We have previously written about the Five Back Visa Gift Card, a prepaid gift card that earns 5% credited back to the card at a number of retailers (the list can be seen here on the Five Back Visa website). We posted a deal yesterday (and one the day before) at JCPenney that could utilize one of these gift cards for maximum savings. Unfortunately, earlier this year, CVS left the Five Back Visa Gift Card program. Last month, Staples left the program completely unannounced. In the latest blow to Five Back Visa Gift Card, Doctor of Credit is reporting several more retailers that have unexpectedly left the program and no longer earn 5% back. Those stores are:
Lowe’s
Bed Bath and Beyond
Buy Buy Baby
Christmas Tree Shops
It’s unfortunate to see so many stores leaving the program and without prior notice. However, a common theme among these stores is that they tend to sell a variety of gift cards. I suspect that there was a bit too much enthusiasm for buying gift cards rather than merchandise with the Five Back cards. While there are still some retailers on the list of Five Back merchants that do not qualify for a better category bonus elsewhere, the utility of these cards as a means of earning outsized rewards is clearly waning — and there is obviously no hesitation with regard to pulling merchants without any notice at all. That part is unfortunate, but is to be expected with Five Back at this point. If you have any of these cards, be aware that the participating stores can change without notice.
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