One of the greatest joys in the points and miles game is the ability to earn points and miles on top of other points. The process of “double dipping” allows travelers to save money on many of their everyday items, all while earning valuable points and miles towards their next trip.
In previous blogs, I’ve written on a process to earn double points by purchasing gift cards towards a trip. This has been an entertaining life hack for me, especially when purchasing at grocery stores: using a card that earns bonus points or cash back at grocery stores (such as the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express) to purchase travel gift cards not only earns me extra value, but can also result in free gas as well! Could it also work towards getting me discounts on all the latest video games as well?
As an avowed gamer, I often stop into GameStop at least twice per month to check out the latest OFE options (off-flight entertainment) between trips. In one of my latest stops, I was entertained to find they begun offering Southwest Airlines gift cards as well! Would it be possible to fuel my next trip on gift cards and gain points towards my next game purchase through GameStop PowerUp Rewards? Seeing as how this is a points blog, curiosity lead me to look further into this idea.
GameStop PowerUp Rewards are earned for purchases on games and consoles in-store at a rate of 10 points per dollar spent. When paired with their in-store credit card, gamers can also earn an additional 5,000 points for every $250 spent in store. Those points can then be redeemed for a number of items, including gifts, Xbox Points, PlayStation Store credit, or gift cards in store or on partner website ThinkGeek.
But with all the promise of rewards come limitations – it is a natural part of navigating rewards programs. The biggest limitation of GameStop PowerUp Rewards is the fact that gift cards do not qualify for points earning. Therefore, my purchase of Southwest gift cards would not get me any closer to free games and gear unless I used their in-store credit card. Even if earning points were the least of my concerns, purchases at GameStop would not trigger any bonus categories on my favorite credit cards, resulting in lost points in the hopes of purchasing.
Before travelers consider stacking points programs, be sure to read all of the fine print. Although something may look like a good deal on the surface, it may not actually provide all of the rewards at the end of the day. In the case of PowerUp Rewards, the rewards are only for games and consoles – which may be great for entertainment between trips, but does not get us closer to our ultimate goal: seeing the world at an overall low price.
While stacking rewards programs can be a good deal, it only makes sense if travelers can reap those rewards at the end of the day. In the case of GameStop PowerUp rewards, frugal travelers would be wise to power down.
Which rewards programs do you stack to earn bonus points or miles? Let me know your favorite hidden tips in the comments below!
Written by Frugal Travel Guy @ http://www.frugaltravelguy.com
Written by Frugal Travel Guy @ http://www.frugaltravelguy.com