Thread: Merchant gift cards at gas stations

Has anyone successfully bought a gift card from a gas station with a credit card to earn rewards?

I was under the impression that they can tell the difference between inside sales and paying at the pump. I have seen on my statements something like 'Sunoco inside sales.' So i figured they don't offer cash back for inside sales.

At the same time though, you'll often find the sort of verbiage on the rewards terms such as "gas purchases are classified as purchases made at a stand-alone gas station within the continental US" or something to that effect. I'd say you should be good to pocket some extra rewards that way, but I'd try and pick up some low-amount gift cards first and run the calculations based on your statement just to be sure. I mean, even if they do distinguish inside sales from pump sales, you can pay for gas inside too, so it wouldn't make sense for them to disallow inside sales from counting toward your category spending.

Originally Posted by cashback

I was under the impression that they can tell the difference between inside sales and paying at the pump. I have seen on my statements something like 'Sunoco inside sales.' So i figured they don't offer cash back for inside sales.

If you watch Discover commercials during those quarters, they talk about alot of items that you buy inside. Inside purchases count with Discover.

Originally Posted by Ratfacedudeguy

At the same time though, you'll often find the sort of verbiage on the rewards terms such as "gas purchases are classified as purchases made at a stand-alone gas station within the continental US" or something to that effect. I'd say you should be good to pocket some extra rewards that way, but I'd try and pick up some low-amount gift cards first and run the calculations based on your statement just to be sure. I mean, even if they do distinguish inside sales from pump sales, you can pay for gas inside too, so it wouldn't make sense for them to disallow inside sales from counting toward your category spending.

Bingo. I concur.

Originally Posted by FutureBillionaire

If you watch Discover commercials during those quarters, they talk about alot of items that you buy inside. Inside purchases count with Discover.

It sure counts for anyone lucky enough to live near a Super Wawa. For anyone who has never lived in or visited New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and a few other areas nearby, Wawa is like a high end 7-11 and some of them have gas stations (Super Wawas). They have a pretty big selection of gift cards, second only to supermarkets and big box stores, and Discover counts ANYTHING you buy under the gasoline category. Regardless of whether the card is swiped at the pump or in the store, and regardless of whether you are filling up your gas tank or buying a cup of coffee and a $50 gift card to wherever. I've experimented with it through the gas quarters on my More card and it has always worked. Haven't tried shopping inside yet with PenFed or Blue Cash Preferred to see what Visa and Amex codes count inside purchases as.

Originally Posted by hematino

It sure counts for anyone lucky enough to live near a Super Wawa. For anyone who has never lived in or visited New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and a few other areas nearby, Wawa is like a high end 7-11 and some of them have gas stations (Super Wawas). They have a pretty big selection of gift cards, second only to supermarkets and big box stores, and Discover counts ANYTHING you buy under the gasoline category. Regardless of whether the card is swiped at the pump or in the store, and regardless of whether you are filling up your gas tank or buying a cup of coffee and a $50 gift card to wherever. I've experimented with it through the gas quarters on my More card and it has always worked. Haven't tried shopping inside yet with PenFed or Blue Cash Preferred to see what Visa and Amex codes count inside purchases as.

I have tried Penfed. It didn't work.

Damn. Thanks for the info though FutureBillionaire. I'll try my BCP next time for a small purchase inside and see what Amex counts it as. No idea how to tell for MasterCard's merchant code, cause my only two MCs are my Sapphire Preferred which isnt for gas and a Barclays which is in the sock drawer.