Consumerist
Sears is pretty desperate for that stimulus check money. They're offering a 10% bonus to anyone who converts their stimulus check into a Sears Gift Card.
Customers can present their checks at a cash register at Sears and Kmart to convert it into a gift card at the full value of the check, and to receive a bonus gift card worth 10% of the check.Does this tempt you? Or will your rebate check go towards paying off some debt?The cards can be redeemed at any Sears, Kmart or Lands' End retail stores, as well as sears.com and landsend.com, Hoffman Estates, Ill.-based Sears (SHLD, Fortune 500) said.
The promotion is scheduled to last between May 14 and July 19. The gift cards have no expiration and no fees.
Sears representative Kirsten Whipple said details for shoppers who elect to receive the fiscal-stimulus check by direct deposit are still being worked out, but they will likely be able to register online to receive a coupon to bring to stores.
Sears offers bonus to stimulus check shoppers [CNNMoney]
(Photo:OctopusHat)
Comments
After that reading about that fiasco with the 1000 dollars never being returned, I don't want sears withing shouting distance of my stimulus check.
Too much debt to be buying anything, but that's not a bad idea....if it were anyone else but Sears.
Overall not a bad plan for a store wanting to build up their business. I'm not tempted because Sears' markup is greater than the 10% and there are no K-Marts near me any more (not that those tempt me too much either). All in all though I'll either spread the wealth to more than one store or I'll pay off the debt on my credit card...
gift cards seem like a pretty poor investment right now, unless you're already planning on a big ticket item at sears.
Great marketing idea and im sure some people will jump on it.
Wow, gain 10% and lose 100%? Sounds like a great deal!
Sounds like a desperate attempt to not go bankrupt, which would make the whole gift card worthless, assuming that you don't consider a gift card to sears worthless anyway. Besides, isn't all that money going to buy Federal Savings bonds anyway?
Tempting indeed. I'll give them my stimulus money so that they can go bankrupt the following day and I'll never see my money again.
Nice one, Sears!
@azntg: And get shitty service at the same time!
Why don't they just have a 10% off sale during that period. They'd probably get more business.
I've gotta hand it to them, this is a great idea on Sears' part. They tempt people with ease and a little bonus to spend that "free money" in a non cash refundable way. Nothing can part me from my free money, but this is a great idea in any case. I wonder if anyone else will do something similar.
I wonder what the total percentage of hidden fees is on Sears gift cards these days...
not a bad idea. this was the purpose for the stimulus check, to spend it. Although obviously you can do whatever you want with it. Basically they are giving you 10%, and that is an awesome deal if you are planning to use it on appliances, or stuff like that. I know this place breeds sears haters, but I rise above the politics and get a good deal. I use companies for my benefits, and typically dont ban going to them out of principal.
@Mr. Gunn: you must have done amazing in all your math classes.
@Bladefist-미국사람: Well, he's not wrong in saying you lose something in buying the gift card. Gift cards are less valuable than money, because you're limited in where you can use them.
Also, Sears is in very real danger of going bankrupt, which would cause you to lose all your money that was tied up in gift cards.
@Bladefist-미국사람: This isn't a bad deal, IF I can get the gift card on-site. But given consumer protection under bankruptcy law, and given Sears' currently tenuous state, I really can't see myself doing this.
Now, I don't have a problem with Sears in general. The last time I made a semi-major purchase from them (about $300), the upcharge was actually moot, because the person on duty was willing to pricematch the best price I could find around town. Didn't even ask to see an ad -- I just told them and she said, "OK, we'll do that price". Earned brownie points, it did.
But since I put the odds of a bankruptcy declaration next year at over 10%, it doesn't make since to invest money for a 10% return, unless I can spend it immediately.
@huadpe: if you go and get a gift card, and leave the store w/o using it, then you deserve to lose it lol.
@parliboy: I must have not communicated that well. I would highly recommend using the whole sum of the gift card, in that 1 sitting. Have them price match, then use your 10%, then add a few extra dollars, and write bush a thank you note for the free refrigerator.
No chance - Roth IRA all the way.
It's desperate but a good idea for someone that is looking to spend some money there...
someone is offering you a 10% instant reward and you guys are bitching..
Does anything make you people happy?
If you were in the market for new appliances or something similar, this might not be a bad idea.
I have debt I will pay instead (the check should cover 90%), but with a 10% bonus gift cards don't seem quite so evil, if it weren't a company circling the drain.
