Merchant Coding Questions - Visa/MC vs. Discover vs. AmEx

[Omri]

I have a few questions about merchant coding. I've heard that Discover and AmEx are both coded differently from Visa/MC. So my questions are these:

1) Considering getting BCP some time next year, but we primarily shop at a Walmart for groceries, which I've heard is coded sometimes as a discount store/warehouse. The WM I go to is coded for my Visa as a Grocery Store. Can I expect the same for an AmEx? (if not, it's not worth getting the card)

2) The caterer for my wedding reception (in January) also is a restaurant. When I paid for the deposit, I paid using my Chase Amazon Visa and got the 2% back for a restaurant. Since the Discover More 5% for Q1 is for restaurants, I would obviously love to get 5% back on my catering. Since it's coded a restaurant for Visa, can I expect it to also be coded as a restaurant for Discover?

[Anonymous]

1)  No.  Regardless of how the Walmart is reporting to Visa/MC, it will not report as a grocery store to amex.  You will not get the 6% from BCP there.

2)  Should be

[Omri]

That's pretty much what I figured the answer would be for both questions, but it's good to have some confirmation. Thanks!

[martinkk]

In my area, we have Wal-Mart SuperCenters, but we also have Wal-Mart Neighborhood Markets. The Neighborhood Markets are just grocery stores, like a Kroger. In my case, the two store are less than a 1/2 mile apart, Does anyone know if the Neighborhood Market would be coded as grocery? If so, It would serve me well to apply.

[Anonymous]

@martinkk

Everytime I've used my BCP at a Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market, it lists the transaction as "Merchandise and Supplies - Groceries"

[trumpet-205]

Walmart coding depends on what Walmart we are talking about.

For Walmart Neighborhood Market, it will code as grocery. All other Walmart code as discount store.

[ukimafija]

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@trumpet-205 wrote:

Walmart coding depends on what Walmart we are talking about.

For Walmart Neighborhood Market, it will code as grocery. All other Walmart code as discount store.

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No it won't. My walmart is a Supercenter and still counts as a grocery store.(with Visa/MC).

You can check your store here: http://visa.via.infonow.net/locator/usa/supplier/ListLoadAction.do

[Involus]

I believe he was talking about Amex as with Amex it codes as a discount store.