I got Thank you Preferred with 5X on GGDD just this month.

At a branch?

Actually, there is, if you can use a loophole: Pharmacy sections within supermarkets (getting more and more common in many parts of the country) count as grocery store purchases, because the credit card company can't tell which part of the store your purchase was in. (And yet they count grocery stores with a pharmacy section as a "stand-alone" grocery store, and thus qualifying for the bonus points. It's only grocery stores or drug stores within multi-purpose stores, such as WalMart SuperCenters, that don't qualify for the bonus points.)

You may not be able to get everything there, but you can get the bulk of what you need there, that might pay off (in terms of points earned), compared to sticking with stand-alone drug stores.

Chase Amazon gets this benefit?

Chase Amazon has 2% off drug stores. I used to use it for that before alternatives came along

I do not really see any listed that go beyond 2% in this thread after Citi Thank You, American Express Hilton HHonors, and Citi Hilton HHonors cards stopped giving their 3x and 5x on these. The only card that really does is the US Bank Cash + ONLY if you have a bank account open with them. I am doing a search for this right now myself because I have a lot of Pharmacy purchases. I have not tried the grocery store pharmacy but doubt that would work when it is an independent drug store owner and not Kroger.

2% cards are a dime a dozen these days with the Arrival card and Spark Cash. I am already getting that on three of my credit cards right now with a full cash back. The credit card issuers should simply bring back the 5% or more than 2% back at drugstores and make it so you can't purchase gift cards and get the 5% back. Those of us buying prescriptions probably need the 5% back more. Plus drugstores have such a high markup already that saving 5% is needed.

Merchant markups are irrelevant, the bonus is paid by the credit card issuers, and the issuers aren't offering a discount prescription drug program. Category bonuses are designed for only one purpose: to keep the card on your person. This makes it likely that the card will be used more often. The convergence of the supermarket and pharmacy retail categories means that the issuers don't need to target both to accomplish this objective.

I think the additional bonus for having a US Bank account is expiring next month. 2% is pretty much the best we can do, unless Chase does it as a category again.

ISn't the 5x TY still available at a branch?

do what I do, find a huge supermarket and buy all your drugstore needs there. Not only are they cheaper than CVS/Walgreens etc, you get 6% with the Amex preferred. My wife and I have separate cards for 12k total spend. Example: 24 pk CVS water on sale last week for 2.88 last week Shoprite 24 pack water 2.79 plus 6% off.. Also wife bought Covergirl Lipstick for 6.44 at Shoprite-- same lipstick 8.49 @ CVS and no 6%. For years I wasted $ in drugstores. Screw their extra bucks Most times you can lose the small slips..

So I am doing the Vanilla Visa thing. CVS is still letting me buy the Vanilla reloads with my SWA Card for 1x points, but I have not found another retailer willing to let me use a CC to buy Vanilla Reloads.

I will sign up for any CC that pays a good bonus in a given category. I know all the pitfalls - so don't bother restating them (please ).

Q#1) As of Feb 2014 are there any cards that pay more than 2% (or more than 2 points for $1) for DRUGSTORE purchases?

Q#2) Has anyone found a better solution? My local Office Depots will not let me use my CC to buy Vanilla Reloads (I tried again this week to confirm).

Just shopping for 2014 options. WORST CASE I pay my rent via CVS and settle for 1 point per dollar.

1) Blue Cash: 5% at 4 main drug store chains, after total spend of $6,500 per year. (Also 5% groceries and gas)
2) Wells Fargo Rewards (3 cards). 5% at drugstores/gas/groceries for 6 months.

Club Carlson Visa gives 5 points per $1 at drugstores and that is my go to card after the huge Hilton Honors changes and devaluations.

AMEX and Citi Hiltons are 3x for drugstores, I think

Is my math correct for the WF cash back for the 6 months:

503.95 (one VR) x 10 (BB max per month) x 5 (cash back) x 6 (months) = 151185 --> $1511.85

$1511.85 - [$39.50 (monthly VR fee) x 6 (months)] = $1274.85 cash back

Awesome follow up as usual folks. TY.

Your math in the post above was perfect, but 6 months isn't long enough for me. Of course credit card promos can change (al la Hilton Card), but I want something that has a shot at lasting longer.

Hunted that AMEX Cash. Here's the link and the fine print. I still don't think that's a winner for me. 1x points for me til I find a home run

https://www304.americanexpress.com/c...rch:RecomLink1

"Up to 5% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations & select U.S. drugstores (Everyday Purchases). Up to 1% Cash Back on other purchases. For your first $6,500 in purchases in a reward year, you will earn 1% on Everyday Purchases (5% thereafter), and 0.5% on other purchases (then 1%)."