Ouch! Club Carlson points for retail cards redemption value $1.43 per 1,000 points

I think back on occasion to an old man sitting in a small pub with his sheep herding dog by his side one chilly late-June afternoon on the sparsely populated Arranmore, an island off the coast of County Donegal, Ireland. When I commented to the shepherd and the publican that it was strange to see the same limited beer selection in every pub. The old man replied, “Too much choice is not necessarily a good thing.â€

I laughed off the idea that choice can be a bad thing.

New Year New Rewards

Redeem Your Club Carlson Points for Gift Cards

Club Carlson sent out emails yesterday about their latest program enhancement benefit to let members redeem Club Carlson points for retail gift cards at:

• Amazon.com
• AMC Theaters
• Bed, Bath & Beyond
• Best Buy
• Cabela’s
• Disney
• Home Depot
• iTunes
• Kohl’s
• Macy’s
• Shell gas
• Target
• Toys R Us
• TJ Maxx

Food Gift Cards

• Starbucks
• Panera Bread
• Subway
• TGI Friday’s
• Darden Restaurants

7,000 points for $10 Gift Card – No Thanks!

These are popular retailers, but Club Carlson points have a basic redemption value of 7,000 points = $10 gift card.

Club Carlson Points Redemption Value

• 7,000 points = $10 gift card.     [$1.43 per 1,000 points]
• 11,000 points = $15 gift card.   [$1.36 per 1,000 points]
• 18,000 points = $25 gift card.   [$1.39 per 1,000 points]
• 34,000 points = $50 gift card.   [$1.47 per 1,000 points]

Not all retailers are available for each gift card level.

7,000 points for $10 Gift Card

18,000 points for $25 Gift Card

34,000 points for $50 Gift Card

Card denominations vary for different retailers, however, they all have extremely low redemption rates of less than $1.50 per 1,000 points. Trading 7,000 points for a $10 gift card might be a reasonable exchange if you never plan to stay in a hotel on a Club Carlson reward stay.

In my view, these redemption rates are like trading 70,000 points for 15 Starbucks Frappuccinos when those same 70,000 points will buy a hotel night at The Mayfair London.

At these exchange rates, Club Carlson points for retail gift cards is definitely a bad choice.

Like the old man told me many years ago, “Too much choice is not necessarily a good thing.â€