Target RedCard review: A credit card for big-box shopping

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No matter whether it can be again to school, off to do the job or out to enjoy, Concentrate on has develop into a person of the favorite locations for people trying to find daily goods. Like most other significant-box retailers, the keep offers shoppers a way to bag some additional price savings via its credit score card supplying, the Goal RedCard.

If you are a repeated Goal shopper, both in-shop or on the web, the card’s perks and gains need to hold appeal. Approval for the Concentrate on RedCard isn’t restrictive, as applicants with good credit score generally qualify. 

Also: The best keep credit rating cards

Let’s consider a closer appear at many of the pros and negatives of the Target RedCard.

    Intro BonusN/A

    APR22.90% (Variable)

    Suggested Credit history Fantastic/Fantastic

    Reward ChargesN/A

    Annual Rate$

    Intro Acquire APRN/A

    The Focus on RedCard is just not challenging to use or to reward from. Use it to address your Concentrate on browsing spree to receive a 5% price cut on the monthly bill. On the other hand, there are a couple of buys that will not qualify for the price reduction, like prescriptions, eye examinations, and reward playing cards. But most almost everything else is fair match.

    The 5% lower price is the card’s major draw, but it comes with a number of far more valuable benefits as well. These incorporate prolonged returns, cost-free 2-working day transport, and exceptional cardholder-only features. Focus on even has an application in which cardholders can manage their account and make contactless buys.

    Pros

    • 5% discounted on purchases (which include in-retail store Starbucks)
    • Absolutely free 2-day shipping and delivery
    • Extended returns

    Downsides

    • Significant APR (normal for retailer playing cards)
    • Can only be made use of at Concentrate on
    • No searching protections

Factors to take into consideration

  • The card is confined in conditions of buying electrical power. You can only use the RedCard at bodily Focus on places or the company’s web-site.
  • Perks and added benefits are narrow in scope. You won’t accumulate any factors, miles, or cashback that can be redeemed for assertion credits, journey, or gift playing cards.
  • If you opt for to have a stability from month to month, the significant APR will wipe out any bargains been given and have you in the end having to pay much more than market worth for frequent products.
  • The discounted isn’t going to implement to all departments in Target areas. Merchandise this sort of as prescription medications in pharmacies or reward playing cards aren’t suitable for the 5% cost savings.
  • Any of the order protections afforded to Visa, Mastercard, or Amex cardholders are not prolonged to proprietors of the RedCard.
  • You would not have considerably incentive to choose up the RedCard exterior of financial savings from regular Goal browsing. You can find no out there welcome reward, intro APR, or % interest harmony transfer option.

Card facts

The major allure of the Target RedCard is the automated savings you can expect to get with each individual swipe, chip-dip, or on line buy. If you’re in a position to go some of your basic spending to Goal, like grocery buys, it’s going to be all the more rewarding.

With benefits cards from major issuers, you can expect to typically witness huge bonus incentives in groups these kinds of as groceries, but this classification is normally capped by way of paying out restrictions. For case in point, the Blue Hard cash Everyday® Card from American Specific offers you 3% cashback at U.S. supermarkets up to $6,000 yearly and 1% soon after the limit is reached.

Assume you invest $10,000 for each calendar year in grocery suppliers. With the Blue Hard cash Every day Card from American Specific, you’d receive $220 in cashback. With the RedCard, that similar dollar amount of money would fetch you $500 in price savings. Hence, building Concentrate on your primary pantry-stocking place gives you an benefit about some non-shop playing cards. Having said that, not each individual Focus on gives groceries.

Charge facts

If incurred, fees can consume into your accrued Focus on cost savings amounts. But from the get-go, you is not going to pay an annual payment to very own the card. Really should you make a late payment, it will established you back again $40. A returned payment will price tag you $29. There is no penalty APR, but the common obtain APR sits very high in contrast to some of the RedCard’s competitors. So, if you plan to carry a balance and pay out off the debt over a extended time period, any discounts you may have acquired will be decimated by interest prices.

It really is a very good rule with credit score cards to try out to pay out off your statement equilibrium in full each and every thirty day period in get to steer clear of fascination fees.

Also: Why you should not indicator up for retailer credit score playing cards

How does the RedCard compare to other retailer credit history playing cards?

You might want to contemplate other shop credit rating cards when deciding on which a person best satisfies your demands. Competing cards from suppliers, these as the Funds Just one Walmart Benefits Mastercard, only supply a reward cashback reward in the first year on in-retailer Walmart purchases. Just after that, the reward only applies to on-line buys. The Costco Everywhere Visa Card by Citi will be more hard to get, as it needs an fantastic credit rating and a Costco membership is essential to qualify.

Take into account a non-retail outlet card alternatively. Frequently occasions, they have a reduce APR, far better perks, and can be made use of at a lot more than just one site. For example, the Wells Fargo Lively Cash Card features 2% income back for each and every buy, carries no annual charge, functions a % intro APR for buys and balance transfers, and comes with Visa Signature protections.

If you might be seeking for a thing with a little bit a lot more reward possible, look at the Blue Dollars Most popular from American Specific. It does have an annual rate of $95 (waived the very first 12 months), but it earns 6% hard cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 spent each year, then 1%) and on pick U.S. streaming companies. It also earns 3% on gas and transit. Even by paying out as very little as $2,000 for every yr on groceries would net cardholders $120 in rewards, a lot more than ample to deal with the once-a-year price. And that’s with out using its other bonus groups into thought.

[This article was first published on The Simple Dollar in 2020. It was updated in March 2022.]

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