What's a grocery store?
Aug 25, 2009 | 10:03 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2008
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What's a grocery store?
Citi is giving me 5 for 1 miles at gas stations,drug stores and grocery stores.Are Super Walmart ,Costco,Sam' Club or Seven Eleven considered Grocery stores?If so can I buy anything?If Super Walmart is a grocery store can I buy a bar bq grill.
Aug 25, 2009 | 10:24 am
#2
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You did not mention which card you have, but typically these promotions are based on the merchant classification code which excludes Walmart and clubstores. Here is a definition from one Citi card...
Supermarkets are stand-alone merchants that primarily sell a complete line of food merchandise for home consumption.
Supermarkets are stand-alone merchants that primarily sell a complete line of food merchandise for home consumption.
Aug 25, 2009 | 11:16 am
#4
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We have a new style of Walmart which fits that definition.It is a stand alone building that only sells groceries.Seems like a gray area.I wonder if seven eleven is a gas station,and if I buy a 6pack is that gasoline.We really don't have gas stations anymore.We have convinence stores that sell gas.Texaco would be a gas ststion,however I havent seem any in years.
Last edited by jkoenig51; Aug 25, 2009 at 12:09 pm
Aug 25, 2009 | 12:28 pm
#5
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 196
Store Classification
When I log in to my Citi account, the charges that posted on the previous statement are able to be selected with a double mouse click. This gives detailed information about the merchant including the classification. This will allow you to verify a grocery store transaction after the fact.
Also, I have found many merchants that I think are way off with their classification. For example, the doggie day care we frequent actually has the classification of some sort of real estate transaction.
Also, I have found many merchants that I think are way off with their classification. For example, the doggie day care we frequent actually has the classification of some sort of real estate transaction.
Aug 25, 2009 | 12:33 pm
#6
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Everything depends on the merchant classification, the physical appearance of the business is unimportant, and the merchandise you happen to buy is irrelevant.
There's no need to guess. Make test purchases. After the statement cycle closes logon to citicards.com, look at "Last Statement Activity", and expand the description of the transaction by clicking the [+]. You will see something like this...
Transaction Type: 2
Post Date: 07/18/2009
Reference Number: XXXXXXXX
Merchant Category: Health Care - DRUG STORES,PHARMACIES
Charge To: Standard Purch
There's no need to guess. Make test purchases. After the statement cycle closes logon to citicards.com, look at "Last Statement Activity", and expand the description of the transaction by clicking the [+]. You will see something like this...
Transaction Type: 2
Post Date: 07/18/2009
Reference Number: XXXXXXXX
Merchant Category: Health Care - DRUG STORES,PHARMACIES
Charge To: Standard Purch
Aug 25, 2009 | 1:00 pm
#7
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Posts: 11,377
It depends on the card you are using and the way the merchant is classified by Visa, MC, Amex, etc.
Visa has a number of different merchant categories:
http://www.da.usda.gov/procurement/card/card_x/mcc.pdf
MCCs are based on ISO standards:
http://www.iso.org/iso/search.htm?qt...published=true
Visa has a number of different merchant categories:
http://www.da.usda.gov/procurement/card/card_x/mcc.pdf
MCCs are based on ISO standards:
http://www.iso.org/iso/search.htm?qt...published=true
Aug 25, 2009 | 6:25 pm
#8
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Location: Florida
Posts: 30,343
Other than the merchants choosing their own classification codes when they submitted their transactions, different cards can have different classifications of the same merchant.
I found out one particular local grocer is classified as grocery store on one Citi card, but not another Citi card. It is bizzare but that has been the way on our cards.
I found out one particular local grocer is classified as grocery store on one Citi card, but not another Citi card. It is bizzare but that has been the way on our cards.
Aug 25, 2009 | 6:49 pm
#9
Join Date: May 2008
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Posts: 2,026
If you're looking for a BBQ grill, why not take your 5 miles per dollar card to a supermarket (i.e. Shoprite if you're in the Northeast, or Von's if you're on the west coast) and buy a few gift cards to Home Depot (up to the amount you need for the grill you want). Use the gift cards for your grill.
Aug 25, 2009 | 8:23 pm
#10
Join Date: Mar 2007
Programs: Hilton HHonors Gold
Posts: 92
If you're looking for a BBQ grill, why not take your 5 miles per dollar card to a supermarket (i.e. Shoprite if you're in the Northeast, or Von's if you're on the west coast) and buy a few gift cards to Home Depot (up to the amount you need for the grill you want). Use the gift cards for your grill.
Aug 25, 2009 | 8:32 pm
#11
Join Date: Nov 2006
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I have not had success with any Costco or Walmart anything (whether super, sams club or regular) be considered a grocery store. Likewise Seven Eleven.
If you're looking for a BBQ grill, why not take your 5 miles per dollar card to a supermarket (i.e. Shoprite if you're in the Northeast, or Von's if you're on the west coast) and buy a few gift cards to Home Depot (up to the amount you need for the grill you want). Use the gift cards for your grill.
If you're looking for a BBQ grill, why not take your 5 miles per dollar card to a supermarket (i.e. Shoprite if you're in the Northeast, or Von's if you're on the west coast) and buy a few gift cards to Home Depot (up to the amount you need for the grill you want). Use the gift cards for your grill.