topic Chase Freedom in Credit Cards

Chase Freedom

CAS2019 — Mon, 05 Nov 2018 16:38:40 GMT

Hi, I have to purchase a pair of new RX glasses, and plan on ordering these at Costco’s Optical. This quarter, Costco is included in the rewards cash back—does their Optical dept fall into this category, or is it only the merchandise retail portion? I hope this makes sense. I forgot to mention, I’ll be using the Chase Freedom card.

Thank You!

Re: Chase Freedom

dlister70 — Mon, 05 Nov 2018 18:05:22 GMT

I'm afraid that I don't know the specifics for Costco, but I will say that other eyeglass places have coded differently from the store that they were in. They are typically leasing a spot inside the building and are seperate entities from the main store. As an example, when you get a Subway sandwich at a store that is inside of a Walmart, it should code as fast food and not as retail. The eye doctor at Lenscrafters even coded differently from the main Lenscrafters store when I charged my eye exam, and then charged my glasses.

I don't have a Costco near me, but when I googled for Costco eye glasses, it said something about visiting the independant eye doctor located at Costco, which leads me to believe that the relationship between the doctor and Costco is simply a lease of space in their building.

Re: Chase Freedom

CAS2019 — Mon, 05 Nov 2018 18:44:30 GMT

@dlister70 wrote:
I'm afraid that I don't know the specifics for Costco, but I will say that other eyeglass places have coded differently from the store that they were in. They are typically leasing a spot inside the building and are seperate entities from the main store. As an example, when you get a Subway sandwich at a store that is inside of a Walmart, it should code as fast food and not as retail. The eye doctor at Lenscrafters even coded differently from the main Lenscrafters store when I charged my eye exam, and then charged my glasses.

I don't have a Costco near me, but when I googled for Costco eye glasses, it said something about visiting the independant eye doctor located at Costco, which leads me to believe that the relationship between the doctor and Costco is simply a lease of space in their building.

Thank you, dlister, that was what I was afraid of. I’ll pay cash then, and use the card for other merchandise at Costco.

Re: Chase Freedom

imaximous — Mon, 05 Nov 2018 18:55:04 GMT

@CAS2019 wrote:
@dlister70 wrote:
I'm afraid that I don't know the specifics for Costco, but I will say that other eyeglass places have coded differently from the store that they were in. They are typically leasing a spot inside the building and are seperate entities from the main store. As an example, when you get a Subway sandwich at a store that is inside of a Walmart, it should code as fast food and not as retail. The eye doctor at Lenscrafters even coded differently from the main Lenscrafters store when I charged my eye exam, and then charged my glasses.

I don't have a Costco near me, but when I googled for Costco eye glasses, it said something about visiting the independant eye doctor located at Costco, which leads me to believe that the relationship between the doctor and Costco is simply a lease of space in their building.

Thank you, dlister, that was what I was afraid of. I’ll pay cash then, and use the card for other merchandise at Costco.

Why would you pay cash? You could still use the Freedom and see what happens. Worst case, you'll get 1% back. If you pay in cash, you'll get nothing back.

I also don't see why this purchase wouldn't qualify for 5%. You're purchasing from Costco, and that department is owned by them.

Re: Chase Freedom

blindambition — Mon, 05 Nov 2018 19:07:22 GMT

@CAS2019 wrote:
Hi, I have to purchase a pair of new RX glasses, and plan on ordering these at Costco’s Optical. This quarter, Costco is included in the rewards cash back—does their Optical dept fall into this category, or is it only the merchandise retail portion? I hope this makes sense. I forgot to mention, I’ll be using the Chase Freedom card.
Thank You!

Glasses would usually run under the MCc of Opticians optical goods and glasses, or similar wording. Exams are under Vision care, or medical services.

I would expect it not to fall under the Freedom category.

Re: Chase Freedom

CAS2019 — Mon, 05 Nov 2018 19:14:33 GMT

@imaximous wrote:
@CAS2019 wrote:
@dlister70 wrote:
I'm afraid that I don't know the specifics for Costco, but I will say that other eyeglass places have coded differently from the store that they were in. They are typically leasing a spot inside the building and are seperate entities from the main store. As an example, when you get a Subway sandwich at a store that is inside of a Walmart, it should code as fast food and not as retail. The eye doctor at Lenscrafters even coded differently from the main Lenscrafters store when I charged my eye exam, and then charged my glasses.

I don't have a Costco near me, but when I googled for Costco eye glasses, it said something about visiting the independant eye doctor located at Costco, which leads me to believe that the relationship between the doctor and Costco is simply a lease of space in their building.

Thank you, dlister, that was what I was afraid of. I’ll pay cash then, and use the card for other merchandise at Costco.
Why would you pay cash? You could still use the Freedom and see what happens. Worst case, you'll get 1% back. If you pay in cash, you'll get nothing back.
I also don't see why this purchase wouldn't qualify for 5%. You're purchasing from Costco, and that department is owned by them.

Oh, you know, I didn’t think of that (worst case scenario). I was so focused on the Costco thing, I didn’t see the forest from the trees! You changed my mind!

Re: Chase Freedom

UncleB — Tue, 06 Nov 2018 01:11:18 GMT

I would definitely at least try the Freedom.

I know it's 'apples and oranges', but for what it's worth my optical exam at Sam's Club does code as a 'regular' Sam's purchase (they actually use a Sam's Club register to ring up the fee).

This might vary from location to location, though; since the providers are independent I'm sure they likely get some 'say'.

Re: Chase Freedom

Remedios — Tue, 06 Nov 2018 00:49:15 GMT

Can she use the chase pay/samsung pay combo and get 5% back?

Re: Chase Freedom

CAS2019 — Tue, 06 Nov 2018 01:00:18 GMT

Actually, I went to Costco Optical today to order, and the woman I spoke with told me it is Costco and only the Optometrist isn’t. The alert I received from Chase, shows The Costco charge. However, the proof will be when I can see the points.

Re: Chase Freedom

dlister70 — Tue, 06 Nov 2018 01:12:02 GMT

@CAS2019 wrote:
Actually, I went to Costco Optical today to order, and the woman I spoke with told me it is Costco and only the Optometrist isn’t. The alert I received from Chase, shows The Costco charge. However, the proof will be when I can see the points.

Great news! As mentioned, worst case scenario, you only get 1% back.. but I hope you find that 5% on the statement!

Re: Chase Freedom

Anonymous — Tue, 06 Nov 2018 01:18:20 GMT

Should be 5%, it's not on the list of exclusions.

Re: Chase Freedom

CAS2019 — Tue, 06 Nov 2018 16:23:01 GMT

@UncleB wrote:
I would definitely at least try the Freedom.

I know it's 'apples and oranges', but for what it's worth my optical exam at Sam's Club does code as a 'regular' Sam's purchase (they actually use a Sam's Club register to ring up the fee).

This might vary from location to location, though; since the providers are independent I'm sure they likely get some 'say'.

I ordered the glasses, and the purchase falls under “Costco”, no mention of Optician. When I spoke to the tech who helped me, I asked her if the Optical was independent of Costco, and she told me “no”, it is Costco and is not a rented space.

Re: Chase Freedom

CAS2019 — Tue, 06 Nov 2018 16:24:21 GMT

Thank you, Dlister! I hope so too. Regardless, I’ll at the very least get 1% back! 😀

Re: Chase Freedom

CAS2019 — Tue, 06 Nov 2018 16:25:08 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Should be 5%, it's not on the list of exclusions.

Yay!! Thank you,!