Nov 8, 2018, 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?
Feb 26, 2016, 6:51 pm
#31
Moderator
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You can see how a specific merchant is categorized by expanding the details of a transaction when it posts on your online account.
Feb 27, 2016, 10:15 am
#32
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,933
The typical Whole Foods and equivalents count (large natural food grocery stores).
But some small natural food stores are half grocery store and half restuarant, and may code as a restaurant. In fact, any store (whether it's natural food or not) that's half one thing and half another may code either way.
And for the ultimate confusing example: Some 7-11's have gas pumps, they tend to code as gas (but no guarantees). But some 7-11's that have never had gas pumps also code as gas, yet other 7-11's code as grocery, and yet other 7-11's code as general merchandise or whatever. Unless you have experience with a particular 7-11, I'd say all bets are off.
But some small natural food stores are half grocery store and half restuarant, and may code as a restaurant. In fact, any store (whether it's natural food or not) that's half one thing and half another may code either way.
And for the ultimate confusing example: Some 7-11's have gas pumps, they tend to code as gas (but no guarantees). But some 7-11's that have never had gas pumps also code as gas, yet other 7-11's code as grocery, and yet other 7-11's code as general merchandise or whatever. Unless you have experience with a particular 7-11, I'd say all bets are off.
Feb 29, 2016, 7:10 am
#33
Join Date: Oct 2015
Programs: MR, TY, UR
Posts: 15
I wonder if the Citi AT&T Access More would code InstaCart as online shopping and earn 3x TYP?
Jan 13, 2017, 6:06 pm
#34
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 31
Raley's groceries?
Let me know if it's impolite to resurrect or hijack this thread. But..
the reason I just got this card was obviously for my 6% cash back on groceries. The majority of my grocery shopping is done at Raley's and I can't find Raley's on the list of grocery stores. Anyone know if Raley's gets the 6%?
the reason I just got this card was obviously for my 6% cash back on groceries. The majority of my grocery shopping is done at Raley's and I can't find Raley's on the list of grocery stores. Anyone know if Raley's gets the 6%?
Jan 13, 2017, 6:12 pm
#35
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: SF Bay Area, CA
Programs: AMEX Platinum, HHonors Gold
Posts: 203
Let me know if it's impolite to resurrect or hijack this thread. But..
the reason I just got this card was obviously for my 6% cash back on groceries. The majority of my grocery shopping is done at Raley's and I can't find Raley's on the list of grocery stores. Anyone know if Raley's gets the 6%?
the reason I just got this card was obviously for my 6% cash back on groceries. The majority of my grocery shopping is done at Raley's and I can't find Raley's on the list of grocery stores. Anyone know if Raley's gets the 6%?
Jan 13, 2017, 6:56 pm
#36
Join Date: May 2015
Location: LAX, BUR
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Jan 14, 2017, 8:27 am
#37
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Join Date: Jan 2005
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Posts: 25,933
A big grocery store is a supermarket.
A tiny grocery store is not a supermarket.
Ie, a supermarket is a grocery store above a certain size.
That is the colloquial distinction.
Now, how Amex counts that, I dunno.
On my Everyday card, where I get 2x to 2.4x MR on groceries, I don't worry about whether a tiny grocer is a supermarket or not, as long as they code as groceries. Which, btw, some 7-11s do but other 7-11s don't (some 7-11s code as gas instead, whether or not they have gas pumps attached).
On my Everyday card, Ralphs (a Kroger supermarket brand), Whole Foods, Trader Joes, and certain 7-11s all code identically as:
A tiny grocery store is not a supermarket.
Ie, a supermarket is a grocery store above a certain size.
That is the colloquial distinction.
Now, how Amex counts that, I dunno.
On my Everyday card, where I get 2x to 2.4x MR on groceries, I don't worry about whether a tiny grocer is a supermarket or not, as long as they code as groceries. Which, btw, some 7-11s do but other 7-11s don't (some 7-11s code as gas instead, whether or not they have gas pumps attached).
On my Everyday card, Ralphs (a Kroger supermarket brand), Whole Foods, Trader Joes, and certain 7-11s all code identically as:
Category: Merchandise & Supplies - Groceries
If you have another card, and are not sure whether supermarkets code differently on it than other groceries, I suggest you make a small purchase at a supermarket, a small purchase at a small grocery, and see if there's any difference in the coding after each purchase posts.
Jan 14, 2017, 7:27 pm
#38
Moderator: Manufactured Spending
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,580
Let me know if it's impolite to resurrect or hijack this thread. But..
the reason I just got this card was obviously for my 6% cash back on groceries. The majority of my grocery shopping is done at Raley's and I can't find Raley's on the list of grocery stores. Anyone know if Raley's gets the 6%?
the reason I just got this card was obviously for my 6% cash back on groceries. The majority of my grocery shopping is done at Raley's and I can't find Raley's on the list of grocery stores. Anyone know if Raley's gets the 6%?
For example, Trader Joe's would be a grocery store but not a supermarket.
But recently, the lines are blurring and the best advice is to make a small test purchase to determine how a particular location codes.
Jan 14, 2017, 10:07 pm
#39
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: GE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,507
It might depend on the card network too. I know that my local Target is classified as a grocery store according to Mastercard, for instance.
Mar 13, 2018, 7:00 am
#41
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 2
I just placed an order with Instacart using my AmEx. The pending charge does show as "Merchandise & Supplies - Groceries", which is the same as my local supermarket. I have no idea if it will post that way or if it will qualify for any bonus points, but I can send an update once I learn more.
Mar 13, 2018, 10:20 am
#42
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 97
I just placed an order with Instacart using my AmEx. The pending charge does show as "Merchandise & Supplies - Groceries", which is the same as my local supermarket. I have no idea if it will post that way or if it will qualify for any bonus points, but I can send an update once I learn more.
Mar 17, 2018, 12:45 pm
#44
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 97
Just ordered a few things from Instacart yesterday, posted today and coded as "Category: Merchandise & Supplies - Groceries". Chat couldn't say if it did gain 2x or not, will have to wait until it closes.
After reading T&C, it stated that when you do go to a grocery store, you have to use your physical card and not Apply Pay. Is this true?
After reading T&C, it stated that when you do go to a grocery store, you have to use your physical card and not Apply Pay. Is this true?
Mar 20, 2018, 2:31 pm
#45
Join Date: Oct 2007
Programs: AA, WN, UA, Bonvoy, Hertz
Posts: 2,491
For my 3% groceries Blue Cash Everyday, this is THE only category that AmEx counts (even though it is like a month late in terms of how it works to calculate the rebate):
Category: Merchandise & Supplies - Groceries
And AmEx is way more inclusive with its classification of groceries compared to Visa/MC MCC in terms of merchants in particular small neighborhood grocery stores. Lastly, my impression was groceries was a lower discount rate versus other retail categories, so it was in the interest of grocery stores of all types to try and be in that category.
The only one that is not counting for me is when I buy via Google Express as Google is the posting merchant.
Rasheed