The American Express Blue Cash Preferred no longer earns 3% cash back at department stores. It’s not immediately clear if the change is effective immediate for existing cardholders or if it will be phased out but the earning rate is no longer being advertised for new cardholders. These purchases will earn the flat 1% cash back instead. This card also earns:
- 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1% back)
- 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations
We’ve reach out to American Express to clarify what will happen for existing cardholders (update we haven’t heard back from American Express officially but it looks like existing cardholders are keeping this benefit for now).
Is there any way to see when renewal/AF date is for my account?
just use the Chat function on the Amex website. Otherwise, you can search your transaction history for “Fee” and see when the AF posted earlier this year (just choose Year to Date)
Thanks, seem obvious to search for fee now. Trying to decide if it’s worth keeping for the 6% grocery. Some quick calculations looks like it is for me.
yup, it’s really easy. you get extra 3% for a $95 annual fee. so break-even point is $3167 annual spend on this card in grocery stores.
Does it earn 6% for GC purchases from grocery store?
Thanks.
Yes.
That’s Great !
Lrdx
Thanks
does american express pay 6% back at Walmart? I have a chance to get this card through Navy Fed but I buy most of my groceries at walmart supercenter. I use my Penfed card at Walmart which treats my purchases like a grocery store for 2x points, but 6% back would be awesome if it works there.
Walmart is not a grocery store. Penfed points aren’t even worth a cent so 2x is meaningless
haha, Yes penfed points are not quite .01 and they are a pain in the ass to redeem but its the best i have for groceries right now
They also have that sweet no-FTF 2% cash back visa. That earns “2x” anywhere and everywhere (if you’re a military servicemember/veteran/retiree or if you maintain $500 in a checking account with them). And the Platinum Rewards card earns not 2x, but 3x (3 x .0085 = 2.55%) at grocery stores, right? (Although by cashing in for a gift card, you’ve also lost what you would have earned if you hadn’t had to take the gift card instead of cash.)
I buy Sam’s GC’s for use at Walmart using the Discover and/or Chase Freedom 5% deals. You can also get additional 2% DOSH with the Freedom.
I think it depends on a Walmart — Neighbourhood ones are usually coded as grocery, otherwise, no — just 1%.
BofA Cash Rewards usually considers walmart supercenter as a grocery store and gives you at least 2% cashback (up to 3.5% depending on your status in BofA)
Can confirm that it pays 6% back at the Neighborhood Walmart only both in store and with the pickup app, all other versions of Walmart are only 1% including Super Centers.
Always thought this card stank once they brought in the $6k limit. Still does.
I’d use BCP to do online Sears GC reloads thru Discover’s portal which sometimes paid up to 10% years ago. Then take the loaded GC to Sears for $200 VGC. Then to Kate for Serve reload. Those were the days (sigh). Reading this now just makes me laugh but would sting a bit if it were 2013.
doubled for the first year… that was really nice.
I’m fine with it. Don’t shop much at department stores and can’t ms at department stores.
Funny they announce this right before Black Friday -_-
Wish they’d lower the annual fee then.
Chatted with AmEx a couple days ago and existing cardholders would continue earning 3% at Dept. Stores, for now.
Not sure how it’ll change later.
Thanks for info
A day after chatting with AmEx, I made a purchase at Nordstrom and I checked today, that purchase earned 3%.
Presently it still shows up under benefits as an existing member:
Earn Cash Back
6% at U.S. supermarkets, 3% at U.S. gas stations & select dept stores.‡
Strange that the no annual fee version still has 2% at department stores.