There are over six million GM credit card holders that can use 3% of their card usage towards the purchase or lease of a new GM car, but until yesterday that offer didn't apply to Saturn. The GM card program has been ongoing since 1992, which is right after Saturn came into existence, but since the "different kind of car company" went on its path at the beginning, it wasn't included in the debt-inducing give-aways. Since Saturn has been towing the company line the last few years, we'd say the press release after the jump should have been issued a while back.
If you don't have a GM credit card, this little tidbit probably means little to you, but if you have been racking up points in hopes of buying a GM product, it doesn't hurt to finally include Saturn in your list of choices.
[Source: GM]
PRESS RELEASE:
GM REWARD CARDS Expands Options to Include Saturn Vehicles
GM Card and the GM Flexible Earnings Card now offer customers even more choices when redeeming Earnings
DETROIT - Consumers who want to use their GM Card or GM Flexible Earnings Card toward the purchase of an eligible, new GM vehicle now have the option to purchase or lease a new Saturn under expanded program guidelines.
The GM Card and the GM Flexible Earnings Card allows Cardmembers to earn toward an eligible new GM vehicle with every credit card purchase. In the past, these Earnings could be applied toward eligible new vehicle purchases or leases offered by Chevrolet, Pontiac, Buick, GMC, Cadillac and Hummer. Effective April 15, 2008 Saturn vehicles will be added to the expanded program.
"We're very excited to be able to offer potential Saturn customers another valuable tool when making their purchase decision," said Jill Lajdziak, general manager, Saturn. "Our Cardmembers have asked for this and we're responding."
Saturn has the freshest line-up in the industry, having launched five all-new products in the past 24 months.
A GM Flexible Earning Cardmember's redemption options include: 3 percent Earnings on eligible, new GM vehicles or 1 percent cash back.
"This reward card allows Cardmembers to choose the right reward for them and triples the base Earnings to 3 percent when you redeem on a GM vehicle," said Jody Stidham, director, GM Lifecycle Management. All GM reward card Earnings can be used in conjunction with most national promotional offers.
About GM REWARD CARDS
The GM Card, one of a suite of reward card products, is one of the richest co-branded credit cards in existence, rewarding customers with Earnings on every credit card purchase. Currently there are nearly 6 million GM reward card members. Since the program's inception in 1992, more than five million GM vehicles have been purchased or leased using Earnings. The GM Card and GM Flexible Earnings Card are issued by HSBC Bank Nevada, N.A., the credit card unit of HSBC, one of the nation's largest issuers of private-label and general-purpose credit cards. These Cards can be used anywhere Mastercard is accepted and has no annual fee. New applicants can apply for the GM Flexible Earnings Card on line at gmflexcard.com.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
FSM @ Apr 16th 2008 9:28AM
LOL I have ~$3000 in credit on this damn card towards a new GM car and it will probably never be used. The only car I find remotely interesting is the Malibu, and I'm still not interested enough to buy it. I used my reward points in the past to help knock off about $2500 from my Chevy Prism which was/is a great little commuter car, but since they discontinued the Prism my reward points have been sitting unused. Plus they are starting to expire because after about 5 years of saving them up they begin to take them away a little bit at a time. I'm about ready to just shred the card. Why can't some of the other car companies come out with reward cards?
Dave @ Apr 17th 2008 1:24PM
This is great because I have been eyeing the new Astra for a-year-now but wasn't sure if I wanted to let the points thing go unused.
almost Dr. G.. @ Apr 16th 2008 9:34AM
my father has used about $10000 worth on gm products: 2003 silverado, 2006 trailblazer, 2005 deville for my grandfather. its a great tool because after you take in all the incentives and are about to sign the deal you just drop the card and they lower the price even further.
i have this card too but ive bought 3 japanese cars, no GM, but i have been able to pass my earning along.
i too, FSM, have wondered why no one else has this type of card (meaning the car companies). it would be far more useful than to buy gm crap. thank god the new gm crap is a lot better.
