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Customers who frequently spend at Dick's Sporting Goods can defray the costs of clothing, gear and more with the store's co-branded credit card — but it's hardly an MVP compared with other rewards credit cards.
Formerly known as the Dick's Sporting Goods credit card, the Synchrony-issued ScoreRewards Mastercard may be used at Dick's and stores outside of its brand. If you're not eligible, you'll be considered for the retailer's sibling card, the ScoreRewards credit card, which can be used only with the retailer or with related brands like Golf Galaxy, and Public Lands.
Both cards earn points that have a relatively high value. But the modest rate at which you amass those points is a drag, as are the various redemption restrictions. Other general-purpose rewards credit cards are far superior when it comes to introductory offers, ongoing rewards and flexibility.
Here's what to know about the ScoreRewards Mastercard and ScoreRewards credit card.
1. Rewards are mediocre and come with restrictions
Both versions of the Dick's Sporting Goods credit card earn points in the retailer's free-to-join ScoreCard customer loyalty program. ScoreCard members earn 1 point per eligible $1 spent with the brand, but those who hold a ScoreRewards credit card earn more:
- 2 points per $1 spent on qualifying purchases at Dick's Sporting Goods brands, in-store and online.
- 1 point per $3 spent on purchases anywhere else. (This rate applies to the Mastercard version only).
Points are worth a little over 3 cents each, so you'll actually earn more than 6% back on all Dick's Sporting Goods purchases. But redeeming your rewards isn't exactly straightforward. The points you earn are automatically converted into rewards certificates. You'll get a $10 certificate for every 300 points you earn, which means you'd have to spend $150 at Dick's before meeting that redemption threshold.
Moreover, even if you regularly drop a ton of cash at Dick's Sporting Goods, your rewards are capped at $500 per month. In addition, you're limited to two reward certificate redemptions per online transaction, and three certificate redemptions per in-store transaction.
Collecting multiple certificates would prove difficult anyway because they do expire (the rewards certificate will show its expiration date). Points that don't hit an auto-redemption threshold will expire one year from their earned date.
And finally, if your purchase with a rewards certificate is less than the reward amount, you'll forfeit any remaining value. (Reward certificates can be used only to purchase store merchandise; you can't use them to pay your monthly card bill.)
🤓 Nerdy Tip
You could fare better with a card like the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card, which earns 5% cash back on up to $2,000 spent in two categories of your choice from a list of options when you activate them. As of January 2025, categories include sporting goods stores like Dick's. The card also earns 2% cash back in an everyday category from a list of options and 1% back on everything else. 2. You can supplement your rewards with physical activity
ScoreCard loyalty program members can earn points through the MOVE fitness tracker function in Dick's Sporting Goods mobile app. You'll be able to earn 3 points per day (a value of 9 cents) by completing daily activity goals like:
- Taking at least 10,000 steps with Fitbit, Apple Health or Garmin trackers.
- Reaching at least 3 miles with MapMyRun or MapMyFitness.
- Engaging in 30 minutes of fitness activity.
3. The introductory offer isn't much to write home about
The Dick's Sporting Goods credit cards offer new cardholders a choice of upfront incentives: You'll receive a $40 bonus reward the day you open and use your card (as of September 2023).
A general-purpose rewards credit card can offer much more value long term. The $0-annual-fee Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card, for instance, features a healthy welcome offer: Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months. The card also earns an unlimited 2% back on all purchases, not just with a specific merchant. Plus, those rewards come as actual cash back, not store rewards.
4. Special financing options can throw you a curve
Both of these store cards offer special financing options between 12 and 24 months, depending on the amount spent. If you can pay off the entire balance before that promotional window ends, it can spare you interest charges. But if you don't meet that deadline, it could be a costly mistake.
"Special financing" is code for a deferred interest offer, which puts interest charges on hold for the duration of the promotional period. But unlike a genuine 0% intro APR offer — where interest is waived — the interest on special financing offers still accrues in the background. And if you haven't paid off the purchase fully when that offer ends, you'll be charged interest retroactive to the purchase date at the card's ongoing rate. (As of September 2023, the Dick's Sporting Goods cards featured a variable APR of over 32%.)
Cash-back credit cards like the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card offer a better deal, without the strings typically found on deferred interest terms. You’ll get a 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers, and then the ongoing APR of 18.49%, 24.49%, or 28.49% Variable APR. The clock on this interest will start once the promotional period ends, meaning you'll only be charged for the balance remaining.
5. You'll qualify for Gold status, which comes with some perks
As long as you use your credit card to make a purchase at Dick's (either in-store or online) once a year, you'll get access to Gold Status.
Gold status qualifies you for exclusive offers, a triple points day, an annual $10 reward and more. Without the credit card, reaching Gold status requires spending $500 in eligible store purchases per year.
