AMEX Rewards Retail Categories "Complete List"???

[Anonymous]

Just received my BCE (woop-woop), excited to start my bonus program and receive 2-3% rewards. After reading the fine print, I'm finding out that I may not benefit much as I live in a small town 50% of the year. I've chatted with Amex as to their "complete list" which doesn't exist because they say, it is too extensive (approx. 100+ merchants ) and changes often. 

Below is per their website and part of the link they refer me to: 

Examples of merchants* that accept the Card and where you can earn additional rewards include:

• Gristedes

• Foodtown

• Meijer

• Shoprite

• Stop and Shop

• Vons

• Whole Foods

• Winn-Dixie

• Online supermarkets such as FreshDirect

*This is not a complete list.

Stated as "examples" and "not a complete list" I wonder if any of you seasoned Amex-aficionados out there have come up with a complete list? The CSR listed a few "not on the list" but will count as a "U.S. Supermarket". The CSR told me all I have to do is ask the merchant if they are a registered U.S. Supermarket. This is 2018 though, right? What is so hard about making a list? I'm driving up and down the west coast on a schedule, it would be completely ridiculous to have to stop at every market and ask if they are a registered u.s. supermarket. I'm sure I will get to know the merchants on this secret list eventually, but for now, it would be convenient to know in advance.

Per CSR also included (which I copy/pasted from our chat):

Albertsons

A&P

Food Lion

H-E-B Hy-Vee

Kroger

Military commissaries

Pathmark/Acme

Peapod

Piggly Wiggly

Publix

Safeway

Sav-A-Lot

Shoprite

Stater Bros.

SuperValu

Tops

Trader Joe's

Wegmans

AMEX CSR DOES NOT KNOW IF THESE MERCHANTS ARE INCLUDED IN "THE LIST"

• Fred Meyer 
• Grocery Outlet Bargain Market
• Bi-Mart

If anyone would like to chime in and add to the Secret Undocumented U.S. Supermarket List, please do so.

Secret Undocumented U.S. Supermarket List

Albertsons

A&P

Food Lion

Foodtown

FreshDirect (online)

Gristedes

H-E-B Hy-Vee

Kroger

Meijer

Military commissaries

Pathmark/Acme

Peapod

Piggly Wiggly

Publix

Safeway

Sav-A-Lot

Shoprite

Stater Bros.

Stop and Shop

SuperValu

Tops

Trader Joe's

Vons

Wegmans

Whole Foods

Winn-Dixie

 

Thank You! 

[Anonymous]

I'm thinking any kind of list would be far to extensive as well as it being subject to change. I'm not sure any one could come up with a reliable source. I think what your asking for would include thousands of business.

[Anonymous]

I don't see why Fred Meyer wouldn't be included since they are part of the Kroger family of stores.

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I don't see why Fred Meyer wouldn't be included since they are part of the Kroger family of stores.

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I read on the forum somewhere that Fred Meyer is not included, so I do need to confirm that as it will be my main shopping source.

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:
I'm thinking any kind of list would be far to extensive as well as it being subject to change. I'm not sure any one could come up with a reliable source. I think what your asking for would include thousands of business.

---

Amex mentioned hundreds, but lists have been known to incur extended amounts, that's why lists are so important. I am a list person myself. I just thought a list on this forum maybe helpful for Amex newbs such as me. Otherwise I'll just keep it in my own files.

[FinStar]

OP, another thing to keep in mind, it's how the merchant is coded. It's been reported that while a specific retailer is recognized as such in a variety of metropolitan areas, there will always be outliers.

IMO, plan accordingly, test things out to ensure the retailer codes properly when charges are made and have a back up just in case things change.

[Anonymous]

As someone who deals a lot with standards and specifications I can appreciate the desire to have easy to access data. My fear would be that any list would just not be reliable enough for what we would require. Perhaps if you have a list of business you frequent, or some that are near your location others can offer their experiences. I might be a little less cumbersome. Myself looking a that list of places you provided I'm not sure I have even heard of half of them.

[staticvoidmain]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I don't see why Fred Meyer wouldn't be included since they are part of the Kroger family of stores.

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I believe it is considered the same category as Walmart superstores (not just grocery). I'll just check out a QFC, sometimes they have the same or better prices. Kroger is usually smaller than Fred Meyer, and more "grocery"-ish in their inventory. Conversely, smaller Walmart marketplaces code as grocery.

[wasCB14]

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@FinStar wrote:
OP, another thing to keep in mind, it's how the merchant is coded. It's been reported that while a specific retailer is recognized as such in a variety of metropolitan areas, there will always be outliers.

IMO, plan accordingly, test things out to ensure the retailer codes properly when charges are made and have a back up just in case things change.

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Such as how some people reported Sallie Mae recognizing their local Wal-Mart as a grocery store, but other people only got 1%.

OP, just use the card at a few different stores you'd actually shop at and see if you get the extra points. That will give you more useful information than trying to build some nationwide database.

Note that some merchants will be broadly categorized as "grocery" and yet not get bonus points. This may include convenience stores, liquor stores, etc. So check your rewards statement to see whether the purchases actually qualify for bonus points/cash.

[longtimelurker]

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@Anonymous wrote:

The CSR told me all I have to do is ask the merchant if they are a registered U.S. Supermarket. This is 2018 though, right? What is so hard about making a list? I'm driving up and down the west coast on a schedule, it would be completely ridiculous to have to stop at every market and ask if they are a registered u.s. supermarket.

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This is an example where the CSR doesn't understand the world outside!  Amex frequently tells people this sort of thing, but imagine asking a busy clerk at checkout, are you a registered US supermarket?    Probably not going to get a quality answer, especially as the real question is "Do you code for Amex as a supermarket?" and I guarantee that the people who know this per store is very low!

As others have said, the list would simply be too big with invididual stores,  I can tell you that Russo's in Watertown MA does indeed code for Amex, but there's only one store, and I would assume there are several thousand other examples.

Nice thing about the BCE is that it matters less!   Getting 1% rather than 3% is not great, but better than getting 1 rather than 6% AND having paid an AF!