Macy's Star Rewards Loyalty Program - An Expert Guide

Macy’s Star Rewards is a free, tiered loyalty program which offers customers a range of benefits including points, coupons and free shipping. In this ultimate guide, I’ll break down everything you need to know and answer all your FAQs to help you figure out if it’s worth joining.

The Macy’s Credit Card can provide value for regular shoppers but the value is more than wiped out if it encourages you to spend and/or you carry a balance - Andrew Cunningham (Deal Frontier Editor)

Contents

• How To Join Macy's Star Rewards
• Benefits Summary
• Macy's Points & Star Money
• Bonus Point Offers
• Birthday Gift
• Star Passes
• Free Shipping
• Do Macy's Star Rewards Tiers Expire?
• Macy's American Express
• Other Ways To Save at Macy's
• Is Macy's Star Rewards Worth It?

How To Join Macy's Star Rewards

You can sign up to Macy’s Star Rewards easily online. Sometimes, sign up bonuses are offered when you opt in to their mailing list. Anyone can become a Bronze member. Those interested in the Macy’s Credit Card can sign up and get access to additional benefits with Silver, Gold and Platinum membership (more on that below).

If you have a Macy’s account but you’re not a Star Rewards member, just select ‘Already a Member?’ and follow the steps when you join.

Macy's Star Rewards Benefits Summary

Here’s an overview of the benefits you’ll get with Macy’s Star Rewards.

There are 4 tiers. Bronze (No Min Spend), Silver ($0-$499), Gold ($500-$1,199) and Platinum ($1,200+). To move up a tier, you must hit the minimum spend at Macy’s using the Macy’s Credit Card. Meet the spend requirement and you’ll you up in tier within 7 days. At the start of the next calendar year, you’ll get a new tier based on your previous year’s spending.

• Earn Points on Macy’s Spend - 1 Point/$1 (Bronze), 2 Points/$1 (Silver), 3 Points/$1 (Gold) or 5 Points/$1 (Platinum)

• Star Money Bonus Days - All Tiers

• Bonus Point Offers - All Tiers

• Birthday Surprise - All Tiers

• Star Passes (Coupons) - Silver, Gold & Platinum

• Free Shipping - Gold & Platinum

• 3% Back on Dining - All Tiers Using Macy’s Amex

• 2% Back on Gas/Groceries - All Tiers Using Macy’s Amex

• 1% Back Elsewhere - All Tiers Using Macy’s Amex

• Travel/Entertainment Benefits - All Tiers Using Macy’s Amex

• Amex Offers - All Tiers Using Macy’s Amex

Macy's Star Rewards Benefit - Macy's Points & Star Money

All Macy’s Star Rewards members earn points for every $1 spent at Macy’s and Macy’s Backstage. Points are auto-converted to Star Money, which is redeemable at Macy’s. Here are all the details.

How To Earn Macy’s Points

Once you’ve signed up to Macy's Star Rewards, here’s how you collect points on your purchases:

• In-Store - Provide Phone Number & Birthday or Use Macy’s Credit Card

• Online - Sign in to Macy’s Star Rewards

How Many Macy’s Points Will You Earn?

Your point-earning rate is determined by your Macy’s Star Rewards tier:

• Bronze - 1 Point/$1

• Silver -2 Points/$1

• Gold - 3 Points/$1

• Platinum - 5 Points/$1

You Can’t Earn Macy’s Points On:

• Gift Cards

• Subscriptions

• Dining

• Salon Appointments

• Alterations

• International Orders

• Fees

• Sales Tax

• Star Money Redemptions

When Are Macy’s Points Added To My Account?

Points are added immediately after in-store Macy’s and Macy’s Backstage purchases. For macys.com orders, points are added when items are shipped.

Macy’s Points Are Auto-Converted To Star Money

Every 1,000 Star Rewards Points earned will be auto-redeemed to $10 of Star Money. That means you can’t bank points.

Star Money expires within 30 days so you’ll have to be quick to use it. You’ll receive an email notification once the conversion happens (if email notifications are on) and a notice on your Macy’s receipt if this happens after an in-store purchase. Either way you can view your Star Money in your wallet on macys.com.

Do Macy’s Points Expire?

Yes, Macy’s Points expire after 12 months of no qualifying purchases or if you close your Macy’s Credit Card.

Macy’s Star Money Can Be Redeemed On:

• Most Macy’s In-Store/Online Purchases - Apply at online checkout or ask at in-store checkout

• Furniture/Mattresses - Must Contact Macy’s Customer Service

Macy’s Star Money Can’t Be Redeemed On:

• Macy’s Backstage Purchases

• Gift Cards

• Subscriptions

• Dining

• Salon Appointments

• Alterations

• Internationally Orders

• Credit Card Balances

What Happens To Points/Star Money If I Return An Item?

