Cabela's CLUB Mastercard® Review: Only for Cabela's Biggest Spenders
Review
Updated
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If you enjoy the outdoors, chances are you've heard of Cabela's. The company sells all kinds of supplies for hunting, fishing, camping, and everything in between, and you can make purchases through its site, catalogs, or one of its massive stores.
For Cabela's enthusiasts, you might be wondering if it's worth getting the Cabela's CLUB Mastercard®. True, the card earns points for use at Cabela's or Bass Pro Shop stores. But like other store credit cards, this one has some drawbacks you should know about before you apply.
We recommend comparing options to ensure the card you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of standout credit cards.
| Offer | Our Rating | Welcome Offer | Rewards Program | APR | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. | 1% - 5% Cashback Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. |
Intro: Purchases: 0%, 15 months Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months Regular: 18.24% - 27.24% Variable APR |
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Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
$200 cash rewards Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months. | 2% cash rewards Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases. |
Intro: 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers Purchases: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening Balance Transfers: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers Regular: 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR |
|
Apply Now for Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
On Bank of America's Secure Website. |
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
25,000 points 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases | 1.5-3 points per dollar Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open. Earn 3 points per $1 spent on travel purchases booked through the Bank of America Travel Center. |
Intro: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers will apply. A 3% fee for 60 days from account opening, then 4% fee applies to all balance transfers. Balance transfers may not be used to pay any account provided by Bank of America. Purchases: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days Regular: 18.24% - 28.24% (Variable) |
Apply Now for Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
On Bank of America's Secure Website. |
The Cabela's CLUB Mastercard® is a no annual fee card, so you can carry it free of charge.
When you're approved for the card, you have the chance to get up to $50 in CLUB Points. Here's how it works:
To be sure, $50 is nowhere near what the best sign-up bonuses offer, but at least you can get some quick, easy rewards.
This card earns 2% back on purchases at Cabela's, Bass Pro Shops, and participating Cenex® locations. It earns 1% back on other purchases. Just like the card's introductory bonus, the rewards earned are CLUB Points that can be used with Cabela's or Bass Pro Shops.
The first Cabela's credit card you can get is the Cabela's CLUB Mastercard® Classic, but there are also two upgrades available if you spend enough:
There is a credit history review required for these cards, so you're not guaranteed a new card just for spending enough.
You're charged an APR of just 9.99% for purchases at these stores. It's still better to pay your credit card bill in full and avoid interest entirely. But if you need some extra time, a 9.99% APR is much lower than you'd get with most other credit cards.
Cabela's offers two types of events throughout the year exclusively for its cardholders (and cardholders of Bass Pro Shops credit cards). There are Signature Outdoor Adventures, which are hunting and fishing trips to destinations around the world, and Experiences, which are behind-the-scenes events with popular brands in the outdoors industry.
You typically need to be in the Silver or Black spending tiers to get access to these events. There's also a fee to participate, with activities generally costing several thousand dollars or more.
The Cabela's CLUB Mastercard® earns a lackluster 2% unless you spend enough to get the Silver or Black versions of the card. In contrast, several store credit cards earn 3% to 5% at their issuing stores from the beginning.
A common flaw with store credit cards is that their rewards can only be used for purchases from that store. This can save you money on purchases you were going to make anyway, but it doesn't help if you don't need to buy anything from Cabela's or Bass Pro Shops. Cash back credit cards tend to be a better choice compared to store cards, because they offer rewards you can use no matter where you shop.
Another way to earn rewards at Cabela's and Bass Pro Shops is to join the retailer's Outdoor Rewards® program. As a member, you'll earn 2% back on purchases made at those locations, just like you would by using the Cabela's CLUB Mastercard®.
Here's the problem -- the Cabela's CLUB Mastercard® and the Bass Pro Shops Outdoor Rewards® program don't work together to give you more rewards. You'll always earn 2% back, even if you try to use them together. It would actually be better to use a different rewards credit card not affiliated with Cabela's and be a member of the Outdoor Rewards® program. That way, you'll earn rewards both on the credit card and with Cabela's on the same purchase.
Read more: Best Store Credit Cards
Compare credit card rewards, fees, APRs, and more using our side-by-side comparison tool.
There's no guarantee of approval regardless of your credit score, and there's also a chance that you could be approved with a lower credit score. Aside from considering your credit score, credit card issuers generally review your credit history, income, and current debt as well.
We recommend the Cabela's CLUB Mastercard® to one very specific type of consumer -- a person who is going to use the card for all their expenses and wants access to the experiences and other offers Cabela's has for its cardholders.
For everyone else, the Cabela's CLUB Mastercard® gets a hard no. There are plenty of cash back cards that can earn you more back on your spending, and that's before you consider how you can use those cash back cards with a Cabela's CLUB REWARDS membership to double up on your rewards.
At Motley Fool Money, we rate credit cards on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). Our rating criteria includes rewards rates, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and 0% intro APR offers to evaluate our ratings.
We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best card recommendations. Learn more about how Motley Fool Money rates credit cards.
You can use the Cabela's CLUB Mastercard® anywhere Mastercard is accepted.
Yes, the Cabela's CLUB Mastercard® can help to build credit, as with any credit card. The card issuer, Capital One, reports card activity to all three consumer credit bureaus. If you use the card regularly and pay the bill on time, it can improve your credit score.
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