The online first shopping strategy has spread many people during the Covid-19 pandemic and continues to gain traction among shoppers. One such notable practice is “Buy online and pick up in store” (Bopis). This shopping method is sometimes referred to as “click and collection” in the retail industry, and it sounds exactly like that. Consumers buy online and later get items in physical brick-and-mortar stores.
The actual advantage is clear. You can do peace studies, avoid crowds and forced sales, and of course save on shipping costs assuming you have a store nearby.
However, there is another great advantage when it comes to credit card reward optimizers. Whether it’s a credit card online “shopping mall” or a large number of third-party cashback portals, it goes without saying that you’ll be able to sift through all your offers before a transaction.
“We are committed to providing a wide range of services to our customers,” said Dan Hanks, Senior Vice President of Global Product Management at I2C Inc., a global provider of banking and payment solutions.
Below are more details on how Bopis will become your partner.
Step 1: Get a reward credit card
There is no shortage in these markets. Also, if you have enough credits – usually credit scores from at least the mid-600s can qualify for some of the best. Rewards come in a variety of forms (cashback, points, or travel miles) and are offered at varying degrees of complexity (a flat rate back to everything, or a bonus rate for a particular category). But a good rule of thumb is to get your purchases back to 1.5 times or more, whether in store or online.
That said, many credit cards specifically reward the latter. Bank of America®, American Express, and other major issuers’ cards feature a common “online purchase” bonus category. This means that you will receive a higher reward rate for spending on almost every website, including Bopis Runs.
For example: Instead of stepping into PetSmart and buying Kibble, you can buy it online at Petsmart.com and pick it up later in the same store you were planning to visit anyway. In that scenario, you’re not only saving on shipping costs, but you can’t just hurry at the physical checkout counter when fumbling your coupon, but you can’t shop in the brick and mortar versions of your store via your credit card.
Step 2: Find your favorite “stacking” site
Buy online first and other ways to help you eat and eat cakes too. By stacking savings through shopping sites and portals, you can receive additional rewards and discounts in addition to what you earn with your credit card.
First, check if your credit card has its own dedicated shopping portal or bonus mall. You can usually access it by signing a card account or app. It features dozens of links to deals with popular retailers, if available. Click on one of them and buy on that retailer’s website and instead of going directly to the website first, you’ll receive an ad bonus from the portal that “stacks” into your usual, continuous credit card reward rate.
For example, if you have a Chase credit card that earns Chase Altimate Rewards® points, you can visit the shop via the Chase Portal. ChasePortal features over 1,000 retailers who offer additional points when you click and buy.
However, you do not need to double-dip your reward using a credit card-specific portal. Various third-party cashback apps and websites such as Rakuten and TopCashback offer similar transactions and discounts at thousands of retailers.
Step 3: Adapt as needed
The already popular Bopis strategy is set to continue booming to accommodate the ongoing changes in consumer shopping. According to data from analysts such as research and markets, and Statista data, the size of the US Bopis market is expected to increase from an estimated $12.936 billion in 2024 to $509.4 billion by the end of 2033, due to increased adoption at mega retailers such as Costco and Home Depot.
But that growth may pose operational challenges for your favorite store. Hanks said at the end of retailers that changes to shopping trends “need to require accurate, real-time inventory tracking across the channel, and discrepancies can lead to delays or cancellations as they undermine customer trust.” This adds to retailer security concerns related to identity verification when shoppers pick up items purchased in the store.
If you’re facing an increase in long lines, mixed orders, or “sold out” messages when you buy online and try to pick up in store, it may be time to consider taking business with your competitors.
Still, patience may be recommended. Hanks adds that the surge in online-centric shopping strategies means an increase in market innovation, and ultimately leads to increased convenience for both consumers and retailers.
“We look forward to seeing greater personalization, a more seamless integration between loyalty and rewards programs, and a stronger link between the way people shop and the way they pay,” he said.
Funto Omojola writes for Nerdwallet. Email: fomojola@nerdwallet.com.
In this article, SuperCharges credit card rewards “buy online and pick up in store” originally appeared on Nerdwallet.
Original issue: April 17, 2025, 2:37pm EDT
