Nov 8, 18, 12:31 pm
Last edit by: rasheed
Unfortunately, AmEx's listed merchant categories on the posted transactions do not properly distinguish US Supermarkets from smaller grocery stores (which do not qualify for bonus rewards). Small stores that do not qualify will be listed the same, but will accrue the lower base rewards rate.
List of multi-location chains in the US that appear to qualify for bonus rewards (see at bottom for AmEx's rules on this subject):
Albertsons/Safeway family chains
Instacart
Kroger family chains (NOT Fred Meyer though - you need to purchase Kroger gift cards from another member supermarket in that case)
Meijer
Sprouts
Trader Joe's
Walmart - Neighborhood version
Whole Foods
Sometimes individual locations may not work.
At: https://www.americanexpress.com/us/c...fo/retail.html, AmEx says as follows:
List of multi-location chains in the US that appear to qualify for bonus rewards (see at bottom for AmEx's rules on this subject):
Albertsons/Safeway family chains
Instacart
Kroger family chains (NOT Fred Meyer though - you need to purchase Kroger gift cards from another member supermarket in that case)
Meijer
Sprouts
Trader Joe's
Walmart - Neighborhood version
Whole Foods
Sometimes individual locations may not work.
At: https://www.americanexpress.com/us/c...fo/retail.html, AmEx says as follows:
U.S. Supermarkets
To earn additional rewards on supermarket purchases, the supermarket must be located in the U.S.
A supermarket offers a wide variety of food and household products such as meat, fresh produce, dairy, canned and packaged goods, household cleaners, pharmacy products and pet supplies.
(Superstores, convenience stores and warehouse clubs are NOT considered supermarkets.)
Examples of merchants* that accept the Card and where you can earn additional rewards include:
• Gristedes
• Foodtown
• Meijer
• Shoprite
• Stop and Shop
• Vons
• Whole Foods
• Winn-Dixie
• Online supermarkets such as FreshDirect
*This is not a complete list.
Examples of merchants where you will NOT earn additional rewards include:
• Specialty stores (e.g., fish markets, cheese shops, wine shops, and other specialty food stores )
• Superstores (e.g. Amazon, Target and Wal-Mart)
• Warehouse clubs (e.g. BJ's Club)
What isn’t included in the U.S. Supermarket category?
Specialty food stores, small corner grocery stores, gourmet shops, natural food stores and large superstores including online superstores (e.g. Amazon), warehouses clubs (e.g. BJ's Club) and big box stores (e.g. Wal-Mart) are examples of merchants that are NOT eligible for additional rewards.
I think I should have earned additional rewards on a purchase, what should I do?
If you have questions about whether you should have received additional rewards, please call the number on the back of your Card.
How do you define a Supermarket where I earn additional rewards?
A supermarket offers a wide variety of food and household products such as meat, fresh produce, dairy, canned and packaged goods, household cleaners, pharmacy products and pet supplies.
To earn additional rewards on supermarket purchases, the supermarket must be located in the U.S.
A supermarket offers a wide variety of food and household products such as meat, fresh produce, dairy, canned and packaged goods, household cleaners, pharmacy products and pet supplies.
(Superstores, convenience stores and warehouse clubs are NOT considered supermarkets.)
Examples of merchants* that accept the Card and where you can earn additional rewards include:
• Gristedes
• Foodtown
• Meijer
• Shoprite
• Stop and Shop
• Vons
• Whole Foods
• Winn-Dixie
• Online supermarkets such as FreshDirect
*This is not a complete list.
Examples of merchants where you will NOT earn additional rewards include:
• Specialty stores (e.g., fish markets, cheese shops, wine shops, and other specialty food stores )
• Superstores (e.g. Amazon, Target and Wal-Mart)
• Warehouse clubs (e.g. BJ's Club)
Supermarket FAQs
What isn’t included in the U.S. Supermarket category?
Specialty food stores, small corner grocery stores, gourmet shops, natural food stores and large superstores including online superstores (e.g. Amazon), warehouses clubs (e.g. BJ's Club) and big box stores (e.g. Wal-Mart) are examples of merchants that are NOT eligible for additional rewards.
I think I should have earned additional rewards on a purchase, what should I do?
If you have questions about whether you should have received additional rewards, please call the number on the back of your Card.
How do you define a Supermarket where I earn additional rewards?
A supermarket offers a wide variety of food and household products such as meat, fresh produce, dairy, canned and packaged goods, household cleaners, pharmacy products and pet supplies.
What is (or not) included in the U.S. Supermarket category?
Jan 15, 15, 7:04 pm
#16
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: NYC
Posts: 554
Sorry if this has already been posted. I did a search but couldn't find the answer.
I'm trying to get the most out of our Amex Blue Cash Preferred card. It gives 6% back on groceries.
On the rewards page it says:
So I'm wondering if Sprouts, Trader Joe's, Fresh and Easy... do they count as grocery stores or natural food/ specialty stores?
I know Whole Foods is accepted but what about the others?
I'm trying to get the most out of our Amex Blue Cash Preferred card. It gives 6% back on groceries.
On the rewards page it says:
So I'm wondering if Sprouts, Trader Joe's, Fresh and Easy... do they count as grocery stores or natural food/ specialty stores?
