Discover has released the categories that will earn 5% cash (on up to $1,500 in purchases) for Q1 of 2017 (January – March). The categories will be as follows:
- Gas stations
- Ground transportation is defined as local and suburban commuter transportation, including: ferries, passenger railways, taxicabs, limousines/rental cars and charter/tour bus lines.
- Wholesale Clubs
You can activate this starting December 1st, 2016. Wholesale clubs have been relatively painless to max out and ground transportation is useful for those using Uber/Lyft. It’s possible to get 5% cash back year round on gas though.
Hat tip to finnigan_mactavish on /r/churning
View Comments (21)
Does Discover consider Walmart a wholesale club?
I don't think so
Bugger. " ... as they don't take CASH."
Unfortunately re: gas, the cheapest gas is virtually always Costco - at least where I am in NJ - and they do NOT take Discover! So it's still 3% back with my BOA Visa I guess. (And their gas is cheapest WITH a credit card as they don't take gas.)
One query: anyone know if the "ground transportation" will cover your EZPass replenishment? (That's the widget/service you put on your windshield on the East Coast to fly through tolls.)
Doesn't seem that Discover considers EZPass to be ground transportation. I had an EZPass charge on my latest statement, and there's nothing listed for Q1 5% categories. Time to switch back to my Chase Sapphire Preferred.
Hmm, what state are you in? Others say it works https://www.doctorofcredit.com/what-counts-as-gas-at-5x-for-freedom-and-discover/#comment-244532
That datapoint was from last year. Mine is from this year.
New York. I don't think it should make a difference, but instead of waiting for an automatic charge, I logged in to EZPass and submitted a $10 payment.
So, buying gift card with discover card at 7-11? Will that work? I never try.
just go to sheetz. even getting maid to order food, discover codes it as gas, gift cards are unknown though, never done it.
made* stupid spell check
Depends if your 7-11 accepts credit cards and if it codes as a gas station.
I utilized Chase's 5% on Wholesale at Costco prior to them switching to Visa by just buying gift cards online. I'm hoping I won't have an issue with this on Discover because I believe it's accepted online as well
lol... I rather have Amazon for Q1 so I can pay my Prime membership and get partially reimbursed for it!
So that means either Sam's online/store or Costco online (I don't think Costco takes Discover in store). But yay for ground transportation and Gas stations!
Hopefully this means that Freedom's categories will overlap. *crosses finger*
You can buy a gift of prime now and apply it to your account when you're up for renewal. As a side note you can buy gift of prime with an Amazon gift card and apply that to your own account.
Can you pay next year's Prime membership in advance? Or could you contact customer service? Worth a try!
Buy a 100.00 Amazon gift card before the end of Q1 to enjoy the 5% bonus - then use it to pay for your Prime when it comes up for renewal.
correction - end of Q4
Can't, it's one of the few things Amazon doesn't allow you to pay with their giftcards.
What is that frenzy with wholesale clubs all of sudden this year? I'd much rather have 5% on groceries btw. I hope Freedom doesn't ditch groceries for wholesale clubs next year.
Amex lost Costco to Citi/Visa. Chase and BoA made wholesale clubs a bonus category to get in on some of the purchase volume. Discover is probably trying to muscle in more in Bjs and Sam's Club.