topic Re: How to tell which stores code with which category? in Credit Cards

How to tell which stores code with which category?

Anonymous — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 04:00:21 GMT

I know they get listed on our statements, but is there anyway to tell beforehand? (before a purchase)

Re: How to tell which stores code with which category?

mrsno — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 05:26:57 GMT

Bump. I'm curious too.

Re: How to tell which stores code with which category?

Anonymous — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 05:44:43 GMT

@mrsno wrote:
Bump. I'm curious too.

Thanks for the bump.

Could you explain to me what the no preset spending limit means..? lol

Re: How to tell which stores code with which category?

WLRK11 — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 08:09:37 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I know they get listed on our statements, but is there anyway to tell beforehand? (before a purchase)

Are you curious about a few businesses in particular?

VISA has this handy tool: https://www.visa.com/supplierlocator/search/index.jsp

Re: How to tell which stores code with which category?

vwgrrc — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 08:14:17 GMT

Common sense would work for most place.

But I too curious about this... what if the grocery store of Shell/Chevron, is that gas or grocery? Or, what if the gas pump of 7-11, gas or grocery?

Re: How to tell which stores code with which category?

WLRK11 — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 08:17:26 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@mrsno wrote:
Bump. I'm curious too.
Thanks for the bump.

Could you explain to me what the no preset spending limit means..? lol

NPSL or no preset spending limit means that the charge card (not credit card; and usually American Express a.k.a. AMEX) has an internal limit, but no hard limit reported to the credit bureau. The high balance is still reported, though. Charge cards are paid-in-full upon reciept of the statement.

The internal NPSL varies based on a number of risk factors such as: income, household asssets, payment history, charge history, etc.

AMEX cardholders are able to enter a dollar amount on AMEX's website to determine whether the charge will be accepted or not. (Don't abuse that feature!) If an AMEX cardholder were to make a large purchase, they would login and enter that amount plus their other expected charges for that billing cycle. I hope that helps.

Re: How to tell which stores code with which category?

WLRK11 — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 08:22:39 GMT

@vwgrrc wrote:
Common sense would work for most place.

But I too curious about this... what if the grocery store of Shell/Chevron, is that gas or grocery? Or, what if the gas pump of 7-11, gas or grocery?

Shell appeared as GAS STATIONS / FUEL / SUPPLIES - 5542,5541 but YRMV.

Keep in mind that if you pay at the pump (or any other automated terminal) the merchant category code might be different from the store. For example, when I buy a car wash and pay inside of the gas station, the transaction codes as a gas station. When I pay at the automated terminal just outside of the car wash it counts as something other an gas station. (So, I always pay inside!) That's trial and error for you.

Re: How to tell which stores code with which category?

Anonymous — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 08:24:04 GMT

@wlrk
Thanks for clearing that up.

Re: How to tell which stores code with which category?

Anonymous — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 12:54:48 GMT

@vwgrrc wrote:
Common sense would work for most place.

But I too curious about this... what if the grocery store of Shell/Chevron, is that gas or grocery? Or, what if the gas pump of 7-11, gas or grocery?

Depends, common sense might not be that good if a guide, especially for things like "Will Amex count this as a grocery store?" In the end, the best way to tell is to make a small purchase, and wait for the REWARD (not transaction) to appear. Obviously, not always possible if you are visiting somewhere or need to buy something now. And even then, in the worst case, the stores changes classification between your trial purchase and your real one!

Re: How to tell which stores code with which category?

kdm31091 — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 13:00:56 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@vwgrrc wrote:
Common sense would work for most place.

But I too curious about this... what if the grocery store of Shell/Chevron, is that gas or grocery? Or, what if the gas pump of 7-11, gas or grocery?
Depends, common sense might not be that good if a guide, especially for things like "Will Amex count this as a grocery store?" In the end, the best way to tell is to make a small purchase, and wait for the REWARD (not transaction) to appear. Obviously, not always possible if you are visiting somewhere or need to buy something now. And even then, in the worst case, the stores changes classification between your trial purchase and your real one!

Right. If you are really concerned about how a particular place is going to code, you need to just make a small purchase. Generally, "grocery store" means a standalone store with a primarily business of selling groceries -- Shop Rite, Pathmark, Superfresh, etc whatever you have in your area. Now just think about it, in general discussion we do not usually think of Target or Walmart as "grocery stores"; they have nearly everything. While some transactions do still get coded as grocery if you're lucky, the point is that they are technically not grocery stores, so one can't really expect grocery rewards (and in Target's case, they want you to use their redcard, so I imagine they like to NOT be coded as grocery!)

So yes, common sense can be your guide but if you it's a large purchase coming up, I'd just test it out first.

Re: How to tell which stores code with which category?

yfan — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 15:11:43 GMT

When in doubt, and you have to buy something and can't wait to find out in your statement, just use your best flat rewards card.

Re: How to tell which stores code with which category?

Anonymous — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 15:58:48 GMT

With American Express it's kind of funny because my local grocery store does not get coded as a supermarket because it's just small time.

