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?
Mar 20, 2018, 4:15 pm
#46
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,952
Apr 2, 2018, 11:30 am
#48
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: LGA, JFK
Programs: OZ Diamond/*G, AMEX Plat (Marriott Gold), AMEX Hilton Aspire (Hilton Diamond)
Posts: 92
i was surprised that places like CVS or Walgreens won't count as groceries (at least in my experience). they are logged as medical/heathcare
Apr 11, 2018, 2:22 pm
#50
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: *G^2, Bonvoyed, NEXUS
Posts: 3,506
Why would you be surprised? They are not grocery stores. The fact that they sell some grocery items does not make them a grocery store.
Apr 29, 2018, 10:20 am
#51
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.
Jul 2, 2018, 4:20 pm
#53
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 998
Amex card that offers bonus MR points on every day spend or warehouse stores?
So I was going to get the Amex Everyday Preferred card because I would like to earn a bonus on my grocery shopping, however, I shop at Fred Meyers (west coast thing, I think it’s Kroger on the east coast) and I noticed on my platinum card that it’s coding as “merchandise & supplies – wholesale stores”. Does anyone know of an Amex card that has a bonus category that would include these stores, or does anyone shop at Fred Meyer’s stores with an Amex card that earns an extra bonus? I’m really just looking at extra MR earning cards right now and I know some Amex cards just offer cash back instead…
Jul 3, 2018, 1:43 am
#54
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: ATL
Posts: 802
So I was going to get the Amex Everyday Preferred card because I would like to earn a bonus on my grocery shopping, however, I shop at Fred Meyers (west coast thing, I think it’s Kroger on the east coast) and I noticed on my platinum card that it’s coding as “merchandise & supplies – wholesale stores”. Does anyone know of an Amex card that has a bonus category that would include these stores, or does anyone shop at Fred Meyer’s stores with an Amex card that earns an extra bonus? I’m really just looking at extra MR earning cards right now and I know some Amex cards just offer cash back instead…
You do not need to have a business to get this card.
Jul 3, 2018, 10:46 am
#55
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 998
So I keep hearing that. How do I go about getting the card though? Do I just used my SS# instead of the tax ID, or do I leave that completely blank? For my number of employees and annual earnings do I just list them as 1 (me) and $0? I mean I honestly have nothing that could show as annual earnings if they did a financial review. I don't sell on eBay, I don't do work for my family (that I invoice, or could invoice, I don't want to bring them into any kind of game like that), nothing. Additionally, I don't have much spending that would go onto a business card other then very personal looking things... my weekly shopping, probably cell phone bill, and a couple other very small things like that. Most my other spend is already covered by other cards earning a bonus...
Jul 3, 2018, 10:48 am
#56
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,952
Jul 3, 2018, 11:26 am
#57
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 262
So I keep hearing that. How do I go about getting the card though? Do I just used my SS# instead of the tax ID, or do I leave that completely blank? For my number of employees and annual earnings do I just list them as 1 (me) and $0? I mean I honestly have nothing that could show as annual earnings if they did a financial review. I don't sell on eBay, I don't do work for my family (that I invoice, or could invoice, I don't want to bring them into any kind of game like that), nothing. Additionally, I don't have much spending that would go onto a business card other then very personal looking things... my weekly shopping, probably cell phone bill, and a couple other very small things like that. Most my other spend is already covered by other cards earning a bonus...
Jul 3, 2018, 12:04 pm
#58
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 998
I read that $0 revenue doesn't work anymore (https://www.doctorofcredit.com/ameri...usiness-cards/).
I also don't want to put my personal platinum card in jeopardy if Amex does decide that I've falsified information and they just black list my SS# in their system or something...
But at the same time I keep hearing everyone yelling "You don't need a biz to get the card! It's great!" "Sign up for the biz card, it's fine if you never sell anything and don't have a registered biz, literally everyone can get a biz card!!"
Very frustrating....
Jul 3, 2018, 12:28 pm
#59
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,952
Yes...
Amex (USA) adds new requirement for minimum $1,000 annual Business Revenue
...you won't be able to declare zero income if the form will not accept a value less than 1,000. It's a programming limitation.
In my opinion American Express wants to issue business cards to individuals and they want us to use them for personal spending, as evidenced by the types of Amex Offers which appears on business card accounts. They want to do this because various consumer protections do not apply to cards used for business, and because it hides their cardholders' spending from competitors. However, for regulatory compliance they cannot openly solicit individuals to apply for these cards. They can, and do, make it easy to be approved.
Amex (USA) adds new requirement for minimum $1,000 annual Business Revenue
...you won't be able to declare zero income if the form will not accept a value less than 1,000. It's a programming limitation.
In my opinion American Express wants to issue business cards to individuals and they want us to use them for personal spending, as evidenced by the types of Amex Offers which appears on business card accounts. They want to do this because various consumer protections do not apply to cards used for business, and because it hides their cardholders' spending from competitors. However, for regulatory compliance they cannot openly solicit individuals to apply for these cards. They can, and do, make it easy to be approved.
