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Emporium Black Credit Card Review: Shopping Credit Builder

Everything you need to know about the Emporium Black Card.
Halina Grzeskiewicz
Author: 
Halina Grzeskiewicz
Kacper Kozicki
Editor: 
Kacper Kozicki
Deepti Nickam
Fact Checker: 
Deepti Nickam
8 mins
April 18th, 2024
Advertiser Disclosure
Emporium Black Credit Card6.0Visit
$0
37%–100%
N/A
Accepts different credit scores (including those with poor or limited credit history)

Are you an avid Emporium shopper who just loves the BNPL movement? If yes, the Emporium Black Card might be for you.

Important

Emporium Black Card has been discontinued. If you're looking for a merchandise credit card, you can check out our reviews of the eBay Mastercard and Shop Your Way Mastercard.

But if you’re looking for a more versatile option, you might go ahead and jump to the alternatives section.

Not sure what to do?

Read on and we’ll help you make up your mind—

This article will show you:
  • What the Emporium Black Credit Card is.

  • Its fees, pros, and cons.

  • Some noteworthy alternatives.

Read more:

Emporium Black Credit Card at a Glance

Full name: Emporium Black Store Credit Card

Best for: Building or rebuilding credit and luxury shopping

Issuer: Emporium Retail Group

Required credit score: Accepts different credit scores (including those with poor or limited credit history)

What’s the Emporium Credit Card?

The Emporium Credit Card is like a store line of credit that only works at the Emporium online shop.

It’s not a regular credit card but more of a buy now, pay later option: Customers can snag items from the Emporium website and pay over time through a payment plan.

This card is aimed at folks looking to build or fix their credit since it’s cool with a wide range of credit scores.

Features of the Emporium credit card include:

No credit check

Unlike most credit cards, Emporium doesn’t check your credit score during the application process, making it easier for those with less-than-perfect credit history to get approved.

Buy now, pay later

The Emporium credit card operates more like a lease-to-own program, letting you buy things and pay for them in installments over a predetermined period.

Lease payment flexibility

Cardholders can choose to make payments either weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly, tailoring the payment plan to their personal financial situation.

Early buyout option

You can buy out the merchandise early, which can bring you substantial savings.

Remember

Check out the payment plans and terms because the costs might end up higher than with a traditional credit card.

How does the card work?

When you buy something, you can pick an Early Payment Option (EPO).

Here’s what you need to know:

1. Choose EPO within 120 days

Pick EPO within 120 days: Just pay the cash price, minus whatever lease payments you’ve made already, and then add taxes.

2. Choose EPO after 120 days

Pay 50% of the difference between total lease payments and what you’ve paid so far (no taxes or fees).

Emporium Credit Card: Overall Card Review

APR

37%–100%

Annual fee

$0

Intro offer

N/A

Standard rewards rate

N/A

Maximum rewards rate

N/A

Overall rating

3/5

Emporium Black Card—Pros & Cons

The Emporium black credit card has plenty of pros and cons, so make sure you think them over before you decide whether it’s a good card for you:

  • Helps build or rebuild credit
  • Accepts those with poor or limited credit history
  • Offers a buy now, pay later option
  • Exclusive access to the Emporium online retail store
  • No annual fees or hidden charges
  • Flexible payment options (various payment frequencies, such as weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly)
  • Easy application process

Key Emporium Credit Card Fees & Rates

FEE

DETAILS

Annual fee

$0

APR

37%–100%

Foreign transaction fee

N/A

Late fee

N/A

Minimum interest charge fee

N/A

As you can see, the APR is very steep. And it doesn’t work like a regular APR, either—

Interest rates vary based on payment term length, typically from 12 to 36 months.

With a 37% rate for 36 months and around 100% for 12 months, opting for the 36-month term will get you lower interest payments.

Alternatives: How Does Emporium Credit Card Compare to Other Cards for Less-Than-Perfect Credit?

FEATURE

EMPORIUM CREDIT CARD

CAPITAL ONE PLATINUM

AMAZON PRIME REWARDS VISA SIGNATURE CARD

Annual fee

$0

0%

$0 (with Prime Membership)

APR

37%–100% (Payment plans)

30.74% (Variable)

14.24%–22.24% (Variable)

Usage

Emporium online store

Anywhere

Amazon, Whole Foods, and other merchants

Rewards

N/A

N/A

5% on Amazon & Whole Foods, 2% on dining, travel & drugstores, 1% on other purchases

Credit-building potential

Yes

Yes

Yes

Discounts or financing deals

N/A

N/A

N/A

Read more:

Is Emporium Credit Card Good for Me?

To find out if the Emporium Credit Card is good for you, think through the following details:

Credit-building potential

The Emporium Credit Card is designed for those looking to build or rebuild their credit, as it accepts a wide range of credit scores, including those with poor or limited credit history.

Limited usage

You can only use it at the Emporium online retail store.

If you prefer shopping at this specific store—and would like a buy now, pay later option—this card might be for you.

No traditional APR

Instead of charging an APR, the card operates on fixed payment plans. This setup can sometimes result in higher overall costs compared to traditional credit cards.

Depending on the payment plan, you may end up paying from 37% to 100% in interest.

No rewards or cashback

The Emporium Credit Card doesn’t offer any rewards, points, or cashback programs. If you’re looking for such incentives, you might want to consider alternative cards.

If you often shop at the Emporium online store (and want a card that helps build your credit) it might be a good fit.

But if you seek versatile usage, rewards programs, or lower overall costs—other credit card options might better suit your needs.

FAQ

What’s the Emporium Black credit card limit?
What are the Emporium Black credit card requirements?
Does Emporium report to credit bureaus?
What is the Emporium credit card?
What are the Emporium Black credit card benefits?

Sources

See all

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Contributors

Halina Grzeskiewicz
Halina is a content writer with nearly 5 years of experience. She has written about several topics, including human resources, technology, Forex, cryptocurrencies, and personal finance.
Kacper Kozicki
Kacper is an editor, writer, and multilingual translator with expertise in producing tailored content for global online brands.
Deepti Nickam
Fact Checker
Deepti Nickam
Deepti is a content writing and marketing professional with 5+ years of experience in the B2B and B2C sectors. She has written about several subjects, including finance, project management, human resources, and more.
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