Jun 28, 2014, 2:30 pm
Last edit by: Chelski
If you buy GCs when they are not on promotion, you get no gas points. Zero, Zero, Zero. NOT 1X.
Current GC Promotion: None (so you will get zero gas points for buying Amex, Visa, or MC gift cards)
Stop & Shop (S&S) and Giant Food Stores (Giant) offer points for purchases which can be redeemed for discounts off gas purchases at select gas stations. The rules are different depending on whether you shop at S&S or Giant and within the Giant chain, the rules vary by your location.
Feel free to update this Wiki or suggest improvements. The goal is to help all of us spend less on gas!
S&S Gas Rewards website
Giant Gas Rewards website
IMPORTANT: Giant Food Stores, LLC and Giant of Maryland, LLC are different chains and the rules are different for redemption! For a great explanation of why they are different read Post #839.
Current S&S promo: none
Current Giant (PA) promo: 2X points on AMEX ends 12/10
Current Giant (NoVA, DC, MD) promo: none
Past S&S promos (will help track the cycle of when these bonuses start and end):
6/20/14 - 7/10/14 4x for VGC purchase
Past Giant (PA) promos (will help track the cycle of when these bonuses start and end):
6/22/14 - 7/12/14 4x for VGC purchase
6/07/15 - 6/13/15 3x for VGC purchase
7/5/15 - 7/11/15 2x for VGC purchase
8/2/15 - 8/8/15 2x for VGC purchase
10/16/15 - 10/22/15 2x for VGC purchase
12/4/15 - 12/10/15 2x for AMEX GC purchase
Past Giant (NoVA, DC, MD) promos (will help track the cycle of when these bonuses start and end):
6/20/14 - 7/10/14 4x for VGC purchase
12/4/15 - 12/10/15 2x for AMEX GC purchase
FAQs
You need to obtain a Rewards card at the Customer Service desk before you can start getting gas rewards.
Cards that work are listed in the current circular. They do change occasionally. VISA and MC from Metabank or US Bank for $20-$500 (plus $5.95 fee) work. For GCs, if it meets the previous requirements, the packaging (blue, silver, birthday cake, etc.) doesn't matter! Check the issuing bank.
S&S and Giant (NoVA, DC, MD) allows you to redeem gas points only up to $2.20/gallon and points expire after 30 days. Giant PA can redeem full amount.
Points earned in one program cannot be used in another program, BUT there are reports that you can call Customer Service and x-fer points to the other programs. See post #512
S&S allows you to fill up more than once per day.
Giant may ask for your name and driver's license to write in a book if you make a certain level of purchases. Some stores it is for >$2k and some for $5k. YMMV.
You can access your Giant Gas Rewards online using the link at the top of the thread.
Most people report they can buy a single $500 MC or VISA at any register without an issue. Generally, if you spend more than $1,000 a manager will be required to come over to the register with a key. It's not been reported that this is an issue, just to be aware if the register is busy. You can go checkout at Customer Service to avoid this hassle.
Giant Eagle (Pittsburgh area) is not the same as Giant Food Stores and this deal doesn't work.
If you have more points than are required for your redemption they will remain in your account until they expire. i.e. If you have 10,000 points and you redeem 2,200 for a fillup, you will have 7,800 points left in your account.
If your bonus card is not scanned with your gift card purchase because of a system or cashier mistake, you can get the points manually added at the cust. svc desk at your local store. Show your receipt, and the employee may need reference to the gift card promo in the Giant sales flyer. It generally takes manually added points 24 hrs to post to your account.
[*]How do gas rewards work when gas is less than $2.20 (based on NoVA Shell stations)?
Giant deducts 2200 points from your account (usually) wishing 24 hours of your gas purchase. In the next 24-48 hours, Giant credits your account for the different between the actual gas price reduction and the 2209 points. Example: 1.999 gas has recently required (late Dec 2015/Jan 2016) paying $0.019 per gallon. Giant deducts 2200 points and then credits 220 ( 2.20 - 1.98; gas price adjusts down to account for the price you paid). The credited points get a new 30 days from starting in the credit date. This has been the case at three different Shell stations in NoVA using inside and pay at the pump. YMMV.
