Bloomingdale’s carries designer and luxury brands across clothing, shoes, handbags, accessories, beauty, home and more. The catalog includes both established labels and emerging designers, and it runs across a wide price range within the luxury and contemporary fashion segment. It also carries a rotating selection of exclusive and limited offerings that aren’t available everywhere.

What makes Bloomingdale’s interesting in the context of Rakuten is that the individual purchase prices are higher than at a typical mass-market retailer. That means Cash Back, as a percentage of a purchase, generates a more meaningful return in absolute terms. Earning Cash Back on a designer handbag, a fine jewelry piece or a luxury bedding purchase produces a larger dollar return than the same percentage on a basic apparel item. The math works in your favor at Bloomingdale’s in a way that compounds over time for regular shoppers.

The seasonal sale calendar at Bloomingdale’s is also worth knowing. The store runs major sale events that bring designer prices down meaningfully, and Loyallist members get early access and bonus point opportunities during those events. Pairing a sale event with Rakuten Cash Back and an active Loyallist session is when the savings stack does its best work.

How to Activate Rakuten Cash Back at Bloomingdale’s

Start at Rakuten before you open the Bloomingdale’s website. Search for Bloomingdale’s, click through from Rakuten and your Cash Back session is active. Shop as you normally would, apply any Loyallist rewards at checkout and complete your purchase. Rakuten tracks the order and credits your Cash Back within a few days.

The Rakuten browser extension handles it automatically. When you land on the Bloomingdale’s website, the extension detects the store and prompts you to activate Cash Back directly from your browser. One click and it runs in the background while you browse.

Mobile shoppers can activate their Cash Back through the Rakuten app. Tap through to Bloomingdale’s from the app to activate your Cash Back for that shopping session.

Cash Back must be activated before you complete your checkout; orders placed without going through Rakuten first are not eligible retroactively. For a store where individual purchases can be significant, you don’t want to skip that step.

How to Stack Rakuten Cash Back With Bloomingdale’s Deals and Loyallist Rewards

A well-assembled Bloomingdale’s session looks like this: Bloomingdale’s is running a sale and you have Loyallist Rewards available in your account. You activate Rakuten Cash Back, add items to your cart, apply your Rewards at checkout and earn Cash Back on the amount charged. Three savings mechanisms on one order from a designer retailer.

Here is how to put that stack together:

1. Enroll in the Loyallist program. It’s free, requires no credit card and starts earning you points from your first purchase. You can enroll at bloomingdales.com/loyallist or at any Bloomingdale’s store location.
2. Sign up for Bloomingdale’s emails. Sale events, advance notice of promotions and exclusive member offers land in your inbox. For a retailer with a busy events calendar, staying subscribed is worth it.
3. Check your Loyallist account before checkout. Available rewards appear in your account and can be applied at checkout to reduce the amount you owe. Rakuten Cash Back then applies to the post-reward total.
4. Activate Rakuten Cash Back before you open Bloomingdale’s website. Extension users get the prompt automatically. Everyone else should start from Rakuten.
5. Use Triple Points Days strategically. Loyallist members receive personal Triple Points Days each year during which points earn at three times the normal rate. Using them on your largest planned purchases maximizes the points return.

When to Shop Bloomingdale’s for the Biggest Savings

Bloomingdale’s sale calendar is anchored around fashion seasons and major retail holidays. The events are consistent year to year and worth planning larger purchases around.

The Big Bloomingdale’s Sale in January and July is the event that brings the most meaningful price reductions on designer inventory. These are the windows where luxury-category Rakuten Cash Back earns the most in absolute terms, because the purchase totals tend to be highest and the discounts make the totals worth acting on.

Loyallist: How the Program Works and How It Stacks With Rakuten Cash Back

Loyallist is Bloomingdale’s free loyalty program and one of the more shopper-friendly programs in the luxury retail space. It is tender-neutral, which means you earn points on every qualifying Bloomingdale’s purchase regardless of which payment method you use. A Bloomingdale’s credit card is not required to participate or to earn points.

