topic Re: What is the best card to use at the following retail stores for rewards? in Credit Cards

What is the best card to use at the following retail stores for rewards?

Anonymous — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 18:48:14 GMT

This is pretty straightforward - what is the best card to use at the following stores for rewards...

-Hobby Lobby

-Michael's

-Sam's Club

-Walmart

I just want to make sure I'm not missing anything here since my wife and I go to these stores quite often. As of right now we're using the Quicksilver for 1.5% back. Thanks!

Re: What is the best card to use at the following retail stores for rewards?

FutureBillionaire — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 18:52:37 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
This is pretty straightforward - what is the best card to use at the following stores for rewards...

-Hobby Lobby
-Michael's
-Sam's Club
-Walmart

I just want to make sure I'm not missing anything here since my wife and I go to these stores quite often. As of right now we're using the Quicksilver for 1.5% back. Thanks!

You want to use a Visa at WM that classifies it as a grocery store. I believe BofA does and I know for sure that Penfed does.

Re: What is the best card to use at the following retail stores for rewards?

Anonymous — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 19:14:41 GMT

Well we already have the BankAmericard Cash Rewards Platinum Plus Visa card - is that the one that counts Walmart as a grocery store? If so, does it work that way for everything in the entire store, even non-grocery items?

Re: What is the best card to use at the following retail stores for rewards?

Anonymous — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 19:26:55 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Well we already have the BankAmericard Cash Rewards Platinum Plus Visa card - is that the one that counts Walmart as a grocery store? If so, does it work that way for everything in the entire store, even non-grocery items?

The category of the establishment is determined by the Merchant Category Code, or MCC. Visa and Mastercard use the MCC for Grocery Store for Walmart. This is indpendent of the issuing bank; it's based on the Visa/MC processing network. This applies to the entire purchase made at Walmart, not the individual items. So, if your MC or Visa offers you a certain reward at grocery stores, that's what you should expect to get when shopping at Walmart.

Amex and Discover, however, do not code Walmart as a grocery store. So you would not get grocery store rewards using Amex/Discover at Walmart.

ETA: I have a BankAmericard Cash Rewards Platinum Plus Visa card, and it does count Walmart as a grocery store. Again though, this is because it runs on the Visa network, not specifically because it's from BoA. BoA simply determines the reward structure, not the MCC coding.

Re: What is the best card to use at the following retail stores for rewards?

Anonymous — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 19:28:06 GMT

We've found that our Barclay MCs classify Walmart & Target as a grocery store. My DH's current (& my old) Barclay Rewards card gives us 2% @ Walmart & Target. My Sallie Mae card has earned 5% at Target (haven't used it at Walmart yet, but I'm pretty certain it would earn the same). Also, each time the rewards have been applied whether we purchased groceries and/or other non-grocery items.

Re: What is the best card to use at the following retail stores for rewards?

Anonymous — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 19:41:50 GMT

Is there a catch to the Sallie Mae card? I see it gives 5% back on gas and groceries all the time. What is the story with this one? Do you HAVE to spend at least $250 on gas and at least $250 on groceries a month to get the 5% for it?

Re: What is the best card to use at the following retail stores for rewards?

Anonymous — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 19:49:19 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Is there a catch to the Sallie Mae card? I see it gives 5% back on gas and groceries all the time. What is the story with this one?

I guess you could say that the "catch" is that its capped at $250 per month for groceries & $250 per month for gas plus up to $750 for bookstores (including Amazon). But IMO, it's still a very valuable card with no AF.

EDIT: It would definitely be a better card with no cap whatsoever (wishful thinking). But if it has to have a cap, changing it to a quarterly or yearly cap (like the BCE/BCP)would make this card that much better IMO.

Re: What is the best card to use at the following retail stores for rewards?

Leadberry — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 19:42:29 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Is there a catch to the Sallie Mae card? I see it gives 5% back on gas and groceries all the time. What is the story with this one? Do you HAVE to spend at least $250 on gas and at least $250 on groceries a month to get the 5% for it?

It's capped at $250/gas and $250/groceries per month.