Current GC Promotion: None (so you will get zero gas points for buying Amex, Visa, or MC gift cards)
Stop & Shop (S&S) and Giant Food Stores (Giant) offer points for purchases which can be redeemed for discounts off gas purchases at select gas stations. The rules are different depending on whether you shop at S&S or Giant and within the Giant chain, the rules vary by your location.
Feel free to update this Wiki or suggest improvements. The goal is to help all of us spend less on gas!
S&S Gas Rewards website
Giant Gas Rewards website
IMPORTANT: Giant Food Stores, LLC and Giant of Maryland, LLC are different chains and the rules are different for redemption! For a great explanation of why they are different read Post #839.
Current S&S promo: none
Current Giant (PA) promo: 2X points on AMEX ends 12/10
Current Giant (NoVA, DC, MD) promo: none
Past S&S promos (will help track the cycle of when these bonuses start and end):
6/20/14 - 7/10/14 4x for VGC purchase
Past Giant (PA) promos (will help track the cycle of when these bonuses start and end):
6/22/14 - 7/12/14 4x for VGC purchase
6/07/15 - 6/13/15 3x for VGC purchase
7/5/15 - 7/11/15 2x for VGC purchase
8/2/15 - 8/8/15 2x for VGC purchase
10/16/15 - 10/22/15 2x for VGC purchase
12/4/15 - 12/10/15 2x for AMEX GC purchase
Past Giant (NoVA, DC, MD) promos (will help track the cycle of when these bonuses start and end):
6/20/14 - 7/10/14 4x for VGC purchase
12/4/15 - 12/10/15 2x for AMEX GC purchase
FAQs
You need to obtain a Rewards card at the Customer Service desk before you can start getting gas rewards.
Cards that work are listed in the current circular. They do change occasionally. VISA and MC from Metabank or US Bank for $20-$500 (plus $5.95 fee) work. For GCs, if it meets the previous requirements, the packaging (blue, silver, birthday cake, etc.) doesn't matter! Check the issuing bank.
S&S and Giant (NoVA, DC, MD) allows you to redeem gas points only up to $2.20/gallon and points expire after 30 days. Giant PA can redeem full amount.
Points earned in one program cannot be used in another program, BUT there are reports that you can call Customer Service and x-fer points to the other programs. See post #512
S&S allows you to fill up more than once per day.
Giant may ask for your name and driver's license to write in a book if you make a certain level of purchases. Some stores it is for >$2k and some for $5k. YMMV.
You can access your Giant Gas Rewards online using the link at the top of the thread.
Most people report they can buy a single $500 MC or VISA at any register without an issue. Generally, if you spend more than $1,000 a manager will be required to come over to the register with a key. It's not been reported that this is an issue, just to be aware if the register is busy. You can go checkout at Customer Service to avoid this hassle.
Giant Eagle (Pittsburgh area) is not the same as Giant Food Stores and this deal doesn't work.
If you have more points than are required for your redemption they will remain in your account until they expire. i.e. If you have 10,000 points and you redeem 2,200 for a fillup, you will have 7,800 points left in your account.
If your bonus card is not scanned with your gift card purchase because of a system or cashier mistake, you can get the points manually added at the cust. svc desk at your local store. Show your receipt, and the employee may need reference to the gift card promo in the Giant sales flyer. It generally takes manually added points 24 hrs to post to your account.
[*]How do gas rewards work when gas is less than $2.20 (based on NoVA Shell stations)?
Giant deducts 2200 points from your account (usually) wishing 24 hours of your gas purchase. In the next 24-48 hours, Giant credits your account for the different between the actual gas price reduction and the 2209 points. Example: 1.999 gas has recently required (late Dec 2015/Jan 2016) paying $0.019 per gallon. Giant deducts 2200 points and then credits 220 ( 2.20 - 1.98; gas price adjusts down to account for the price you paid). The credited points get a new 30 days from starting in the credit date. This has been the case at three different Shell stations in NoVA using inside and pay at the pump. YMMV.
Stop & Shop and Giant supermarkets gas rewards points on gift card purchases
Sep 23, 2014, 11:14 am
#1411
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 193
The top of the page was too far back for you to read, really?
Sep 23, 2014, 2:50 pm
#1412
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 319
I did read. But I was always under the impression that the wiki was mainly talking about visa/master. After not many people here buy merchant gift cards. I also remember getting points in the past for merchant gift cards.