Lithous @ Apr 16th 2008 11:38AM
Wow. You must have a low opinion of your dad and granddad. Since you think they spend their money on crap. Make sure you tell them how stupid they are next time you see them. Their life must really suck driving around in American vehicles. Poor guys. Not nearly as good a choice maker as you.
almost Dr. G.. @ Apr 16th 2008 7:26PM
Hey lithous, not so cynical buddy.
as a matter of fact those 3 cars are gone. they each gave a ton of problems hence the crap. not to mention that my father doesnt trust to keep an american car past the 3 year warranty, or any car for that matter.
as to my 3 japanese cars? all gone too. an expired lease, an 03 maxima which had a case of repeatedly stolen HID's, and an 05 s2000 i sold to start med school 2 years ago.
i recognize how our auto industry has made strides recently. when im back in the market to own a car in 2010 i will be looking at the new fiesta, focus, cobalt, etc. things in that price range and american too. the economy needs our help. so ill be a stupid decision maker too, and hopefully ill have enough money on my own gmcard to knock off and additional $1500 after the incentives.
LMBVette @ Apr 16th 2008 9:38AM
I know the policies for the card depend on when you got it. I've got the GM card and I get 5% earning back with no earnings cap but the amount you can use on a car is limited. I've only had it about a year and a half and I've got about $1,700 on there.
I'm eyeballing that G8 GXP as a possible next purchase.
lithdoc @ Apr 16th 2008 10:51AM
Indeed, the amount of earnings really depends on the card you have. Generally, the older the card type, the better the benefits. The card of early 2000's has 5% rewards with no annual earnings cap and you can redeem up to $7k. The one I have, called platinum, has 5% with $500 annual cap and redemption limits on the car. The new one is even worse - it gives you only 3% and same redemption limits. There is also a GM business card which gives you 1%, with no limits, but in such case might as well get a regular credit card with the same 1% that you can redeem as cash.
chadratic @ Apr 16th 2008 11:31AM
Do those "save" illustrations look like tombstones to anyone else??
wade @ Apr 16th 2008 11:57AM
The author writes "...towing the line..."
I always thought the expression was "...toeing the line...", as in putting your toes on the line to keep everybody lined up nicely together.
But I can see how "...towing the line..." might be an acceptable phrase, as in everybody pulling together in the same direction.
Borger @ Apr 16th 2008 12:07PM
So GM, when can I use it on Saab vehicles?
FSM @ Apr 16th 2008 12:46PM
I thought you could use this on Saab.
Borger @ Apr 16th 2008 6:48PM
The only GM cards that Saab accepts is the GM Extended Family Card, and the GM Business Card, no other GM Cards are accepted.
DomManganelli @ Apr 16th 2008 12:15PM
are these cards transferable?
the dealership looks like a sandwich shop... i really want to buy a car there
Jackhuy @ Apr 16th 2008 12:35PM
I have my GM card since 1995. I used $4000 toward my 2005 Hummer H2.
Two months ago I used another $2000 to buy a GMC Sierra Pickup Truck. Everythings went well during the transaction the redeemtion was authorized, I wrote a check for the remaining amount. Five days later I got a call from the dealer saying that I have to come up with $2000 more or return the truck, because GM card refused to pay the dealer. I returned the truck.
I will not use the GM card or buy GM vehicle again!
spacegravity4me @ Apr 16th 2008 12:36PM
all i saw was tombstones at first. I was like, "wow, that's a message..." got me depressed, lol.
Nightcrawler @ Apr 16th 2008 4:22PM
Like FSM I used my GM Card credit on a Prizm which I like as a commuter car, and wish the Prizm was still available. But you could consider the Pontiac Vibe that replaced the Prizm. It's just a very slightly reworked Matrix instead of a very slightly reworked Corolla. The gas mileage is worse than the Corolla, but still pretty good. And it should be reliable.
I guess the Saturn Astra might also get my consideration. I like the look better than the Vibe, but I have more confidence in the reliability of the Vibe. I guess a Malibu isn't totally out of the question as the family car when my wife replaces her vehicle. By then there should be enough reliability data to know whether to trust it.
steve @ Apr 16th 2008 6:11PM
Last week Saturn raised the price of the Astra by $500 across the board. I suspect this was in anticipation of the GM rewards being applied. For those who don't have GM points they now have to pay more. Nothing comes for free.
Gaines @ May 9th 2008 2:28PM
WARNING: Watch your GM Card account very closely. HSBC (Household Bank) has some very underhanded practices to bump up your percentage rate and charge extra fees. I had a GM Card for years before they started trying to pull this stuff on me. You can read more about it at http://www.GMCardSucks.com