Re: What is the best card to use at the following retail stores for rewards?

Anonymous — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 19:47:30 GMT

That cap doesn't mean much to us right now since that is what we spend a month anyway, or less. So Amazon counts for 5% back as well, does that mean everything that is sold by Amazon? If so this card sounds to just about eliminate our Blue Cash Everyday and our Amazon Chase card.

Re: What is the best card to use at the following retail stores for rewards?

Leadberry — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 19:48:56 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
That cap doesn't mean much to us right now since that is what we spend a month anyway, or less. So Amazon counts for 5% back as well, does that mean everything that is sold by Amazon? If so this card sounds to just about eliminate our Blue Cash Everyday and our Amazon Chase card.

Yes, every Amazon purchase is coded as a bookstore purchase, which is good for up to $750/month in spend.

Re: What is the best card to use at the following retail stores for rewards?

Anonymous — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 19:51:15 GMT

How hard is that card to get exactly? I've applied for, and been approved for, a number of cards the last month already. This one sure seems like it would help us a lot though.

Re: What is the best card to use at the following retail stores for rewards?

Anonymous — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 19:54:19 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
That cap doesn't mean much to us right now since that is what we spend a month anyway, or less. So Amazon counts for 5% back as well, does that mean everything that is sold by Amazon? If so this card sounds to just about eliminate our Blue Cash Everyday and our Amazon Chase card.

I agree. However, if there's a chance that you spend more than $250/month on gas, the BCE could cover that unless you have another card that earns 2% or more on gas purchases.

Re: What is the best card to use at the following retail stores for rewards?

Leadberry — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 19:54:38 GMT

The card is backed by Barclaycard, so I'd imagine it'd be the same as any other Barclaycard: have decent stats and not too much new credit. You may want to search or start a new thread on that one though. There are many here who can give you better info than I can.

Re: What is the best card to use at the following retail stores for rewards?

Anonymous — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 19:56:30 GMT

Thanks for the help so far guys!

Screw it, I'm taking the dive right now. I'll report back soon...

In the meantime, how about the other two stoers I mentioned in the OP? Anything good for that sort of thing?

Re: What is the best card to use at the following retail stores for rewards?

Anonymous — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 19:57:59 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
How hard is that card to get exactly? I've applied for, and been approved for, a number of cards the last month already. This one sure seems like it would help us a lot though.

Barclay pulls TU. How does your TU CR look like? Also, Barclays is known to be very inquiry & new accounts sensitive.....so that may be an issue especially if not instantly approved & you try for a re-con.

Other than that, their underwriting guidelines for the Sallie Mae appears to be consistent with other cards you already have, i.e. your BCE & QS.

Re: What is the best card to use at the following retail stores for rewards?

Anonymous — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 20:48:38 GMT

Well, I got approved for the SM MC instantly and they gave me a CL of $3,800 as well. I really can't wait go receive this one!

Re: What is the best card to use at the following retail stores for rewards?

Anonymous — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 20:50:36 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Well, I got approved for the SM MC instantly and they gave me a CL of $3,800 as well. I really can't wait go receive this one!

Congrats!

Re: What is the best card to use at the following retail stores for rewards?

Anonymous — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 21:27:56 GMT

Thanks tinuviel!

I keep seeing people saying to check the merchant category codes for this and that. Where are the links to do so for MC and Visa?

Re: What is the best card to use at the following retail stores for rewards?

Leadberry — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 21:54:57 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Well, I got approved for the SM MC instantly and they gave me a CL of $3,800 as well. I really can't wait go receive this one!

Grats!

Re: What is the best card to use at the following retail stores for rewards?

Anonymous — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 23:07:30 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
That cap doesn't mean much to us right now since that is what we spend a month anyway, or less. So Amazon counts for 5% back as well, does that mean everything that is sold by Amazon? If so this card sounds to just about eliminate our Blue Cash Everyday and our Amazon Chase card.

Redemption is also much better than the Amex BCE. Rewards post as the transaction posts, and you can redeem them without waiting for the statement to close. In contrast, you have to wait for the statement after the current one to get the rewards.