Discover Announces 5% Categories For Entire 2021

Discover announced today the 5% categories on the Discover IT card for the entire 2021:

  • Q1: Grocery Stores, Walgreens, CVS
  • Q2: Gas Stations, Wholesale Clubs, Streaming Services
  • Q3: Restaurants, Paypal
  • Q4: Amazon.com, Walmart.com, Target.com

All the same categories as 2020, except they swapped out the Uber/Lyft from Q2 2020 and inserted streaming in its place. First and third categories are terrific, and Q2 isn’t bad either. Overall I’d say it’s a nice lineup for them to continue.

First quarter can already be activated now.

Hat tip to username7575
    Chuck
  • On November 1, 2020, 14:59
Tags: discover

View Comments (32)

  • People in here complaining like they have to hit the cap and on top of that having a P2 also hit the cap or it doesn't count. Take a step back a little and be thankful you are even able to earn 5% back on a purchase. Pretty much every country outside the US has either no rewards or terrible rewards. On that note, every quarter has something that almost everyone can use and one can argue the last quarter being the hardest if a person doesn't shop those specific stores. So if you aren't able to hit the cap, congratulations, you saved more money than you would have gotten back by spending.

    • you say this when the exact same brand&model cost a lot more in the US? a couple items I looked at recently are priced 50%+ and sometimes 150%+ here in the US. 5% reward doesn't even make up for the price differences. what is there to be happy about when you still come out negative?

    • (I'm not someone who complains about not hitting the cap) I agree with you that US cards have great rewards programs. However, I suspect that eventually it is mostly the consumers who bear the costs...

    • Discover should have a "FUN" category: alcohol & cannabis purchases 5% cashback. Can you imagine the revenues generated?

  • @chuck Why do you say that you like Q3 better than Q2? During Q2 you can just buy 3 $500 VGC at BJs, or some gas stations. But no restaurant sells any that I know of. And using PayPal involves fees. Seems like Q2 is easier- Unless I'm missing something?

  • if a streaming service offers an annual plan, Q2 would be a good time to take advantage of that -

  • This worries me a bit that they will just stick with this format every year until whenever they decide the axe the categories altogether.

    • 3 of the 4 categories are stupid easy to max out year after year (Groceries, Paypal, Walmart/Amazon/Target) . I'm not mad at all.

      I would hate for them to change it to something obscure.

      • How do you max out Q4 so easily? Do most people here spend $3,000 (if P2 mode) a quarter at those 3 stores? That seems like a ton of money to spend on merchandise. I don't see a way to buy gift cards at any of those stores online, unless I'm missing something. Also, you left out Q2- but BJs sells $500 VGC so isn't that even easier than Q3?

        • You can buy groceries at Walmart and I'm sure at Target as well with their pickup service. Not really hard to do that and get your household supplies from these places either. Not always about gift cards.

          • I find that's not even worth it though, it's cheaper to just go to the store and I don't believe you can buy groceries at walmart.com or at least it won't allow me to even though I can see my instore purchase history.

    • I think it's more just complacency. Discover seems reluctant to really do anything fresh with their products. So may as well leave the categories basically the same every year until they decide to change the format.

  • Too bad there isn't a mobile payment like Samsung Pay etc. that could be taken advantage of in any of the categories or quarters. At least PayPal Key could be used for the PayPal category?

  • Discover continues killin’ it Q1 through Q3. As a reminder, you can use Discover at Costco in Q2 by ordering Shop Cards from Costco.com.

    • Can the Costco gift cards shop cards from costco.com be used at the gas pumps or is it only regular credit cards like a Visa? This way at least some savings would be beneficial since gas pumps don't take Discover.

      • Forget mention Costco shop card pump Gas no problem. But have to be member If i remember correct. Cause you have to insert member card first before insert payment card

        • No, you can insert the shop card without inserting membership for gas. It just won't let you pay for more than the value left on the card. The barcode also works, without membership, at the food court, since Costco began requiring membership for food court purchases earlier this year.

      • Costco gift card can be use for all purchase you make at Costco. Can be Store. Food court. and online as well there is option apply shop card before place order.

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