Here’s a detailed review of the Axis Bank Flipkart Credit Card:
Overview:
The Axis Bank Flipkart Credit Card is a co-branded credit card launched in collaboration with Flipkart, one of India’s leading e-commerce platforms. It’s designed to offer substantial cashback for shopping on Flipkart and its partner merchants, making it an attractive option for regular online shoppers.
Key Features:
- Cashback Rewards:
- 5% Unlimited Cashback: On purchases made on Flipkart, Myntra, and Flipkart Cleartrip.
- 4% Cashback: On transactions with popular partners like Swiggy, PVR, Uber, and cult.fit.
- 1.5% Cashback: On all other eligible spends, excluding fuel, rent, wallet loads, jewelry, insurance, utilities, gift vouchers on Flipkart and Myntra, and EMI transactions.
- Welcome Benefits:
- ₹1,100 worth of welcome benefits including:
- ₹500 Flipkart vouchers on the first transaction within 30 days.
- 50% discount up to ₹100 on your first Swiggy order.
- ₹1,100 worth of welcome benefits including:
- Travel Benefits:
- Airport Lounge Access: 4 complimentary domestic lounge visits per year, on spending ₹50,000 in the previous 3 months.
- Other Benefits:
- Fuel Surcharge Waiver: 1% waiver on fuel transactions between ₹400 to ₹4,000, max ₹400 per statement cycle.
- Dining Offers: Through Axis Bank Dining Delights, offering discounts at various restaurants.
- Fees:
- Joining/Renewal Fee: ₹500 + GST, waived on spending ₹3.5 lakh in the previous year (previously ₹2 lakh, indicating a recent increase).
Pros:
- High Cashback on Flipkart and Partners: The 5% on Flipkart and 4% on select partners is one of the highest cashback rates for online shopping and services.
- Unlimited Cashback: No cap on the cashback you can earn, which is a significant advantage for frequent shoppers.
- Affordable Entry: The joining fee is relatively low, especially considering the potential for fee waiver.
Cons:
- Changes in Benefits: Over time, some benefits like the annual fee waiver threshold have been less favorable, increasing from ₹2 lakh to ₹3.5 lakh.
- Limited Offline Benefits: The 1.5% cashback on other spends isn’t particularly competitive for offline or non-partner transactions.
- Exclusions from Cashback: Many common spending categories like fuel and utilities are excluded from earning cashback.
- Lounge Access Requirement: The need for ₹50,000 spends in 3 months to get lounge access might not be achievable for all users.
User Feedback:
- Positive:
- Users often praise the card for its high cashback on Flipkart, which translates to significant savings for regular users.
- The streamlined cashback process (credited directly to the statement) is appreciated.
- The card’s integration with daily use services like Swiggy and Uber adds value.
- Negative:
- Some users have noted that the removal or devaluation of certain benefits (like the increase in annual spend for fee waiver) has reduced its appeal over time.
- There’s feedback about the cashback not being applicable on a broader range of spending categories, limiting its overall utility.
- A few users have reported delays or issues in cashback crediting, though this seems less common.
Conclusion:
The Axis Bank Flipkart Credit Card is an excellent choice for:
- Flipkart Shoppers: If you regularly purchase from Flipkart or Myntra, this card can save you a lot on your shopping.
- Online Service Users: Those who use Swiggy, Uber, or other listed partners frequently will find the rewards structure beneficial.
However, for those whose spending is more diversified or who don’t use Flipkart often, the card might not offer the same level of value. It’s also worth considering if you can meet the new spending threshold for fee waivers or if the card’s benefits align with your current spending habits. The card’s value has been somewhat diminished by recent changes, but it remains a top pick for its target audience of online shoppers.