If you earn Macy’s Rewards Points on an item and then later return it, any points earned will be removed from your account. Not enough points? Your Star Money balance will be reduced by 1¢/Point. No enough Star Money? Macy’s may reduce the value of your return by 1¢/Point.

If you spend Star Money on an item and then later return it, you’ll get that Star Money refunded in the form of a Gift Card.

Macy's Star Rewards Benefit - Star Money Bonus Days

All Macy’s Star Rewards members benefit from Star Money Bonus Days.

These pop up sporadically throughout the year and usually last around 8 days. Shop on Bonus Days and you’ll get:

• $10 Star Money (20 Points/$1) - For Every $50 Spent with a Macy’s Credit Card

• $10 Star Money (10 Points/$1) - For Every $100 Spent as a Bronze Member

Since you’ll normally earn just 1-5 Points/$1 Spent, that’s a big potential boost.

You Don’t Earn Bonus Points On:

• Macy’s Backstage

• Furniture/Mattresses/Rugs

• Tech

• Barnes & Noble

• Finish Line

• Sunglass hut

• Louis Vuitton

• Pandora

• Chow Tai Fook 24K Gold

• Gucci at Macy’s Herald Square

• Lids

Macy's Star Rewards Benefit - Bonus Point Offers

All Macy’s Star Rewards members can take advantage of Bonus Point Offers from time to time. These are separate from Star Money Bonus Days, they pop up randomly, values/offers differ and they’re usually time-limited.

View Bonus Point Offers in your account dashboard

Macy's Star Rewards Benefit - Birthday Surprise

All Macy’s Star Rewards members who have made a purchase within the last 12 months can get a birthday gift during their birthday month, usually in the form of a discount (eg. $10 off $30 Spend). To be eligible, add your address to your profile and opt in to marketing emails.

You may have to visit a Macy’s store to pick up your gift but this isn’t always the case.

Macy's Star Rewards Benefit - Star Passes

Silver, Gold and Platinum Macy’s Star Rewards members (i.e. Macy’s Credit Card holders) get Star Passes. A Star Pass is a coupon which allows you to get 25% off a day of your choosing.

To be eligible, add your address to your profile and opt in to marketing emails.

Macy's Star Rewards Benefit - Free Shipping

Gold and Platinum Macy’s Star Rewards members can get free standard shipping with no minimum spend (usually free shipping requires a $49+ purchase).

You Won’t Get Free Shipping On:

• Premium/Overnight Shipping

• Orders Outside Contiguous USA (eg. Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico)

• Furniture/Mattresses/Rugs

• Other Large/Heavy Items

• Previous Purchases

Does Your Macy's Star Rewards Tier Expire?

Yes, the Macy’s Star Rewards tier you’ve earned this calendar year will expire at the end of the next calendar year unless you meet the minimum spend requirement during that year as well.

Macy's American Express Card - More Rewards

The Macy’s American Express credit card unlocks your ability to earn Silver, Gold and Platinum Star Rewards status. On top of those Macy’s benefits, you can also get:

• 3% Back From Restaurants and Food Delivery

• 2% Back From Gas Stations and Supermarkets

• 1% Back From Elsewhere

• Travel/Entertainment Benefits

• Amex Offers

The Macy’s Amex sign up bonus gets you 20% Off Macy’s and Macy’s Backstage the day of and day after approval (up to $100 total). Exclusions include services, some departments, Apple, gift cards, dining, gourmet food/wine and more so check all the T&Cs.

Other Ways To Save At Macy's

Aside from Macy’s Star Rewards, here are other ways to save when you shop at Macy’s:

• Shop Macy’s Sale Page - Special Offers, Clearance Items, Free Gifts With Purchase

• Shop Macy’s Backstage - Heavily Discounted Overruns, Closeouts and Originals

• Shop Macy’s Sale Events - One-Day/January/July/Holiday Sales, Black Friday etc.

• Macy’s Price Match - Up To 10 Days After In-Store/Online Purchases

• Free Pick Up - In-Store or Curbside Pick Up With No Order Minimum

• Macy’s Social Media Offers - Exclusive Deals For Instagram, Twitter, Facebook Followers

• Macy’s Weddings & Registry - 5% Back For Receiving Gifts, 10-20% Off For Newlyweds

Is Macy's Star Rewards Worth It?

Since it’s free, there’s no reason not to sign up to Macy’s Star Rewards. The base-level Bronze tier, which doesn’t require a Macy’s Credit Card, unlocks a number of benefits including Points, Star Money Bonus Days and Bonus Point Offers.

For more frequent shoppers or shoppers planning on buying a big-ticket item, the credit card may provide more value as you’ll get more Points, Star Passes and Free Shipping. Just check all the T&Cs and think carefully before you make that decision. Any earned status won’t expire until the end of the next calendar year.