My wife and I recently signed up for the Target Red Card seeing that we shop there so often anyways.

Much to my surprise, my toy buying cost has become lower using their card. It's 5% off all purchases before taxes. The sales tax here in Virginia is 5% which means that when it's all said and done, I'm actually paying less than MSRP.

For example, I picked up the voyager Prime Starscream today for $19.99. 5% off that being $1 then plus VA sales tax brings the end total to $19.94 out the door.

Granted it isn't much on a purchase by purchase basis but it is nice to see those savings especially on a frequent basis.

Makes me wish I signed up for that card earlier as there's no annual fee either. Now I try to avoid TRU and Walmart altogether. TRUs inflated prices kill wallets and Walmart, well, I'm sure I don't need to comment much about them.

 

The wife works at Target and gets 10% off on top of the 5% for using a redcard. It definitely adds up, and becomes free figures quick.

 

Nice! Employee discounts are always the best.  

 

My fiancee and I signed up for it a while back, and it really helps with our general shopping trips.

As for TFs, we usually run across them on other trips, so I just bust out the regular debit card (or cash). But our friend who works at another Target always hooks us up when she finds new stuff, similar to the nice set-up TJ's got going on there.

 

Living in Oregon, we don't have a sales tax. Great life. Also, no self-pumping gasoline stations.

 

So, don't you end up paying more because you're required to have someone else pump your gas? If so, doesn't that kinda end up being the equivalent of paying an extra 6 or 7% on everything?

 

The only negative is that it's a debit card so you have to make sure you have the money in your account and you're depending on Target to have enough protection to have your account hacked.

 

I use one but you have to be careful some times the charges don't show up for weeks

 

Yea dude, and I'm glad she gets it, especially now that the Targets here have expanded to groceries too!

 

1) Just treat it like you would treat your actual bank card (although Target sometimes takes a bit longer to post to your account)

2) So far, our Target cards have had better protection than our bank cards!  

 

The Red Card is great, it also offers free shipping when ordering from target.com, got PRID Soundwave online for $12.89 over the weekend. The 5% discount adds up over time.

 

So you're happy that the government forces you to pay more for gas?

 

I've always wanted to look into this.

 

You guys are lucky. I signed up for the Red Card and got denied because I've never had a credit card before and therefore, no credit. Meh.   I've also applied for a job there and got denied after the interview. They must hate me. =\ I still shop there though.

 

The Redcard is not necessarily a debit card. If you have decent credit then they will give you a Redcard credit card. Also, if your concerned about Target protection then only get the Redcard Target specific card instead of the Target Visa card. That way, if it is hacked or stolen then it can't be used at other places besides Target.

 

Yup. We got the Target specific Redcard. Can only be used at Target and works like a credit card.

 

You can apply for the card as a "debit card". Meaning you put funds into it and that is your limit. After a while when Target sees you using it responsibly (not overdrafting) then they will more likely consider you for a true credit card. You still get the same 5% discount even on a debit card.

 

I'd get that but I'd still end up paying 1.625% tax. I guess I should get one though...

 

If you shop at Target the Red Card is a no-brainer. I love the fact that they just take the 5% off as you're checking out, so you don't have to wait weeks or months like you do with other rewards cards. Just make sure you pay off your balance every month, just like any other credit card!