Originally Posted by
stuffedpandapuppet
I have a SDM MC, and it is the best things since the Optimum Visa before it. Even if you spend only outside of SDM, you will still be better off (only slightly though) with the SDM MC because you get a 1.05% return with a 95000 pts bonus redemption. The difference isn't much, so sharing your purchases spent outside of SDM between the PC and SDM MC would be about the same.
Here's the rate of return for all the redemption values when you use your Optimum card in the following cases, from left to right:
Spending without SDM MC just at SDM (10 pts/$1)
Spending with SDM MC outside of SDM no OP card here (5 pts/$1)
Spending with SDM MC just at SDM (25 pts/$1)
Spending with SDM MC just at SDM buying a GC first (10+25/$1)
8000 pts for $10 - 1.25% - 0.63% - 3.13% - 4.38%
22000 pts for $30 - 1.36% - 0.68% - 3.41% - 4.77%
38000 pts for $60 - 1.58% - 0.79% - 3.94% - 5.53%
50000 pts for $85 - 1.70% - 0.85% - 4.25% - 5.95%
95000 pts for $170 - 1.79% - 0.89% - 4.47% - 6.26%
or on bonus redemption
50000 pts for $100 - 2.00% - 1.00% - 5.00% - 7.00%
95000 pts for $200 - 2.11% - 1.05% - 5.26% - 7.37%
So I will explain verbally for one of the situations, accumulating 95000 pts for bonus redemption day, having spent only at SDM with your SDM MC and using that to buy SDM GC first before all purchases that would get you pts, that is 25 pts/$1 just for the GC and 10 pts/$1 when you actually spend that GC. So to accumulate 95000 pts you need to have spent $2714ish, which you can get back $200, so $200/$2714 = 7.37%. This last category is a bit loose because it really depends on whether items purchased are taxed, but the rate of return is still very good.