How to tell which stores code with which category?

[IncrsCreditScore1]

---

@kdm31091 wrote:

---

@icyhot wrote:

Try the Wallaby app. When you go in a store it'll tell you which of your cards is best to you based on the categories. For my BofA cash, Walmart codes as a grocery store so I get 3% back no matter what. When I stayed at a Hyatt and bought something at the bar, it coded as dining, not as a hotel, so I couldn't redeem points on my Venture. But Target seems to code as merchandise all the time

---

I thought BOA cash was 2%, not 3%, on groceries?

---

My WalMart codes as "merchandise," even for the pharmacy.  I sent an e-mail to WalMart questioning them about this practice.  Hopefully, will get a positive response.  I don't understand why some of their stores code correctly and some do not.

[kdm31091]

Walmart has no obligation to code themselves as grocery, so im not sure they will change it but let us know what they say. Its not a matter of coding "correctly". The code that gets us the most rewards is not necessarily "correct", its just the code we want. Alas, thats life, and technically walmart and target are not strictly grocery stores.

[IncrsCreditScore1]

kdm, I agree that technically they are not grocery stores, but I would venture to say that most of the sales are groceries.  But, especially the Pharmacy should not be coded as services or merchandise.

[Anonymous]

---

@icyhot wrote:

Try the Wallaby app. When you go in a store it'll tell you which of your cards is best to you based on the categories. For my BofA cash, Walmart codes as a grocery store so I get 3% back no matter what. When I stayed at a Hyatt and bought something at the bar, it coded as dining, not as a hotel, so I couldn't redeem points on my Venture. But Target seems to code as merchandise all the time

---

Does the wallaby app cover all networks/specific cards (us bank cash+)?

[steel_string]

My experience with Walmart has been that you can check in the Walmart app to see how a store will code. If it shows up as Supercenter or Neighborhood Market in the app, I've always had it code as grocery on visa and mc. Other stores (even if they're actually Supercenters) always end up being merchandise. Never seen any Walmart code as grocery on my amex.

[IncrsCreditScore1]

Our WalMart is a supercenter.  Wish it showed as grocery here.  What has been your experience with Discover?

[Anonymous]

---

@IncrsCreditScore wrote:

Our WalMart is a supercenter.  Wish it showed as grocery here.  What has been your experience with Discover?

---

Hello! Just curious, do you use the AARP for all your food transactions? (fast food/dining excluding groceries, of course) 

[9CLINE]

For me my Walmart Neighborhood stores always code as grocery on my Amex

[IncrsCreditScore1]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

---

@IncrsCreditScore wrote:

Our WalMart is a supercenter.  Wish it showed as grocery here.  What has been your experience with Discover?

---

Hello! Just curious, do you use the AARP for all your food transactions? (fast food/dining excluding groceries, of course) 

---

When I first got the AARP, I was using it a lot for everything, but then I realized there was a better reward card out there and that was the SallieMae.  So, I applied for that and used it a lot at first.  But now I am using Discover for the double back next year.  But your query made me think that I really need to start using the SallieMae for groceries and gas (when I get gas - since I retired, I use very little gas) because it is 5% although it is capped for each month.  So will probably use a combination of SallieMae and Discover for groceries.  The bottom line is I have not been using the AARP except for dining out.  Hope that long winded response answers your question.  I was so excited when I was approved for the AARP card, it was the second credit card that approved me after my credit repair journey.  Now I'm going to shut up.

Just noticed I did not answer your question as it pertains to fast foods.  We do not do fast foods, so I don't use any credit card for fast foods.

[kdm31091]

---

@IncrsCreditScore wrote:

---

@Anonymous wrote:

---

@IncrsCreditScore wrote:

Our WalMart is a supercenter.  Wish it showed as grocery here.  What has been your experience with Discover?

---

Hello! Just curious, do you use the AARP for all your food transactions? (fast food/dining excluding groceries, of course) 

---

When I first got the AARP, I was using it a lot for everything, but then I realized there was a better reward card out there and that was the SallieMae.  So, I applied for that and used it a lot at first.  But now I am using Discover for the double back next year.  But your query made me think that I really need to start using the SallieMae for groceries and gas (when I get gas - since I retired, I use very little gas) because it is 5% although it is capped for each month.  So will probably use a combination of SallieMae and Discover for groceries.  The bottom line is I have not been using the AARP except for dining out.  Hope that long winded response answers your question.  I was so excited when I was approved for the AARP card, it was the second credit card that approved me after my credit repair journey.  Now I'm going to shut up.

---

Right, no real advantage to using AARP for everything because it's only 1% outside of dining. The Discover is actually a well rounded general use card if you have the double promo -- 2% base, 10% elsewhere -- but otherwise, I mainly only use it for category spend, though Discover has always been good to me so I do throw some basic spending on it as well.