American Express Membership Rewards - Safeway Now Accepts AMEX

The title says it all...

PS. $250 of purchases there also equals 125 UA MileagePlus miles (must be registered first).

Sadly, this will significantly change my life. Safeway is the only grocery store near my house that's both reasonably priced & conveniently located with good enough food. I have a Harris Teeter nearby (also known as the place where all the hottest girls in Arlington, VA shop for groceries), but they are always really expensive. I've been using a 1% back card at the Safeway. I hope my local Safeway takes them. Thanks for posting this!

Nice. Good opportunity for Starwood points. Thanks OP.

- RightD

Sadly, this will significantly change my life. Safeway is the only grocery store near my house that's both reasonably priced & conveniently located with good enough food. I have a Harris Teeter nearby (also known as the place where all the hottest girls in Arlington, VA shop for groceries), but they are always really expensive. I've been using a 1% back card at the Safeway. I hope my local Safeway takes them. Thanks for posting this!

Hmmm, when I lived in Fairfax, Harris Teeter's prices were compatible with nearby Safeway.

Anyway, it's nice to hear that AmEx is accepted at Safeways but I recently got a cash rebate card that rebates 5% on grocery and gas stations charges.

Anway, as far as I know following grocery stores in NoVa accepts AmEx: Harris Teeter, Giants, Safeway and Wagman.

Hmmm, when I lived in Fairfax, Harris Teeter's prices were compatible with nearby Safeway.

Anyway, it's nice to hear that AmEx is accepted at Safeways but I recently got a cash rebate card that rebates 5% on grocery and gas stations charges.

Anway, as far as I know following grocery stores in NoVa accepts AmEx: Harris Teeter, Giants, Safeway and Wagman.Sutton Place (being renamed Balducci's) does as well, although some might not consider them to be a standard grocery store.

I can confirm that Shoppers Food Warehouse does not.

Vons and Pavillions (which is Safeway's nom de guerre here in SoCal) have been taking Amex since at least 2001.

The NorCal Safeways have since at least two years ago, and BC Safeways did when I was there in late July.

The NorCal Safeways have since at least two years ago, and BC Safeways did when I was there in late July.

Actually they just started taking it up her in the San Francisco area. This is great news.

SFO area did not accept AmEx until a few days ago. This is definitely great news. I value starpoints highly since I usually transfer them to British Airways Executive club, and with the yearly double mile promotion, transferring 20000 star points = 25000 BA miles (doubled) = 50000 BA miles.

Even better values are the nights and flights award when combined with the double BA miles.

Double Delta Airlines miles for food! Whoppee! Now I can afford to eat more. ^

I have a Harris Teeter nearby (also known as the place where all the hottest girls in Arlington, VA shop for groceries),

Why Thank You! LOL ;)

I had actually emailed Safeway complaining that they didn't take AmEx a few montsh ago - I got a call a few weeks ago from someone at Safeway saying that they were not taking AmEx and as a Thank you for my comment, they were giving me a free 6" sandwich - not that I particular WANT a 6" sandwich but a really nice gesture nonetheless.

The Safeway's in Colorado recently ( a few days ago I believe) began to accept my *Wood Amex. Good deal I gotta eat anyway :)
Now if they don't go on strike I can start racking up the miles

Sutton Place (being renamed Balducci's) does as well, although some might not consider them to be a standard grocery store.

I can confirm that Shoppers Food Warehouse does not.

Talking about Shoppers, I noticed yesterday after checking out, the window near the exit door where they display all logos of cards accepted, did show Amex.

I will try that next time and confirm. Most of my shopping is done in Shoppers.

cheers,

Talking about Shoppers, I noticed yesterday after checking out, the window near the exit door where they display all logos of cards accepted, did show Amex.

I will try that next time and confirm. Most of my shopping is done in Shoppers.

cheers,

IIRC, Shoppers used accept AmEx.

Most of the supermarkets in New England (Stop & Shop, Star, Shaw's, etc) have been taking AmEx for at least a few years now...

Why Thank You! LOL ;)

If you're in Arlington, feel free to join us in on the 23rd at the DC Monthly Happy Hour (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=195663) at the Key Bridge Marriott! :)

Of course, this is great news. I was elated a couple weeks ago when I discovered I could use my Starwood Amex! So much so, in fact, that I blurted out to the cashier, "Yay! You guys take American Express now. That is great!" She looked up at me with a look of death and mumbled, "Yeah, and we might go on strike about it too."

Gosh, I love unions. :rolleyes:

Why would the unions care if they took AmEx? From a cashier's point of view, it is the same amount of work to swipe / work with an AmEx card versus a Visa or Mastercard..... I'm confused as to why this would be an issue for a cashier?

Why would the unions care if they took AmEx? From a cashier's point of view, it is the same amount of work to swipe / work with an AmEx card versus a Visa or Mastercard..... I'm confused as to why this would be an issue for a cashier?

Actually it's harder work as the Safeway POS machines now require the cashier to print off a receipt and hand it to you to sign then take it back and put it in th eregister. Prior to Amex the customer could just sign the electronic pad. I'm sure they will fix it!

Ok, thanks for the explanation. Even if they never fix this, I can't even believe that the cashiers would be upset about this! Come on - is this really such a hardship that they would go on strike because you have to take an extra minute to sign the charge slip and put it in the drawer....

Has anyone pumped gas at Safeway and used their AMEX card?

Not sure about the rest of you, but out West, Safeway has been adding gas stations to a lot of their grocery stores. Their gas prices are often some of the cheapest around. I pumped gas on Sunday Sept. 12th and didn't see anything that indicated that AMEX was taken. Perhaps its a rollout thing.

Why would the unions care if they took AmEx? From a cashier's point of view, it is the same amount of work to swipe / work with an AmEx card versus a Visa or Mastercard..... I'm confused as to why this would be an issue for a cashier?

Trust me, I was equally as confused. I would have asked her, but she mumbled it with the enthusiasm of dead fish, so I didn't pursue the issue. I have to sign paper whether I use my Amex or my VISA, so no change there. Perhaps because Amex charges a higher merchant fee? I don't know.

Trust me, I was equally as confused. I would have asked her, but she mumbled it with the enthusiasm of dead fish, so I didn't pursue the issue. I have to sign paper whether I use my Amex or my VISA, so no change there. Perhaps because Amex charges a higher merchant fee? I don't know.

I was told by my local Safeway that the issue with AMEX was always the merchant fee. Apparently AMEX got a new sales rep and they decided to match the merchant fee charged by VISA/MC since they realized how much business (from Safeway shoppers) they have been losing over the years.