topic Re: Costco Gas pumps qualify for 5% on Chase Freedom Q1 in Credit Cards

Costco Gas pumps qualify for 5% on Chase Freedom Q1

Anonymous — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 11:46:53 GMT

I can't find the thread, but a while back, I got into a discussion about whether the 5% on gas for the Chase Freedom would count at Costco, since the fine print on the Costco deal excluded warehouse clubs. Well, I was right... it does!

01/03/2017

01/04/2017

Sale

COSTCO GAS #0378

$4.12

LAKE ZURICH, IL 600470000 US
In-person transaction

Rewards earned1

+ Bonus from 1Q 5% category: Gas stations	16.48
+ 1% (1 Pt)/$1 earned on all purchases	4.12

Total rewards	20.60	Points

Chris.

Re: Costco Gas pumps qualify for 5% on Chase Freedom Q1

vanillabean — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 12:54:24 GMT

Amazing, thanks! I'll go check it out.

Re: Costco Gas pumps qualify for 5% on Chase Freedom Q1

MASTERNC — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 13:32:26 GMT

I'm somewhat surprised. On one hand, gas at BJ's and Sam's has counted before for the bonus rewards. On the other, I thought the Costco/Visa arrangement would complicate this (kind of like AMEX explicitly said only the Costco AMEX would earn bonus rewards at Costco gas stations).

Re: Costco Gas pumps qualify for 5% on Chase Freedom Q1

NRB525 — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 13:44:21 GMT

@MASTERNC wrote:
I'm somewhat surprised. On one hand, gas at BJ's and Sam's has counted before for the bonus rewards. On the other, I thought the Costco/Visa arrangement would complicate this (kind of like AMEX explicitly said only the Costco AMEX would earn bonus rewards at Costco gas stations).

I would say it's the other way around. AMEX is notorious for not classifying Grocery, Gas and Dining as such, unless the merchant fits their more restrictive criteria. Always expect AMEX will not code your purchase as a category, unless it shows up that it did happen to code in a category you thought it might.

I've not had issue with using VISA or MC for the Grocery, Gas, Dining and other categories on bonus offers such as my Chase Freedom VISA or Citi Diamond Preferred MC (when the bonus categories are offered there).

Re: Costco Gas pumps qualify for 5% on Chase Freedom Q1

newhis — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 13:45:41 GMT

Interesting, I will try on Sam's.

I normally use Sallie Mae but it is going away and 5 UR is better than 5% cash back.

Re: Costco Gas pumps qualify for 5% on Chase Freedom Q1

fltireguy — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 13:48:09 GMT

That would make sense. Since Costco's gas stations actually code as a gas station, and not a warehouse club, they should count toward any bonus for gas purchases.

Re: Costco Gas pumps qualify for 5% on Chase Freedom Q1

Anonymous — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 14:08:46 GMT

@fltireguy wrote:
That would make sense. Since Costco's gas stations actually code as a gas station, and not a warehouse club, they should count toward any bonus for gas purchases.

That was my assertion at the time, which turns out correct. But on the other hand, Chase specifically notes Warehouse Clubs in the exclusion list -

Gas Stations Related Exclusions:

Airline Fuel Companies

Car Repair Shops

Convenience Stores where gas is NOT sold

Grocery Stores

Dairies/Farm Stores

Home Heating Companies

Oil and Propane Distributors

Marinas Superstores

Warehouse stores

Discount stores

Truck Stops

I believe Discover has always had similar language about its 5% gas bonus. My assumption has been that that's simply an "out" to accommodate situations where the merchant may not code gas purchases as "Gas" but rather as general merchandise. My experience with Discover at Sam's gas pumps is that those purchases always qualified for 5% on Discover, so I guessed that Costco/Freedom would work the same.

Chris.

Re: Costco Gas pumps qualify for 5% on Chase Freedom Q1

Anonymous — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 14:12:37 GMT

@MASTERNC wrote:
I'm somewhat surprised. On one hand, gas at BJ's and Sam's has counted before for the bonus rewards. On the other, I thought the Costco/Visa arrangement would complicate this (kind of like AMEX explicitly said only the Costco AMEX would earn bonus rewards at Costco gas stations).

Um, no, actually, the Costco AmEx specifically stated that you'd get the gas bonus at all U.S. gas stations. It was actually a big selling point of the card.

I understand what you're saying about the Costco/Visa arrangement. But then, Costco "allowed" Chase to give 5% cashback to Freedom customers for in-store Costco purchases for more than half the year. Why would 5% on Costco gas be any different?

Chris.

Re: Costco Gas pumps qualify for 5% on Chase Freedom Q1

yfan — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 15:30:07 GMT

This is pretty cool. Even though I don't have the Freedom, nor any intentions to get it, I have to admit Chase has been doing well with respect to Costco the past 3 quarters. With respect to gas though, the Costco Citi card has 4% cashback on gas anyway, so this alone would not be reason to apply.

Re: Costco Gas pumps qualify for 5% on Chase Freedom Q1

9CLINE — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 17:37:23 GMT

thanks for heads up...will remember to use this one instead of BCP...Have a great day !!!!!!!

Re: Costco Gas pumps qualify for 5% on Chase Freedom Q1

vanillabean — Mon, 09 Jan 2017 19:41:35 GMT

My visit to the Costco pump is now posted on chase.com to the tune of 5%.