For credit card enthusiasts and especially those familiar with Comenity Bank, the quest for store credit cards can sometimes feel like navigating a maze. My personal journey with Comenity started with an Academy Store Card and a Good Sam Visa, experiences that initially left me questioning the rumored “Shopping Cart Trick” (SCT). Like many, I had heard whispers online about this method to potentially bypass hard credit inquiries when applying for store cards. However, my early attempts were met with standard application processes, even after trying to strategically lock my Experian credit bureau before applying for the Good Sam card – a tactic suggested within SCT circles. Instead of the anticipated soft pull or pre-qualification pop-up, I received a hard inquiry on my Equifax report. This less-than-ideal outcome led me to believe the SCT might be more myth than reality, particularly for Sportsman’s Guide, a card I was specifically targeting.
The allure of the Sportsman’s Guide Visa credit card, often discussed within online forums for its potential benefits and the retailer’s appeal to outdoor enthusiasts, kept me intrigued. Despite my previous skepticism, the desire to test the SCT for this specific card lingered. Months later, on July 20th, I decided to give it another shot. Armed with renewed curiosity and a dash of hope, I opened an Incognito window in Google Chrome, a step often recommended to enhance the SCT’s chances by ensuring a clean browsing session. I navigated directly to the Sportsman’s Guide website and promptly added a scope, priced around $300, to my online shopping cart. To be honest, my expectations were low, and I wasn’t meticulously following every rumored step of the SCT, anticipating another standard application experience.
To my surprise, as I proceeded through the checkout process, providing my address and even adding their Membership Program to my cart, something unexpected happened on the payment page. There it was – the elusive pop-up! It announced that I was prequalified for the Sportsman’s Guide Visa Credit Card. A wave of excitement mixed with disbelief washed over me. Could the SCT actually work for this card after all my doubts?
Seizing the moment, I quickly locked all three major credit bureaus – Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion – a precautionary measure to potentially further encourage a soft pull application. I proceeded through the online application process, mirroring my previous attempts with Comenity cards. Similar to before, the application only requested general information and the last four digits of my Social Security number. Then, incredibly, the screen confirmed my approval for the Sportsman’s Guide Visa! The message indicated that my new credit card would arrive within 7 to 10 business days. Interestingly, after receiving the approval, I was redirected back to the payment screen, offering the option to use an alternative payment method. Hesitant and unsure of the next steps, I simply closed the browser window.
Following this unconventional application process, I consulted online forums, reading threads discussing similar SCT experiences. A concern arose that abruptly exiting the payment screen might lead Comenity to close the newly approved account. However, to my relief, my Sportsman’s Guide Visa card arrived in the mail just days later. The credit limit assigned was $3,500, a welcome surprise. My Equifax credit score at the time of application was 736, and remarkably, I have yet to receive any notification of a hard inquiry on my credit report.
While I didn’t necessarily need another credit card, the successful execution of the Shopping Cart Trick for the Sportsman’s Guide Visa was a noteworthy personal victory. I intend to use the card enough to qualify for the advertised $40 voucher to Sportsman’s Guide, effectively recouping a portion of my initial purchase. This experience finally proved that the SCT, often debated and sometimes dismissed, can indeed work, even for specific store cards like the Sportsman’s Guide Visa. Who knew, indeed?
