topic Re: Merchant code lookup tool? What will a store code as? in Credit Cards

Merchant code lookup tool? What will a store code as?

dlister70 — Sun, 19 Mar 2023 22:43:34 GMT

There used to be a Visa credit card code lookup website that I used, but it's since closed down.

I am currently trying to figure out what stores would code as 5310 discount stores which is a category on the Redstone signature visa.

I found this website:

https://awardwallet.com/en/merchants

You can type in a store, and it will tell you a category, but not the MCC number. I have not found a single store that comes up as "discount store". I've tried Walmart, Target, Dollar General, Big Lots, Family Dollar, TJ Maxx.. some of these come up on that lookup tool as unexpected. Big Lots is listed as a wholesale club, Dollar General is listed as Merchandise & Supplies - General Retail. I'm not particularly confident in a lookup tool that classifies Big Lots the same as Costco.

Maybe my google search terms are terrible, but I can't find a list anywhere of what sorts of stores code as 5310.

Are there any alternatives to the now-defunct Visa lookup tool?

Re: Merchant code lookup tool? What will a store code as?

FireMedic1 — Sun, 19 Mar 2023 23:22:47 GMT

What card are you talking about?

Re: Merchant code lookup tool? What will a store code as?

dlister70 — Sun, 19 Mar 2023 23:28:43 GMT

@FireMedic1 wrote:
What card are you talking about?

The Redstone Federal Credit Union Signature Visa:

https://www.redfcu.org/personal/credits-cards/visa-signature/

5% on gas & restaurants, 3% on groceries, discount stores, wholesale clubs, utilities, phone & streaming services, 1.5% on everything else.

I have a pretty good idea on the other categories, but I don't know what a "discount store" is. I've read that some Walmarts and Targets will code that way, but some won't. I'm trying to figure out if my local ones will, and what other possible stores that I'm not thinking of might be included. Redstone does not specify 5310, that's just the code that came up when I googled for the MCC for discount store, so I guess it's possible that it's not that, but that seems the most likely code.

Re: Merchant code lookup tool? What will a store code as?

kremonis — Mon, 20 Mar 2023 16:01:49 GMT

@dlister70 wrote:
@FireMedic1 wrote:
What card are you talking about?
The Redstone Federal Credit Union Signature Visa:

https://www.redfcu.org/personal/credits-cards/visa-signature/

5% on gas & restaurants, 3% on groceries, discount stores, wholesale clubs, utilities, phone & streaming services, 1.5% on everything else.

I have a pretty good idea on the other categories, but I don't know what a "discount store" is. I've read that some Walmarts and Targets will code that way, but some won't. I'm trying to figure out if my local ones will, and what other possible stores that I'm not thinking of might be included. Redstone does not specify 5310, that's just the code that came up when I googled for the MCC for discount store, so I guess it's possible that it's not that, but that seems the most likely code.

@dlister70

It seems your only options is to test it out. Does this CU itemize and list charges along with cash back earned? Chase and BOA do.

I am thinking about applying for this credit card. Are there any tips you would like to share?

Re: Merchant code lookup tool? What will a store code as?

dlister70 — Mon, 20 Mar 2023 16:55:51 GMT

@dlister70
It seems your only options is to test it out. Does this CU itemize and list charges along with cash back earned? Chase and BOA do.

I am thinking about applying for this credit card. Are there any tips you would like to share?

Unfortunately, the web interface and statements from Redstone are pretty bad. They don't indicate what rate the reward was for each charge. There's just a total of how many points you earned that month. With this card, it's going to be really difficult to figure out what rate you got for what charge and if the total doesn't add up to what you thought it was, you don't know which charge was the culprit.

As for tips for the card, I believe you have to be a member to apply because it asked for my member number in the app. There are other threads showing ways you can join.

Here is my approval thread with details of my app. I had to recon to get it:

https://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Card-Approvals/Redstone-Visa-Signature-approved-after-recon/td-p/6654929

Re: Merchant code lookup tool? What will a store code as?

phantasm — Mon, 27 May 2024 13:34:16 GMT

@dlister70 - Did you ever figure out what merchants codes as a discount store? I've been searching to find the same with no success.