If I needed a new washing machine or dishwasher, I'd be all about this. But I don't, so I'll just be saving my check instead. I agree with the folks above, if you get a gift card this way, use it up right away!
gift cards are 60 bucks if your single........130 if your married.
this could work out to a shopper's advantage, if they have a big-ticket item that's on sale (and they belong to the craftsman club if it's a tool item).
that being said, i'm using mine to pay off debt, specifically, home improvement debt. no, i don't count new tools as home improvement :)
don't pay off your personal consumer debts with those checks you stupid deadbeats! that money isn't there for you to convert your credit card debt into a new national debt. go buy a new microwave, go buy some new shoes, go spend that money out there in the economy. go buy american-made products with it. do you want a recession?
this isn't "your money" to do "anything you want with it". do you know what a disaster it would be if every moron put his stimulus check towards his dumb wife's visa balance?
that money isn't taxable income, that money isn't an advance on next year's return, that money isn't yours to "do with as you please", it's there for you to spend out there in the hurting economy. stop shooting that country in both feet you stupid morons!
and if you're so smart, why are you carrying an 18% credit card balance to begin with? "i'm gonna pay my debt with the stimulus check". wow, how responsible and disciplined. you have the discipline to pay off your unnecessary consumer debt with money that fell out of the sky? wow, that's discipline. how about cancelling your cable and throwing that $50 towards your credit cards every month? ever thought of that? stupid fools.
This is like one of those $19.95 infomercials. Only a sucker would buy into it. You would have to luv you some Sears really badly to hand over all your money to them. But I've got to hand it to them though. They've sure got balls to ask. Can't blame them for trying.
@prameta1: You forgot to mention that anyone not stimulating the economy (shut up, pervs) with their stimulus check is a terrorist and an enemy of freedom.
Damn you direct deposit. No Craftsman tools for me!
Seriously though, only do this if your going to buy right then and there. Remember what happened to all those gift cards at Sharper Image when they declared bankruptcy.
I'm using my stimulus check essentially to pay my taxes. Probably not what the feds had in mind.
@prameta1:
You, sir, are a masterful troll. I can't wait to see how that works out for you.
in some states, you are required to be able to redeem gift cards for cash under specific circumstances, like a remaining balance under a certain amount. That could make this even hotter. Buy your ~$600 worth of widgets, then get cash back for dinner afterwards.
Could you use the gift card to pay off your Sears Card? It'd be like getting a retroactive rebate. :)
I'm about to buy a new house and we should finish closing right around the time the rebate check is deposited. Since we'll be needing new appliances, I'm actually somewhat tempted by this offer.
Too bad that (when they go bankrupt) people won't have the option to stop paying on their Sears Credit Cards -- but you can bet that any money you have on their "Gift" cards becomes so much worthless plastic..
Funny how that works.
What's 110% of nothing?
I might be more inclined if the bonus was 30% or more.
10% doesn't cut it anymore.
Get a 10% bonus on your money, Sears declares bankruptcy, you lose 100% of your 110%. Easy math.
@prameta1:
Is that you Bernanke?
.
This is definitely a good deal for people who have things they will immediately buy at Sears.
I don't, however, and I would not be willing to put $2,100 on a gift card and risk losing it to Sears' bankruptcy.
Furthermore, if unsatisfied with your Sears purchase, you can't do a chargeback with your gift card.
@sohmc:
If the bonus was 30%, I'd definitely go for it. Bear in mind, though, that even if you only get a $1,200 rebate, a 10% bonus is $120. A hundred and twenty bucks for free? Still sounds pretty decent for me, who is in need of new appliances to begin with. People in a similar position are likely the major targets of this promotion, so your mileage may vary.
I agree with Bladefist and QuantumRiff: it's a good idea if you spend the whole thing immediately.
I'm not tempted though. I can't think of that much stuff I'd want/need from Sears and I did direct deposit anyway.
@NotATool:
While Sears is hemorrhaging money, I'm not too worried about them going bankrupt before I close on my house. Your final point, however, is a valid one.
Fuck you Sears. That is all.
The only remote value this would have to somebody, is if they wanted to buy a game console. Figuring they are the same prices everywhere, you would get savings, and the store would lose money in the process too.
Not a very good business decision here is it?
The other problem is, if you check irs.gov, people who do NOT elect direct deposit won't get their checks until sometime in June.
Besides that, fuck off, Sears. That money is better off in my MattressFund (TM).
Things you can buy at Sears with your Stimulus Check plus 10%:
A broken water heater:
[consumerist.com]
An invisible HD tv:
[consumerist.com]
An obsolete analog tv:
[consumerist.com]
A jigsaw instead of the air blow gun you ordered (and bonus! get charged the wrong prices on sale items):
[consumerist.com]
A tipping stove:
[consumerist.com]
A Golden Parachute for an incompetent doofus:
[consumerist.com]
Imaginary auto service:
[consumerist.com]
A pretend vacuum:
[consumerist.com]
Dinnerware tainted with delicious, tasy lead:
[consumerist.com]
Warranty service that, surprise!, doesn't actually warranty anything:
[consumerist.com]
[consumerist.com]
[consumerist.com]
[consumerist.com]
A leaky refrigerator:
[consumerist.com]
A dryer that you didn't order:
[consumerist.com]
And don't forget to sign up at "My SHC Community" so Sears can vomit spyware all over your computer and expose your private information on their insecure website:
[consumerist.com]
[consumerist.com]
Gee! The line for those Sears giftcards will probably circle the earth two times!
@Imaginary_Friend:
Touche! The best response of the day.
I'd be running of to Sears with my rebate check, but since I have direct deposit, it looks like I'm out of luck.