Kroger Deals

Quote from SmartNotCheap : Okay, I just returned from the CS desk at Kroger. I asked specific, detailed info about the VISA, MC and Amex. The clerk told me that the $25, $50 and $100 value cards DO count for 4x rewards. I told her I thought that was what I had read but I still had my doubts. She called the mgr. who said, "Yes, they do count." Of course, as someone mentioned earlier, they do come with an activation fee. The clerk said she thought the $100 card was $4.95.

That is correct. The only time I did not get 4x fuel points is when I purchased AMEX gift card that can be loaded anywhere from $25-$500. I'm not sure if Visa and MC offer the same loadable cards. The standard $25, $50 and $100 will work for 4x fuel points.

Quote from tangorose : That is correct. The only time I did not get 4x fuel points is when I purchased AMEX gift card that can be loaded anywhere from $25-$500. I'm not sure if Visa and MC offer the same loadable cards. The standard $25, $50 and $100 will work for 4x fuel points.

Thanks, tangorose! I think Visa and MC offer the same variable load cards but I don't think they count in the fuel rewards program. (They are not shown on the Kroger site as participating.)

I need to reload the pages faster, lol!

Quote from luvkittehs : Yes if your cc gives cash back at grocery stores you will get that for your gc purchase. As far as the visa gcs go just remember there is a convenience fee for these so do the math and make sure the gas discount will make it worth your while. There's a member here who is an expert in rolling the visa mc gcs to the gas points, I think gspice6?, maybe they can chime in.

This thread has gotten a lot of action in the last few days and I'm behind. But I've been writing this so I wanted to go ahead and post:

What I know about fuel and gift cards bought at Kroger.

First, my kroger did not adopt the up to $1.00 off per gallon until august 2011. Before I only had the .10 max discount per gallon. So my experimentation began last fall.

Until December, I would get 2x fuel points for all of the visa gc's that I bought (I always buy the one where you can load up to $500 w/ 5.95 service fee, purple letters on card). I would load $500 and then receive 1012 fuel points, getting double points for the service fee, too! lol But then the 4x Christmas promo started, I went in with high hopes, but only got single points. Then when the 4x promo ended, visa gc's stayed single points.

But I still manage to get my husband and I at least two fill-ups a month, at 1.00/almost a 1.00 off per gallon, by 'rolling the cards.' Just to give you an idea, a typical month may look like the below:

$1000 in visa gc's, purchased $500 at a time, usually around payday:

-$225 put on our kroger gift card that helps pay DS1 soccer fees. Then use this $$ to buy groceries and gas at the pump [receiving fuel points for groceries bought at kroger but not the gas]
-$150 shell gift cards. I use these to 'supplement' mainly b/c meeting DH at gas station is not always convenient. FYI - my region does not offer any more than .10 off per gallon at shell.I also typically have DH purchase his weekend libations at Shell. It's conveniently located and I think of us then being able to get at least double fuel points for beer [earn at least 300 fuel points, sometimes 600]
-$175 target gift cards. I don't do walmart, sams, costco, etc., and no longer like doing much shopping at kroger. So target is where I get some groceries but a lot of my household items. With coupons, it is cost-effective and keeps mama happy. Outfit the kids in 70% off clearance, buy b-day gifts, etc. [earn at least 350 fuel points, sometimes 700]
-$450 that I use for bills. I recommend going to the web address on card when you first get it and register. It just asks for your name and address. But I think it helps with its acceptance, especially when cc's cross reference a zip during the approval. I routinely pay my cell phone bill (over $200) and miscellaneous others. You can also load one of these gc's to your paypal account to pay for items. I have been buying these gc's, loading on paypal, and paying on our upcoming vacation rental $500 at a time.

This is just a sketch of a typical month. I never 'roll' the gc purchases back to back at the same store. I buy visa, then return day later or go to another store, pick up a $25 shell/$50 target, couple of needed groceries. When paying, I always have my ID out of my wallet and ready. It has been discussed that systematically, some stores registers are 'tighter' than others, even to the point that using a credit card on a gc is not allowed (a stolen cc could easily be flipped into a gc before being reported stolen). I have no problem at my two main stores using a cc to pay but when I start rolling visa gc into target/shell, I just keep the method of payment on the downlow. What they are really entering (at least at my kroger) is a DL# when prompted. I don't know if certain amounts of Target/Shell GC require the input, but I just always have it ready and it seems to avoid any scrutiny of my method of payment.

