Should You Redeem Points for Merchandise?
Why merchandise is a trap
Bank merchandise portals tend to price points below a cent each, sometimes far below, so a gadget that costs cash plus points or a big points total is usually a bad deal versus simply buying it. The points lost their travel ceiling the moment they went toward stuff. This is consistently rated among the very worst redemption options. See what points are worth.
The better comparison
Before redeeming for an item, check what the same points return as travel, and what the item costs in cash. Almost always, transferring the points for travel and paying cash for the item comes out ahead. The convenience of the portal is not worth the lost value. See transferable points explained.
What to do instead
Keep transferable points for partner transfers and buy merchandise with money, ideally on a card that earns rewards on the purchase. If you want a points-funded purchase, a flat cash-back redemption at a cent beats a merchandise portal below a cent. See when cash beats points.
Stop guessing at point values. Look up the real award price and live availability for a specific trip before you transfer.
Search award flights on seats.aero →Frequently asked questions
Related reading
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