There is no need for your sarcastic tone.
There is no need for your sarcastic tone.
Sep 23, 2014, 8:54 pm
#1413
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: S.E. Pennsylvania
Programs: SPG, SW Air, AA, all of'em!
Posts: 239
FRAUD ALERT! US Bank Mastercards had $ stolen off after purchase
Fellow FT'ers: Thanks for the useful info here.
I purchased several $500 MC GCs issued by US Bank on 9/14/14 at the Giant Supermarket in Royersford, Pa. I do not normally shop there, but was in the area.
When I went to use one of these on 9/21/14, for the first time, I found out the full balance was not available, and when calling the 800 cust svc #, found out the balance was down to $100. Online trans history showed someone in southern Calif. had made two acct-to-acct transactions to pay off their utility bill and wireless bill on 9/20/14. (No issues with the balance on the other MC GCs bought that day)
I had the compromised card shut down and filed a fraud claim; sent in my receipts, etc. to US Bank. They told me it will be several weeks to get my money back. I also called Giant to tell them to watch for "customers" / employees tampering with GC racks ...
I had the original packaging, and could detect no tampering at all.
My advice: be careful, and empty the funds ASAP; inspect packaging.
The Visa GC packages from MetaBank are much more tamper-proof, in my opinion, compared to the Master card versions from US Bank.
Also, Vanilla Visa and One Vanilla cards are in bullet-proof wrappers - now I know why!
Anyone else been through this?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
UPDATE 10/9/14
US Bank's "service center" - an intermediary, not the actual bank - is refusing to refund the $ stolen off my card. They claim they can not recover the $ since it a payment center payment, with no dispute capability. No kidding? I did not expect them to recover the money, I expect them to man up and take liability for shoddy packaging / poor security that can be easily compromised and puts buyers of their cards at unnecessary risk.
I will appeal to the actual supervisor of the financial institution.
WARNING to buyers: after studying the way these US Bank variable load MCs are numbered, and arranged in racks at supermarkets, it is my opinion that the packaging does not need to EVER be opened, no barcodes need to be "relocated" from one card to another, etc., in order for thieves to steal your money loaded before you use it!
US Bank gift cards, in my opinion, have THE worst security protocol that will make MANY more victims of fraud than gift cards offered from Meta Bank, Vanilla Visa, AMEX, or others.
I am not going to detail these findings in an open forum because any hacker/fraudster could read this as well and start screwing more innocent consumers. I will update the final decision of US Bank in a few weeks.
I purchased several $500 MC GCs issued by US Bank on 9/14/14 at the Giant Supermarket in Royersford, Pa. I do not normally shop there, but was in the area.
When I went to use one of these on 9/21/14, for the first time, I found out the full balance was not available, and when calling the 800 cust svc #, found out the balance was down to $100. Online trans history showed someone in southern Calif. had made two acct-to-acct transactions to pay off their utility bill and wireless bill on 9/20/14. (No issues with the balance on the other MC GCs bought that day)
I had the compromised card shut down and filed a fraud claim; sent in my receipts, etc. to US Bank. They told me it will be several weeks to get my money back. I also called Giant to tell them to watch for "customers" / employees tampering with GC racks ...
I had the original packaging, and could detect no tampering at all.
My advice: be careful, and empty the funds ASAP; inspect packaging.
The Visa GC packages from MetaBank are much more tamper-proof, in my opinion, compared to the Master card versions from US Bank.
Also, Vanilla Visa and One Vanilla cards are in bullet-proof wrappers - now I know why!
Anyone else been through this?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
UPDATE 10/9/14
US Bank's "service center" - an intermediary, not the actual bank - is refusing to refund the $ stolen off my card. They claim they can not recover the $ since it a payment center payment, with no dispute capability. No kidding? I did not expect them to recover the money, I expect them to man up and take liability for shoddy packaging / poor security that can be easily compromised and puts buyers of their cards at unnecessary risk.
I will appeal to the actual supervisor of the financial institution.
WARNING to buyers: after studying the way these US Bank variable load MCs are numbered, and arranged in racks at supermarkets, it is my opinion that the packaging does not need to EVER be opened, no barcodes need to be "relocated" from one card to another, etc., in order for thieves to steal your money loaded before you use it!