I know Whole Foods is accepted but what about the others?
May 31, 15, 12:49 pm
#17
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 635
Is Amazon FRESH coded as a supermarket?
Does anybody know if Amazon Fresh counts?
The website says:
Examples of merchants* that accept the Card and where you can earn additional rewards include:
• Online supermarkets such as FreshDirect
And also says:
Examples of merchants where you will NOT earn additional rewards include:
• Superstores (e.g. Amazon, Target and Wal-Mart)
Amazon Fresh operates like FreshDirect. The question is, how is it coded on the Amex end? Do they see Amazon and think "no" or do they realize that Amazon Fresh is a different product?
The website says:
Examples of merchants* that accept the Card and where you can earn additional rewards include:
• Online supermarkets such as FreshDirect
And also says:
Examples of merchants where you will NOT earn additional rewards include:
• Superstores (e.g. Amazon, Target and Wal-Mart)
Amazon Fresh operates like FreshDirect. The question is, how is it coded on the Amex end? Do they see Amazon and think "no" or do they realize that Amazon Fresh is a different product?
May 31, 15, 2:56 pm
#19
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend; Moderator: American Express, Capital One, Citi, Chase, Credit Card Programs, Diners Club, Signatures
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 47,196
The coding is not done by American Express, but by Amazon's "acquirer", the entity which processes their card transactions. The simplest way to find out is to use an American Express card to place an Amazon Fresh order and look at the transaction details when it appears online.
May 31, 15, 3:18 pm
#21
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend; Moderator: American Express, Capital One, Citi, Chase, Credit Card Programs, Diners Club, Signatures
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 47,196
Moderator action
I have broken this question out as a separate thread to maximize finding an answer, because Amazon Fresh has only a few delivery areas.
May 31, 15, 5:02 pm
#24
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: LAX, LGB, SNA
Programs: AA EXP OWE, DL DM ST+, AS MVPG, UA, BA, WN CP, Hyatt E, Ritz Plat, HH GM
Posts: 3,184
Basically anywhere you buy groceries from counts, except what's noted like Walmart, Target (usually), Costco, that one liquor store down the street that for some reason accepts Amex and you don't know why.
Jun 1, 15, 2:19 am
#26
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Kirkland, WA, USA
Programs: Marriott Gold; LEGO VIP, Amex Platinum, HHonors Gold
Posts: 563
We use InstaCart for food delivery. They are not coded as a supermarket, and have no plans to - according to their support staff.
For us, the convenience outweighs the points, so we might be looking for a new card with 3X+ points on something else we buy frequently
For us, the convenience outweighs the points, so we might be looking for a new card with 3X+ points on something else we buy frequently
Jun 1, 15, 7:33 am
#27
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: mountains of western NC
Programs: Life, Love and Laughter
Posts: 8,054
Virtually ever natural food store in which I have ever bought groceries qualified. The only exceptions were a couple of food co-ops which didn't take AMEX at all. Also, purchases at a local, small grocery store qualify.
Jun 1, 15, 11:08 am
#28
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 5
I checked our charges and on the AMEX site it says:
Doing business as:
AMAZON FRESH
Additional Information: GROCERY
Category: Merchandise & Supplies - Internet Purchase
Looks like we have a separate charge for the tip and it says:
Doing business as:
AMAZON FRESH TIPS
Additional Information: SUPERMARKET
Category: Merchandise & Supplies - Internet Purchase
Doing business as:
AMAZON FRESH
Additional Information: GROCERY
Category: Merchandise & Supplies - Internet Purchase
Looks like we have a separate charge for the tip and it says:
Doing business as:
AMAZON FRESH TIPS
Additional Information: SUPERMARKET
Category: Merchandise & Supplies - Internet Purchase
Feb 25, 16, 5:50 pm
#29
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 116
Amex BCE and Smith's Supermarket Question
Hi Guys,
Tried to look for this but no luck so far, in my search on internet (google) i can see that Kroger/Smith's both qualified for 3% ( read in some forums), i called Amex and the assured me that none of them are included on their list, even Vons is in their list but the CSR just told me that Vons is not included, what ????
Here my confusion, i did get 2% on gas from Smith's but not 3% on groceries in my last statement and my question is, is Smith's on the 3% reward supermarket list?
Thank you so much for your help guys ^
Tried to look for this but no luck so far, in my search on internet (google) i can see that Kroger/Smith's both qualified for 3% ( read in some forums), i called Amex and the assured me that none of them are included on their list, even Vons is in their list but the CSR just told me that Vons is not included, what ????
Here my confusion, i did get 2% on gas from Smith's but not 3% on groceries in my last statement and my question is, is Smith's on the 3% reward supermarket list?
Thank you so much for your help guys ^
Feb 26, 16, 6:44 pm
#30
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 556
Most King Soopers (a Kroger chain) credit as supermarkets, but I had one that didn't; the Amex rep told me that it was set up as a general merchandise store in their system. The logic escaped me, but it was only the one store.
Some gas stations don't register as gas stations.
I tried to go through and check for a couple of months, but the points post well in arrears, and I got lazy and gave up.
Some gas stations don't register as gas stations.
I tried to go through and check for a couple of months, but the points post well in arrears, and I got lazy and gave up.