Re: Merchant code lookup tool? What will a store code as?

AndySoCal — Mon, 27 May 2024 14:14:39 GMT

@dlister70 Discount store examples would be Target and some Walmarts. My local Walmart is a supercenter. When I order my groceries online the code used is discount store.

Re: Merchant code lookup tool? What will a store code as?

Anonymous — Mon, 27 May 2024 15:35:41 GMT

@AndySoCal wrote:
@dlister70 Discount store examples would be Target and some Walmarts. My local Walmart is a supercenter. When I order my groceries online the code used is discount store.

Did you read the original post?

"I've read that some Walmarts and Targets will code that way, but some won't. I'm trying to figure out if my local ones will, and what other possible stores that I'm not thinking of might be included."

OP is trying to find out whether specific stores code that way.

Re: Merchant code lookup tool? What will a store code as?

AndySoCal — Mon, 27 May 2024 17:30:28 GMT

@Anonymous @dlister70 Here is how you find out how the transaction is coded click on the plus sign next to the transaction

Re: Merchant code lookup tool? What will a store code as?

Anonymous — Mon, 27 May 2024 18:29:48 GMT

@AndySoCal wrote:
@Anonymous @dlister70 Here is how you find out how the transaction is coded click on the plus sign next to the transaction

And that's great for once you have made the transaction. OP is trying to answer the question "If I go to store X, will it code as a discount store? (And if not, which stores will)."

Re: Merchant code lookup tool? What will a store code as?

AndySoCal — Mon, 27 May 2024 20:05:24 GMT

@Anonymous With the Redstone FCU credit card what does it matter if it is grocery discount store or wholesale club? The rewards points are the same

It is not like Cash+ or any other card that you need grocery store in order to get the reward points. Not sure how else Walmart or Target would be coded.

Re: Merchant code lookup tool? What will a store code as?

Anonymous — Mon, 27 May 2024 20:37:12 GMT

@AndySoCal wrote:
@Anonymous With the Redstone FCU credit card what does it matter if it is grocery discount store or wholesale club? The rewards points are the same

It is not like Cash+ or any other card that you need grocery store in order to get the reward points. Not sure how else Walmart or Target would be coded.

True, but take OPs question about Dollar General for example. It might not code as discount store or wholesale club. Or it might. Hence the desire for a reliable lookup

Re: Merchant code lookup tool? What will a store code as?

AndySoCal — Mon, 27 May 2024 20:55:50 GMT

@Anonymous I have a Dollar Tree which is in similiar line of business codes as a Variety Store . I will try not to be not to be too disappointed in the loss of the ten cent difference in the reward on my $6.50 purchase. LOL

Re: Merchant code lookup tool? What will a store code as?

dlister70 — Mon, 27 May 2024 21:34:33 GMT

@AndySoCal wrote:
@Anonymous @dlister70 Here is how you find out how the transaction is coded click on the plus sign next to the transaction

This thread is about 14 months old, and I did eventually figure this tip out (hitting the plus mark) but it took an embarrassing amount of time before I realized! I thought that the plus was just indicating that I had spent money and I'd get a minus when I made a payment. But I did eventually figure it out, and have used the data to help me decide whether or not to use this card at that business.

As to the answer to the question, I've found that I basically have to try it out to know for sure. A lookup tool could tell me one thing, and I find a different thing to be true at my local store. I had two different steak and shake restaurants in the same town and one coded as fast food and the other coded as restaurant! I suspect that I could potentially find a similar situation with dollar stores, although with retail it's maybe less ambiguous like it is with food and you'd think that there's only one category that makes sense.

But so far, I've gotten the 3% discount category at my local Target, Dollar General, Dollar Tree, Big Lots, and I think one more that I'm forgetting (possibly Family Dollar?). If I shopped more at Target, then it'd be a bigger deal for me, but I only hit any of those stores pretty sporatically. My local Walmart came up grocery for me, which is also 3% with this card.

I find that I heavily use this card with restaurants, and only occationally use it for any of the other categories.