The Burlington credit card, issued by Comenity, offers rewards for shopping with the brand, but even the most loyal Burlington Coat Factory shoppers can likely do better.
Even though its rewards have a high value, the rate at which you'll amass them is less than ideal, and the sign-up bonus is barely there.
A general cash-back credit card such as the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card will be a better option for most people. It’s even possible to find a secured card, meant for consumers with bad or no credit, with higher rewards rates than that of the Burlington credit card.
Here’s what you need to know.
1. Benefits are underwhelming
The Burlington credit card does confer some benefits for Burlington shoppers, but only two of them are exclusive to cardholders. You can get nearly all of the same perks by enrolling in the Burlington loyalty program in-store or online. If you don’t want another hard inquiry on your credit report or another credit card taking up room in your wallet, you could pass on the Burlington credit card and not miss too much.
The only two benefits of the credit card that you can’t get with the loyalty program:
- The card earns 1 point for every $1 spent on Burlington purchases. Every 100 points may be redeemed for a $5 reward certificate.
- A sign-up bonus in the form of a 10% discount on the first purchase when you open and use the Burlington credit card on the same day. (Cardholders who opened an account online will receive their 10% coupon by email within two days of account opening.)
2. The card’s use is limited
The Burlington credit card is a "closed-loop" product, meaning it can only be used to make purchases at Burlington Coat Factory and its sibling stores, Cohoes Fashions and MJM Designer Shoes. If you want a card that can handle your grocery runs, gas tank fill-ups and everything in between, the Burlington credit card isn’t for you.
3. Rewards rate is low, but point values are high
As mentioned earlier, Burlington cardholders get 1 point for every $1 spent at Burlington, which is a pretty low earning rate. Plus, you'll need at least 100 points to start redeeming, and those points are good only toward eligible Burlington purchases.
But on the plus side, points earned with the Burlington card are worth 5 cents each, which is much higher than the industry standard of a penny per point. Essentially, for every $100 you spend at Burlington, you'll earn a $5 discount. (More on that in the next section.)
4. Points and reward certificates expire
Burlington cardholders may redeem rewards as soon as they have 100 points, which may be cashed in for a $5 certificate. Certificates are only good toward purchases at Burlington stores, Cohoes Fashions and MJM Designer Shoes. And use them quickly because they expire 60 days after the issue date.
Points also expire 12 months after they’re posted to the account, so be sure to regularly convert them to certificates.
5. The interest rate is high
As of this writing, the purchase APR on the Burlington credit card tops 33%, making it extremely costly to carry a balance from month to month. To avoid interest charges and to protect your credit score, pay off your credit card balance in full and on time, if you can.