The program has three tiers: Loyallist, Top of the List and Top of the List Unlocked. All three tiers earn points on the same purchases. The difference is the earning rate available to credit cardholders and the number of Triple Points Days.

A few things worth knowing about how the program works: 

• • Joining. It’s free. You can enroll at bloomingdales.com/loyallist or with a store associate. Bloomingdale’s account holders are enrolled automatically.

  • Tiers. There are three: Loyallist, Top of the List and Top of the List Unlocked. The upper tiers depend on how much you spend with your Loyallist number or Bloomingdale’s credit card in a calendar year.

  • Earning. Bloomingdale’s store card and American Express cardholders earn more points per dollar, and higher tiers earn more still. Any other form of payment earns one point per dollar.

  • Online rule. To earn points online, pay with your Bloomingdale’s account or provide your Loyallist number. Points for online orders post when the merchandise ships.

  • In-store rule. Present your membership card or provide the phone number tied to your account.

  • Rewards. Each time your balance reaches 5,000 points, you receive a reward you can use at Bloomingdale’s. You do not earn points when you pay with a Bloomingdale’s gift card or a reward.

  • What counts. Eligible items include merchandise and gift cards. Tax, shipping and services such as alterations and gift wrapping do not count.

  • Triple Points Days. You get a set number each year depending on your tier.

  • Free shipping. Loyallists receive free standard shipping on  purchases, excluding furniture, mattresses, rugs and appliances.

Here is how Rakuten fits in: When you apply a Loyallist reward at checkout, it reduces your out-of-pocket cost. Rakuten Cash Back applies to the amount actually charged to your payment method. You can use both on the same order, so you don’t have to choose between earning Loyallist points and Rakuten Cash Back.

FAQs About Saving Money at Bloomingdale’s

Does Rakuten Cash Back work at Bloomingdale’s?

Yes. Bloomingdale’s is a Rakuten partner. Members earn Cash Back on eligible Bloomingdale’s purchases by activating Cash Back through Rakuten before shopping.

What is Loyallist?

Loyallist is Bloomingdale’s free loyalty program. Members earn points on every qualifying purchase regardless of payment method and convert points to Bloomingdale’s rewards redeemable on future purchases. The program has three tiers: Loyallist, Top of the List and Top of the List Unlocked.

Do I need a Bloomingdale’s credit card to join Loyallist?

No. Loyallist is tender-neutral and free to join without any credit card. You earn one point per $1 spent on any qualifying purchase with any payment method. A Bloomingdale’s credit card earns additional points per dollar at Bloomingdale’s on top of the base rate.

Can I use a Loyallist reward and still earn Rakuten Cash Back?

Yes. Applying a Loyallist reward at checkout reduces your purchase total. Rakuten Cash Back applies to the amount charged to your payment method. Both work on the same transaction.

Does the Rakuten browser extension work at Bloomingdale’s?

Yes. The Rakuten browser extension detects Bloomingdales.com automatically and prompts you to activate Cash Back without needing to start your session at Rakuten.

When does Bloomingdale’s have its best sales?

The Big Bloomingdale’s Sale in January and July brings the deepest discounts on designer inventory. Black Friday and Cyber Monday also produce strong promotional events. The Friends and Family Sale in spring and fall is a recurring event with access for Loyallist members.

When do Loyallist points expire?

Loyallist rewards are valid for 180 days from activation. Unredeemed points on your account are subject to a forfeiture of 85% on Jan. 1 each year, so it’s worthwhile to monitor your balance before the end of the year.

Can I earn Loyallist points and Rakuten Cash Back at the same time?

Yes. Loyallist points are earned on your qualifying purchase and tracked separately from Rakuten Cash Back. Both accumulate on eligible purchases in the same transaction.