L.L.Bean® Mastercard®
- Best for: Frequent L.L.Bean shoppers who place small orders, return items, or order monogramming
- What Sets It Apart: Free shipping with no minimum; free return shipping; free monogramming
- Cost: $0 annual fee; 19.74% to 30.74% variable APR; 3% foreign transaction fee
- Rewards: 5% at L.L.Bean; 2% at most restaurants; 1% on other purchases; paid in Bean Bucks worth $1 each at L.L.Bean only
- Pros: Beats the free Rewards program’s 3% at L.L.Bean; Bean Bucks don’t expire while the account is open, in good standing, and used every 24 months; one-time 20% off your online order upon instant approval, paid with the card
- Cons: Rewards spend only at L.L.Bean; 1% on most other purchases; no rewards on foreign-currency purchases
Get the L.L.Bean® Mastercard® if free shipping and free return shipping on every L.L.Bean order matter to you, and use it only there. On rewards alone, you’d do as well at L.L.Bean by joining its free Rewards program and paying with a 2% cash back card, which also pays more everywhere else.
Citi issues this card, and it pays rewards in Bean Bucks, worth $1 each toward L.L.Bean purchases and nothing else. It suits people who buy from L.L.Bean several times a year.
Key Features
- 5% back in Bean Bucks at L.L.Bean, 2% at most restaurants, and 1% on other purchases
- Bean Bucks added with each monthly statement and usable in any amount online, by phone, or in L.L.Bean stores
- Free standard shipping with no minimum, free return shipping, and free monogramming on orders paid with the card or entirely in Bean Bucks
- A one-time 20% off your online L.L.Bean order if you’re approved instantly, paid with the new card before you leave the site
- No annual fee and a variable interest rate (APR) of 19.74% to 30.74% on balances you carry, depending on your credit
Pros
- 5% at L.L.Bean, versus 3% from the free L.L.Bean Rewards program
- Free shipping on orders of any size, while Rewards members need a $50 order
- Free return shipping and monogramming, which the Rewards program doesn’t include
- Bean Bucks that never expire, as long as the account stays open and in good standing and you make a purchase at least every 24 months
Cons
- Bean Bucks work only at L.L.Bean and can’t be redeemed for cash
- 1% in Bean Bucks on most purchases outside L.L.Bean, versus 2% in cash from a flat 2% card, which pays that rate on every purchase
- A 3% fee on purchases abroad, and no Bean Bucks on those made in a foreign currency
- A top APR of 30.74%, at which carrying the 20%-off purchase for a year costs more in interest than the store card discount saved
Frequent L.L.Bean customers who place small orders, send items back, or buy monogrammed gifts should get it for those perks and pair it with a flat 2% card for everything else. Occasional shoppers should skip it, join the Rewards program for free, and pay with a flat 2% card, since 3% in Bean Bucks plus 2% in cash matches this card’s 5% at L.L.Bean.
Learn more about the L.L.Bean® Mastercard® or see how it compares to the best cash back credit cards.
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