ll pay off your credit card balances each month and skip interest altogether. But with credit card debt hitting an all-time high, it’s clear that many consumers carry a balance. Even the best store credit cards typically come with higher interest rates than general-purpose cards and that extra interest can add up.

Pro: Credit-Building Opportunities

Having a tough time getting a credit card? A store credit card could be the key. You can even find store credit cards for bad credit. If you can qualify, you’ll be able to make small, consistent purchases and pay off the balance each month. Over time, this may improve your credit score.

Con: Lower Credit Limits

Lower credit limits can get in the way of a shopping spree. This can be a good thing for keeping your debt to a minimum, but it can also impact something called your credit utilization ratio. As Blank points out, this can make store credit cards more problematic than non-retailer cards.

Pro: Interest-Free Promotional Periods

Ads for store credit cards are typically designed to convert, with headlines like “12 months no interest.” But, these offers often come with a catch. Typically, if the balance isn’t paid off within the promotional period, you may get charged retroactive interest.

Con: Potential to Overspend

Having a store credit card can encourage spending even when it isn’t within your budget. This is especially true when a retailer is sending you coupons and inviting you to exclusive sales. In that sense, a store credit card can be more detrimental than one that isn’t locked down to one or two stores.Instead of a store credit card, it might be a better idea to look for non-retailer credit cards that can help you meet your goals. Chances are, you’ll get a better interest rate and credit limit, plus you can earn rewards that you can use toward shopping at your favorite stores.

Are Credit Store Cards Good or Bad?

If you’re asking yourself, “Are store credit cards good or bad?” it’s important to know their pitfalls. You might be able to find a retailer card with reasonable terms. Even so, it still wouldn’t be the best way to build credit and stick to a budget. If you do opt to sign up for one, make sure you read the fine print and know exactly what you’re getting.