Why You Should Think Twice Before Using a Shopping Portal

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As someone who’s always looking for ways to maximize the number of miles and points I earn, I’ve learned that there are multiple strategies to rack up rewards with every purchase. While using a credit card with the best multipliers for each category is a great place to start, it’s not the only way to earn extra points. One of the best—and often overlooked—ways to stack miles is through shopping portals.

What Are Shopping Portals?

If you’re not familiar with shopping portals, they are programs that allow you to earn additional miles or points when you shop at participating retailers online. By starting your shopping experience at the portal’s website, you can earn points for purchases you’d make anyway, often with bonus offers attached. The trick is to know where to look and which portal offers the best deal for each retailer. For more info, check out our article on finding the best shopping portals for your purchases.

Don’t Just Follow the Offers—Do the Math

While shopping portals can certainly enhance your points-earning potential, it’s important to remember that the most enticing offers aren’t always the best deal in the long run. Yes, extra miles are nice, but sometimes paying a little extra for a bonus might not make sense financially. This is why it’s important to weigh the value of the miles you’re earning versus the price you’re paying. A simple rule of thumb? If the extra miles you’re earning cost more than what you’d save by shopping elsewhere, it’s probably not worth the splurge.

Here’s where it can get complicated:

Figuring out the best deal can get messy, as this calculation shows. There’s a lot of math involved in evaluating miles versus cost, and sometimes it feels like you need a calculator to decide.

Saving Money vs. Earning Points: A Real-Life Example

Let’s say you’re eyeing a new iPad. You could buy it directly from Apple when they’re running one of their limited-time bonus point promotions through shopping portals. These offers pop up a few times a year and are typically only available for a day or two. The promotion might offer you 5X points for the purchase, which sounds great because you’re stacking miles as you buy something you were going to purchase anyway.

But here’s the thing: If you shop directly with Apple, you’ll pay full price, and maybe the iPad costs $1,200. However, there’s a catch. You might be able to find the same iPad on another website—one that doesn’t offer any shopping portal bonuses—but at a steep discount. For example, a third-party retailer might have the same iPad listed for $1,100, with no bonus miles but a substantial savings of $100.

Now, let’s break down the tradeoff:

• Apple Direct Purchase with Portal Bonus: Let’s say you’re getting 5X points on $1,200. You’d earn 6,000 points, plus any credit card rewards, but you’re paying full price.

• Retailer Purchase (No Bonus Miles): You’re saving $100 by buying the iPad from the third-party retailer at $1,100. You’re not earning any extra miles, but you’ve saved more money upfront.

Here’s where it gets interesting: Paying extra to earn miles is essentially the same as buying points. If you wouldn’t buy those 6,000 points for $100 (which is roughly 1.7 cents per point), then why would you pay $100 more for the same effect? When you compare the two options, the savings from the third-party retailer of $1,100 is clearly a better deal. You’re saving money now, and you’re not paying a premium for miles that might not even provide a better value in the future.

In this case, saving $100 by skipping the bonus miles is a better deal than overpaying for the points. You could use that extra cash elsewhere for things like booking a flight, staying in a hotel, or saving it for future travel opportunities.

Knowing When to Skip the Miles for Savings

It’s easy to get caught up in offers that seem too good to pass up—especially when you’re promised bonus miles for making a purchase. But when the final tally is done, sometimes it turns out that saving money instead of chasing miles can be the smarter move. After all, the miles you earn might not add up to much more than the cost you paid for them.

That said, if you can find a balance—saving money while still stacking miles—that’s where the sweet spot is. Don’t let the allure of bonus miles cloud your judgment. Always make sure that the cost of those extra miles doesn’t outweigh the benefit of getting a better deal elsewhere.

Final Thoughts: Make Smart Choices, Not Hasty Ones

While I’m a big advocate for using online shopping portals to earn points and miles for things you would buy anyway, remember that a deal isn’t always a deal if it costs you more in the long run. Sometimes, you’re better off saving money now and keeping your wallet happy. After all, you can always use that extra cash for something useful, like a flight or hotel room, instead of spending it on miles that may never end up benefitting you as much as you hoped.

In short, maximizing your miles isn’t about blindly chasing offers—it’s about making smart, informed decisions that actually benefit you in the long run. Always do the math before you hit “buy now” and consider what works best for you financially and in terms of rewards.

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This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary