Mail Time is the Best Time!

We live in the digital age. The internet has changed the way that we do (almost) everything, but when it comes to targeted credit card offers, you can keep your fancy internet and email machines, and you can find me scurrying down the driveway with anticipation of my local USPS man (or lady) hand delivering me the next great credit card sign-up bonus offer!

I’m talking Snail Mail Targeted Offers!

I love mail time. It might be weird, but I get really excited to come home every day and peek into that little white box at the end of the driveway. Sometimes there are bills. Sometimes there are advertisements. But then sometimes (if I am really lucky) I will find something as glorious as this – a targeted mailing from American Express!

Credit card issuers frequently mail out “targeted offers” – rather than sending them through any of the more modern digital channels (i.e. email communications) – in order to target specific customers that they would like to have as cardholders.

These special mailing have distinct application codes that you must have in order to apply for the card, so if you lose the code, you are out of luck! And THIS is why you should NEVER, EVER, EVER throw away a mail credit card offer without reading it fully and comparing the bonus terms to what is available online. While you will certainly receive plenty of bad credit card offers, every now and then you may receive some mail that can change your travel life for the better!

It is important to note that just because you receive a targeted offer, you are not “pre-approved” for the card (unless the text in the mailing states this), so don’t automatically assume that you will be approved upon your application!

While this wasn’t technically my mail (it is addressed to my wife), it was still mail that I know can benefit me in the way of bonus Delta Skymiles – which I can turn into achieving a travel dream! That is what this whole game is about, right!?

So how can you receive and take advantage of these targeted offers?

While there really is no magic formula, you can do a few things to make yourself more likely to capitalize on a targeted snail mail offer:

1. Sign up for loyalty programs (both for airlines and hotels)
   1. American Airlines, Delta, United, Alaska, Southwest, Hilton, Marriott, Hyatt, any more!
2. Opt-in to receive mail communications related to these loyalty programs, as well as from any card issuers like Chase, American Express, Citi, Barclays, etc. that you already have relationships with
3. READ YOUR MAIL!

Final Thought

This may seem like basic thinking, but it is astonishing how many people see a piece of mail from (enter credit card issuer here) and immediately toss it out!? Read your mail and read it well. There is a lot of effort that goes into getting that compilation of paper to your mailbox (thank you USPS!) and you just might discover a little present among all those bills, advertisements & letters from Grammy that will help you achieve your travel dreams!

Did you get this 60,000 Skymiles Delta Gold American Express offer in your mailbox?

Email accountingyourpoints@yahoo.com with comments, questions, or just to chat about points, miles and travel!

Happy Mail Time!

DW