What the Shop Your Way Sears Credit Card offers
The Shop Your Way Sears Credit Card is a store card that works only at Sears and Kmart locations (and their websites). You earn points on purchases, which convert to certificates you can spend on merchandise. The card charges an annual percentage rate (APR) that varies by creditworthiness — typically in the range of 19% to 27% — and has no annual fee.
The core trade-off is straightforward: you get rewards only at Sears and Kmart, which have far fewer locations than they did a decade ago. If you shop there regularly, the points accumulate quickly. If you shop there occasionally or not at all, the card has no value to you.
Sears operates under bankruptcy protection and has closed most of its stores. Before opening this card, confirm that a Sears or Kmart location exists near you or that you plan to shop online. The card's usefulness depends entirely on your access to these retailers.
Key Takeaways
- You earn points on every dollar spent at Sears and Kmart, but the card works nowhere else.
- Points convert to Shop Your Way certificates that you redeem for merchandise at participating locations.
- The APR ranges from roughly 19% to 27% depending on your credit profile, with no annual fee.
- Sears and Kmart have significantly fewer stores than in the past, so check whether a location is accessible to you before opening the account.
- Carrying a balance on this card costs substantially more than using a general-purpose rewards card with a lower APR.
How the Shop Your Way rewards program works
Points accumulate at a rate that Sears publishes periodically — typically one point per dollar spent, though promotional periods sometimes offer double or triple points. You do not redeem points directly. Instead, they convert automatically into Shop Your Way certificates, which appear in your account as a dollar amount you can spend on merchandise.
The conversion rate varies. A common structure is 100 points equals $5 in certificate value, though Sears adjusts these rates and runs promotions that change the math. Check your account or the Sears website for the current conversion before you assume how many points you need to reach a specific dollar amount.
Certificates expire, typically 12 months after they are issued. If you earn points but do not shop for a year, you lose the certificate value. This matters if you use the card infrequently — points sitting in your account do not help you if you forget to spend them before they vanish.
APR, fees, and the cost of carrying a balance
The card has no annual fee, which is standard for store cards. The APR is where the cost lives. Store cards typically charge higher interest rates than general-purpose credit cards because they are riskier for the issuer — they attract people with lower credit scores and less established credit history.
If you carry a balance, the interest accrues daily on the unpaid amount. A $500 balance at 23% APR costs roughly $96 in interest over a year if you make no payments. If you pay the full statement balance each month, you pay no interest at all, and the rewards are pure gain.
The math breaks down quickly if you carry a balance to earn rewards. A $100 certificate earned through points is worth far less than the interest you pay on a $1,000 balance. Use this card only if you can pay it off in full each month.
Where you can use the card and where you cannot
The Shop Your Way Sears Credit Card works at Sears and Kmart locations and their websites. It does not work at other retailers, gas stations, restaurants, or online merchants outside the Sears ecosystem. This is the defining limitation of the card.
Sears filed for bankruptcy in 2018 and has closed the vast majority of its stores since then. As of 2024, only a handful of Sears locations remain open, primarily in the Midwest and scattered across other regions. Kmart stores are even rarer. Before opening this card, search for "Sears near me" or "Kmart near me" to see whether you have access to either retailer.
If you shop online at Sears.com or Kmart.com, the card works there. However, online shopping at these sites is limited compared to major retailers, and shipping costs and return policies may not be competitive with alternatives.
How this card compares to general-purpose rewards cards
A general-purpose rewards card — such as the Chase Freedom Unlimited or Capital One SavorOne — earns cash back or points at any merchant. The rewards rate is typically 1.5% to 2% cash back on all purchases. The APR is usually lower than store cards, often in the 15% to 22% range for people with fair to good credit.
If you shop at Sears regularly, the Shop Your Way card may earn rewards faster than a general-purpose card. However, if you shop there occasionally or not at all, a general-purpose card is more useful because you earn rewards everywhere you spend money.
The comparison also depends on your credit score. If you have fair or poor credit and cannot open a general-purpose card, the Shop Your Way card may be your only option. In that case, the higher APR is the trade-off for access to credit. If you have good or excellent credit, you have better options elsewhere.
When this card makes sense for your wallet
The Shop Your Way Sears Credit Card is worth opening only if all three of these are true: you have a Sears or Kmart location you can reach regularly, you shop there frequently enough to accumulate meaningful rewards, and you can pay the full balance each month.
If you meet those conditions, the card costs you nothing (no annual fee) and rewards you for spending you would do anyway. The points convert to certificates you can use on merchandise you need, effectively giving you a discount on your purchases.
If you cannot reach a Sears or Kmart, or if you shop there only occasionally, open a general-purpose rewards card instead. If you cannot pay the balance in full each month, the interest charges will erase any rewards value. In either case, this card is not the right fit.
How to open the account and what to expect
You can open the Shop Your Way Sears Credit Card online at Sears.com, in a Sears store, or by phone. The process asks for your name, address, Social Security number, income, and employment information. Sears pulls a hard inquiry on your credit report, which temporarily lowers your credit score by a few points.
A decision usually comes within minutes if you explore online. If you are approved, the card arrives by mail within 7 to 10 business days. You can use it in-store or online when ready after approval, even before the physical card arrives, if you set up your account online.
If you are denied, Sears will tell you why — typically because your credit score is too low, your income is too high relative to debt, or you have too many recent credit inquiries. You can reapply after 30 to 90 days if you improve your credit profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use this card at other stores if I link it to my Shop Your Way account?
No. The Shop Your Way Sears Credit Card works only at Sears and Kmart. Your Shop Your Way membership account is separate from the card and can be used at other retailers, but the card itself has no value outside Sears and Kmart.
What happens to my points if I close the card?
Points and certificates in your account remain valid for 12 months from the date they were issued, even after you close the card. However, you cannot earn new points once the account is closed. Spend any remaining certificates before they expire.
Does the Shop Your Way card report to the credit bureaus?
Yes. Payment history, credit limit, and balance all report to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Making on-time payments builds your credit score. Missing a payment or carrying a high balance damages it.
Is there a sign-up bonus for opening this card?
Sears occasionally runs promotions offering bonus points for new cardholders, such as 5,000 bonus points after your first purchase. These offers change frequently. Check Sears.com or ask in-store for current promotions before you open the account.
What is the credit limit, and can I request an increase?
Your credit limit depends on your credit score, income, and existing debt. Limits typically range from $300 to $5,000 for new cardholders. You can request an increase after six months of on-time payments by calling the customer service number on the back of your card.