Mastercard Has Created a Real-Life Store, Online
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
Is retail dying or is it just being reinvented? Payment processor Mastercard has launched an interesting new way to shop this holiday season.
Partnering with Next Retail Concepts, consumers will now be able to shop at select virtual stores. This isn't your typical e-commerce experience, but it’s an actual 3D rendering of the inside of a store — mimicking the in-person shopping experience.
To launch the program, Mastercard teamed up with lifestyle publication Refinery 29 and retailer Fred Segal for a virtual recreation of Segal's flagship Los Angeles store. You can browse the shop almost as if you were there, clicking on items for more details and then add them to your cart. Refinery 29 and Fred Segal put together an exclusive list of holiday gifts that's only available in the special shop.
The store definitely isn't life-changing, but it does make the shopping experience feel a bit more authentic and not like your mindlessly scrolling through hundreds of items. The curation in-store is completely different than what you'd find on a retailer's typical online shop, although you still won't be able to try on the items or speak with a real person.
As a promotion, Mastercard is offering a $30 statement credit after spending $200 through the special collection, which is collected at the point of purchase. According to the terms and conditions, it appears that any Mastercard will trigger the discount.
Credit cards from TPG's list of the best Mastercards will work, including the Citi Premier® Card or Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card, which should both be eligible for savings. You can check out the virtual store here. The information for the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Attendees of Refinery 29's 29Rooms experience in Los Angeles will also get a chance to test out the virtual store. The popular experiential exhibit will be open at The Reef from Dec. 5 - 9. Those with Mastercards can receive exclusive perks at the event that includes access to presales and a chance to skip the line.