I’m not sure when it happened exactly, some time between early December and now, but the minimum cost for a $25 gift card redemption at MyPoints has increased from 3,250 points to 3,350 points. Update, 1/6: Tipster Molly reports that the change was made on Jan. 1, and that lower denomination GCs were increased by 100 points as well.
It had been at the 3,250 rate since 2007 (in 2006, a $25 GC cost just 3,000 points).
There are only a few $25 redemptions for 3,350 points, too — most of them are between 3,550 and 3,850 points. Choose your redemption wisely if you want to maximize the value of your points at MyPoints. If you can hold off and save up for a $50 gift card, you’ll get a better bang for your buck (er, points) — assuming they don’t drastically increase the cost of those redemptions before you reach them.
MyPoints offers, with very few exceptions, pitiful rates for shopping once you convert their points into real percentage values to compare them with other rewards programs. Their only saving grace is the fact that you can earn points by reading emails, answering polls, and doing other activities like signing up for newsletters, etc., that don’t cost you a dime. If you’re not a member of MyPoints and would like to join, please sign up here (my affiliate link — thanks!).
