topic Re: How do you use the Amazon Visa Rewards Card for maximum point/cash back? in Credit Cards

How do you use the Amazon Visa Rewards Card for maximum point/cash back?

Firstladywilson79 — Sun, 06 Jul 2014 14:25:57 GMT

I'm curious as to how you use the Amazon Rewards Card to get the maximum rewards. I just got one with $1000CL and it's my first rewards card. I'm a single mom trying to save and get rewarded also on necessities like groceries, gas, etc. Any suggestions, experiences?

Re: How do you use the Amazon Visa Rewards Card for maximum point/cash back?

Creditaddict — Sun, 06 Jul 2014 14:45:43 GMT

@Firstladywilson79 wrote:
I'm curious as to how you use the Amazon Rewards Card to get the maximum rewards. I just got one with $1000CL and it's my first rewards card. I'm a single mom trying to save and get rewarded also on necessities like groceries, gas, etc. Any suggestions, experiences?

Well if it's your only rewards it's pretty simple because you don't need to rotate for other reward programs that you carry on other cards... Use it like a debit card for EVERYTHING and Pay in full.

Re: How do you use the Amazon Visa Rewards Card for maximum point/cash back?

Turbobuick — Sun, 06 Jul 2014 22:31:03 GMT

Our house buys lots of things from Amazon including many subscribed items that earn additional savings. Everyday staples like coffee, cereal, toilet paper, paper towels, soaps, dog treats can come automatically each month when subscribed and save up to 15%(moms can save 20%). The Amazon rewards card offers an additional 3% savings on what you buy from Amazon. Their rewards are as follows...

3% Back at Amazon.com
2% Back at gas stations, restaurants, drugstores and office supply stores
1% Back on all other purchases

Obviously, your biggest reward is at Amazon. If this is your only rewards card, then it would benefit you to use it everywhere. The only downside is that it's not a cash reward only a discount from future purchases at Amazon. Of course it's not a true "reward" if you carry a balance and pay interest!

Re: How do you use the Amazon Visa Rewards Card for maximum point/cash back?

Anonymous — Sun, 06 Jul 2014 22:38:30 GMT

@Turbobuick wrote:
Our house buys lots of things from Amazon including many subscribed items that earn additional savings. Everyday staples like coffee, cereal, toilet paper, paper towels, soaps, dog treats can come automatically each month when subscribed and save up to 15%(moms can save 20%). The Amazon rewards card offers an additional 3% savings on what you buy from Amazon. Their rewards are as follows...

3% Back at Amazon.com
2% Back at gas stations, restaurants, drugstores and office supply stores
1% Back on all other purchases
Obviously, your biggest reward is at Amazon. If this is your only rewards card, then it would benefit you to use it everywhere. The only downside is that it's not a cash reward only a discount from future purchases at Amazon. Of course it's not a true "reward" if you carry a balance and pay interest!

And if Amazon is place you get a lot of stuff, consider getting the Sallie Mae card, which gives 5% off amazon (up to $750 spend a month) and 5% on groceries and gas, each up to $250 a month. Doesn't cover restaurants but the extra discount on other categories should more than make up for that for some.

Re: How do you use the Amazon Visa Rewards Card for maximum point/cash back?

Turbobuick — Sun, 06 Jul 2014 23:12:09 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
And if Amazon is place you get a lot of stuff, consider getting the Sallie Mae card, which gives 5% off amazon (up to $750 spend a month) and 5% on groceries and gas, each up to $250 a month. Doesn't cover restaurants but the extra discount on other categories should more than make up for that for some.

Interesting! I went to Sallie Mae site and they list no reference to Amazon except to say $750/mo on books. Is Amazon coded as just a bookstore? How long has this existed? Isn't this perk tailored for students? It would nudge me to apply for their card if I understood it wasn't an oversight. We do buy books(not textbooks) from Amazon, but I'm sure it's less than 5% of our total purchases.

The irony here is most of our purchases at Amazon are groceries, which are supposedly covered, but bought at a bookstore!

Re: How do you use the Amazon Visa Rewards Card for maximum point/cash back?

H14 — Sun, 06 Jul 2014 23:21:31 GMT

@Turbobuick wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
And if Amazon is place you get a lot of stuff, consider getting the Sallie Mae card, which gives 5% off amazon (up to $750 spend a month) and 5% on groceries and gas, each up to $250 a month. Doesn't cover restaurants but the extra discount on other categories should more than make up for that for some.
Interesting! I went to Sallie Mae site and they list no reference to Amazon except to say $750/mo on books. Is Amazon coded as just a bookstore? How long has this existed? Isn't this perk tailored for students? It would nudge me to apply for their card if I understood it wasn't an oversight. We do buy books(not textbooks) from Amazon, but I'm sure it's less than 5% of our total purchases.

The irony here is most of our purchases at Amazon are groceries, which are supposedly covered, but bought at a bookstore!

Because Amazon started primarily as an online bookstore, their Visa/MC merchant codes for transactions are bookstore. So it is not an oversight.

Re: How do you use the Amazon Visa Rewards Card for maximum point/cash back?

Anonymous — Sun, 06 Jul 2014 23:22:57 GMT

@Turbobuick wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
And if Amazon is place you get a lot of stuff, consider getting the Sallie Mae card, which gives 5% off amazon (up to $750 spend a month) and 5% on groceries and gas, each up to $250 a month. Doesn't cover restaurants but the extra discount on other categories should more than make up for that for some.
Interesting! I went to Sallie Mae site and they list no reference to Amazon except to say $750/mo on books. Is Amazon coded as just a bookstore? How long has this existed? Isn't this perk tailored for students? It would nudge me to apply for their card if I understood it wasn't an oversight. We do buy books(not textbooks) from Amazon, but I'm sure it's less than 5% of our total purchases.

The irony here is most of our purchases at Amazon are groceries, which are supposedly covered, but bought at a bookstore!

Most amazon purchases are coded as bookstores, a few are currently coded as computer supplies or some such. It works for Amazon itself and Amazon Marketplace (but not for Amazon payments)

Not at all new, read the Sallie Mae threads all over this forum. It's not (just) for students, you can take the refunds as statement credit.

Re: How do you use the Amazon Visa Rewards Card for maximum point/cash back?

Turbobuick — Sun, 06 Jul 2014 23:36:30 GMT

Thanks for the info! I'm going to wait a couple months and get a Sallie Mae account. I've had flurry of activity on my fico lately thanks to a new Amex card(joined Costco) a new BofA MC (business card to save acct fees) and a Home Depot card open and close mixup in the last two months.

Sorry to the OP, I didn't intend to steal your thread. Hopefully you gained some help here too!