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American Express Blue Cash Rewards Question?

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JagerBombs89
Established Contributor

American Express Blue Cash Rewards Question?

I am curious as to what exactly categorizes an establishment as a "supermarket."  I know Walmart listed as "Category: Merchandise & Supplies - Wholesale Stores" and won't receive the 5% cash back but what about places like HEB?  HEB is listed as "Category: Merchandise & Supplies - Groceries"... are these the correct "coding" needed to receive the 5% cash back?

Message 1 of 19
18 REPLIES 18
larinoriani
Regular Contributor

Re: American Express Blue Cash Rewards Question?

I had the same question when I opened my Blue Cash, that was the first think I looked when the rewards started appearing. I can tell you that Walmart is accounted for as "Groceries" even their category says Wholesale store. Can't tell you about the other store, we don't have those here...


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Message 2 of 19
JagerBombs89
Established Contributor

Re: American Express Blue Cash Rewards Question?

 


@larinoriani wrote:

I had the same question when I opened my Blue Cash, that was the first think I looked when the rewards started appearing. I can tell you that Walmart is accounted for as "Groceries" even their category says Wholesale store. Can't tell you about the other store, we don't have those here...


 

Are you referring to a plain ole Walmart... or a Walmart Superstore...  My last statement, it showed 0% activity in the "everyday spending" and I went to walmart a few times during the billing cycle.  I live in Texas and wondering if any one knows of any other stores that qualifies for the 5% cash back Smiley Happy

Message 3 of 19
alph4
Regular Contributor

Re: American Express Blue Cash Rewards Question?

I live in Dallas, and although we do not have HEB, we have Central Market, which is HEB's version of Whole Foods.

 

The following have worked for me in the groceries category:

Tom Thumb (aka Randalls, Pavilions)

Central Market

Whole Foods

Kroger

Albertsons

 

Haven't tried anything at Walmart.  There are Super Walmarts and Neighborhood Walmarts here.  I don't shop at the neighborhood and I haven't tried using AmEx at the Supers ever since there were past issues with people getting FR'd (a while back.)

Current Cards:
American Express Blue Cash Preferred - March 2007 - CL $10,000
Citi Forward Visa Signature - September 2009 - CL $6,500
Chase Freedom - March 2011 - CL $15,000
Chase Sapphire Preferred - May 2013 - CL $12,500
Discover It - November 2013 - $5,000
Barclay Arrival - January 2014 - $10,000
Message 4 of 19
larinoriani
Regular Contributor

Re: American Express Blue Cash Rewards Question?

 


Are you referring to a plain ole Walmart... or a Walmart Superstore...  My last statement, it showed 0% activity in the "everyday spending" and I went to walmart a few times during the billing cycle.  I live in Texas and wondering if any one knows of any other stores that qualifies for the 5% cash back Smiley Happy


 

Good question. I went back to my statements, and it looks like the Supercenters are not considered under the "groceries" category, only the neighborhood markets or  "little walmarts"

The other local grocery stores like Kroger and Schnucks, are definitely under the grocery category.


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Message 5 of 19
stan_the_man
Established Contributor

Re: American Express Blue Cash Rewards Question?

I decided to look over my statements online after reading this and found out.

 

Traditional-Style Grocery Stores Always Coded as "Groceries" (stores were in Maryland, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Virginia and the District of Columbia):

 

  • Albertsons
  • Giant Food
  • Grand Mart
  • Harris Teeter
  • Redners
  • Safeway
  • Shoppers
  • Trader Joe's
  • Wegmans
  • Whole Foods

 

Liquor Stores Not Run By The Government Usually Coded as "Groceries":

 

  • District of Columbia:
    • Liquor stores - Yes, all three
  • Maryland:
    • Liquor stores - Yes, two of three (one coded as "Merchandise & Supplies - General Retail")
  • Pennsylvania:
    • Pennsylvania Wine & Spirits (state liquor and wine store) - No
  • Virginia:
    • Total Wine & More - Yes
    • Wine/beer stores in Virginia - Yes, all three
    • Virginia ABC (state liquor store) - No

 

Wineries Coded as "Groceries":

 

  • Every winery I visited in California (Santa Ynez Valley), Virginia and Pennsylvania coded as "Groceries"

 

Convenience Stores Usually Code As "Groceries" (some with gas pumps coded as "Fuel", another bonus category):

 

  • 7-ELEVEN - Yes
  • Marvelous Market (neighborhood gourmet store chain in Washington, DC) - Yes
  • Sheetz - Fuel
  • Wawa - Fuel

 

General Merchandisers That Sell Groceries Rarely Code As "Groceries":

 

  • Costco - No
  • Target - No
  • WalMart - No
  • World Market - Yes

 

I also noticed that a couple places that sell prepared food and gourmet groceries were coded as "Restaurant - Bar & Cafe".

Message 6 of 19
JagerBombs89
Established Contributor

Re: American Express Blue Cash Rewards Question?


@stan_the_man wrote:

I decided to look over my statements online after reading this and found out.

 

Traditional-Style Grocery Stores Always Coded as "Groceries" (stores were in Maryland, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Virginia and the District of Columbia):

 

  • Albertsons
  • Giant Food
  • Grand Mart
  • Harris Teeter
  • Redners
  • Safeway
  • Shoppers
  • Trader Joe's
  • Wegmans
  • Whole Foods

 

Liquor Stores Not Run By The Government Usually Coded as "Groceries":

 

  • District of Columbia:
    • Liquor stores - Yes, all three
  • Maryland:
    • Liquor stores - Yes, two of three (one coded as "Merchandise & Supplies - General Retail")
  • Pennsylvania:
    • Pennsylvania Wine & Spirits (state liquor and wine store) - No
  • Virginia:
    • Total Wine & More - Yes
    • Wine/beer stores in Virginia - Yes, all three
    • Virginia ABC (state liquor store) - No

 

Wineries Coded as "Groceries":

 

  • Every winery I visited in California (Santa Ynez Valley), Virginia and Pennsylvania coded as "Groceries"

 

Convenience Stores Usually Code As "Groceries" (some with gas pumps coded as "Fuel", another bonus category):

 

  • 7-ELEVEN - Yes
  • Marvelous Market (neighborhood gourmet store chain in Washington, DC) - Yes
  • Sheetz - Fuel
  • Wawa - Fuel

 

General Merchandisers That Sell Groceries Rarely Code As "Groceries":

 

  • Costco - No
  • Target - No
  • WalMart - No
  • World Market - Yes

 

I also noticed that a couple places that sell prepared food and gourmet groceries were coded as "Restaurant - Bar & Cafe".


Thank you for this list!  Most of those stores I don't recognize as being in Texas but I know from living in pennsylvania that they are abundant Smiley Very Happy

Message 7 of 19
scoppe
New Contributor

Re: American Express Blue Cash Rewards Question?

Walmart, supercenter or not, does not qualify. HEB does.


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Message 8 of 19
BungalowMo
Senior Contributor

Re: American Express Blue Cash Rewards Question?

Thanks Stan the Man!!!  Living in NoVa...all of those are stores I frequent.  (well, except the exclusive DC Liquor stores! Smiley Tongue  )

BK 7 discharge 06.24.2020 No Fico score at all. Smiley Sad
Message 9 of 19
larinoriani
Regular Contributor

Re: American Express Blue Cash Rewards Question?

 


@scoppe wrote:

Walmart, supercenter or not, does not qualify. HEB does.


Walmart Neighborhood Market does.

 


Starting Score: EQ 737--TU 742
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Nov/2011: TU 753
Goal Score: EQ 800--TU 800


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Message 10 of 19
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