US Bank gift cards, in my opinion, have THE worst security protocol that will make MANY more victims of fraud than gift cards offered from Meta Bank, Vanilla Visa, AMEX, or others.
I am not going to detail these findings in an open forum because any hacker/fraudster could read this as well and start screwing more innocent consumers. I will update the final decision of US Bank in a few weeks.
Last edited by fletchbo; Oct 9, 2014 at 7:36 am Reason: Updated info 10-9-14
Sep 24, 2014, 5:40 am
#1414
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,322
I know that Meta cards require strip to be torn off to expose bar code. Does USB work the same way, and, if so, what was condition of strip when you purchased?
Sep 24, 2014, 6:57 am
#1415
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 226
The story makes sense. That said, I always avoid buying the ones with the barcode exposed because I just don't trust that it hasn't been tampered with.
Sep 24, 2014, 5:23 pm
#1416
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: S.E. Pennsylvania
Programs: SPG, SW Air, AA, all of'em!
Posts: 239
The cardboard strips on the Us Bank Master cards were fully intact and covering the barcode. Yes, I check that always, and frequently remove them at the counter to assist the cashier.
Sep 25, 2014, 7:31 am
#1418
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: RZE, EWR
Programs: UA, IHG Platinum, BW Diamond, Carlson Gold, Accor Platinum,
Posts: 232
There's always a huge risk to any of the MS techniques. That being said I heard about cases where even fraud department didn't help with tampered GCs.
Sep 25, 2014, 9:15 am
#1419
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 244
Thanks! I did try to buy one this morning and had a weird thing happen. The transaction would go through but the card wouldn't activate for some reason (no activation receipt would print out). Manager looked into it, tried two times .. no fraud alert on my CC and see the charge pending but no go on activation of GC. The manager thought it was probably a bad batch of cards and was going to pull the rest of them from the rack! Will try at another store in a couple of days ...
Sep 25, 2014, 9:20 am
#1420
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: PHL
Programs: HH Diamond MR PLAT US Gold
Posts: 288
Sep 25, 2014, 9:35 am
#1421
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 282
Thanks! I did try to buy one this morning and had a weird thing happen. The transaction would go through but the card wouldn't activate for some reason (no activation receipt would print out). Manager looked into it, tried two times .. no fraud alert on my CC and see the charge pending but no go on activation of GC. The manager thought it was probably a bad batch of cards and was going to pull the rest of them from the rack! Will try at another store in a couple of days ...
Thread:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manuf...on-issues.html
Sep 25, 2014, 11:21 am
#1422
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: IAD
Posts: 60
Thanks! I did try to buy one this morning and had a weird thing happen. The transaction would go through but the card wouldn't activate for some reason (no activation receipt would print out). Manager looked into it, tried two times .. no fraud alert on my CC and see the charge pending but no go on activation of GC. The manager thought it was probably a bad batch of cards and was going to pull the rest of them from the rack! Will try at another store in a couple of days ...
Sep 25, 2014, 11:38 am
#1423
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: PHL
Programs: US; AA; UA; Hilton Gold; Club Carlson Gold; IHG Platinum;
Posts: 388
Thanks! I did try to buy one this morning and had a weird thing happen. The transaction would go through but the card wouldn't activate for some reason (no activation receipt would print out). Manager looked into it, tried two times .. no fraud alert on my CC and see the charge pending but no go on activation of GC. The manager thought it was probably a bad batch of cards and was going to pull the rest of them from the rack! Will try at another store in a couple of days ...
Sep 25, 2014, 11:48 am
#1424
Join Date: Aug 2013
Programs: UA Gold, Delta Gold, Marriot Plat
Posts: 37
Just bought the purple US MC in S&S in MA. Got the activation receipt, no pin inside, no gas points.
Sep 25, 2014, 12:05 pm
#1425
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 244
Were they US Bank gift cards? Several people reported activation problems yesterday:
Thread:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manuf...on-issues.html
Thread:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manuf...on-issues.html
The manager told me that the charges won't post since the transaction was not successful .. he didn't do a refund .. maybe I should have gotten one!
The charges are showing as pending on my CC .. will go back to get a refund if they do actually post.. has anyone who faced similar issue had the charge actually post on their CC?