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?
Jan 10, 2019, 10:32 am
#76
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 206
So I have 125k of student loans to pay - there is a website called Gift of College that allows you to pay student loans with credit cards. You can purchase these at HEB grocery stores. The Ascend card doest 6x points at grocery stores. If I buy the gift card at HEB will this code as a grocery purchase?
Jan 10, 2019, 3:51 pm
#77
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 262
So I have 125k of student loans to pay - there is a website called Gift of College that allows you to pay student loans with credit cards. You can purchase these at HEB grocery stores. The Ascend card doest 6x points at grocery stores. If I buy the gift card at HEB will this code as a grocery purchase?
Jan 10, 2019, 5:37 pm
#78
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,933
So I have 125k of student loans to pay - there is a website called Gift of College that allows you to pay student loans with credit cards. You can purchase these at HEB grocery stores. The Ascend card doest 6x points at grocery stores. If I buy the gift card at HEB will this code as a grocery purchase?
Still, if you try to buy $125k (or even a small fraction of that) in gift cards at grocery stores, and are not doing much other shopping at HEB grocery stores, you risk Amex smelling that something's up and requesting details on one or more of you purchases, and then possibly shutting you down. Ie, techniques that work for a small number of gift cards occasionally may not work for large number of gift cards. And Amex is worse than banks about caring whether you buy gift cars or not (Chase, Citi, etc, they don't much care, but at Amex it's officially against the rules in many cases).
Jan 11, 2019, 8:00 am
#79
Join Date: Dec 2011
Programs: UA
Posts: 384
Instacart coded perfectly.
My local liquor store was coded as "merchandise: grocery stores" (or something like that), but I didn't get 4x on it. Initiated a ticket about this one, given that on my statement it says "grocery stores".
Jan 11, 2019, 3:08 pm
#80
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IAH
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt Ist-iest, Stariott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,790
Jan 11, 2019, 5:01 pm
#81
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,955
Jan 12, 2019, 6:26 pm
#82
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 206
Thats a great idea, I hadn't really thought about that. I was going to do in chunks. 1k a month for monthly student payment amount, then my employer gives me 20k once a year (15k after tax) that I was going to put towards loans. Maybe I will break that up into smaller purchases. I hadn't really thought about getting flagged by AMEX. Maybe i can spread it across multiple cards, get one in my wifes name as well as mine. What do you think is reasonable spend at a grocery store? 3k?
Jan 12, 2019, 6:27 pm
#83
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 206
Thats a great idea, I hadn't really thought about that. I was going to do in chunks. 1k a month for monthly student payment amount, then my employer gives me 20k once a year (15k after tax) that I was going to put towards loans. Maybe I will break that up into smaller purchases. I hadn't really thought about getting flagged by AMEX. Maybe i can spread it across multiple cards, get one in my wifes name as well as mine. What do you think is reasonable spend at a grocery store? 3k?
Jan 12, 2019, 6:36 pm
#84
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,955
Bear in mind that the Gold card supermarket category is capped at $25,000 per year. That won't quite support $12,000 + $15,000.
How are you planning to have your friend make purchases of this size with your card?
How are you planning to have your friend make purchases of this size with your card?
Nov 27, 2019, 12:41 pm
#88
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHX, SEA
Programs: Avis President's Club, Global Entry, Hilton/Marriott Gold. No more DL/AA status.
Posts: 4,422
Possible to have Amex fix their categorization?
I noticed for the first time that Fred Meyer (PNW Kroger brand + home goods, like a Superwalmart) is not earning 2x even though I'm exclusively purchasing groceries there. I'm wondering the thoughts of the forum on trying to get these fixed, it's only to the tune of $100-$200/mo but that would mean since April ~1400 points (everyday 2x on groceries). But also is there any chance Amex would consider re-categorizing this store? If not I will try to get a Kroger gift card from another local chain QFC and use it at Fred Meyer.
Nov 27, 2019, 12:56 pm
#89
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: YYJ
Posts: 2,230
i was on the phone with amex customer service for an unrelated issue and i took the opportunity to ask why BC Ferries is not categorized under transportation and thus earning 2 pts per dollar (cobalt card.)
I was told that it's how BC Ferries categorized their business, not amex.
one would think that something as obvious as that was self-evident but apparently not.
I was told that it's how BC Ferries categorized their business, not amex.
one would think that something as obvious as that was self-evident but apparently not.
Nov 27, 2019, 2:19 pm
#90
Join Date: Oct 2007
Programs: AA, WN, UA, Bonvoy, Hertz
Posts: 2,491
Fred Meyer has decided to not categorize as groceries. You would need to buy a Kroger gift card from one of the other chains like QFC where they categorize as groceries. I am sure that is what others do. I think issue applies for V/MC usage as well.
It is correct that the merchant does most of the categorization assignments. Except for super large merchants (over $1 million in AmEx charges), most merchants use acquirers who handle the merchant mapping assignment via OptBlue.
It is correct that the merchant does most of the categorization assignments. Except for super large merchants (over $1 million in AmEx charges), most merchants use acquirers who handle the merchant mapping assignment via OptBlue.