I know that card with the six percent back on groceries its definitely worgh driving the extra mile out of my way to get coded correctly

Re: How to tell which stores code with which category?

taxi818 — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 16:42:43 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@vwgrrc wrote:
Common sense would work for most place.

But I too curious about this... what if the grocery store of Shell/Chevron, is that gas or grocery? Or, what if the gas pump of 7-11, gas or grocery?
Depends, common sense might not be that good if a guide, especially for things like "Will Amex count this as a grocery store?" In the end, the best way to tell is to make a small purchase, and wait for the REWARD (not transaction) to appear. Obviously, not always possible if you are visiting somewhere or need to buy something now. And even then, in the worst case, the stores changes classification between your trial purchase and your real one!

Exactly. Only real way to know amex sometimes codes. Publix in Florida. As merchandise. It's groceries all day long.

Re: How to tell which stores code with which category?

Callandra — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 17:23:14 GMT

@taxi818 wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
@vwgrrc wrote:
Common sense would work for most place.

But I too curious about this... what if the grocery store of Shell/Chevron, is that gas or grocery? Or, what if the gas pump of 7-11, gas or grocery?
Depends, common sense might not be that good if a guide, especially for things like "Will Amex count this as a grocery store?" In the end, the best way to tell is to make a small purchase, and wait for the REWARD (not transaction) to appear. Obviously, not always possible if you are visiting somewhere or need to buy something now. And even then, in the worst case, the stores changes classification between your trial purchase and your real one!
Exactly. Only real way to know amex sometimes codes. Publix in Florida. As merchandise. It's groceries all day long.

Seriously? Publix in Florida codes as merchandise? I used Freedom during their groceries category and I got the 5% there with no problem; Amex needs to re-evaluate their codes (and Publix is the only supermarket around here too...there's literally one on every corner!).

Re: How to tell which stores code with which category?

icyhot — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 17:37:16 GMT

Try the Wallaby app. When you go in a store it'll tell you which of your cards is best to you based on the categories. For my BofA cash, Walmart codes as a grocery store so I get 3% back no matter what. When I stayed at a Hyatt and bought something at the bar, it coded as dining, not as a hotel, so I couldn't redeem points on my Venture. But Target seems to code as merchandise all the time

Re: How to tell which stores code with which category?

IncrsCreditScore1 — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 17:45:37 GMT

@WLRK11 wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
I know they get listed on our statements, but is there anyway to tell beforehand? (before a purchase)
Are you curious about a few businesses in particular?

VISA has this handy tool: https://www.visa.com/supplierlocator/search/index.jsp

Is there another link? That one is not working.

Re: How to tell which stores code with which category?

IncrsCreditScore1 — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 17:50:27 GMT

@icyhot wrote:
Try the Wallaby app. When you go in a store it'll tell you which of your cards is best to you based on the categories. For my BofA cash, Walmart codes as a grocery store so I get 3% back no matter what. When I stayed at a Hyatt and bought something at the bar, it coded as dining, not as a hotel, so I couldn't redeem points on my Venture. But Target seems to code as merchandise all the time

The bad thing about the Wallaby app is that it eats up your GBs like crazy. For the month I had it on my phone, it ate up 2 GB and I had to pay extra for it. Therefore, I uninstalled it.

Do you know of a way to have the app and have it not eating up GBs?

Re: How to tell which stores code with which category?

kdm31091 — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 17:57:32 GMT

@icyhot wrote:
Try the Wallaby app. When you go in a store it'll tell you which of your cards is best to you based on the categories. For my BofA cash, Walmart codes as a grocery store so I get 3% back no matter what. When I stayed at a Hyatt and bought something at the bar, it coded as dining, not as a hotel, so I couldn't redeem points on my Venture. But Target seems to code as merchandise all the time

I thought BOA cash was 2%, not 3%, on groceries?

Re: How to tell which stores code with which category?

icyhot — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 18:06:06 GMT

@kdm31091 wrote:
@icyhot wrote:
Try the Wallaby app. When you go in a store it'll tell you which of your cards is best to you based on the categories. For my BofA cash, Walmart codes as a grocery store so I get 3% back no matter what. When I stayed at a Hyatt and bought something at the bar, it coded as dining, not as a hotel, so I couldn't redeem points on my Venture. But Target seems to code as merchandise all the time
I thought BOA cash was 2%, not 3%, on groceries?

Ahhhhh you're right, I'm trippin.It does count WM as a bonus category tho

Re: How to tell which stores code with which category?

kdm31091 — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 18:10:13 GMT

@icyhot wrote:
@kdm31091 wrote:
@icyhot wrote:
Try the Wallaby app. When you go in a store it'll tell you which of your cards is best to you based on the categories. For my BofA cash, Walmart codes as a grocery store so I get 3% back no matter what. When I stayed at a Hyatt and bought something at the bar, it coded as dining, not as a hotel, so I couldn't redeem points on my Venture. But Target seems to code as merchandise all the time
I thought BOA cash was 2%, not 3%, on groceries?
Ahhhhh you're right, I'm trippin.It does count WM as a bonus category tho

Seems like Walmart comes up as grocery more often than Target does, at least in my experience