A useful Chase category at last!

[neguy11]

I'm excited about the groceries category this quarter too since the timing is perfect for me. There is a local gas station/grocery store combo in our area that gives you 1% off on groceries for every 10 gallons of gas you buy and $0.10 off on gas for every $50 you spend on groceries. I am up to 17% off on groceries right now, and I'll easily hit the max of 20% soon. Add the 5% cash back, and it will be like getting 24% off on groceries.

Whoa, that just made my head spin! LOL!

[kv968]

I hope you used it last quarter when one of the categories was "gas"

Just keep in mind when using a rewards card for gas that a lot of stations charge upwards of 3% more if you're using credit. At least that's how it is where I'm at. So if you're getting 5% back that's good but if it's just 1-2%, it might not be worth it.

[disneysteve]

Just keep in mind when using a rewards card for gas that a lot of stations charge upwards of 3% more if you're using credit. At least that's how it is where I'm at. So if you're getting 5% back that's good but if it's just 1-2%, it might not be worth it.

I refuse on principle to go to any station that does that, even if it means paying a little extra for my gas. Every other business charges the same price, cash or credit, for their goods and services. Only gas stations somehow get away with violating the credit card agreements that ban that practice.

All of that said, getting 1-2% back is still better than not getting anything back.

[GREENBACK]

Every other business charges the same price, cash or credit, for their goods and services. Only gas stations somehow get away with violating the credit card agreements that ban that practice.

That's not true in my area. I know a couple of small buisnesses that charge extra for using a cc.

[disneysteve]

That's not true in my area. I know a couple of small buisnesses that charge extra for using a cc.

You should report them to Visa/Mastercard as they are contractually not permitted to do that.

[kv968]

I refuse on principle to go to any station that does that, even if it means paying a little extra for my gas. Every other business charges the same price, cash or credit, for their goods and services. Only gas stations somehow get away with violating the credit card agreements that ban that practice.

All of that said, getting 1-2% back is still better than not getting anything back.

Practically every place I see here in Central Jersey does it. As a matter of fact on the price board you see from the road most don't even put a medium grade price up but instead use that slot for the price of regular if you charged it.

And getting 1-2% back isn't bad if you're getting that using the 5%. However if you're paying 3%+ more for using credit and only getting 1% back then you should just use cash.

Also keep in mind, it's not a "fee" for using your card, it's a "discount" for using cash

[kv968]

That's not true in my area. I know a couple of small buisnesses that charge extra for using a cc.

I don't think I've ever seen a small business charge extra for using a CC (except gas stations), but I have seen many say there's a minimum amount you have to spend if you want to use a CC. If I'm not mistaken, I think that's illegal also.

[disneysteve]

I don't think I've ever seen a small business charge extra for using a CC (except gas stations), but I have seen many say there's a minimum amount you have to spend if you want to use a CC. If I'm not mistaken, I think that's illegal also.

Yep. It is against the terms of service to charge more for using a credit card. It is against the terms of service to set a minimum amount to use a credit card. It is against the terms of service to charge a service fee as a percentage of the amount being charged.

The only thing that is okay is charging a convenience fee that is a set amount regardless of the amount of the charge. So it is okay to charge every credit card user a $3 convenience fee per transaction. What you can't do is charge a 3% fee to make up for the 3% cost you incur accepting the credit card.

[disneysteve]

Also keep in mind, it's not a "fee" for using your card, it's a "discount" for using cash

That's what they claim, but it's a bunch of BS, as I'm sure you know.

Station A: Same price cash or credit - $3.75/gallon
Station B: Cash price $3.75; Credit price $3.89

How is that a "discount" for using cash exactly?

[kv968]

That's what they claim, but it's a bunch of BS, as I'm sure you know.

Station A: Same price cash or credit - $3.75/gallon
Station B: Cash price $3.75; Credit price $3.89

How is that a "discount" for using cash exactly?

If you never see Station A you could think of it as a discount

I just unfortunately find it's getting harder and harder to find a place that doesn't seem to impliment a "discount".