Categories and Walmart

IncrsCreditScore1 · ‎09-13-2015

WalMart advised me that their categories are by region and that the region I live in WalMart is coded only as merchandise not as groceries. Therefore, I never get the 5% offered by some credit cards. IMO that is wrong, food is food, whether in Siberia or Texas. I don't understand why WalMart would categorize as groceries in some area and as merchandise.

I am wondering what region you live in and how WalMart codes their purchases.

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Callandra · ‎09-13-2015

I live in Florida (Gulf Coast) and both nearby Wal-Mart Supercenters code as groceries here. I once bought an iPod from the electronics register and I still got the groceries points.

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Anonymous · ‎09-13-2015

Two of the three Walmarts near me in Illinois code as groceries via MasterCard. The third codes as merchandise. So I think that theory of region specific coding is either false or the regional boundary runs through my city (possible, I guess).

icyhot · ‎09-13-2015

Walmart in North Carolina always codes as groceries so I get 2% on BofA. Amex specifically does not give bonuses for Walmart tho

kdm31091 · ‎09-13-2015

Like I always say with these type of posts though -- Walmart is generally (not always) cheaper for groceries. So the point is that whether or not you get your 5% rewards, you are still at the end of the day on average paying less than you would at the grocery store. Not that Walmart is always cheaper, of course, but my point is that overall, the lower prices will beat potential loss of 2-5% rewards. So it's not worth worrying about it.

None of my local walmarts come up as grocery (here in Delaware).

Anonymous · ‎09-13-2015

Both Wal-Marts in my area code as grocery. Only one is defined as a Neighborhood Market but both have food items so not certain how that works. I cant buy groceries from Wal-Mart though. Section is extremely limited and they dont carry the brands I like except for juice. So I could make two trips and save maybe 50 cents per bottle going to Wal-Mart for one item or I could stick to Safeway where I can get everything I need at once.

Safeway for the win.

Anonymous · ‎09-13-2015

Live in California Bay Area btw

Anonymous · ‎09-13-2015

IncrsCreditScore wrote:

WalMart advised me that their categories are by region and that the region I live in WalMart is coded only as merchandise not as groceries. Therefore, I never get the 5% offered by some credit cards. IMO that is wrong, food is food, whether in Siberia or Texas. I don't understand why WalMart would categorize as groceries in some area and as merchandise.

I am wondering what region you live in and how WalMart codes their purchases.

I am in texas and with my sallie mae its 5%