Trying to pay for my visa gift cards with a kroger gift card DID GET a lot of scrutiny, and although the register allowed it, I was told not to do that. I was getting greedy and trying to get $500 on the card that gives kickbacks for DS soccer fees before starting my 'roll.' So I no longer do that.

I DO use visa gc to put $$ on the kroger card (DS soccer). DH always does this with the gas station attendant with no problems at all. You do have to wait about 5 minutes before the kroger card is activated with the $$.

Now....to go catch up

With all these Visa GCs talk, I want to add that there's a CAT deal wyb one of the Visa GCs [I'm sorry, I forgot which card it is exactly]... but you get a $3 ONYO CAT when you purchase the 'such' card. It ends August 10. I will be going to Kroger today, and I will for sure check the written details on this again to share with you all

Quote from ladyeeyore7 : Even though the clerk and manager said it would work I would be wary of it since it states online that they don't qualify. I would agree if you are going to try this just do 1 card to see if it actually works that way you are only out the $5 or $6 act. fee. "Do Gift Card purchases count toward fuel points? Yes. Gift Card purchases count 2X toward your fuel points monthly balance with the exception of King Soopers and Kroger Family of Stores Gift Cards, Green Dot prepaid reloadable products, MoneyPaks and 1-2-3 REWARDS® Visa® prepaid Debit Card and ReCharge Card™, American Express Variable Load Gift Cards, Visa Variable Load Gift Cards, and MasterCard Variable Load Gift Cards. Browse our Gift Card Mall."

These are definitely not the 1-2-3 Rewards, Green Dot or variable load cards; as they come in pre-set amounts. If you look at the Kroger Gift Cards that are shown as participating, these show up on the last page with the only denominations being $25, $50 and $100. Thanks for the word of caution though. My store employees aren't always well informed, so if I do any, I will "wade in" with a single card purchase.

I bought 5 Oscar Mayer bolognas ($1 each) today and the cat didn't print. I couldn't do anything because there was no sign for the catalina in store. What should I do? I don't shop at Kroger much but I thought it was a good deal with the catalina.

Quote from opal258 : I bought 5 Oscar Mayer bolognas ($1 each) today and the cat didn't print. I couldn't do anything because there was no sign for the catalina in store. What should I do? I don't shop at Kroger much but I thought it was a good deal with the catalina.

Here from wiki 2 is info on catalina marketing contact information , what to provide, etc. The signs are up in some of the stores I've been in so I would call. You may hit a brick wall (or you may not). What do you have to lose? The specifics and dates for the catalina are in wiki 5.

Quote from opal258 : I bought 5 Oscar Mayer bolognas ($1 each) today and the cat didn't print. I couldn't do anything because there was no sign for the catalina in store. What should I do? I don't shop at Kroger much but I thought it was a good deal with the catalina.

Worked for me this evening,cat deal is supposed to last til the the 10th I think.

Quote from alferc : With all these Visa GCs talk, I want to add that there's a CAT deal wyb one of the Visa GCs [I'm sorry, I forgot which card it is exactly]... but you get a $3 ONYO CAT when you purchase the 'such' card. It ends August 10. I will be going to Kroger today, and I will for sure check the written details on this again to share with you all

Anxiously awaiting your findings.

I'm trying to keep up with all this talk on gas cards. I have 170 points for May so I think I'm going to get a $25 shell gas card so I'll get 100 more points to save 20 cents a gallon, if I'm reading this right.

$1.50 /1 Birdseye Voila Product, any (FB) [birdseye.com]

You know this won't last long.]

Quote from aec2003 : I'm trying to keep up with all this talk on gas cards. I have 170 points for May so I think I'm going to get a $25 shell gas card so I'll get 100 more points to save 20 cents a gallon, if I'm reading this right.

Just remember, the Fuel Perks discount is only used on the FIRST method of payment. So if you buy a $25 GC, you would only get the 20 cents savings on $25 worth of gas. Of course, you could fill up and use the discount using an alternative means of payment and save the $25 Shell card for after you've used your fuel perks..........
HTH

Quote from figarotigger : Just remember, the Fuel Perks discount is only used on the FIRST method of payment. So if you buy a $25 GC, you would only get the 20 cents savings on $25 worth of gas. Of course, you could fill up and use the discount using an alternative means of payment and save the $25 Shell card for after you've used your fuel perks.......... HTH

Thanks! That makes more sense to do that.. use 20 cents off at Kroger right after I leave using a credit card, then use the Shell card later. Maybe that really isn't worth the hassle though.. hmm, gotta think about that.