This is my first post. I'm not posting links, quotes or sources since I'm not sure what the policies are around that. I have a question about the Kroger Mastercard rewards system.
This card gives you 5% cash back on mobile wallet purchases. The fine print defines mobile wallet pretty much as anything where you use a mobile device to make a payment. (I know that's not literally true because there's no way they will give me cash back if I buy something on an ecommerce site with my phone).
- That same fine print also states that the definition of "mobile wallet" includes Samsung Pay, Google Pay, and Apple Pay. (edit:longtimelurker points out that they also list Garmin Pay and LG Pay. Oops.)
- My first thought is that what they really mean is that mobile wallet is Samsung+Google+Apple+Garmin+LG, and nothing else. (this edited thanks to longtimelurker)
- Can anyone confirm that? Anyone want to speculate? Does anyone know the full list, or the process for determining that?
- Has anyone tried Walmart Pay?
The majority of stores cover Samsung/apple pay, incluing Walmart supercenters. So, this card meets the purpose almost at all locations. You can try the other digital wallet possibilities but only a few stores may cover them.
If you think the card is interesting, apply for it. It is a co-branded card and not difficult to get it (the prime US Bank cards typically need ~1/12).
Fico8: EX~EQ~TU~840 (12 month goal~850).Thanks xenon3030, appreciate the advice! It's #4 on my list and I'll let you know if I learn anything. When you talk about the prime US Bank cards, I think you are saying that those are harder to get than the branded ones, correct?
Why I care:
I'm basically worried that either
- I will end up at a Walmart without NFC (I don't have a device that can use Samsung Pay with MST); or
- I will end up at a Walmart that blocks other mobile wallets (I have heard of this through the unreliable grapevine); or
- Walmart Pay will take over the world and drive the others out.
Hahaha. You are over-thinking. In such cases, simply use a manual CC at the checkout.
@xenon3030 wrote:Hahaha. You are over-thinking. In such cases, simply use a manual CC at the checkout.
Manual CC at checkout definitely doesn't get 5% on the Kroger card, anywhere 
@TyrannicalDuncery wrote:This is my first post. I'm not posting links, quotes or sources since I'm not sure what the policies are around that. I have a question about the Kroger Mastercard rewards system.
This card gives you 5% cash back on mobile wallet purchases. The fine print defines mobile wallet pretty much as anything where you use a mobile device to make a payment. (I know that's not literally true because there's no way they will give me cash back if I buy something on an ecommerce site with my phone).
- That same fine print also states that the definition of "mobile wallet" includes Samsung Pay, Google Pay, and Apple Pay.
- My first thought is that what they really mean is that mobile wallet is Samsung Pay, Google Pay, Apple Pay, and nothing else.
- Can anyone confirm that? Anyone want to speculate? Does anyone know the full list, or the process for determining that?
- Has anyone tried Walmart Pay?
Actually, if you have a US Bank issued Kroger CC in ApplePay, checking out on a website with your iPhone or iPad at a site or app that uses ApplePay, you would get the 5% on the Kroger card. I am confident of this because US Bank also issues the Altitude Reserve, where a big attraction is "mobile wallet" and such purchases on ApplePay get the higher point earnings on ApplePay wherever I use it. I can't vouch for Google Pay and Samsung pay, but these sites usually have the range once they have one, so should work similarly.
Since the 5% is capped at $150 back each year ( actually capped at $110 more than what you would get with a basic 2% Everywhere CC ) the question becomes; is it worth the hassle to try to get this card to work at WalMart?
I looked at this card as a great fill-in for categories not typically covered. Car Insurance comes to mind. Then maybe some in-store purchases and it would be easy to hit the $3,000 cap and maximize the rewards. Absolutely not a daily driver. Maybe I'm over thinking it.
