Aven Rewards - Groceries 6%

[Vinjints]

A thread to track this new grocery rewards card (promotion?) from Aven, slated to earn 6% cash back at grocery stores and supermarkets, up to $10k per year, and 2% unlimited cash back on everything else. It does appear that they cap this card at a $15k max CL.

BACKGROUND

Applied and approved on 11/06. Approval thread here. I had questions on the rewards and what was listed in the app, but on 11/14 received email confirmation:

We’d like to confirm that you’ve successfully enrolled in autopay, set to the minimum due. Your account earns 6% cash back on the first $10,000 spent each year at grocery stores and supermarkets. The “1% cash back” showing in your app is just a display issue, and our team is working on fixing it. 
 
Rest assured, your actual cash back rate is 6% at grocery stores and supermarkets, and 2% on all other purchases.

On 11/19 I checked the app again, and it is now showing my rewards as listed above. In addition, the app shows the $10k reward cap as per anniversary year. It also appears that the 6% may be tied to having auto-pay enabled as well.

First statement cut on 11/18, prior to receiving the actual card. Started receiving credit alerts on 11/19 of the new account. Card received on 11/24. They didn't mail until Monday 11/10, so a full two weeks to go through the mail system. Also, the card is listed in the revolving credit bucket, but is listed as a LOC and not a bankcard on my reports.

The card itself is the exact same as the one EC posted here in his 3% CB review. Has some texture to it and feels slightly heavier than the Prime card. Random googling today and it looks like there was a Home Depot promo for this card a year or two ago.

TESTING and REVIEW

On to the testing phase. I have two grocery stores nearby, plus a Walmart Supercenter and a Neighborhood Walmart. I don’t know that I have a mid-size Walmart in my area. My plan will be to test all four in-store for groceries and then do some non-grocery (other) in-store and online purchases as well. Also curious what would happen if I pay for items in the electronics department or even the auto service center section, if there is any difference in the rewards. I don’t know if there would be any value in checking the self-checkout vs. going through the cashier. It is nice that if one of these don’t post as 6%, I still get the 2% CB.

Also curious as to when the rewards post and how the redemption goes. Either way, glad to finally have my hands on it and start giving this thing a run.

[JamesS84]

I’m not familiar with Aven…is it worth looking into? I can get 6% back on groceries from Amex Blue Cash Preferred too.

[Vinjints]

With an annual fee and an annual cap 4k less. But otherwise, that's what I'm trying to find out too. 

[Varsity_Lu]

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@Vinjints wrote:

With an annual fee and an annual cap 4k less. But otherwise, that's what I'm trying to find out too. 

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BCP has a $6k cap. And the fee can be avoided if you are willing to play a little game we like to call Upgrade Downgrade.

[ptatohed]

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@Varsity_Lu wrote:

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@Vinjints wrote:

With an annual fee and an annual cap 4k less. But otherwise, that's what I'm trying to find out too. 

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BCP has a $6k cap. And the fee can be avoided if you are willing to play a little game we like to call Upgrade Downgrade.

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He said "$4k less", not $4k total.

[ElvisCaprice]

I eagerly await some hard dp results!!

[Vinjints]

Have some good results on the CB to report, but I did just notice something strange in the app. 

When I opened the app, it always had a balance transfer open for my CCC, which is still sitting in the intro APR period. However, there is now also a Chase BT offer showing a dollar amount with a notation of two days ago. Checked the Chase app and the dollar amount matches the amount I've "spent since my last statement close" on the 10th. A good chunk of this was from Christmas shopping the day before Thanksgiving on Amazon. To my knowledge, there hasnt been any reason for Chase to update my reports. Quick check on Experian shows an 11/9 update with amount owed of $12. 

Why would they have this information without it showing in my reports?

[ElvisCaprice]

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@Vinjints wrote:

Have some good results on the CB to report, but I did just notice something strange in the app. 

When I opened the app, it always had a balance transfer open for my CCC, which is still sitting in the intro APR period. However, there is now also a Chase BT offer showing a dollar amount with a notation of two days ago. Checked the Chase app and the dollar amount matches the amount I've "spent since my last statement close" on the 10th. A good chunk of this was from Christmas shopping the day before Thanksgiving on Amazon. To my knowledge, there hasnt been any reason for Chase to update my reports. Quick check on Experian shows an 11/9 update with amount owed of $12. 

Why would they have this information without it showing in my reports?

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   More of a question to Chase than Aven, for doing these extra non statement reports to Experian.

     Yeah, their pushing these balance transfers in the app and email.  I just ignore them.  Haven't noticed anything nefarious about them that they couldn't get with a soft pull from Experian.   Since they don't/never report to Transunion.  I'm sure Experian can receive ongoing updated info from issuers.  Possible that it doesn't get immediately disseminated to consumers.  I've noticed a lag on updates, for statement payoffs until the next statement closing/reporting.   Which would correspond to Experian reporting.

     Oh, well, no big deal, they can huff and puff to find ways to make a profit off me, as long as they continue to make good on their rewards.  I'm happy with them!  Hey, maybe this is a good sign, that they are finding ways to make this profitable off those willing.  Bodes well for the continuation of these rates.

[Vinjints]

Cash Back rewards update.

• Food Lion (grocery #1) - Have made three trips to at at least two different locations, paying at the cashier, with both card and mobile wallet. 6%
• Neighborhood Wal-Mart - P2 used the card at a cashier and got the 6%
• Dairy Queen - P2 tried to convince me after the fact that the ice cream cake would be considered groceries, this got 2%
• Local Convenience Store - convenience only, does not sell gas. Used physical card and got 6%

My first test run was on a weekday lunch and the spend plus rewards posted that night. The after 5pm spends seem to post the next day along with the rewards. The convenience store purchase was on Saturday afternoon and didn't post until this morning.

[Vinjints]

• Target, I assume is a regular target, not a Super Target. It has groceries, but no deli, bakery, etc. 2%
• Wal-Mart Supercenter, some small groceries through regular cashier. 6%

Will be trying grocery #2 this weekend, though I'm pretty confident this will be okay. May try some more of the Wal-Mart SC testing.