I basically figure out who gives me the best deal and shop through that site.
For example...if I want to buy a $500 Dell Laptop....
MyPoints = 2 pts per $
Creations = 1 pt per $
QuickRewards = .5%
Then...I look at cash equivalent redemptions from each of the 3 sites...
MyPoints - 1500 to redeem for $10 WebCertificate
Creations - 1000 to redeem for $5 Cash
QuickRewards - .5% of $500 is $2.50
Then...I do the math....(or my spreadsheet does it for me)...
MyPoints - $10 divided by 1500 pts = $.00667 per pt
Creations - $5 divided by 1000 pts = $.00500 per pt
QuickRewards - .5% of $500 is $2.50 total
So...
MyPoints - $500 x 2pts per $ = 1,000 pts x .00667 = $6.66
Creations - $500 x 1pt per $ = 500 pts x .005 = $2.50
QuickRewards - $500 x .5% = $2.50
You can see that MyPoints beats the other 2 by a mile....on this one offer. It may be different for different vendors...this is only 1 example.
The difference is that you usually have to wait 30 days for your points to "clear" on MyPoints...whereas, CR and QR points are usually available right away. Also...you get cash from CR & QR compared to WebCertificates (which can be used anywhere MasterCard is accepted).
If you work in an office and you are in charge of ordering office supplies (like me)...MyPoints is also excellent. They run a special that if you spend over $400 at Office Depot, you get 5,000 pts (equivalent of $35 in WebCertificates). We spend about $400 every other month...so, that's free rewards to me without having to spend out of pocket cash!!!!
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